LEGEND Willie Wood has no plans to hang up his bowls after calling time on a stellar county career spanning more than six decades.

Wood (pictured), a Commonwealth Games singles champion in 1982, has enjoyed an illustrious career and helped East Lothian win the coveted Hamilton Trophy in the summer.

The 78-year-old decided that would be his final involvement for the county side, having played in every Hamilton Trophy campaign since 1960. 

He made his debut in 1957, when the county team won the event for the first time, but was absent for the next three years – national service taking him to Germany.

He returned in 1960, and has been an ever-present ever since.

Wood told Courier Sport: “I’m nearly 79 and the time had come to call it a day.

"When you are 60 or 70 years older than some of the other competitors, you start to think about it.”

He was, though, keen to stress he is not giving up on the sport altogether.

Wood, a veteran of eight Commonwealth Games, added: “I’ll still be playing for my club [Gifford], both indoor and outdoor.

"I’m certainly not retiring full stop – I still really enjoy it.”

Tributes were paid to the county legend, who was the first bowler inducted into Scottish Sport’s Hall of Fame, by Stewart Johnston, team manager.

He collected the prize for team of the year at the recent Celebrating Sport awards at The Brunton, and described Wood as “a bit of a hero”.

Johnston added: “He first played in 1957 and he’s been in the team every year since 1960. 

“He’s a legend, and I don’t mind admitting he’s a bit of a hero of mine.”