THREE men representing Alva Bowling Club earned themselves a bronze medal at a national competition.

Willie Stewart, Robert Hunter and Gary Craig fought off the competition to make it to the semi-final stage of the Scottish Nationals in Ayr.

While the group didn’t manage to progress further, their efforts at the semi-final stage were rewarded with a bronze medal.

The trio returned to Alva Bowling Club with their medals, with member and Robert’s mum Liz Hunter sharing her delight at their achievements.

She said: “What they’ve had to do is win round about the area first to qualify for Ayr and then play their games there.

“They played three games and then they had qualified for the semi-finals, coming home with a bronze medal.

“It’s a massive achievement – the last person to bring anything back to Alva Bowling Club was back in 1983.

“That underlines how big this is for them and the club and we’re all so happy for them.”

The trio are the first to bring medals back to Alva Bowling Club since Brian Rattray, who won a medal at Ayr in 1983.

Brian would go on to have an exemplary career in bowls, representing Scotland at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

He had success at the Scottish Nationals in 1982, winning the singles tournament and earning the chance to represent Scotland at the British Isles Bowls Championships.