A Scottish record and two Gold Coast 2018 qualifying standards for John Archibald and two Scottish Junior records for Luisa Steele were among the highlights at the penultimate event of the 2017 Team Scotland Series – the Scottish National Track Cycling Championships at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
Elder brother of multiple global medallist Katie Archibald, John went into the Championships looking to secure qualifying times for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and stated his intent early on as he scorched to a new National record of 4.21.158 in the Individual Pursuit heats. Going up against Kyle Gordon in the final, he set a second qualifying time to take gold and put himself in contention for a place on Team Scotland next April.
Archibald was also instrumental in a second Scottish record as he joined forces with Pro Vision Scotland team mates Jason Roberts, Kyle Johnston and Rob Friel to smash the previous Team Pursuit best by over 10 seconds in their qualifying ride. In the final they were up against the RT23 team of David Blockley, Kyle Gordon, Peter Ettles and Alan Thomson and rose to the challenge, Pro Vision Scotland taking the title in another record breaking time – 4.22.822 – four tenths of a second quicker than their time in qualifying.
Archibald came close to a third National title in the 1000m Time Trial but was beaten to gold by Metaltek Kuota Race Team’s Tom Chandler. Archibald took the silver ahead of Andrew Leveton in bronze.
Tandem pairing Laura Cluxton and Emma Baird also had Gold Coast qualifying on their mind as they made their competitive debut together. Wining both the Flying 200m Time Trial and 1000m Time Trial, they were just two tenths of a second from a qualifying standard over the shorter distance and will go into the upcoming British Tandem Championships looking to secure the time.
Glasgow 2014 medallist Louise Haston took gold in the Women’s Scratch Race, but had to settle for bronze in the Sprint as Rebecca Dornan took gold in a tight battle with Luisa Steele. Steele’s time of 12.141 in the heats was a new Scottish Junior record and there was more success for the young rider, taking gold in the Team Sprint with Glasgow Cycle Team club mate Lucy Grant, and setting another Scottish Junior record when taking bronze in the 500m Time Trial, as Grant took the title. There was a further bronze for Steele in the Keirin as Dornan took a second gold and Haston the silver.
The final race of the weekend saw Glasgow Cycle Team’s Gemma Penman take gold in the Women’s Points Race, dominating the sprints in the final stages to finish on 34 points, well clear of silver medallist Anna Shackley on 16 and bronze medallist Lulu Bartlett on 11.
Attention now turns to the final event in this year’s Team Scotland Series, the Scottish Short Course Swimming Championships, which take place from 9-11 December at Edinburgh’s Royal Commonwealth Pool.
As we bring our Gold Coast 2018 sport focus on Squash to a close, here are 12 things you might not know about the sport:
- Squash is played by more than 25 million people on nearly 50,000 courts in 185 countries around the world.
- Squash is one of 10 core sports that must be included at every Commonwealth Games and made its Commonwealth Games debut in 1998 where Scotland won one gold and one bronze medal.
- Squash has also made two Commonwealth Youth Games appearances – at the inaugural Games in 2000 in Edinburgh and at Samoa 2015.
- Squash at Gold Coast 2018 will take place at Oxenford Studios – filming venue for Hollywood blockbusters such as San Andreas, Scooby Doo and Unbroken – the first time the venue will have been used for a sports event.
- A total of five gold medals will be contested in Squash at Gold Coast 2018 – Men’s and Women’s Singles, plus Men’s Women’s and Mixed Doubles.
- Eye protection is mandatory for all players in Squash doubles matches and players on each team must wear matching outfits.
- The name Squash comes from the ‘squashing’ of the rubber ball against the wall – softer than the hard ball used in its sister game Rackets.
- Squash balls are unique in that they need to be ‘warmed up’ by hitting for a few minutues before play begins.
- The Titanic had a squash court and the professional, Fred Wright, went down with the ship.
- Prince Philip played Squash while Queen Elizabeth II was in labour with Prince Charles.
- Squash was voted the World’s healthiest sport to play by Forbes magazine based on endurance, strength, flexibility, calories burned and risk of injury.
- Scotland’s Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban won World Doubles gold in 2016 and followed up with silver in 2017. They will be aiming for Scotland’s first Squash medal for 20 years in Gold Coast.
Find out more about the sport in the Commonwealth Games on our dedicated Squash page and look out for our next sport focus as we profile each of the sports on the Gold Coast 2018 programme.
