Craig Benson (17, Livingston) stormed to a second breaststroke gold medal at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games this evening in the 200m. Craig led from the front and stormed to a personal best time of 2:11.15, with Australian Tommy Sucipto in second place; a repeat of last night’s 100m final.
Benson now has three medals to his name at the Games, having won gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 4x100m medley relay. He has a chance to add to his tally tomorrow in the 200m individual medley and the 50m breaststroke to come tomorrow.
Craig said: “I got my tactics right tonight. My coach and I had worked it out before the race, and we got it spot on. I’m really happy with the swim, to get such a good time and knock five seconds off my personal best is incredible. I’m absolutely delighted to have three medals, but I’ll have the chance for more tomorrow.”
He continued: “I’m really looking forward to the 50m breaststroke tomorrow, because it’s a really fun event. I’m racing in the 200m individual medley too, which I don’t swim very often, but I’m just looking to go out there and have fun.”
Earlier in the session Alisdair Stirling (18, Glasgow) picked up bronze in the men’s 100m freestyle, to add to his silver from last night’s 4x100m medley relay. After the race Ali said: “I’m really happy with my swim in the 50m and I’m really happy to get a second medal. I’m racing in the 50m freestyle tomorrow, which will be fun and I’ll be looking to do well there too.”
In the final race of the night Fiona Donnelly (Belper), Emily Jones (Inverurie), Kirstin McKinley (Glasgow) and Rachel Sharples (Musselburgh) picked up a bronze medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay. The girls swam a fantastic race, finishing behind Australia and Wales in 8:10.67.
After the relay Fiona Donnelly said: “We had a great swim tonight, and most of the girls were on, or beating their personal bests. We’ve been swimming a lot of events, but we all pulled together tonight and to win a medal is amazing.”
Nicholas Percy (Isle of Wight) beat the under-17s Scottish record twice, before setting a new under-17s British record to take the silver medal in the final of the men’s Discus at the Commonwealth Youth Games.
The Scottish record (already held by Nick) was broken on his first throw and beaten again with his second, which put him in a medal position on 59.46m. He looked like he’d bettered himself again on his third throw but his foot slipped from the circle and the attempt was deemed a foul.
Nick slipped into fourth place, before launching a huge final throw of 62.96m, winning the silver medal, and setting a new British record. It took the longest throw in the world this year from South African Gerhard De Beer (67.44m) to put Nick in second, but he was delighted with the result.
“I am so happy with my result, having thrown almost a three metre personal best”, said Nick. “The competition was really tight, with people delivering some huge throws, particularly the world leader for the year.”
He continued: “I’ve thrown a few over 60m before but I hadn’t hit one in competition until today. To save it to the last throw was fantastic, but I feel upset for the guy I pushed into third. We’re all great friends in the throws and we’ve been cheering each other on and congratulating one another on our performances.”
Athletics Team Manager, Darren Ritchie added: “Nick has done a fantastic job today to win the silver medal. He really showed what kind of an athlete he is by breaking his Scottish record and then the British record on his last throw. He was up against a world class field and he should be very proud of his achievement.”
Percy; the Commonwealth Games Scotland athlete of the month winner for August, will compete again tomorrow (11th September) in the final of the men’s hammer.
Youth Team Scotland’s cyclists were given a royal greeting as Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, H.R.H. Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex visited the dining marquee beside the National Sports Centre.
Cyclists Grant Ferguson, Stuart McCluskey, Jack Barrett and Taylor Johnstone were having lunch with Team Manager, Graeme Herd and Head Coach Mark McKay. His Royal Highness was accompanied by Commonwealth Games Scotland Immediate Past Chairman, Louise Martin CBE; Honorary Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Chair of sportscotland.
All four cyclists will compete in the Time Trial this evening from 1845 GMT.
Scotland’s swimmers made a successful start to the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games with a full set of medals at the National Sports Centre in the Isle of Man.
Craig Benson won the gold in the 100m breaststroke, with a superb personal best time of 59:63. It’s the first time Craig has gone under the one minute mark, and it was more than enough to see off Tommy Sucipto (Australia) in second place. Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison was on hand to present Scotland’s first gold medal of the Games.
Craig said: “I wanted to go under a minute today but I wasn’t sure if I could, and to win the gold is incredible. I saw that I was ahead at 50m and after that I just went for it. It’s amazing to win the first gold for Scotland, and I’m just really looking forward to my other events over the weekend.”
