Banff shooter Kay Copland landed the first medal for Scotland – a gold – at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India today (Tues 14 October).
And within minutes of her winning the 50 metre Rifle Prone, Rory McAlpine from Lasswade in Midlothian doubled Scotland’s medal tally by winning bronze in the boys’ 50 metre Rifle Prone event.
“It’s beyond than my wildest dreams to compete in an event like this and it feels absolutely amazing to win the gold medal,” said 18 year old Kay.
“I didn’t think I’d ever get gold, I didn’t think I’d ever get a medal so I’m so happy. The event is quite a high standard and I know some of the people so I was quite nervous before the start.”
Seventeen year old Rory finished behind shooters from England and Northern Ireland. Had it not been for one stray shot in the final, which he recovered quickly from, he might have finished higher.
“I had one shocking shot right in the middle of the final on my fifth shot and thought I had ruined my chances but I managed to put it out of my mind and get on with it,” he said. “I’m very and relieved to in the bronze medal I was very proud to be standing on the podium.”
Equally delighted was Sinclair Bruce, the Scottish team’s shooting manager from Linlithgow. “It’s obviously a great start for the team to get a gold and bronze on the same day and they came in very different ways,” he said.
“Rory had a rocky start in the 60 shot qualification. He came off, had a chat and he went back down and he was like a different shooter. Whilst Kay was steady all the way through.
“Coming into today I was hopeful of two medals. We didn’t really know what the competition was like but I knew what Kay and Rory were capable of.”
Elsewhere in the event Scotland’s three 1500 metre runners all qualified for Wednesday’s final. Livingston 17 year old Chris O’Hare finished joint first in his heat in a time of 3.52 minutes. Beth Potter, 16 from Bearsden, completed her heat in third. Carnoustie’s Eilish McColgan, watched by Olympic medallist mother Liz, finished fifth in her heat but her time, 4.32 minutes, was quicker than the winner of Potter’s heat, qualifying her for the final as the fastest loser.
“I had left too much to catch up, a big gap after 800, which was too much to close,” said Eilish afterwards. “Tomorrow night I will have to stay with them no matter what pace they go off at.”
On the field Barrhead’s Daniel Carlin finished seventh in the shot putt. And Glenrothes javelin thrower Lisa Glover gave more encouraging signs of her return to form after elbow injury, finishing fourth in last night’s final. The 18 year old medical student, the Scottish team’s flag bearer in Sunday’s opening ceremony said, “I threw 42.52 meters tonight and the last time I did that was in May. I’m very happy to be able to end the season over 40 and get as close to the medals as I could.
“I feel everything is there, I had a slight in my right arm which brought the javelin up a wee bit, but most of them are going straight.
“My PB is 46 metres and in the final tonight the girls in front of me threw 49, 45 and 44 metres. It was pretty close.”
In the table tennis event Edinburgh’s Craig Howieson completed the domination of his round robin group with a speedy 11-8 11-5 11-6 dismissal of Warren Li Kam Wa (Mauritius). “I’m starting to feel a lot sharper now, feeling like I’m getting my strokes grooved,” he said afterwards. “So I should be ready for the final round now.” Craig will now go into the draw for the 16 top players.
Badminton players Martin Campbell (Edinburgh) and Paul Van Rietvelde (Longniddry) both won their singles matches and progress to the quarter finals. Boxers Josh Taylor (Edinburgh) and Jonathan Slowey (Glasgow) also won their matches to progress to the next round.
Edinburgh table tennis player Craig Howieson enjoyed a double confidence boost on day one of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India yesterday by winning the first two matches of his round robin draw 3-0.
“It’s always good to get the first match out of the way so to win two matches is great for my confidence,” said the 18 year old Edinburgh University PE student, who is seeded seventh in the singles. “I’ve got one more match in my group tomorrow but I’m expected to win it.”
Like the other Scottish athletes in action in Pune, Howieson was spurred on by the rest of the team. Cheering him from the stands for his second singles game on Monday were Scots from badminton, weighlifting and wrestling. “There’s a great atmosphere amongst the team and we have really bonded well together,” he said.
Howieson was due to play his final singles match this morning (Tues 14th) before teaming up with Glasgow’s Craig Hardie (pictured), for no less than three doubles matches. Eighteen year old Hardie has won one and lost one match in his round robin singles group so far and will need to beat Jackson Morea Kariko from Papua New Guinea to secure his place in the main draw.
