Australian-based Scot Graeme Archer is making a 20,000 mile round trip to Glasgow and back this month in an attempt to reach the qualifying criteria for Team Scotland.

The 46 year old from Edinburgh is on a two year contract down under as a development officer with Clayton Bowls Club in Melbourne but this week is back as his roots competing for Scotland Kelvin at the 8 Nations Commonwealth Invitation Championships in Kelvingrove (24-31 August).

Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Africa and two teams for Scotland are competing at the Glasgow 2014 Games venue for the event organised by Bowls Scotland in partnership with sportscotland, Glasgow 2014, Commonwealth Games Scotland, Scottish Disability Sport, Event Scotland and Glasgow Life. Archer knows what it’s like to compete for Scotland at a major event having competed in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. However it’s different this time around.

“Playing in any Games is a big thing but having a Commonwealth Games in your own country is incredible,” he said. “We know how passionate the Scots are about their bowls and I’m sure we will get good crowd so it would be amazing to play here.”

“There are only five players that get picked and Scotland is blessed to have so many good players so matter who gets picked it’s going to be a very strong five.”

“It’s every man for himself and everyone is trying to prove themselves.”

Archer says the playing set up in Australia is a lot different from playing in Scotland, the greens being a lot faster and firmer. But he is thrilled to be back home and playing at the spectacular Kelvingrove venue.

“It’s different but it’s just as competitive here in Scotland, it’s going well and I’m loving playing here.”

Photo credit: Rob Eyton-Jones