The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, venue for large international track cycling events such as the Revolution Series, UCI Track World Cup, and the 2018 European Championships, plays host to the Scottish National Track Cycling Championships this weekend in the penultimate event of the 2017 Team Scotland Series.
Scotland’s home-grown talent will compete across three exciting days of competition for individual and team Championship titles and the honour of being named Scottish Champion 2017.
Several cyclists who represented Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014 will take to the boards, including double silver medallist Louise Haston, along with athletes looking to take their place at the next Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in 2018.
One of those is the rapidly improving John Archibald, elder brother of Olympic Champion and Glasgow 2014 medallist Katie Archibald. With one Gold Coast 2018 qualifying standard already in the bag, John will look to secure a second standard at the Scottish Championships this weekend.
Another athlete with the Commonwealth Games on her mind is Edinburgh rider Emma Baird. Missing out on Glasgow 2014 through injury, she is more determined than ever to secure her place this time around. Best known as a sprinter, she will make her bid for Gold Coast as pilot to Laura Cluxton in the Para-Sport Tandem. The pair make their first bid for a qualifying time this weekend before going onto the British Tandem Championships.
With almost all athletes who represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games having come through their sport’s National Championships, the Team Scotland Series is a ground-breaking collaboration bringing together Scottish Championship events across 13 Commonwealth Games sports. Part of Team Scotland’s work to support member sports and champion the ongoing success of Scots on the national and international sporting stage, it aims to bring these domestic events to a wider audience, inspiring more Scots to excel.
Action begins on Friday 10 November with the Women’s 500m Time Trial and continues throughout the weekend, concluding with the Women’s Sprint finals on Sunday evening.
For full information, including event schedule and venue map, visit the Scottish Track Cycling Championships event page.
While World Doubles medallists Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban are celebrating their selection to Team Scotland for Gold Coast 2018, and aiming for a podium place next April, the next generation of Scottish Squash stars are waiting in the wings.
Step forward Georgia Adderley – at just 16 years of age the Scottish Senior National Champion and most recently, British Junior Champion. All the more remarkable given that, until May of this year, she was splitting her time between Squash and playing age-group football for Scotland.
Having made the decision five months ago to concentrate fully on her Squash, Georgia is already seeing the benefits as she aims for her ultimate ambition – a place on Team Scotland at a future Commonwealth Games.
“It was a really, really difficult decision, but one that I’m really glad I made,” she says. “Whichever way I decided, I knew that I had to focus on that sport and try to make a future out of it and I’m really seeing the benefits now. I’m able to train a lot more, recover better and I’m just able to put more time and energy into one thing. I’m able to have more coach one-to-one time and I’ve also been able to be a bit more relaxed and chilled going into events because I’ve felt like I’ve prepared a bit better. It’s all really encouraging.”
In a year of change, Georgia also took the decision to move from school to college, to give her even more time to dedicate to her sport and the inevitable travel that comes with top level competition.
“I was missing a lot of school last year which meant I had to do a lot of catching up. This year when I’m away I’m not missing too much, one or two college classes, which is a lot better than three or four days of school. It gives me more time to come back and recover, instead of rushing off to the next thing. That was quite tough last year, as much as I loved it.”
There is a fair amount of travel planned in the next few months with the US Junior Open in New Haven, Connecticut at the start of next month, followed by the British Junior Open in January, her last event in the Under 17 age-group. She’ll then be back to her favourite type of event, competing for Scotland, with representative matches, including the European Senior Championships, on the cards through March, April and May.
“Representing your country is the best part,” she says. “It’s not about winning for yourself, it’s about winning for the team and certainly I’ve found that, when you win for your country, it feels so much better because you’ve got people around you, supporting you a lot more. That’s why the Commonwealth Games is such a big, big target.
“Watching the Games in Glasgow was amazing, going along to watch the Squash and supporting the team. Team Scotland is just fantastic and to compete alongside some of the best athletes in the world looks amazing. It’s a big dream to compete and to win a medal for Team Scotland at a future Games.
As Scotland’s first British Junior Champion in almost 25 years, could she make an appearance at Gold Coast 2018?
“It would mean the world to be part of Team Scotland and it’s been a goal since I first started playing for Scotland, but I’m still very young for Gold Coast. I’ll take it one day at a time and see what happens. Squash players peak later in their career and you can improve so much in just a few months. 2022, with four or five years more training, is probably more realistic so I’ll just keep training hard and see where it takes me.”