Elsewhere on day one badminton players Edinburgh’s Martin Campbell and Paul Van Rietvelde from Longniddry, seeded third and fourth respectively, both won their opening matches.
“It was good to win that first match to settle the nerves and it was a comfortable win,” said Campbell, who will also begin the doubles event tomorrow with Troon’s Angus Gilmour.
“I’ve got a top Canadian next in the singles draw and in the doubles we’ve got the Canadians again,” he said. “To get a medal we’re in the right side of the draw but they are all tough matches, the same as in the singles.”
Amongst the other winners on day one were Fauldhouse light welterweight (64 kg) boxer Robert McKee who beat Zambia’s Stephen Silungwe.
In the shooting event Falkirk’s Jennifer McIntosh finished fifth in the 50m Rifle Prone final, raising her position by one place after a disappointing 40 shot match before the final. Daughter of Scottish Commonwealth Games competitors Shirley and Donald McIntosh, 17 year old Jennifer will now concentrate on the 50 metres Rifle 3 Position event.
Hundreds of children from Hutchings High School in Pune are backing the Scottish team this week.
Pune has developed a school programme, Bond Forever, where local schools are linked to competing nation. The programme has been designed so each school in Pune learns about, and bonds with, another Commonwealth nation.
Monday morning was an opportunity for five Scottish athletes to learn more about the culture of India at Hutchings High School.
Track and field athletes, Calum Innes (Bearsden) and Callum Sharp (Bishopbriggs), boxers Jonathan Slowey (Glasgow) and Sean (Finney Kirkcaldy), and shooter Catriona McGregor (Aberdeen) accompanied Sports Minister, Stewart Maxwell and CGS Chairman, Michael Cavanagh to the school for a cultural extravaganza.
They were treated to traditional dancing, singing (including a fine rendition of Scotland the Brave) before meeting the children who will come to the stadium this week to cheer on the Scots. In a further gesture of friendship the athletes presented official Scottish team kit to the school.
“I jumped at the chance to come here today and it was amazing to experience some Indian culture – the welcome we had was fantastic,” said javelin thrower, Callum Sharp, after emerging from a sea of autograph hunters.
“I’ve never been surrounded by so many kids before. The eagerness the Indians have in these Games is amazing. It was an awesome experience and it’s an amazing country.”
Said Michael Cavanagh: “The athletes are obviously here to compete but it’s important that they experience the culture of India.
“Staff and pupils put in an enormous effort to give us all a memorable experience. I’m certain our athletes will share the enjoyment they had this morning with the rest of the athletes and I’d like to thank everyone at the school for making us feel so welcome.”
On one of the busiest days of the year at Glasgow Airport, most people were heading off on holiday for the October break. But for 44 young Scots it was the start of the trip of a lifetime, selected to represent their country at the III Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India (12-18 October 2008).
Pune 2008 is the first Youth Games to which all 71 Commonwealth countries have been invited to take part with 351 medals to be won across nine sports: athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.
Based on previous Youth Games results, it is anticipated that many of the Scottish athletes, all of whom are 18 years of age or under, who compete and win medals in Pune will go on to compete for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow 2014 when they should be at their competitive peak.
Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP was there to see the team off and to wish them luck, accompanied by Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive, Jon Doig.
Commenting, Jon said: “l am confident that we have selected an outstanding Youth Games Team to compete in Pune and it is fantastic to see the length and breadth of Scotland represented from Troon to Aberdeen to The Isle of Islay.
“Whilst winning medals is important, the major benefit of the Commonwealth Youth Games is exposing young athletes to this level of competition in a multi-sport environment. It is the ideal preparation event for future senior Commonwealth Games and I am sure their experience at these Youth Games will inspire many of them to go on to compete successfully in Delhi in 2010 and particularly Glasgow in 2014.”
The team is travelling to India with Emirates via Dubai and Denise Holmes, Sales Manager (Scotland) for Emirates Airline, was also there to see the team off and said: “Emirates is delighted to be the official Airline for the Commonwealth Youth Games Team travelling to Pune.
“Everyone at Emirates would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the team the best of luck at the Games.”
The team is also being supported by Clydesdale Bank and adding their best wishes Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank said: “We recognise the dedication and commitment of these athletes and their significant achievement in being selected. We are proud to support the team in their endeavours and everyone at Clydesdale Bank wishes them all the best for the Games.”
