A PORT bowler is set to earn his Scottish stripes after being called up for the national squad.

Stewart McAlees has been selected to represent Scotland at the men’s and women’s junior under-25s international series which will take place at Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club in Wales later this year.

The 22-year-old has previously played for Scotland’s under-17s, under-18s and under-25s indoor bowling sides, but the latest honour is the first time he has been chosen to represent one of the country’s outdoor bowls sides.

The Port Glasgow Bowling Club member, who has been playing the sport since he was five, told the Tele he was thrilled to get the nod from the national coaching team.

Greenock Telegraph: A PORT bowler is set to earn his Scottish stripes after being called up for the national squad

He said:  “It’s amazing, I’m so chuffed with it, especially since they’ve cut the squad down to 12 players this year from 24 last year.

“That makes it feel even better, just knowing I am in that top bracket of 12 players.

“There’s a squad day in August which will give us a chance to meet each other and bond a bit, but I know a lot of the guys from other competitions.

“I prefer indoor and I seem to be more recognised there but hopefully this’ll be me getting a chance to get a bit of recognition in outdoor too.

“Wales will be a massive opportunity, and hopefully this will spur me on into the big team and then the elite squad after that.

“My first trial for outdoor was probably 2018, I played okay and I didn’t get picked but it was more about learning what it was like.

“I think I’m much better now than I was then, playing at the Port amongst the bowlers here has been great, it’s one of the most competitive bowling clubs in Renfrewshire if not the West of Scotland.”

Stewart started out his playing career at Victoria Bowling Club in Greenock, before spending a brief spell at Gourock Park and then moving on to the Port.

He has represented his current club in a number of external competitions and has also made regular appearances for the Renfrewshire Bowling Association’s junior and senior sides.

The talented player says that getting to represent his country is something he has dreamt about since he first took up the sport.

Greenock Telegraph: A PORT bowler is set to earn his Scottish stripes after being called up for the national squad

He added: “I know a lot of people think bowls might be an old person’s game but it’s a massive sport that anyone can play.

“It’s an amazing social sport, after you play everyone is coming in for a drink and a chat and if you play at a decent level you’re always busy.

“I’m really proud to be playing for Scotland, it was the same with indoor, I couldn’t believe it.

“I’ve got another few years after this so hopefully I can keep my place.

“You have all sorts of options to pursue in bowls these days, indoor and outdoor, and it is hard to get into the elite level, but you just need to make a statement and win some titles to get your foot in the door.

“It’s definitely something I dreamed about when I first started, I got the bug right away.

“Over the last two or three years I’ve improved massively and I’m really looking forward to improving even more when I’m playing later this year.”