With Scotland’s top players regularly training together, Georgia doesn’t have far to look for inspiration in pursuit of her goals.
“It’s so great to see the likes of Greg and Alan doing so well in the World Doubles and looking to see if they can take medals in Gold Coast. It’s inspiring to be in the gym or on court with them, just watching the way they play and train. That’s such a great thing about the way we are in Scotland because you’ve got this amazing environment and it means that young players like myself can be right next to some of the best players in the world. It makes you want to get so much better so much quicker, because you’re aspiring to be where they are.”
The first two squash players selected to compete for Team Scotland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games have been named today by Commonwealth Games Scotland. Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban, both Inverness natives now living in Edinburgh, will take to the courts at Oxenford Studios from 5-15 April, hoping to secure Scotland’s first Squash medal for 20 years.
Clyne in particular is determined to reach the podium next year, having finished fourth in Men’s Doubles at both the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Games and results from the new partnership with Lobban suggests it could be third time lucky in Gold Coast.
In their first major tournament as a doubles pairing, they claimed World Doubles Championship gold in 2016, during a prolific summer in which both players were also part of the first Scottish team for 17 years to take a European Team Championship medal.
Following their success, serious injury put Lobban out of action for several months, but he has made an outstanding return to the court. Having never previously won a PSA Tour event, he had an incredible run of success in May and June 2017, reaching five finals and taking three titles; one in England and two in New Zealand.
Clyne, meanwhile, took his seventh Scottish national title in March and has risen to a career high of 24th in the World Singles rankings, whilst competing extensively in the World Series and reaching the semi-finals of the 2017 Swedish Open.
Reunited for the defence of their World Doubles Championship title in August this year, the pair put on a phenomenal display to once again reach the final. This time they had to settle for silver and, with Australia taking gold in a reverse of the result from 2016, the scene is now set for an epic showdown at Gold Coast 2018.
Jon Doig, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, welcomed the selections: “We are pleased to be able to confirm Alan and Greg on Team Scotland for Gold Coast 2018, allowing them to concentrate fully on their preparation over the next five months.
“They both bring a wealth of past Games experience and their recent results indicate their medal potential in April next year, which would be a first for Scotland since 1998. I wish them all the best with their training and look forward to watching them compete in Gold Coast.”
Maggie Still, Chief Executive at Scottish Squash added: “At Scottish Squash we are delighted to see the early selection of Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Their recent past achievements will put them among the favourites for a medal on the Gold Coast and we know that both players always give their best for Scotland and are hugely focused and committed performers.
“The past twelve months have been challenging for both players, who have shown great resilience and demonstrated that they are outstanding role models. We are already extremely proud of their achievements and we wish them all the very best in the Games.”
Clyne and Lobban’s selection brings the total number of athletes named to Team Scotland to 33, following team announcements for Swimming and Lawn Bowls in October. Further selections in Squash are scheduled to be announced in February 2018.
Look out for all things Squash on the Team Scotland website and social media channels over the coming week as we highlight the sport as part of our countdown to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in April.
Squash leads the way in our Sport Focus Series, where we will be featuring each of the 18 sports on the Gold Coast 2018 programme through athlete interviews, facts & figures, competition news and more.
Squash at the Commonwealth Games
Squash has made five appearances at the Games since its debut at Kuala Lumpur 1998. Scotland won a gold and a bronze in Kuala Lumpur, which remain the only Scottish medals in the sport to date.
Alan Clyne, partnering Harry Leitch on both occasions, has recorded 4th place finishes in Men’s Doubles at both Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014. With his new partnership with Greg Lobban propelling the pair to World Championship gold in 2016 and silver in 2017, and the Scottish team winning their first European Team Championships medals for 17 years, Team Scotland’s Squash representatives will be looking to end a 20 year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal in Gold Coast.
Find out more about Squash in the Commonwealth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Squash page.
Team Scotland 2018
World Doubles Championship medallists Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban were named as the first Squash players on Team Scotland for Gold Coast 2018 on Wednesday 8 November. Further selections for Squash will take place in February 2018.
In addition to Alan and Greg, selections have also been announced for Swimming and Lawn Bowl, with a total of 33 athletes now confirmed on Team Scotland.
View the full Gold Coast 2018 team.
Show Your Support!