The team will return to Glasgow on Monday 20 October 2008.
Glenrothes javelin thrower Lisa Glover was delighted to bear the flag for the 44 strong Scottish team in last night’s opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India (12-18 October 2008).
“To be able to represent Scotland in this competition is a huge honour and I’m enormously honoured and proud to be carrying the flag,” she said just before leading the team into the magnificent Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City athletics stadium. Lisa was nominated for the role by the team then given final approval by Commonwealth Games Scotland.
This season has been the best yet for the 18 year old, a second year Glasgow Caledonian radiography student. Highlights include setting a new Scottish under 20 record of 46.04 metres, followed by winning the Scottish Senior and the British Universities Championships.
Competing in her last event of the season in September she had experienced some ‘niggles’ from an old elbow injury but is now mended and raring to get started in the event which has attracted over 1300 entrants from all 71 Commonwealth countries.
“I didn’t have the best middle season leading up to this but I’ve been focussing more on footwork and rhythm rather than how far my javelin goes and I’m feeling really good,” she said.
“It’s really good to be here and see all the other countries and the atmosphere is amazing. It has been worth all the effort. It’s a massive competition, the biggest one I’ve been in and we’re all really excited about it.
“My competition is on Tuesday evening and I’d like to reach the level I was at earlier in the year, break my PB of 46.04 metres and win a medal.”
Joining her at the front of last night’s march-past was Denny wrestler, Connor Evans. The 15 year old, who has won hold the British Cadet (under 17s title) was nominated by the team then to carry a Quaich of water – Perthshire’s Highland Spring – to mix with water from every other team in a special fountain at the stadium.
“I really didn’t expect it, it’s a nice surprise,” said Connor, whose parents were waving a Saltire at the gates of the stadium when the Scottish team arrived on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s great to be here, I’m really excited and I can’t wait to compete. I wrestle next Thursday so before then I’ll train and hopefully watch some of the other events and take in some of the culture. It’s really good and much bigger than I thought it would be.”
Like the other 42 Scottish athletes competing in Pune this week, Connor and Lisa are both aiming to win medals. Yet the athletes all have an eye on the future are using this week’s experience to help them towards future Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Said Connor: “I’d really like to compete in Glasgow in 2014 and getting here is a big step towards that.”
Added Lisa: “I want to compete in Glasgow but 2010 in Delhi is first and I think it’s reachable for quite a few of us here.”
The Scottish team for the Commonwealth Youth Games– to be announced on 21 August at University of Stirling – will comprise over 40 athletes from nine sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling) together with a number of support staff.
The main purpose of the Commonwealth Youth Games is to give our up and coming young athletes a taste of international competition in a multi-sport Games environment. Having this experience should help them maximise their performance when they hopefully go on to qualify for the main Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow 2014.
As part of its programme of support to Scotland’s Commonwealth Youth Games Team 2008, Clydesdale Bank is running an Athlete of the Month competition in conjunction with Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) and the nine participating governing bodies of sport.
Each month between April and August, Sport Team Managers are asked to nominate an athlete from their sport who has demonstrated good performances at competitions in the build up to Pune. A CGS judging panel will select a winner along with a second and third placed athlete . The athletes will be given an athlete award from Clydesdale Bank of £300, £200 and £100 respectively and the winner’s club will also receive £100.
In late October, following the Games, the judging panel will consider performances at the Games themselves to select a Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Games and two runners-up. A further award of £500 and £250 respectively will be awarded with £100 going to the winners club.
Teenage weightlifter, Amy Hamilton from Knightswood in Glasgow, received a boost to her hopes of competing in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India (11-18 October 2008), after being crowned the first Athlete of the Month by the team’s sponsor, Clydesdale Bank and Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS).
16 year old Amy, who is the Athlete of the Month for April is one of Scotland’s best young female weightlifters and enjoyed a highly successful 2007. She represented Great Britain in the European Youth Championships and became British Champion at junior (under 20), under 18 and under 17 levels. So far this year she has defended her junior title and become British Schools Champion.
Her success has come just two years after starting the sport. She discovered weightlifting whilst training at the Glasgow School of Sport, Bellahouston Academy as an acro-gymnast. Combining the excitement of circus acrobatics with the skill and precision of gymnastics, acro is a team event where partners counterbalance each other to perform acrobatic feats. As the strongest of her acro-gymnastics trio, Amy was literally the base of the tower for her team mates.
