A YOUNG lawn bowler from Prestwick is one of the first Scots to claim a place in the team for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa this September.

Darren Weir, 15, described it as by far the best achievement of his sporting career so far.

Over the past six weeks, 124 youngsters from across Scotland have battled it out for just two spots.

"It was a very hard competition because the qualifying stage wasn't easy, never mind getting to the final and finishing 21-19," said Darren. "But it was a great opportunity to get to Samoa, I feel very proud."

Darren, who plays at Prestwick Ambassador Indoor Bowling Club and Kincaidston & Belmont Bowling Club outdoors, will be joined in the team by fellow bowler Carla Banks, 16, from Inverurie.

The duo will each compete in singles and then team up for a mixed pairs event.

This marks only the second time that lawn bowls has been included on the Commonwealth Youth Games programme, the first being in Bendigo, Australia, in 2004 when Scotland won silver in both the team competition and mixed pairs

Samoa is a small island state in the central Pacific which is home to just over 187,000 people.

Scotland is anticipated to send a 40-strong squad to the Youth Games which take place from September 5-11.

Those taking part range in age from 13-18 and Scotland will compete in eight of the nine sports on the programme: aquatics, archery, athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, squash, tennis and weightlifting.

Sporting stars that have come through the Youth Games and progressed to win medals at the Commonwealth Games include Newarthill boxer Charlie Flynn who took gold at Glasgow 2014.

Others include athlete Lynsey Sharp, swimmers Hannah Miley and Robbie Renwick, gymnasts Daniel Keatings and Adam Cox, badminton players Kirsty Gilmour and Imogen Bankier, boxer Josh Taylor and shooter Jennifer McIntosh.

Alan McMillan, Bowls Scotland CEO, said: "We are satisfied we have left no stone unturned in our rigorous selection process to find the two best bowlers to represent Youth Team Scotland.

"We congratulate Carla and Darren for showing great determination and stamina to win the selection finals and we are delighted to see them taking their places on Youth Team Scotland."