A Cambuslang woman has ranked being named Scotland captain the proudest moment in her bowls career – a year after making sporting history with the same squad.
Rachel Sinclair will lead the young Scots, which includes her sister Karen Magee, 20, as a travelling reserve, into battle next month in the International Series Under 25 tournament.
The 23-year-old was handed the role following a number of excellent performances in the side since her first cap seven years ago.
And one of them included helping Scotland to their first International Series victory in eight years, claiming the coveted indoor bowls trophy from long-time holders England.
Now Rachel, a West of Scotland Bowling Club member, has the chance to write her name into the bowling history books once again.
Vowing to become a British Isles conqueror for the second year in succession, the mum of one said: “I was completely in shock but I was
delighted to be picked. I just hope I can help bring us home some wins.
“I was first capped when I was 16 so I’ve been part of the team for seven years but I’ve not played every year.
“It’s a tough competition and the under 25s is a high level to play at.
“Everybody is up for the games especially against England because they know it’s nice to win against them.”
The Scots will face Wales, a British Lions select squad and the Auld Enemy in a round-robin style tournament starting on February 9 in Nottingham.
And Rachel and Karen will be going into the ties in good form after reaching the National 2-bowl pair finals last weekend.
The duo, who both work at the same nursery in Rutherglen, defeated Balbardie Indoor Bowling Club, from West Lothian, in the last four to win a tie break.
But they fell short in the final match to Ardrossan in what was another tie breaker for the crown.
However, the girls are looking on the positive side of getting to such a big competition.
Rachel added: “We’re happy we got there. But I’m quite gutted we were done by the last bowl because we came so close to it.
”In the final we lost the first set by one shot and then dominated the second set 10-3 to go into yet another tie break.
"In the first end of the tie break Karen was lying the shot and I drew another one.
"The opposition skip managed to get the shot, in the second end of the tie break, Karen was yet again lying the shot and the opposition skip played a running bowl to get the shot.
"I had the last bowl and I thought I had played the perfect bowl when it fell against the bias, if my bowl had fell for the bias we would of got the shot."
