A QUARTET of Clacks bowlers has secured bronze at a national bowls competition.

Derek Wallace led his team of Robert Allan, John Bernard and Mark McCallum through a gruelling qualification process to secure a spot at the national championships in Ayrshire.

The four-strong bowlers got through to the semi-final, losing that but securing a bronze medal in the tournament for their efforts.

Wallace, skipper for the team, said he was delighted with his team’s progress in the competition and added he has his eyes set for gold next time.

“It was brilliant,” Derek told Advertiser Sport. “I’ve had a bronze medal before that I picked up in 2019 as well.

“I’m aiming for the gold – it’s on my bucket list to get the gold and I don’t think I’ll stop until I can get it.”

To make the finals, Derek’s team had to become champions of Clackmannan Bowling Club, facing off against all the other teams in the club.

From there, they battled it out with District 9 teams, made up of every bowling club in Stirlingshire and Clackmannan & Kinross.

After winning the District 9, they were made Scottish District winners which earned them a place at the Ayrshire finals, held by Northfield Bowling Club.

They were beaten in the semi-final by professional bowler Stewart Anderson, a world champion from Quarter Bowling Club in South Lanarkshire.

Derek added: “We managed to beat everyone in our club, everyone in the district and then the teams we faced before making the semi-finals at Northfield BC.

“It’s quite a big deal for us to even qualify for the tournament, never mind reaching the stage where you get a bronze medal.

“It’s huge for us and for the club.”

Clackmannan BC boast some impressive names in their roster, with Derek’s very own brother Kevin Wallace becoming a Commonwealth gold medallist in 2022.

“Kevin plays in my bowling club,” Derek said. “He’s a Commonwealth gold medallist and I’ve now went down to Ayr and picked up a bronze medal.

“The Wee County is quite a strong area for bowlers but our club alone has won a lot over the last few years.

“It’s a massive achievement for us to get down there and it was tough as we were up against the very best across the country.”