TWO county bowlers have hit the jack-pot after they were selected on Tuesday to represent Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall, from Tranent, and Port Seton’s Lauren Baillie had their places in the 10-strong squad confirmed by David Gourlay, Bowls Scotland head coach, becoming the latest East Lothian sports stars to take their places for the Games.

Former East Lothian star and world number one Paul Foster was also selected.

Marshall and Baillie came through an intensive 18-month selection process before the team was whittled down to five men and five women, who will now compete at the Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre from July 24 till August 1 as they look to continue Scotland’s long tradition of success in the sport at the Games.

The selection comes as a late birthday present for Marshall, who turned 47 earlier this year, and it will be the fifth time he has pulled on the blue and white of Scotland at the Games, as he goes in search of his third gold medal.

“I’m obviously delighted,” he told Courier Sport. “It has been a long 18 months of preparation with the other 10 guys involved. There has been a lot of hard work put in and I have been rewarded with a spot in the Games.

“I’ve won two golds in previous Commonwealth Games but it would be the best one ever to win one in your own backyard. The venue is one of the best in the world.

“The backdrop of Kelvingrove Art Gallery is just fantastic. The scenery where all the six greens are is just a beautiful venue.” He added: “It always means more to have your family round about you. They don’t get too many opportunities to go and watch you.” Currently the only person to have won five World Indoor Singles titles, Marshall, who plays for Gifford BC, also holds the record for the most world titles in all events.

His first taste of Commonwealth Games action was in Canada in 1994, followed by Malaysia four years later.

Both times he narrowly missed out on a bronze medal.

However, in Manchester in 2002, he teamed up with George Sneddon to win the pairs event and in Melbourne in 2006 another pairs gold would be earned alongside his close friend Foster.

Each player in the squad will take part in two events – singles or fours and pairs or triples – although Gourlay is keeping who will be playing in what under wraps for “tactical reasons”.

“The best one of them all would be a gold in Glasgow,” said Marshall.

“You’ve got to be confident. Winning the last two I’ve been to, the third would be the icing on the cake.

“I’m looking to pick up medals in the two events I will be competing in.

“All five guys are confident and we are really going to put in a lot of hard work.” For Baillie, who plays for Cockenzie & Port Seton BC, it will be her first Commonwealth Games experience and she found it difficult keeping her selection quiet prior to it being announced.

“It is very exciting,” the 32-year-old told Courier Sport. “We knew for a couple of weeks.” She added: “We will see how exciting it is really, especially with it being in Scotland.” The duo will now undertake more rigours preparation, with focus between now and the Games firmly on making sure they are in the best shape for a medal.

“David Gourlay booked out all of Kelvingrove for May and June to get us ready,” explained Marshall.

“We have the advantage to play on the green and we need to take that advantage and get out and use it as much as we can.

“There’s a few other events going on in the meantime but it is a case of putting them to the bottom of the pile.

“Everyone wants to do well at these Games. There is the opportunity to win a medal so you have to be well prepared for it.

“I am solely focused on the Commonwealth Games.”