RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesA 23-year-old walking out to Mountains by Biffy Clyro is not the picture many people will paint when they think of bowls.
But that will be the scene in hall three at the SEC Centre on Wednesday when Scotland's Sophie McGrouther begins her women's singles campaign.
Despite being the youngest member of Scotland's bowls team, primary school teacher McGrouther has set her sights high.
Given she was the world indoor champion aged 21, why shouldn't she aim for a slab of metal come the weekend?
There'd certainly be worse things than a Commonwealth Games medal to show her class as part of a 'what did you do during your summer holidays?' lesson.
But there's a bigger picture here too.
Introducing new eyes, inspiring the next generation and breaking the stigma attached to the sport she loves is at the forefront of McGrouther's mind over the next few days in Glasgow.
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When anyone of a certain age says they play bowls, they face a barrage of questions. At the crux of most of them is, 'why?'
Then throw in the comments about it being a boring, old man's game. The record has never changed. Until the DJ at the SEC has their way...
McGrouther has been asked time and time again. Her answers, though, may be a little surprising.
Usually parents or grandparents can be pointed to, but the Fife native didn't have anyone hauling her along to her local club. She, quite literally, went along herself.
After being introduced to the game aged 10 via a taster session at school, she made the decision to have a go at Abbeyview Bowling Club. And to the surprise of many at the time, she stuck at it. Thank goodness she did.
"I used to go to the club after school and they would laugh at me coming in on my scooter and they'd be like, 'who is she?'," McGrouther told BBC Sport Scotland.
"For me, it's the social aspect, the friends that you meet all over the world that really that keeps it going.
"I definitely missed out on a lot of events and things because I was always focused on training, but it's just nice that it's all been worth it."
Having travelled the world with her bowls in tow, she's acutely aware of the opportunities the game has given her. She's even more switched on to the impact a Games can have.
Even though she had just started throwing bowls - and already finding them very close to the jack - she was giddy in the grandstands at Kelvingrove 12 years ago, cheering on Paul Foster and Alex 'Tattie' Marshall as they won gold in the men's pairs at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
It's "unbelievable" for her to now be competing alongside her heroes at these home Games, which are not only different in being played indoors.
There are two big glitter balls on arrival at the bowls hall, while the Bee Gees were playing during McGrouther's team-mates' Para-mixed pairs B2-B3 win on Tuesday.
This is a revamped bowls, searching for the next superstar in the stand.
"If I can inspire one other little girl to go and take up bowls, that whole chain reaction that they end up in a similar situation to me 12 years later, that would be such a big achievement for me," she added.
"Just trying to move away from the stigma bowls has, because the days of traditional clothing and only the older generation playing are gone.
"We are moving away from that and trying to keep the sport alive and growing for the younger audience."
'Miss McGrouther, you're famous!'
There is no doubt there will be a young, budding audience in West Lothian where McGrouther teaches, though.
All at Winchburgh Primary School were getting in the Games spirit before the summer holidays, to the degree the bowler felt "like a celebrity" in the corridors.
"There was a proper buzz around the whole school, we did an all-in Glasgow 2026 campaign throughout with lots of competitions and I definitely felt like a celebrity walking through the corridors," she added.
"They were saying like, 'Miss McGrouther, you're famous, you're going to the Commonwealth Games!'
"Hopefully it's been inspiring for them, I know a lot of them perhaps hadn't heard of the Commonwealth Games or it wasn't as relevant to them, but bringing that into the classroom for them, they were able to see it.
"Some of my kids are coming to watch next week and just introducing the younger generation to not only bowls, but the other nine sports, is so important."
The finishing touches are being applied to the supportive posters by her school kids - that she knows will "leave her emotional" - but this is only the beginning of not just her Games journey, but a new look for her sport.
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