“I could be in the splits whilst holding two people above me which takes strength, power and balance, the same things you need as a weightlifter,” said Amy at her club, the Palace of Arts Weightlifting Club, where she received her award on Friday.
“My gymnastics career was going well but coaches told me I had better prospects as a weightlifter. It’s more of an individual sport and it’s about how hard you can push yourself. So there’s more personal achievement than in gymnastics where there were three of us in one partnership, where everyone had to be at their best to be the most productive.”
Athletic and sleek of limb, through weightlifting Amy has reduced her weight from 63kg to a current, trim 55kg.
“People often say to me “you don’t look like a weightlifter”, then when I ask them what a weightlifter is supposed to look like they say ‘manly and muscular’. I tell them that’s bodybuilding.”
Yet for all her grace and poise retained from gymnastics, Amy can lift astonishing amounts of weight. Her best Snatch – throwing the bar from floor to above her head in one movement – is 60kg (nine and a half stone). Her Clean and Jerk – a two part lift from the floor to shoulders then overhead – is up to 71 kg (a shade over 11 stone).
Ray Cavanagh is the coach who guides Amy through as many as two training sessions a day, six days a week, “Amy is naturally strong and flexible, has progressed very quickly to get to this standard and she’s as motivated as they come.”
Amy has just been invited onto the newly formed British World Class Weightlifting Youth Squad. She has also been selected to compete for Great Britain again at this summer’s European Youth Championships in France, an offer she declined so she could concentrate on making Scotland’s Commonwealth Youth Games team.
“We’re also turning down a schools competition in Austria because we are concentrating on the Commonwealth Youth Games and don’t want interruptions,” said Cavanagh.
“Pune is important because it will prime her up for the senior Commonwealth Games in Delhi or Glasgow. This will be her first multi-sport games and an important experience for her.”
Amy has already achieved the qualifying criteria and will find out in August, when CGS considers all nominations against the sport’s selection policy, if she is in the team.
In the meantime she is delighted to be Athlete of the Month and excited about nearing her ultimate goal of competing in a future Games. “It’s great to win this award and the £300 will be really helpful for buying new equipment and paying for using the gym,” she said.
“Long term I’m looking at Delhi or Glasgow and I’d love to make it to London. India will be a great experience and hopefully I can be in medal contention.”
Scotland’s sports fans might have focused on the lawn tennis progress of Andy Murray at SW19 but it is the recent exploits of a young table tennis player from EH10 that have earned him Athlete of the Month from Clydesdale Bank, sponsors of the Scottish team bound for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India (11-18 October 2008), together with Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) and the team’s nine participating governing bodies of sport.
By coincidence, Edinburgh 18 year old Craig Howieson was once a tennis player, sufficiently skilled to represent East of Scotland at under 13 level. And as a seven handicap golfer he had plenty of sports to pick from. But it was table tennis he chose as his forte.
“I started table tennis when I was seven when my Dad, who had played at schools level built a table in my attic,” said Craig, speaking as fast and fluidly as the rapid fire discharges from his high tech bat.
“He did some research and found out one of the best clubs in Scotland was situated just five minutes away from the house, North Merchiston Boys Club. He took me along there one Saturday morning and it clicked straight away.”
The Club’s coach, Tom Hook, taught Craig from the very start until a year ago when Craig took up a place at Bristol’s Filton Table Tennis Academy. There, guided by former Scottish coach Kevin Satchell, Craig, who describes himself as a “two winged topspin attacker,” has trained full time.
“There’s a huge amount of work involved and the academy players in China train up to eight hours a day so for us Europeans to compete with them we need to be doing the same,” said Craig, who has been in Scotland’s senior team since aged 14 and is a member of the British Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) Talent ID squad, selected for preparation for London 2012.
“I spend six hours on the table each day doing different drills and exercises; some match specific work, some on my footwork, then an hour in the gym with a specialised strength & conditioning trainer.”
With this level of devotion it’s no surprise that Craig has just had his best season. Highlights include a bronze medal at the UK School Games and a gold medal at under 18s in the British Schools International – both in individual events. In the World Team Championships in China, Craig won six of his 10 matches, helping Scotland gain promotion to Division 2. His hyper consistency helped Drumchapel Table Tennis Club finish second in the British Premier League, qualifying them for the European Club Cup.
