Bowls: Burnbank's Margaret is selected for Delhi Commonwealth Games

Aug 19 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MARGARET Letham is part of the 12-strong Team Scotland bowls squad heading to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

Burnbank Hamilton bowler Margaret (54), from Bothwell, will team up with Bellshill & Mossend player Caroline Brown (30), from Motherwell, in the pairs event.

Competing in her fourth Commonwealth Games, Margaret last tasted success in 1998 when she won pairs gold with Joyce Lindores.

In Delhi in April, Margaret and Caroline won bronze in a Test match.

Commonwealth Games Scotland, the Scottish Bowling Association and Scottish Women’s Bowling Association made the announcement this week.

Lawn bowls is one of 10 core sports at the Games and since 1970 Scotland has won at least one medal at the event, which is a winning streak they will hope to continue.

Margaret, who has been a member at Burnbank Hamilton for around 40 years, said: “I’m chuffed to bits and really looking forward to going over to Delhi.

“This is my fourth Commonwealth Games, having been to Malaysia in 1998 and then Manchester and Melbourne.

“We went over in April for 11 days to see what it was like, and it was a good learning curve because we got to see the weather and playing conditions.

“The nearer it gets the more excited I’ll get. I’m in training just now but we’re not leaving until the end of September.”

While Team Scotland will be going for gold, Margaret admits she would like a medal of any colour.

She said: “The high-performance manager would obviously like it if we could win gold but any medal would be excellent.

“Gold is obviously the ultimate aim, but a medal would be brilliant, whether it’s bronze, silver or gold.”

Margaret says her family were delighted with the news, but added that husband Hugh won’t be heading to India.

She said: “My family and friends were delighted when I told them. My husband Hugh is delighted – in fact at the moment he’s probably more excited than I am – but although he’s been to Melbourne and Malaysia he won’t be going to India with me.”

Getting time off work won’t be a problem either, as Margaret explained: “I’m a contract floor coverer alongside my husband. He’ll stay here and do all the work while I’m having fun – that’s what he says anyway!”

The lawn bowls competition will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex from October 4-13.

Unusually, this year’s competition will be held outdoors on a synthetic surface, more akin to the indoor version of the game.

Betty Forsyth, women’s team leader, from Larkhall, said: “I would like to congratulate the team on their selection.

“I believe they have the capability to blend together well and will support each other in their quest to win medals in all disciplines for Team Scotland.”

Congratulating the team, Michael Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, commented: “Lawn bowls has a strong tradition of success at the Commonwealth Games and I am confident that these 12 players will do Team Scotland proud once again.”