You can show your support by uploading photos and messages on our supporters page and give Team Scotland’s athletes a boost as they prepare to do the country proud on one of sport’s biggest stages!
Look out for other ways to get behind the team in the countdown to Gold Coast on Team Scotland’s social media channels. Twitter Instagram Facebook
Scotland at the Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is the only occasion where Scotland gets to compete in a multi-sport event as a nation in its own right and is one of only six countries to have competed in every Commonwealth Games since their inception in Hamilton in 1930. Represented by 15 athletes participating in six sports at those first Games, winning a very creditable 10 medals, Scotland have gone on to win medals at every Games since.
Edinburgh became the first city to hold the Games twice in 1970 and 1986 and also became the first city to host the Commonwealth Youth Games.
Scotland hosted the Games for a third time when Glasgow welcomed athletes and officials to the XXth Commonwealth Games which was held from 23rd July – 3rd August 2014. Team Scotland celebrated their most successful Games in history, winning a total of 53 medals.
Find out more about the Commonwealth Games and Team Scotland’s past success in our Past Games section.
Team Scotland’s athletes, and their competitors from around the Commonwealth, have received an inspirational boost to their preparation for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, with the design of the medals they will compete for in April next year revealed to the public for the first time.
A striking set of gold, silver and bronze medals, designed by Queensland-based Indigenous artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins and brought to life by the Royal Australian Mint, were unveiled before 700 guests at the GC2018 Charity Gala and Medal Reveal at The Star Gold Coast.
With just 150 days to go until competition begins in Gold Coast, the medal reveal marks a significant milestone in the lead-up to the Games, which commence on 4 April 2018.
Each medal will be minted in the Royal Australian Mint’s largest coin press and inspected individually by hand to ensure the finest quality medals are presented to all Commonwealth Games podium finishers. Approximately 1,500 medals will be created for the Games.
GC2018 Ambassador and Olympic and dual Commonwealth Games hurdles gold medallist Sally Pearson OAM had the honour of being the first athlete to lay eyes on and hold the medals in an on-stage presentation with Ms Cockatoo-Collins, who shared her inspiration behind the design of both the medals and ribbon.
“My inspiration was drawn from the Gold Coast coastline, which for many generations, has been a place for gathering, meeting and sport,” she said.
“The medal design represents soft sand lines which shift with every tide and wave, also symbolic of athletic achievement. The continual change of tide represents the evolution in athletes who are making their mark. Records are made and special moments of elation are celebrated. Although the moment in time may be fleeting, it is forever marked within the shells that are brought upon its tidelines.
“The ribbon represents the woven strand of the freshwater reed, yungair, which is three reeds woven to form a pattern resembling many triangles joined together. This is reminiscent of the South East Queensland and Gold Coast areas.”
Commonwealth Games Federation President, Louise Martin CBE, said: “A medal is the ultimate and much-cherished prize for a Commonwealth athlete; and each athlete’s ongoing commitment and drive to attain them stirs hopes and dreams in all of us.
“They powerfully represent a host nation’s culture, marking the moment when history was made. I congratulate the medal designer and producers on an impactful set of prize medals, creating an enduring symbol of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“I am sure the athletes will love these medals and provide them with further inspiration and determination as we count down towards the Games in April.”
To read more about the Gold Coast 2018 medals, their designer and the production process, visit: gc2018.com/medals
Team Scotland are aiming for their most successful ever overseas Games in Gold Coast, surpassing their tally of 29 medals at the Melbourne 2006 Games.
Two former Team Scotland athletes have been named as part of the Commonwealth Games Federation’s first-ever Athletes Advisory Commission, as the initiative was launched with under six months to go until the Gold Coast 2018 Games.
The Commission will be chaired and represented on the CGF Executive Board by Rhona Simpson, Scotland’s most-decorated Hockey player who competed at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games. Rhona will be joined on the Commission by Colin Gregor, Scotland Rugby 7s’ highest capped player and third highest points scorer of all-time. Colin represented Team Scotland at two Commonwealth Games, including as captain at Glasgow 2014.
With the aim of engaging and representing athlete views and helping understand and grow the profile, meaning and impact of Commonwealth Athletes, the Commission will form an integral part of the CGF governance and management structure and will be an influential voice to strengthen the links between athletes, administrators and Games organisers.