“It’s been very successful so far and I beat England’s Paul Drinkhall (World junior No.4, European’s junior top player and British senior No.1,” says Craig. “So I know I’m not that far away from these guys. Now I need to keep improving, get quicker, stronger, faster and become more consistent.”
Craig still has the European Youth Championships and the European Senior Championships to come this summer but has already reached the qualifying criteria set for the Scottish team heading for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune. In August, when Commonwealth Games Scotland considers all nominations against the sport’s selection policy, he will know if he is in the team. If successful it will be a major indicator that he has the wherewithal to eventually be selected for his ultimate goal of competing in a major Games.
“It’s massive to represent your country at a multi sport event like the Youth Commonwealths,” he says. “It’s important to do well in the run up to progress to a senior Games and hopefully I’ll win a medal in Pune then carry that on possibly to Delhi 2010. To get to London 2012 would be fantastic but the icing on the cake for me would be to get to Glasgow 2014 and win a medal there.”
The Pune bound Scottish team – to be announced on 21 August at University of Stirling – will comprise over 40 athletes from nine sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling) together with 16 support staff. Like Craig, these athletes are looking to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014.
As part of its programme of support to Scotland’s Commonwealth Youth Games Team 2008, Clydesdale Bank is running the Athlete of the Month competition between April and August.
Athletes that have demonstrated good performances in the build up to Pune will be nominated for the Athlete of the Month award by the Scottish team’s Sport Team Managers. A CGS judging panel will select a winner, who receives a £300 award from Clydesdale Bank, to help with the costs of training. Each winner’s club will also receive £100.
“It’s fantastic that Clydesdale Bank have put the funding up,” said Craig. “It gives athletes an extra incentive to train hard and get more opportunities for doing so. I think it’s a good scheme to run and I’m delighted I’ve been given it for this month.”
Congratulating Craig Howieson, Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank said, “Clydesdale Bank are proud to be supporting the Scottish Team at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in October this year.
“Craig is an excellent example of the many young people striving for team selection over the summer months and I would like to congratulate him on his many achievements throughout the last year. He is a worthy winner of this month’s Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month award.”
Following the Games, the judging panel will consider performances at Pune to select a Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Games and two runners-up. A further award of £500 and £250 respectively will be awarded with £100 going to the winner’s club.
When Scotland’s Commonwealth Youth Games team was unveiled at Stirling in August hammer thrower, Myra Perkins was doubly delighted.
As well as being named in the 44 strong team bound for the Games in Pune, India (11-18 October 2008), the Falkirk 16 year old earned the Athlete of the Month award from Clydesdale Bank, sponsors of the Scottish team.
Being run between April and August the awards are part of Clydesdale Bank’s support programme. Athletes that have demonstrated good performances in the build up to Pune are being nominated for the Athlete of the Month award by the Scottish team’s Sport Team Managers. A Commonwealth Games Scotland judging panel selects each winner who receives a £300 award from Clydesdale Bank, to help with the costs of training. Each winner’s club will also receive £100.
It’s been an amazing summer for Myra who competes for Falkirk Victoria Harriers and is the youngest yet most consistent performer in the Scottish Athletics’ Commonwealth Games Support Squad.
In April’s Scottish Hammer GP Series at Grangemouth, her throw of 48.60m was a personal best and 60cm longer than the Youth Commonwealth Games qualifying standard. Since then she has bettered the qualifying standard on seven occasions.
“I also went to the AAAs under 20 Championships and came away with a silver,” said Myra (pictured above with Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank). “Then I got a gold in the under 17 AAAs. Those are the UK championships against the best people.”
At the team announcement in Stirling this month Myra believed there was still room for improvement this season, saying, “I’m really proud of the fact I have the Scottish under 17 record and I hope I can push it up even further in the next few weeks.”
Just three days later she did just that with a new Scottish record of 52.02 metres. Her best this season has improved by over four metres from 47.62m.
Myra has surprisingly been a thrower for just two years. Her background, unlikely until you delve into the pasts of better known hammer throwers, is in piano, theatre and Scottish country dance.
“An interesting thing about throwers is a lot used to dance,” she said. “Shirley Webb and Sophie Hitchon (England) both did ballet and I did Scottish Country dancing. I don’t know whether it helps with balance or technique but we all seem to have a dancing background.”
