Inverness Darts League player Courtney McBain is on target to be selected for Scotland squad to compete at British Internationals in Wales
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COURTNEY McBain has been called up to the Scotland squad to compete at the 2022 British Internationals in Wales.
The 24-year-old, who plays for Innes X in the Inverness Darts League and Highland in the Scottish County Championship, will make her international debut at Merthyr next Friday.
The accounts assistant from Elgin is the only player in the Highland squad that has been selected for Scotland.
McBain, who is ranked third in the Scottish rankings, will take on players from England and Wales in a tri-nations tournament.
Despite her impressive form in recent months, she says it still came as a shock to be called up for national service.
“I play for Highland in the Scottish County League where we go around the country playing different counties,” she said.
“Selectors have been watching how I got on and were looking at my average scores throughout the season.
“When the call-up was made, I was ranked third in the Scottish rankings.
“But still, because I had never been in contention for the Scotland squad before, it came as a surprise when I received the call-up.”
From a young age, McBain gravitated towards darts as most of her family play.
She regularly travels between Elgin and Inverness to play darts.
“I grew up in a darts family, I have five siblings who play and my mum and dad play in the local pub leagues,” she said.
“My older sister, Sarah Stephen, plays county level alongside me, as well as in my Inverness league team and she has won a lot of competitions during her career.
“The Inverness league is a really high standard, a lot of players who are playing county level play in the local leagues and are really good.”
Courtney became Inverness singles champion last month for the first time and also won the Inverness mixed doubles championship with James Fraser earlier this year.
McBain sees her call-up to the Scotland squad as the next step in her darts career.
She is aiming to achieve more success with the ambition of going on to play at a higher level.
“Things like this are a new experience for me and it is something I want to gain more opportunities in,” said McBain.
“I would like to play in the PDC Women’s Series which has just been established.
“I would like to get to the standard where I am capable of competing in that.”