Earlier in the evening session Emily Jones picked up Scotland’s first medal of the 2011 Games with a bronze in the 100m breaststroke with a personal best of 1:09:04.
Emily said: “I came into the competition with no expectations so I was just trying to get in and compete as best as I could. I set a new PB this morning in the heats and to beat it again in the final is a great feeling. To win the first medal of the Games is brilliant and I hope it will set the rest of the team up for a successful weekend!”
Topping off a fantastic evening and completing the medal set was the men’s 4x100m relay team of Josh Booth, Craig Benson, Mark Szaranek and Ali Stirling. The boys finished behind Australia with a time of 3:41:50 to take the Silver.
Swimming Team Head Coach, Gary Patterson added: “It was great to get the first medal early on with Emily. Then we had a superb swim from Craig, going under a minute to take gold in the 100m breaststroke. We really attacked from the front tonight and I’m delighted for the team. There are opportunities there over the weekend and we’ve given ourselves a great starting block tonight.”
All of Scotland’s swimmers will be back in the pool tomorrow as day two of competition at the 2011 Youth Games gets underway.
It was a successful day for Youth Team Scotland as the fourth Commonwealth Youth Games got underway. Medals came in the pool, with a gold for Craig Benson in the 100m breaststroke, silver for the men’s 4x100m medley relay team and bronze for Emily Jones also in the 100m breaststroke to see Youth Team Scotland placed sixth on the medal table at the end of day one.
Sport by sport preview (all times BST):
Athletics
Youth Team Scotland flagbearer Tom Holligan (Edinburgh) was first on the track in the men’s 100m. Tom qualified for the evening session final, where he finished seventh. Zoey Clark (Aberdeen) qualified fastest in heats and semi-final for the women’s 400m final tomorrow.
In the morning heats tomorrow (from 0900) Bethanie Finlayson (Dunfermline)and Chloe Lambert (Glasgow) will line up in the women’s 200m before Tom Holligan goes again this time in the men’s 200m. Emma Brown (East Kilbride) and Yasmin Milne (Aberdeen) will compete in first round of the the women’s 100m hurdles before John McCall (Kirkintilloch) races in the men’s 110m hurdles. In the evening session (from 1605) Nicholas Percy (Isle of Wight) will throw in the men’s discus final before Zoey Clark runs in the final of the women’s 400m. The women’s 100m hurdles and the men’s 110m hurdles finals will also take place.
Badminton
In the singles Josh Neil (Prestwick) lost 7-21, 7-21 to Malaysian top seed Zulfadli Zulkiffli, and Matt Carder (Edinburgh) was knocked out by Canadian Clinton Wong, 21-15, 18-21, 21-16. Kirsty Gilmour (Bothwell) defeated Kayleigh Callow (Isle of Man) 1-21, 8-21 and Alannah Stephenson (Northern Ireland) 6-21, 12-21 to go through to the quarter finals.
In the men’s doubles Matt and Josh lost out Nathan Choi and Nyl Yakura (Canada) 21-14, 21-10. In the women’s doubles Kirsty and Caitlin Pringle (Giffnock) defeated Reba Fleary and Kristi Reno-Singh (Trinidad & Tobago) 21-12, 21-8. In the mixed doubles Matt and Kirsty won against Ciaran Chambers and Alannah Stephenson (Northern Ireland) 21-13, 21-13; Matthew Chau and Gronya Sommerville (Australia) 21-10, 21-10.
Tomorrow (from 1000) Kirsty continues in the singles against Foo Kune Kate Jessica Kim Lee before teaming up with Matt to play Indian duo Srikanth Nammalwar Kidambi and Maneesah Kukkapalli. In the women’s doubles Kirsty and Caitlin will play Mei Kuan Chow and Meng Yean Lee.
Boxing
First up today was Mark McKeown (Coatbeidge), who faced Qais Ashfaq (England). Mark boxed well but was defeated 16-9. In the final bout of the afternoon session Charlie Flynn (Motherwell) looked strong against Charles Lumbwe (Zimbabwe) winning 22-6.
In the evening Rhys Pagan (Sanquhar) won 20-16 against Kompone (Botswana) and Grant Quigley (Pot Glasgow) stopped Cory Miles (New Zealand) in the second round. Kieran Smith (Greenrigg) passed into the next round after Luis Valdivia withdrew (Canada).
