BRILLIANT BOWLER TAKES A CHANCE AT FINALS
Talented player to represent Inverclyde at indoor championships
A BRILLIANT bowler is on a roll as she gets set to represent Inverclyde at a national indoor bowling final being held in the area this weekend.
Top talents from across the country are set to descend on Inverclyde Leisure’s Indoor Bowling Club this Saturday and Sunday for the Scottish Indoor Bowling Association’s national singles finals.
Local woman Gail Baxter will be among those vying for the top prize and is determined to do the area proud with her performance.
The 48-year-old said: “I’m really proud of myself for getting to this stage.
“I didn’t think for a second I would get into the quarter finals, nevermind the semi finals.
“It’s really good for Inverclyde to be hosting an event like this.
“It’s great to promote bowls as well and it would be good to see more younger people taking part.
“I’ve been playing against folk who are in the Scottish team and I can only try my best.
“It’ll be a great boost for the club. “My attitude is that I’m so pleased to have got here and I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m just going to go and enjoy myself and have a great experience.”
Growing up Gail says her family were keen bowlers who introduced her to the sport when she was 12.
After having given the game up for around two decades due to her family and work commitments, she picked it back up four years ago.
Since then she has played in numerous competitions both indoor and outdoor, but the weekend’s competition will be the biggest indoor event she has taken part in.
The bowler hopes that her friends and family can give her the lift she needs on Saturday.
Gail added: “That’s what bowls is all about - the support. My mum, dad, cousin, aunt and uncle and some of my friends will come along this weekend and quite a few other people from Inverclyde have said they’ll come and watch me, which is very good of them.
“A lot of people wouldn’t expect me to have much confidence because I only started playing again recently, but it’s the people around me that have given me the encouragement. Every single person at the indoor bowls centre has been so positive and supportive, it’s a really nice group of folk.
“This is the biggest indoor competition I’ve played in, especially because it’s a single and I’m on my own.
“I want to thank my fellow bowlers, they’ve supported and encouraged me all the way.
“It would be great to win, but I’ve not got that pressure because I’m so pleased to get here - everything else is a bonus.