CGF Athlete Representative and Athletes Advisory Commission Chair Rhona Simpson said: “We have been given a far-reaching mandate to not just participate in Games and board decision-making but empower Commonwealth athletes to advance the aims and objectives of the Commonwealth Sports Movement. I’d like to sincerely thank all of the newly-appointed Commission members, and I look forward to working alongside them to help develop and deliver the best and most inclusive-possible sporting experience for Commonwealth athletes at all levels”.
Colin Gregor added: I’m excited to join the Athletes Advisory Committee, the Commonwealth Games played such a massive part of my life as an athlete and it’s great to now have the opportunity to ensure athletes’ priorities are included on such a wide scale. I look forward to working with the other members from across the Commonwealth, and Rhona as Chair, to ensure that athletes continue to be at the forefront of CGF actions.”
The inaugural commission was selected at the recent CGF Executive Board meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after a regional nomination process, bringing together a highly-accomplished group of Commonwealth athletes and medallists with significant previous Games and sports, civic and academic leadership experience.
CGF President Louise Martin CBE said:
“Commonwealth athletes are ambassadors of a great movement whose purpose has been carried and shared across decades, across generations and across borders. As we recognised in Transformation 2022, the creation of an Athletes Advisory Commission affirms our commitment to being an athlete-centred, sport-focused movement. We are thrilled and thankful that such a diverse and decorated group of inspiring sports leaders, representing each of our regions, will help shape the future direction of this vitally important initiative through Gold Coast 2018 and beyond.”
In addition to Rhona Simpson and Colin Gregor, the Commission members are:
- Ms Natalie Du Toit (para-sport representative): South Africa, Swimming, seven-time Commonwealth Gold medallist at 2002, 2006 and 2010 Games;
- Dr Nicole Forrester: Canada, Athletics (High Jump), Commonwealth Gold medal (2010) and Bronze (2002);
- Mr E Niluka Rushan Karunaratne: Sri Lanka, Badminton, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Games;
- Mr Lechezdani Luza: Botswana, Boxing (51kg), 2006 and Commonwealth Silver medallist at 2002 Games;
- Ms Alison Shanks: New Zealand, Track Cycling, 2006 and Commonwealth Gold medallist (3000m Individual Pursuit) at 2010 Games;
- Mr Brendan Williams: Dominica, Athletics (High Jump), 2010 and 2014 Games.
The Commission was selected to ensure an optimum mix of skills and competencies and balanced representation in relation to region, team and individual sports and para-sport. Women and men are equally represented with four positions each, supporting the Federation’s commitment to gender equality. Members will hold office for a period not exceeding four years and shall be eligible to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. The Commission will meet in person for the first time on the Gold Coast next April.
In the build up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Team Scotland is excited to be collaborating with well-known local artist, Leeton Lee, to develop its design theme for the Games. This exciting initiative is part of the Team’s acknowledgement and mark of respect for the First Nations peoples of Australia and specifically the Yugambeh people of South East Queensland.
Team Chef de Mission, Jon Doig OBE, out on the Gold Coast this week for the Chefs de Mission Seminar explained: “When we prepare for each Games, we like to connect with the host country’s culture in the true spirit of the ‘Friendly Games’ and express this in the imagery and branding used within our team area of the Village and for our team hospitality venue, Scotland House.
“Following an introduction from GOLDOC during our last visit, we have been working with Leeton over recent months to develop a meaningful piece of original artwork, which our design agency Brand Oath can then adapt for use across a range of promotional materials.
“We are thrilled with what he has produced and how it tells the story of our journey to Gold Coast. We are looking forward to coming back with our athletes in April and seeing how it beautifully illustrates the connection between our two countries and our enthusiasm for participating in these Games.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist, Leeton Lee, began his painting journey in early 2013 and he is developing his art continually. His paintings are both stories that have been told to him and stories of his personal journey and in this case he has customised a painting to illustrate Team Scotland’s story.
Talking about the project, Leeton Lee said: “I am very excited to have been approached to design the story for Team Scotland and tell their journey through my art. I was also happy to know that part of the reason for the use of Aboriginal art was as an acknowledgement to the First Nations peoples here in Australia. I love sharing my culture and art with people any chance I get.”
Explaining the story in the design he added: “It starts on the far-left hand side of the painting where Team Scotland is assembling their athletes from the north, south, east, and west, where the athletes have been competing for places for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. From that central meeting place the team travels across the ocean to the Gold Coast where the main large meeting place is representing the Commonwealth Games. It will be not only a gathering of many people, but will be watched by billions around the world.