The four remaining boxers will compete tomorow evening (from 1700) and are now guaranteed at least a bronze medal each. Charlie Flynn faces Jabulani Makhense (South Africa), Rhys Pagan is up against Darren Tetley (England), Kieran Smith fights Botshelo Robby (Botswana) and Grant Quigley will face Surender Singh.
Cycling
In the Time Trial today Grant Ferguson (Peebles) finished 11th, Stuart McCluskey (Hamilton) 22nd, Jack Barrett (Doune) 25th and Taylor Johnstone (London) 36th.
The men’s road race takes place tomorrow afternoon (from 1300), starting and finishing at the famous TT Grandstand. Jack Barrett, Grant Ferguson, Taylor Johnstone and Stuart McCluskey will all represent Youth Team Scotland.
Gymnastics
In the women’s Artistic Team competition, Shannon Archer (Uphall), Carly Smith (Glasgow) and Cara Kennedy (Paisley) finished 4th behind Australia narrowly missing out on the bronze medal. In the men’s Artistic Team competition, Douglas Ross (Johnstone), Liam Davie (Cambroe) and Jamie Carpenter (Newcastle) finished 5th.
Good scores in the Team competition saw Cara Kennedy and Carly Smith qualify for tomorrow’s women’s Artistic Individual All-Around competition, while Jamie Carpenter walos went through to the equivalent men’s competition (from 1400).
Rugby 7s
The rugby 7s competition gets underway tomorrow at the Bowl Stadium with the opening group matches. Scotland feature in the opening game of the completion against the hosts, Isle of Man (1620). Scotland will also other face their other pool A opponents Canada (1758) and Australia (1957) during the session.
Swimming
Kirstin McKinley (Glasgow) finished 7th in the 100m freestyle, Emily Jones (Inveruie) won bronze in the 100m breaststroke; Fiona Donnelly (Belper) finished 5th in the 50m butterfly and 5th in the 800m freestyle, Rachel Sharples (Musselburgh) finished 11th in the 50m butterfly heats, missing out on a finals place; Charlotte McKenzie (Stenhousemuir) finished 5th in the 200m backstroke; Fiona, Emily, Kirstin and Charlotte finished 4th in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Mark Szaranek (Glenrothes) finished 4th in the 400m individual medley and 5th in the 50m butterfly; Joshua Booth (Derby) finished 6th in the 200m backstroke and finished 9th in the heats of the 50m butterfly; Craig Benson (Livingston) won gold in the 100m breaststroke; Alisdair Stirling (Rutherglen) finished 6th in the 200m feestyle; whilst Mark, Josh, Craig and Ali won silver in the 4x100m medley relay.
It’s another busy day in the pool tomorrow with nine Scottish swimmers competing in the morning heats (from 0900). Alisdair Stirling (100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay), Joshua Booth (50m backstroke, 100m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay), Craig Benson (200m breaststroke, 4x100m freestyle relay) and Mark Szaranek (100m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay) will race in the men’s competition.
Emily Jones (200m individual medley, 400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay), Charlotte McKenzie (200m individual medley, 100m backstroke), Kirstin McKinley (50m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay), Rachel Sharples (200m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay) and Fiona Donnelly (400m freesyle, 4x200m freestyle relay) will feature in the women’s competition.
Finals for all events will take place in the evening session (from 1730).
Glasgow 2014 has appointed leading commercial law firm Harper Macleod, as the first sponsor for the XX Commonwealth Games. The announcement is the first of three Tier 2 sponsors to be announced across a three week period.
Scottish law firm Harper Macleod will become the Official Law Firm of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and as such will provide a number of services, including legal support on commercial contracts, sponsorship, broadcasting, anti-doping, and licensing.
Jon Doig, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive was at Hampden Park today where the sponsorship was unveiled by Glasgow 2014 Chairman Lord Smith and Chief Executive David Grevemberg. They were joined by 30 schoolchildren from Mount Florida Primary school in Glasgow.
Glasgow 2014 Chairman Lord Smith said:”Harper Macleod is a highly respected Scottish law firm with great pedigree in the sporting world. The partnership with Glasgow 2014 is very much a “defining moment” in their history.
“We are really pleased to be in the position of appointing Tier 2 sponsors just under three years out from the Games. When you look at previous Games, we are ahead of the curve and hope to continue in a similar vein.
“Getting sponsors on board in this economic climate does have its challenges, but Glasgow 2014 has such a good story to tell that businesses like Harper Macleod couldn’t wait to be formally associated with us in this way.”