Myra’s athletics career started with sprinting, then as an under-15 athlete she ventured into the world of pentathlon. At the time shot putt and discuss were strong favourites but she was persuaded by her coach to enter Hammer Grand Prix events and it was when competing in Elgin in 2006, that hammer coach Alan Bertram noticed her.
“He asked if I had been invited to the under-15 hammer event at the AAAs the following weekend,” she remembers. “I hadn’t, so Alan made a few phone calls and the following weekend I went down to Birmingham and won bronze.
“None of the English girls knew where I had come from. That was very special because it was the first time I had qualified for the AAAs let alone won a medal there. I think that was when I realised that I had found my event.”
In that first season Myra extended her best throw from 25.60m to 41.44m but the road to her current form has not been without obstacles. As a pupil at Mary Esrkine school in Edinburgh, much time is spent travelling. Not being permitted to use the throwing cage for training at the nearby Grangemouth Athletics Stadium has added to the challenges.
“I’m not allowed to throw at Grangemouth because I’ll make dents in the pitches and the footballers there don’t like the pitch being messed up,” she said. “I train in a mixture of places; in the Borders at Tweedbank, where my coach is based. And we built a circle at home in the field where my mum has horses. There’s no cage at home but we’ve got trees – our neighbours have prize winning sheep so I’ve got to be very careful.”
Along with 43 of Scotland’s best young athletes, Myra will board the plane for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, in just under six week’s time. The Scottish team announced last week comprises 44 athletes from eight sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling) together with 16 support staff. Like Myra, these athletes are looking to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014.
“Being selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games is brilliant, something I’ve been thinking about for over a year and everything I’ve been doing has been geared towards this,” she said.
“I’ve got so much pride that I’m going to be able to compete for Scotland in a multi event competition in such a huge competition.
“It’s an honour to be the Athlete of the Month. I’ve had a good season that I’m really proud of.
Congratulating Myra, Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank said, “Clydesdale Bank is proud to be supporting the Scottish Team at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in October this year.
“Myra is an excellent example of the many young people who have striven for team selection over the summer months and I would like to congratulate her on her many achievements throughout the last year. She is a worthy winner of this month’s Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month award.”
Following the Games, the judging panel will consider performances at Pune to select a Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Games and two runners-up. A further award of £500 and £250 respectively will be awarded with £100 going to the winner’s club.
Today, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) announced the 44 athletes who have been selected to represent Scotland at the third Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India 11-18 October 2008.
Pune 2008 is the first Youth Games to which all 71 Commonwealth countries have been invited to take part with 351 medals to be won across nine sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling). Scotland will compete in eight out of nine sports (not tennis).
As a result of the global expansion of the Games, each country has been allocated a fixed number of places and qualification standards were set accordingly. In a number of sports more athletes met the standards than there were places available.
Based on previous Youth Games results, it is anticipated that many of the Scottish athletes, all of whom are under 18 years of age, who compete and win medals in Pune will go on to compete for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow 2014 and for Team GB in London 2012 when they should be at their competitive peak.
Amongst the team members announced today are some familiar names with strong links to Commonwealth Games success. The McColgan dynasty lives on, with daughter Eilish qualified for the 1500m, whilst Lynsey Sharp, daughter of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Cameron and representative Carol Sharp will compete in the 800m. In smallbore shooting, Jennifer McIntosh is the daughter of multiple Commonwealth Games medallist Shirley and father Donald a representative in two Games.
Making the team announcement today, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of CGS said: “Many congratulations to the 44 athletes named today. l am confident that we have selected an outstanding Youth Games Team to compete in Pune, with the standards continuing to rise with every Games cycle.
“Whilst winning medals is important, the major benefit of the Commonwealth Youth Games is exposing young athletes to this level of competition in a multi-sport environment. It is the ideal preparation event for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow in 2014.”
Congratulating the team, Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport said: “As they fly the flag for Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India, these young athletes carry the hopes and good wishes of a nation.
“Getting this far, they have each demonstrated outstanding effort, and dedication in pursuit of personal excellence.
“The Commonwealth Youth Games will provide competition experience and, hopefully, a stepping stone for our young stars as they eye the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, and on home soil, in Glasgow in 2014.
“This Government has great ambitions for sport in Scotland. That’s why, through sportscotland, we are investing millions to increase participation and nurture the sporting stars of tomorrow.”
Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “This is a marvellous development opportunity for these young people to gain experience competing at a large global multi-sport event at an early age. It is fantastic to see the length and breadth of Scotland represented from Troon to Aberdeen to The Isle of Islay. I am sure their experience at the Youth Games will inspire many of them to go on to compete successfully in future senior Commonwealth and Olympic Games.”
Previous Youth Games medallists, swimmers Kirsty Balfour, Todd Cooper, Andrew Hunter, Robbie Renwick, Hannah Miley and gymnast Daniel Keatings, were amongst 12 Youth Games athletes who went on to compete and win medals in Melbourne in 2006 and this summer were selected for Team GB at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The team is being supported by Clydesdale Bank and adding their congratulations Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank said: “We recognise the dedication and commitment of these athletes and their significant achievement in being selected. We are proud to support the team in their endeavours and everyone at Clydesdale Bank wishes them all the best for October’s games.”
COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES, PUNE 2008 – SELECTED ATHLETES
Athletics (10)
Lisa Glover, Glenrothes
Caitlyn Mackie, Airth
Eilish McColgan, Carnoustie
* Myra Perkins, Falkirk
Beth Potter, Bearsden, Glasgow, WSIS
Lynsey Sharp, Edinburgh, TFIS
Daniel Carlin, Barrhead
*Chris O’Hare, West Linton
Calum Innes, Bearsden, Glasgow
Callum Sharp, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow
Badminton (4)
Martin Campbell, Edinburgh, ESIS
Angus Gilmour, Troon, WSIS
Craig Pollock, Longniddry, ESIS
Paul Van Rietvelde, Longniddry, ESIS
Boxing (6)
Sean Finney, Kirkcaldy
Steven McAllister, Aberdeen
Robert McKee, Fauldhouse
* Jonathan Slowey, Glasgow, WSIS
Ryan Smith, Glasgow
Josh Taylor, Prestonpans
Shooting (5)
Kay Copland, Banff
Catriona McGregor, Aberdeen, GIS
Jennifer McIntosh, Falkirk, CSIS
* Rory McAlpine, Lasswade, Midlothian, ESIS
Ben Wilson, Islay, WSIS
Swimming (10)
Lucy Ellis, Dalgety Bay, ESIS
Sara Hamilton, Stonehaven
Megan Gilchrist, Bathgate, SIS
Robyn Mathews, Edinburgh, ESIS
*Sally Wood, Edinburgh, ESIS
* Ewan Johnstone, Edinburgh
Andrew Haslett, Edinburgh, SIS
Iain Scanlon, Shotts, ESIS
Daniel Scott, Glenrothes, SIS
Douglas Scott, Strathaven,WSIS
Table Tennis (2)
* Craig Howieson, Edinburgh
* Craig Hardie, Glasgow
Weightlifting (3)
Amy Hamilton, Glasgow
James Burley, Kilwinning
* Dylan Scott, Kilwinning
Wrestling (4)
*Gareth Jones, Old Kilpatrick
*Keiran Malone, Cumbernauld
*Craig McKenna, Clydebank
* Connor Evans, Denny
* In attendance at the announcement
Athletes supported by: Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS), West of Scotland Institute of Sport (WSIS), Central Scotland Institute of Sport (CSIS), East of Scotland Institute of Sport, Grampian Institute of Sport (GIS), Tayside and Fife Institute of Sport.
Staff (16)
Lisa Allan (Loanhead), General Team Manager
Leslie Roy (Glasgow), Assistant General Team Manager
Brent Deans (Edinburgh), Assistant Team Manager
Dr Alastair Nicol (Dundee), Doctor
Lindsay Thomson (East Linton), Physiotherapist
Stephen Mutch (Edinburgh), Physiotherapist
Rob Eyton-Jones (Edinburgh), Press Officer
Hugh Murray (Helensburgh), Athletics Team Leader
Diana Koleva (Glasgow), Badminton Team Leader
David McAllister, (Aberdeen), Boxing Team Leader
Kevin Smith (Liverpool), Boxing Team Coach
Sinclair Bruce, (Linlithgow), Shooting Team Leader
Ian Wright, (Edinburgh), Swimming Team Leader
Peter Stewart, (East Kilbride), Table Tennis Team Leader
Frank Etherson, (Glasgow), Weightlifting Team Leader
Volodymyr Gladkow, (Glasgow), Wrestling Team Leader