Commonwealth Games gold medallist Darren Burnett has quashed speculation of a Scottish bowls fall-out.
The absence of Arbroath’s Glasgow 2014 singles champion from the Scottish international trials at Craigentinny on Sunday raised a few eyebrows in the sport.
But the world champion has dismissed the idea of a selection spat.
He explained: “The selectors made it quite clear that anyone who did not play in the trial would not be picked for the team to play in the international series at the Eddlestone club in Hamilton later this month.
“Quite simply, I was not available for the trial for family reasons.
“But I was also more than happy to take a step backwards this summer, knowing that the national side did so well last year, when the five members of the Commonwealth squad were rested.”
Burnett will be throwing himself into his club and county bowling commitments this summer.
He added: “My club, Arbroath, didn’t see much of me last year, and I’m enjoying playing in the Angus League on Friday nights, and for Angus in the Hamilton Trophy. In fact, with little time to spare, it’s quite a relief not to have international calls to contend with.”
But he insists he is looking forward to getting back on the world stage, and is excited at the prospect of being part of Bowls Scotland’s new coaching set-up under high performance managers Rhona Howie and legendary Welsh bowler John Price.
Also missing from Scotland’s team this year will be Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall, who is playing professionally in Australia, and Paul Foster, who partnered Marshall to gold medals in the pairs and fours at Kelvingrove.
“Paul is in the same position as myself,” said Burnett. “The whole situation was talked through in an above-board kind of way, and we are all comfortable with the outcome.
“It would have been so tough on any of the guys who helped Scotland win the series last year if they had been chucked out to make room for Tattie, Paul and myself – though that’s not to say there won’t be changes announced this week.”
With a healthy contingent from Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire in Sunday’s trial, hopes are high that the region will be well represented when the team is announced tomorrow.
One of the most likely additions to the Scottish international squad is Burnett’s brother, Ryan Burnett, who plays for the Carnoustie West End club, and won the World men’s under-25 singles championship in Queensland in March.