The last and only other time that archery was included in the Commonwealth Games was in Brisbane in 1982 although two Commonwealth Championships have been held. Both of these took place in India, the first in 1993 and the second in November 2006 after which archery was added to the 2010 Games programme.

In the archery competition at the Games there will be a maximum of three entries per country in each of the two individual events (recurve and compound) for men and women as well as team competitions in each, with a team being made up of three archers. To increase its spectator and media appeal the sport has changed its competition structure over recent years to a knockout format.

Scottish Archery has been extremely excited about their inclusion in the Games and has gone to great lengths to ensure they are ready to take advantage of the opportunity, including attending both the last Commonwealth Championships and the Games test event in Delhi in February 2010.

Whilst all new to Commonwealth Games competition, Montrose’s Simon Needham has major Games experience, having competed in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney as well as European and World Championships for Great Britain. At 27 Emma Downie, originally from Fraserburgh is the youngest member of the team and was the winner of the 2009 British Target Championships in recurve.

Congratulating the team, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “We are delighted to welcome all 10 archers to Team Scotland and I hope they are looking forward to what will be a new competition experience for them as part of a multi-sport team at the Commonwealth Games. They have truly earned their places on the team and I hope that they now can focus over these next two months on their final preparations that will put them in the best possible shape for the Games.”

Jon Doig, Team Scotland Chef de Mission added: “All 10 archers can feel rightly proud of their achievement in being selected for Team Scotland. This is the first step to achieving their goals in Delhi and all the support staff look forward to working with them and ensuring they have every opportunity to excel at the Games.”

On behalf of Scottish Archery, Bob Provan, Sport Team Leader said: “All the athletes are both excited and proud to be representing their country. They have all worked very hard over the last two years, under the guidance of Head Coach Lana Needham, to reach this point, but they realise that there is still a distance to go. The support they have had from the sportscotland institute of sport has also helped to make this possible. The team’s work and commitment has raised the bar in Scottish Archery and set an example for all Scottish archers hoping to compete at this level in the future.”

The archery competition will be held at the Yamuna Sports Complex from 4-10 October 2010.

Athlete Events Age Lives

Emma Downie, Recurve – individual, 27, Wolverhampton
Claudine Jennings, Compound – individual & team, 30 Edinburgh, EH7
Susan Maitland, Compound – individual & team, 53, Penicuick, Midlothian EH26
Tracey McGowan, Compound – individual & team, 38 Tadcaster, North Yorkshire

Mark Forrester, Recurve – individual & team, 37, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
James Laing, Recurve – individual & team, 48, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire AB30
Simon Needham, Recurve – individual & team, 50, Montrose, Angus DD10
Kyle Dods, Compound – individual & team, 36, Oban, Argyll & Bute PA34
Tim Keppie, Compound – individual & team, 28, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Alastair Whittingham, Compound – individual & team, 37, Edinburgh, EH7

Bob Provan, Archery Team Leader, 57, Montrose, Angus DD10
Lana Needham, Head Coach, 43, Montrose Angus DD10