A SUPER-talented Gourock mum has been bowled over by her surprise success on the green.

Marion Crighton’s achievement of winning a bronze medal at a recent Scottish national championships is all the more amazing considering it comes only three years after she took up the sport.

The 43-year-old was thrilled to grab the award at the Bowls Scotland nationals at Northfield Bowling Club in Ayr.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted — over the moon. I actually went there to just try and win a game so I was delighted that I went as far as I did.” Marion lives with her husband Alan, 48, a firefighter, and their daughters Zoe, 14, and nine-year-old Eve, in Hilltop Crescent.

She was inspired by her spouse’s success and joined Gourock Park Bowling Club in 2011.

Marion won four games and a district final to reach the national finals in Ayr. Her meteoric run was only stopped by top internationalist Lorna Smith, who went on to win the title for the third year in a row.

She said: “Lorna said she was looking forward to seeing me in the Scottish trials next year, which was really nice.” The reporting analyst for IBM puts her success down simply to her passion for the sport.

She said: “I think it’s because I really enjoy it so much that I’m doing well.” Husband Alan has also shown a natural flair for the game.

He joined the Gourock club the year before his wife and, in only his second year, took the Renfrewshire County 4s title.

But he is thrilled by Marion’s success, saying: “She works hard for it, I’m very proud of her. She’s down here practising all the time.

“It’s rare for someone from our district to win the singles district title, and nobody in this district, as far as I know, has reached the singles at national level.” Marion is also also ‘carpeting’ rivals in the indoor bowling club circuit.

She has been Inverclyde Bowling Club’s Ladies Champion for the last two seasons and represented Inverclyde in the Indoor Bowling Scottish Championships in Coatbridge recently.

She will represent Inverclyde in the pairs, triples and fours competitions.

Marion wants to thank Gourock Park Bowling Club for all their support and encouragement.