Having arrived in Douglas on Tuesday, Youth Team Scotland hasn’t wasted any time in getting settled into the team hotel. Situated on the promenade, the Claremont Hotel will be home to Scotland’s 75 athletes and competitors for the duration of the Games.
The hotel has been transformed into a sea of blue, white and purple, with saltires and thistles hanging from windows and railings. Visitors to the hotel are met by a victorious image of former Youth Games athlete Robbie Renwick, celebrating his 200m freestlye gold in Delhi; which will undoubtedly inspire the class of 2011.
Deputy General Team Manager, Elinor Middlemiss said: “Scotland has a great reputation when it comes to branding our Commonwealth Games accommodation, and the Youth Games is no different. We want to make sure that the experience for the athletes here is as close to a senior Games as possible, and that means we’ll make sure the hotel feels like a home from home.”
“The Claremont is a fantastic hotel, and the staff have been really welcoming to the team. They have accommodated us wonderfully; we have an athlete chill-out room downstairs with some TVs and a dance game, and we have set up our Games HQ in the boardroom.”
Sprinter Tom Holligan (Edinburgh) said: “The hotel has been superb so far. It’s very similar to the set up for the European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey, but I know the protocols and I feel a lot more at home here.”
Rugby 7s player Chris Auld (Dumfries) added: “Everyone’s relaxing and getting on well; the feeling in the hotel is great. The team building we did at the Team Camp last month has definitely helped everyone settle in here. The hotel has been great so far and we’re all just looking forward to our matches.”
Antigua & Berbuda are also staying in the Claremont Hotel, but with a much smaller contingent of six. “It’s great that we have Antigua & Berbuda staying in the hotel too”, says Elinor. “The athletes are getting to mix with other countries, which is just how it is at a senior Games. It’s all adding to the experience.”
Edinburgh sprinter Tom Holligan (17) has been named as the flagbearer for Youth Team Scotland, and will have the honour of carrying the saltire into the Opening Ceremony of the fourth Commonwealth Youth Games, which takes place at the Bowl Stadium this evening (from 19:15).
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison, joined Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman, Michael Cavanagh to make the announcement at the Youth Team Scotland hotel (the Claremont) on the Isle of Man.
It has been a successful year for Holligan, who won a gold and a silver medal at the 2011 European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey. He won the 200m with a personal best time of 21.46 and helped the men’s 4x100m relay team to the silver medal. Tom has also shown excellent personal qualities that embody the ethos of Youth Team Scotland.
Tom was voted as flagbearer by his Scotland team-mates, after a shortlist of three was selected at the team camp in August. Fellow shortlisted nominees, swimmer Craig Benson (Livingston) and cyclist Grant Ferguson (Peebles) will walk behind Tom into the Opening Ceremony, followed by the rest of the team.
“I think everyone saw from my face when the announcement was made that I was shocked”, said Tom. “It’s an honour to be nominated within my sport, because there are some superb athletes, but to be recognised by the whole team is fantastic. I’m really proud and it’ll be brilliant to lead the team out in the Opening Ceremony.”
“When you look at what Grant and Craig have both achieved this year, to be put on the same list as them is phenomenal. I feel humbled to have been shortlisted but it’s an amazing feeling to have been chosen as the flagbearer. My mum will be delighted!”
Congratulating Tom, Shona Robison said: “To be named flagbearer for Youth Team Scotland is a terrific honour for Tom Holligan and a direct reflection of his fantastic form on the track so far this year. Tom’s recent success will be an inspiration to his team-mates and I wish the whole Scottish team the very best of luck as they embark on what we all hope will be a Commonwealth Youth Games to remember.”
Michael Cavanagh added: “Tom has already shown this year that he is a fantastic athlete, and we have been really impressed with his attitude and professionalism as a member of Youth Team Scotland. I am delighted that Tom has been recognised by his fellow athletes and I know he will lead by example for the duration of the Games.”
The announcement of the flagbearer is a longstanding tradition, and Tom will follow in the footsteps of Louise Carroll (hockey), Gemma Nicol (athletics) and Lisa Glover (athletics), who carried the flag at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.
The Opening Ceremony will be streamed live online via the BBC Isle of Man website.
Competition is due to get underway tomorrow (9th September) on the Isle of Man, with Scottish athletes featuring in six of the seven Youth Games sports. The rugby 7s competition gets underway on Saturday 10th, but there’s plenty of action scheduled for the opening day.
