TWO young Ayrshire bowlers celebrated academic success last week and secured places at University and thanks to Bowls Scotland and Taylor Bowls have some valuable work experience under their belt.

Darren Weir, of Prestwick had just completed his Higher exams at Prestwick Academy when Bowls Scotland gave him the opportunity to shadow the commentators at the National Championships in July.

Having received a conditional offer from the University of the West of Scotland in Ayr to study a BA Honours in Sports Journalism, Darren was keen to gain some valuable work experience and the biggest club competition in his own sport provided the perfect opportunity!

Weir, of Prestwick Bowling Club grew up watching his dad and older brother play bowls when he decided to join them, taking up the sport at just seven-years-old. Darren quickly became a star, with the pinnacle of his career so far being reached in 2015 when he was chosen to represent Scotland along with Carla Banks of Inverurie Bowling Club in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.

Darren said: “I really wanted to help out shadowing the commentators at the Nationals because I’ve always wanted to become a sports journalist as I enjoy watching sports and analysing athlete’s performances. Travelling to Samoa last year was a life changing experience.”

Over the weekend of the National Championships, Darren was invited along to shadow the commentating team as they worked with QTV Sports behind the scenes. Not wanting to miss out on the chance of some hands on experience, Darren even donned the commentator’s hat and covered a match with local journalist and bowler Paul Fisher.

Carrie McLean of Auchinleck Indoor Bowling Club was also eagerly awaiting her exam results when she joined her sponsors Taylor Bowls at their stand in the retail marquee of the National Championships.

Carrie has seen phenomenal success being a back to back Indoor Scottish Under 25s Singles Champion and two time World Champion at the ages of 13 and 15! Outdoors, Carrie played as part of this year’s Scottish Junior International team in the British Isles Women’s Bowling Championships where the team took second place!

Carrie continued to excel in her studies, receiving a conditional offer from the University of Strathclyde to study Law. She found that bowls provided a great break from the books:

“Bowling was always a release for me away from the hectic study schedule I had every day, so going to the bowling club was always a way to relax and de-stress from all my formulas and essays!”

Bowls Scotland would like to say a huge congratulations to both of them.