“The travel from there is to Scotland House and further north to the Athletes Village which will be the focal point of the Games, surrounded by athletes from all the many other teams. Top left from the main gathering are the many functions and events that will be attended and the far right top corner represents the eight clans of the Yugambeh people acknowledged. The bottom right corner represents the many places travelled and visited throughout the duration of the stay.
“Local Yugambeh Elders have expressed gratitude to be acknowledged in this way.”
The artwork has been approved for use in promotional materials to be used by Team Scotland for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games by the Yugambeh Elders Advisory Group via GOLDOC.
Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said the Games gave Queenslanders a platform to celebrate two of the world’s oldest living cultures — those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“The Games will proudly share the cultures and contributions of our First Nations peoples across art, culture, business and every day life,” she said.
“It’s great that locals, visitors and sporting groups like Team Scotland are coming together to share the stories and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.
“The GC2018 Reconciliation Action Plan is an Australian first for major events and helps to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to get involved with the Games through employment, procurement and volunteering.”
With under 200 days to go until the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the first athletes to represent Team Scotland have been named in Swimming and Lawn Bowls.
A total of 31 athletes have been confirmed following nominations from Scottish Swimming and Bowls Scotland and subsequent ratification by Commonwealth Games Scotland.
Both sports were major contributors to Team Scotland’s record medal haul at Glasgow 2014 and among those selected are six defending Commonwealth Games champions, as well as Olympic, World and European medallists, while nine athletes will make their Games debut in Gold Coast.
The Swimming team contains a mix of youth and experience with 13 of the 21 swimmers having competed for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014, complemented by a number of young talents making the team for the first time. Ross Murdoch and Dan Wallace will defend their Commonwealth Games titles down under, with Hannah Miley aiming to make it three 400m Individual Medley titles in a row, which would be a record for any sport.
Just 17 when he took silver as part of the 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay team three years ago in Glasgow, Duncan Scott will be looking to step up in Gold Coast on the back of medal success in the relays at both the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and 2017 World Championships. Scott was not the only athlete on the World Championship podium this summer and fellow gold medallist in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay, Stephen Milne will also be one to watch.
Kathleen Dawson has also made huge advances since Glasgow 2014. The 20 year old backstroke specialist took bronze in the 100m event at the 2016 European Championships, adding gold in the Medley Relay, and was a finalist in both events at this year’s World Championships in Budapest.
Team Scotland’s most successful Youth Games athlete in history, with five medals at Bahamas 2017 just over two months ago, 18-year-old Scott McLay makes an immediate step up into the senior team. He is joined by 2015 Youth Games silver medallist Craig McLean and bronze medallist at the recent World Junior Championships, Keanna MacInnes.
Five men and five women make up the Lawn Bowls team which will compete at the Broadbeach Bowls Club, a world-class venue which is regular host to the Australian National Championships finals and top level international events.
Scotland’s bowlers returned from the 2016 World Championships with five medals from eight events and had the chance to test themselves on the greens of Broadbeach at the Eight Nations Invitational earlier this year.
Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall MBE will make his sixth Commonwealth Games appearance and will be looking to add to his tally of four gold medals, which include both Pairs and Fours titles at Glasgow 2014. He will be joined by two fellow Glasgow gold medallists; Paul Foster MBE, who stood alongside him on the podium in both those victories and 2014 Singles champion Darren Burnett. Since Glasgow Foster has been in fantastic form, taking double bronze alongside Marshall at the 2016 World Championships, before triumphing with gold in the Open Singles at the 2017 World Indoor Championships, the fifth time he has taken this title.
Caroline Brown and Claire Johnston each return for a third Games, while Kay Moran makes her second Games appearance, 12 years after her silver medal winning performance at Melbourne 2006 in the Women’s Pairs. Moran now lives and plays in Australia and will look to bring her local knowledge to bear, down at Broadbeach.
The squad is completed by four athletes; Ronnie Duncan, Derek Oliver, Lesley Doig and Stacey McDougall who will represent Team Scotland for the first time.
The women’s team will be looking for a first medal since 2006, and while Gold Coast will be their first Commonwealth Games experience, both Doig and McDougall have a proven ability to compete at the top level. Doig recorded Scotland’s top result at the 2016 World Championships with silver in the Singles, also taking bronze in the Pairs event, while McDougall is a double World U25 Championships medallist with Pairs silver and Singles bronze.