Boxing preliminary bouts took place today (8th September) at the Villa Marina but no Scottish fighters were in action.
Sport by sport preview (all times GMT):
Athletics
Tom Holligan will compete in the morning heats (from 1200) of the men’s 100m at the National Sports Centre, with Zoey Clark competing in the women’s 400m. The semi-finals for both events take place in the evening session, which will also see the final of the men’s 100m.
Badminton
Matthew Carder, Josh Neil, Kirsty Gilmour will line up in rounds one, two and three of the singles competition. Josh and Matt play together, and Kirsty will be joined by Caitlin Pringle for round one of the doubles. The all-day session (from 1045) will also see Matthew and Kirsty; and Josh and Caitlin compete in rounds one and two of the mixed doubles.
Matthew faces Clinton Wong (Canada) in the singles while Josh will play Zulkiffli Zulfadlli (Malaysia) and Kirsty is up against Kayleigh Callow (Isle of Man). In the doubles Josh and Matt play Nathan Choi and Nyl Yakura (Canada) while Kirsty and Caitlin face Reba Fleary and Kristi Reno-Singh (Trinidad & Tobago). In the mixed doubles Josh and Caitlin play Matthew Nicholson and Laura Beggs (Isle of Man). Matt and Kirsty will face Ciaran Chambers and Alannah Stephenson (Northern Ireland).
Boxing
All five of Scotland’s boxers will compete across two sessions tomorrow at the Villa Marina. In the afternoon (from 1200) Mark McKeown will face Qais Ashfaq (England) before Charlie Flynn fights Charles Lumbwe (Zimbabwe). In the evening (from 1700) Rhys Pagan is up against Ofentse Kompone (Botswana), Kieran Smith fights Luis Valdivia (Canada) and Grant Quigley faces Cory Miles (New Zealand).
Cycling
The men’s time trial event will take place along the Douglas Promenade on Friday evening (from 1845). Jack Barrett, Grant Ferguson, Taylor Johnstone and Stuart McCluskey will all represent Youth Team Scotland.
Gymnastics
Both the men’s and women’s Artistic Team competitions will take place in the afternoon (from 1400) on Friday. Jamie Carpenter, Liam Davie and Douglas Ross will compete in the men’s competition at the Ellan Vannin Gymnastics centre; while Shannon Archer, Cara Kennedy and Carly Smith will feature in the women’s event at the Manx Gymnastics Centre of Excellence.
Swimming
In the morning heats (from 0900) at the National Sports Centre all ten Scottish swimmers will take to the pool. Kirstin McKinley (100m FS, 4x100m FS relay), Emily Jones (100m breast, 4x100m FS relay), Fiona Donnelly (50m fly, 800m FS, 4x100m FS relay), Rachel Sharples (50m fly) and Charlotte McKenzie (200m back, 4x100m FS relay) will compete in the women’s competition.
Mark Szaranek (400m IM, 50m fly, 4x100m medley relay), Joshua Booth (200m back, 50m fly, 4x100m medley relay), Craig Benson (100m breast, 4x100m medley relay) and Alisdair Stirling (200m FS, 4x100m medley relay) will race in the men’s competition.
Finals for all events will take place in the evening session (from 1800).
The 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games are now underway following the Opening Ceremony, which took place at the Bowl Stadium this evening (8th September). The spectacular ceremony featured over 225 dancers, musicians and actors who paid tribute to the Isle of Man’s heritage, while welcoming athletes and officials from all over the world.
Announced as flagbearer this afternoon, sprinter Tom Holligan (Edinburgh) led Youth Team Scotland into the Opening Ceremony. The ceremony blended the best of Manx culture with references to five continents from which the Commonwealth athletes come, drawing together young people, children and adults from all over the island.
Youth Team Scotland, General Team Manager Vicky Strange said: “Tom was a great flagbearer and I think the entire team really got into the spirit of the Opening Ceremony tonight. It’s always a special experience for athletes to march as a team as it really marks the start of the Games. We’re now all really excited for the Games to begin tomorrow.”
Following the ceremony, Tom said: “It felt incredible to lead Youth Team Scotland out at tonight’s Opening Ceremony. The memory will stay with me forever!”
Following a celebration of Manx culture, the show developed an international flavour with the ‘Carnival of the Commonwealth’ before reaching its climax with a stunning finale featuring all of the performers and some spectacular special effects.