Inverness Rollerbowl ten-pin bowlers take their perfect game to Ayr for Scottish championships – and secure 20 medals

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Talented young ten-pin bowlers from Inverness are celebrating making a spectacular medal strike at a Scottish national championships.

As reward for a year of hard work and dedication, the 18-strong Rollerbowl Youth Bowling Club team left the LA Bowl venue at Ayr late last month with no fewer than 20 gongs from 47 places.

That included Aiden Smith being crowned overall male national champion for 2024, with the winner saying he “felt ecstatic” after becoming national champion at the Youth Nationals.

In all, the medal haul for the Inverness travelling party, aged between eight and 17 years old, featured eight golds, three silvers and nine bronze.

As recently as July last year, the club had only one level 1 coach but achieved enough fundraising and sponsorship that summer to fund six of our parents and two of our teen bowlers to complete their Level 1 coaching badges, bringing coaching capacity from one to nine.

That has proven transformational to the young squad, with club officials hailing an “incredible achievement” at the recent event in Ayr.

“I am so proud of what we have achieved as a club,” club chairperson Jonathan Bircumshaw said.

“The dedication and support that we have received from every single family of our 18 bowlers is simply incredible.

“The club has become like a second family to all of us over the last 12 months and we are inspired by what our youngsters are achieving and to see their love for bowling grow each week.”

Already, the Inverness squad has seen members picked to represent their national team in youth international competitions, with many more of their bowlers harbouring aspirations to achieve the same in coming years.

The Ayr tournament also saw the young competitors wear new club shirts purchased in December 2023 after support from main sponsor CarZar by Dicksons, Dalmore Furniture, IDM, Howdens Joinery and DR Electrical.

Rollerbowl owner Shagid Yusaf has also been supportive in hosting coaching courses and regular training sessions with the team.

Full results:

Youth Nationals 2024 Singles

Division B

Kerim Yavuz – 3rd Place (Joint) 14 yrs

Dylan MacArthur 3rd Place (Joint) 14 yrs

Division C

Jacob Bircumshaw – 1st Place 12 yrs

Arda Yavuz – 3rd Place 9 yrs

Division D

Connor Mackinnon - 3rd Place 13 yrs

Division E

Arran Smith – 2nd Place 9 yrs

Nathan Cameron – 3rd Place 8 yrs

Youth Nationals 2024 Doubles

Division A

Kerim Yavuz & Aidan Smith – 3rd Place 14 yrs & 17 yrs

Division B

Orla Anderson & Jason Aubin – 1st Place 12 yrs & 13 yrs

Dylan McArthur & Jacob Bircumshaw – 3rd Place 14 yrs & 12 yrs

Division C

Hailey Cameron & Robyn McDonald – 1st place 11 yrs & 12 yrs

Ellie Jackson & Erin Macfarlane – 2nd Place 12 yrs & 12 yrs

Youth Nationals 2024 Team

Division B

Alice Robertson, Nathan Cameron, Dylan MacArthur & Jacob Bircumshaw – 1st Place 12 yrs, 8 yrs,

14 yrs & 12 yrs

Youth Nationals 2024 All Events (Combined events pinfall )

Division A

Aiden Smith – 1st Place 17 yrs

Division B

Jason Aubin – 2nd Place 13 yrs

Division C

Jacob Bircumshaw – 1st Place 12 yrs

Division D

Hailey Cameron – 3rd Place 11 yrs

Division E

Nathan Cameron – 1st Place 8 yrs

Arran Smith – 3rd Place 9 yrs

Youth Nationals 2024 Male National Champion

Aiden Smith – 1st Place 17 yrs

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