Jon Doig OBE, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “We are delighted to welcome our first athletes to Team Scotland 2018. We are off to a strong start with swimming and lawn bowls, two of Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games sports with a track record of success in Australia. They are also two of Australia’s top sports, so we can count on a fantastic atmosphere and tough competition in Gold Coast.
“Congratulations to all athletes selected and we look forward to Team Scotland 2018 taking shape over the coming months.”
Performance Director of Scottish Swimming, Ally Whike said: “I have been very pleased with the approach of the swimmers to the challenge of qualification. This will hold them in good stead to perform at the top of their game come April.”
Aileen Campbell, Minister for Public Health and Sport, said: “Congratulations to the athletes chosen to represent Scotland at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Swimming and lawn bowls helped us to our record medal haul in Glasgow and I have no doubt both sports will contribute to further success. The squads contain a mixture of experience and debutants with “Tattie” Marshall competing in his sixth games to Scott McLay stepping up from becoming Scotland’s most successful athlete at the Youth Commonwealth Games earlier this year. In Women and Girls and Sport Week, it’s great to see Hannah Miley, Kathleen Dawson, in the swimming and Caroline Brown, Claire Johnston, Kay Moran and Lesley Doig in the lawn bowls selected to compete in Gold Coast.”
David Gourlay, Bowls Scotland High Performance Head Coach added: “The coaching team and I are delighted to have such an experienced squad representing Scotland in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. The squad is a mixture of youth and players who have a proven track record at winning in the Southern Hemisphere.
“All players have and will continue to commit to a rigorous training programme which in turn will allow us to build on the success of Glasgow 2014.”
Mike Whittingham, Director of High Performance at the sportscotland Institute of Sport said: “Congratulations to all of the athletes who have been selected for Team Scotland today. Swimming and lawn bowls have traditionally been very successful Scottish sports and it’s fantastic to see that tradition continuing with a strong contingent set to represent Scotland at the Gold Coast.
“The athletes have worked hard to earn their selections, but they have not worked alone. Supporting every athlete is a ‘team behind the team’ comprised of coaches, families, governing bodies and the experts at the sportscotland institute of sport. We are proud to play our part in ensuring the athletes are prepared and ready to deliver on the world stage.”
SELECTED ATHLETES – Click to see all athlete profiles here
AQUATICS (21):
Name Hometown / Lives
Craig Benson Livingston / Stirling
Mark Campbell Peterhead / Aberdeen
Sean Campsie Livingston / Falkirk
Euan Inglis Aberdeen / Edinburgh
Kieran McGuckin Falkirk / Edinburgh
Scott McLay Perth / Stirling
Craig McLean Livingston / Stirling
Craig McNally Edinburgh / Glasgow
Stephen Milne Perth / Perth
Ross Murdoch Balfron / Stirling
Duncan Scott Alloa / Stirling
Mark Szaranek Glenrothes / Florida, USA
Calum Tait Milngavie / Edinburgh
Jack Thorpe Milngavie / Edinburgh
Dan Wallace Edinburgh / Edinburgh
Kathleen Dawson Warrington / Stirling
Lucy Hope Jedburgh/ Edinburgh
Keanna MacInnes Edinburgh / Edinburgh
Hannah Miley Inverurie / Aberdeen
Corrie Scott Strathaven / Edinburgh
Cassie Wild Edinburgh / Mold
Staff:
Lindsay Lewis – Team Manager
Alan Lynn – Team Coach/Lead
Ann Dickson – Swimming Coach
Chris Jones – Swimming Coach
Steven Tigg – Swimming Coach
Ian Wright – Swimming Coach
LAWN BOWLS (10):
Name Hometown / Lives
Caroline Brown Motherwell / Motherwell
Lesley Doig Strathmiglo / Newburgh
Claire Johnston Irvine / Auchinleck
Stacey McDougall Dalkeith / Woodburn
Kay Moran Glasgow / Shell Cove, New South Wales
Darren Burnett Arbroath / Arbroath
Ronnie Duncan Bonnyrigg / Lasswade
Paul Foster Troon / Troon
Alex Marshall Tranent / Tranent
Derek Oliver Cockenzie / Cockenzie
Staff:
Ricky Taylor – Team Manager
David Gourlay – Head Coach
George Sneddon – Coach
Sandra McLeish – Coach