Congratulations to Scotland’s bowlers who scooped three gold and three bronze medals at the 2012 World Championships in Adelaide, Australia last week.

The gold rush was started by Paul Foster and Alex Marshall MBE, who confirmed their status as the greatest partnership in the sport, by striking gold in the men’s pairs, overcoming partisan home support and in-form opponents in Australia’s Leif Selby and Aron Sherrif with an 18-13 victory. This added the outdoor pairs title to their indoor title won earlier this year, the first time the double has been achieved in the same year.

The victory marked Marshall’s 15th world title and the duo have claimed a total of 23 world titles between them. Marshall said after the final: “To beat the Aussies on their home turf is brilliant. It is a combination of a lot of hard work over the past year.”

Inspired by the men, Scotland’s women claimed the team’s second gold medal of the championship lifting the title in the women’s fours. Michelle Cooper, Lynn Stein, Caroline Brown and Margaret Letham edged out Malaysia 18-15.

Letham, who skipped the four not only to victory but to an unbeaten record throughout the 13 matches of competition, was delighted with their efforts, saying: “We are over the moon about winning, the team have played really well throughout the competition and the whole squad has been sensational”.

Bowls-WC2.jpgIn the men’s triples, Scotland were pushed to near braking point by a relentless Jackaroos combination, eager to repeat the performance that earned them glory in the fours.

The tartan titans’ David Peacock, Darren Burnett and Graham Archer clinched victory in thriller, with the victory marking Peacock’s third successive triples world title and the nation’s third gold at the event.

Australia scored on only five of the fifteen ends, but the result still came down to the wire, with David Peacock, Darren Burnett and Graham Archer prevailing by the slimmest of margins, 13-12, after Archer smashed the jack into the ditch on the final end and Australia’s final bowl ended millimetres short.

“I am absolutely delighted to have won the title again,” said Peacock.

“It has been a great team effort from everyone. We couldn’t have asked for any more from the whole team”

There were also bronze medals for the men’s fours (David Peacock, Darren Burnett, Graham Archer and Alex Mashall), women’s pairs (Claire Johnston and Margaret Letham) and the women’s triples (Michelle Cooper, Caroline Brown and Lynn Stein).

In his first major campaign as Bowls Scotland’s Head Coach David Gourlay said: “The triples showed fantastic Scottish tenacity throughout their campaign. We shouldn’t underestimate how good this squad performed to win six medals including three gold in Australia is impressive. The team spirit has been resolute from the beginning and the squad’s determination and professionalism has got to be admired.”

Bowls-Web3.jpgIn all the Scots picked up medals in six of the eight disciplines, with each of the 10 players at the championships going home with at least two medals, nine of them with gold.

Congratulating Scotland’s bowlers on their success down under, Jon Doig Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive and Team Scotland Chef de Mission said: “With the results from the 2012 World Championships forming part of the selection process for Team Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the results from Adelaide are extremely encouraging. It is one of the few events which is operated in the same format as the Commonwealth Games, so is an important indicator. We wish all our bowlers continued success in their preparations as they aim for selection.”

Photographs courtesy of Janette Conlan, Bowls Scotland