Bowled over by Mark
Cambuslang man to take Scots cap record
A Cambuslang man is set to make sporting history next year by becoming his country’s most capped bowls player at youth level.
Mark O’Hagan is expected to captain the Scotland side in the three Home International matches on February 19 and 20 which will see him claim his 24th appearance and equal the all-time record.
The Whitefield Bowling Club member will travel to Newport, Wales, with the squad to take on the hosts as well as England and Ireland for the British Championship.
But the pressure for the skipper will not be something new to him as this will be Mark’s eighth time he has been selected for the team.
The Whitefield Avenue resident says being chosen to captain the side at the Junior International Series, in what will be his final appearance for the youth team, is a proud achievement.
The 25-year-old electrician, who is set to equal Midlothian Bowling Club member Stephen Currie’s record, told the Reformer: “It will be my eighth year but it’s always great to be picked to play for your country.
“You play for your club on a Saturday and the Scotland scouts come to watch you play and offer you a trial.
“If I play in all three games I will be the joint highest capped player at under 25 level. I would be the second person to ever do it for Scotland so that would be brilliant to make it.
“And to be captain of the team on my last tournament will be a big moment for me.”
Bowls runs in Mark’s veins and ever since picking up the ball aged eight, he has won countless competitions throughout his time at Whitefield.
He recalled watching his grandad and father Michael play when he was younger. Michael joined Whitefield as a bowling member in 1987 and won the club championship three times.
Mark, a former Trinity High School pupil, went on to win the same trophy twice and also won the Scottish Mens Triples tournament in 2014.
And when the winter hits the greens, Mark continues playing the sport for Blantyre Miners Welfare Indoor Bowling Club.
He will prepare for next February’s matches by playing for the club in the Scottish under 25 singles held in West Lothian on January 6. “It should be a good one,” he said. “I’ve also been invited to a trial for Scotland’s mens’ team so if I could make that squad, it would be brilliant.”
Bowling clubs throughout Rutherglen and Cambuslang have often voiced their difficulty of attracting younger members to the sport.
Mark understands why some may label bowls for the older generation but insists under 25s should give it a go at their local club.
He added: “I got into it by watching my dad and my grandad play and that’s how I started playing.
“I would tell people not to think of bowls as an old man’s game and to take a look at some of the junior members out on the greens and they’ll see the enjoyment of it.
“The clubs in Glasgow and Lanarkshire have certainly got good numbers.”