CLAIRE Johnston says sharing an arena with Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle, alongside 40,000 roaring fans, was the highlight of her professional career.

The Auchinleck bowler continues her Commonwealth Games glory bid this week as she vows to end an incredible seven days on a massive high.

Claire narrowly missed on a medal in the foursomes but has another chance this week when she takes part in the triples.

But it’s unlikely anything will top the two hours last week when Claire was part of a very special national celebration.

She said: “The opening ceremony was just amazing. I just wanted to keep walking around and around forever.

“I loved what we were wearing. We were smart and and the outfit was different but that was what was special about it. That’s what made it so different and great.

“The whole evening was so memorable. We made the walk from the Athlete’s Village to Parkhead and the atmosphere was phenomenal. Just walking up to stadium was so special as were getting so much support from everybody.

“All my family and friends were inside as well so that also just adds to everything.

“And then watching Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle, performing for Scotland, was just so great.

“Susan was standing next to us, cheering on Scotland, once she’d peformed. That was pretty amazing too.

“I’ve been in bowls a long time but that has to go down as the most memorable experience. I’m sure it was for all of us.” After the euphoria, Claire had to bring herself back from the clouds and focus on the job in hand.

And while she and her team-mates cruised into the semi-final they fell just short of gaining an elusive medal.

She added: “It was a great event. We played South Africa in the semi-finals and while we came back after a slow start we lost out in the last end.

“We still had a chance in the bronze medal play-off against New Zealand but were trailing early on and then again 16-9 and their skip made some calls that worked in their favour.

“It was absolutely gutting but it was a brave effort and we never gave up. Now we have the triples to look forward to.” Claire and her team started with a victory against Papua New Guinea and, if they qualified from their four-team group, were due to play the quarter-finals as we went to press on Wednesday.