The search for 4,000 batonbearers has been extended until Friday 29 November at 5pm.

We are thrilled with the response, but a number of bashful would-be batonbearers have not yet accepted their nomination so Glasgow 2014 are extending the deadline by a week to give those people time to check their emails, send in their details and finalise their applications. As a result, they will keep the website open for an extra week, enabling nominees to respond by 5pm on Friday 29 November 2013.

Applications may not have been completed for the following reasons:

The nominator may have used an out-of-date email address or spelled the email address incorrectly.
The confirmation email may have been filtered into the nominee’s spam folder.
Glasgow 2014 will issue a reminder to let people know that the deadline has been extended to accommodate these incomplete applications. New nominations may also be received during this time, but must be completed and accepted by the nominee by the new closing date.

For more information about the Queen’s Baton Relay, visit www.glasgow2014.com/baton-relay

During October 2010, in the very top balcony of the J.N Sports Complex in India, was a 20 year old Georgina Black ,who witnessed one of the greatest moments in Team Scotland’s Weightlifting history.

“I was there when Peter Kirkbride won his Silver at the Delhi Commonwealth Games! Since I first started Weightlifting, I’ve trained with him and he is a really great friend. To be there, it was definitely an inspiration and that’s when the penny first dropped for me that Glasgow 2014 was a real possibility.”

Georgina, widely known as Georgi, was part of the Achieve Programme which gave her the opportunity of a lifetime to shadow Team Scotland throughout the Games. Along with 43 other young and talented athletes, coaches and mentors, she visited the Games Village, witnessed several sports events including the Weightlifing and had the opportunity to speak to various athletes. However, this was no holiday, it was part of an equipping process showing her what an international multi-sport Games feels like, so when it is her time to shine, she will know just what to expect.

Born, raised and still based in Kilmarnock, Georgi states that her biggest inspiration is her coach, Charles ‘Chick’ Hamilton: “Chick has been my coach since I first started 12 years ago. I turned up for a fitness session but he asked me what I thought of Weightlifting. I have always been a tomboy so that Thursday night I gave it a shot and I have been there ever since. Chick is a totally different kettle of fish, he is always texting me asking how I am doing. He is my main inspiration and if it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t still be there.”

Georgi may appear to be a tough ‘tomboy’ who can lift most people’s body weight with ease, but she is very much a people person. Along with other members of her training squad, including Peter Kirkbride and Graeme Kane, she works for the Vibrant Communities Project run by East Ayrshire Council which aims to get kids off the street and into sport.

“We go into the community and lead a whole host of different sports. Blue cages are all over East Ayrshire and we play football and basketball in them. We also give talks and help out with other programmes like addictions and disabilities. I actually also coach Weightlifting and it is pretty cool because we coach but then we do our own training straight after so the kids can see us in action. Our aim is to give back to the community and get kids into sport.”

Georgi trains between four and seven times a week, with the intensity currently rising as she strives to make a lower weight class than she has previously competed in. Her next challenge will take her to Malaysia for the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships this weekend, where she plans to size up the opposition she hopes to face in Glasgow in exactly eight months time.

You can follow Georgi on Twitter @geebygeebgeeb or read about her progress in the Sunday Herald where she is one of ‘Six to Follow’.

Action from the Scottish Weightlifting Championships

Photo credit: Malcolm Boyd

Bronze in Pune; Silver in Delhi…Josh Taylor is ready to box clever and complete his Commonwealth medal collection with gold in Glasgow.

The light welterweight from Prestonpans was 17 when he stepped onto the Pune podium at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008.

Two years later and Taylor made it all the way to the Delhi 2010 final only to be halted at the final hurdle by England’s Thomas Stalker.

Now 22 and with a home Olympics also under his belt, Taylor is determined to deliver the top prize at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“All I want is to be on top of the podium and hear Flower of Scotland ringing out,” said Taylor. “Looking back on Delhi, it was a great achievement and I’m very proud of coming back with a silver medal, but at the time – and even now – I’m still a little disappointed as I wanted the gold. I’ve learned from the experience and improved ten-fold since then so I’m really confident of bringing the gold back this time.”

Taylor took up boxing after watching Scottish boxing legend Alex Arthur, the 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Himself a former Taekwondo British champion, Taylor is aiming to be selected in the Light Welterweight 64kg category and is putting in the hours to earn his place on Team Scotland.

Week days are spent in Sheffield training with the Great British boxing squad before returning to Lochend ABC for weekend sparring under the watchful eye of his coach Terry McCormack.

He added: “I used to go down to Meadowbank while I was on holiday at school and watch Alex Arthur train. My mum works there and she told me about a boxing class so I went down to try it once and that was me addicted.

“I had only been training for six weeks and had my first fight ten days after my 16th birthday. It was a draw and the judge’s decision went against me, but I won the next 20 in a row after that.

“I love the fact that in boxing anything can happen. You can have all the game plans and strategies you want, but once you jump in the ring one punch can change the whole fight.”

Defeat at both the European Championships and at the World Championships to the eventual winners has only served to bolster Taylor’s belief in his prospects for Glasgow 2014 and memories of past Games keep him hungry for more.

He said: “I loved the experience of being part of Team Scotland, being in the village with all the other athletes from other sports and from all the different countries. Everyone is mixing and having a good laugh with each other – swapping tops and badges, it was brilliant.”

“My form is good and I will continue to improve my work rate and fitness, but I’m there or thereabouts. I am confident I am up there with the best and just falling a little bit short of getting the results I am capable of, but I have a lot of confidence I can do it.”

You can follow Josh on Twitter @JoshTaylorBoxing

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kirsty Gilmour will go for glory at next week’s Scottish Open Badminton Grand Prix – and she aims to repeat the performance at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the country’s hottest badminton prospects, winning the Czech International and reaching the final of the London Grand Prix Gold already this season, putting her firmly in contention for a starring role at Glasgow 2014.

The Games badminton event will be held at the Emirates Arena in eight months’ time, but Gilmour is currently focused on the Scottish Open, which is being staged at the same venue over five days next week from Wednesday, November 20. Gilmour is one of six seeded Scottish athletes who will take on competitors from all over the world in front of a roaring home crowd.

Gilmour, from Bothwell, said: “I’m delighted with the progress I’ve made in 2013. To qualify for Glasgow 2014 you have to be in the top 50 for at least four weeks. I will qualify quite comfortably but to have a real chance of a medal I’ll have to work hard.

“I’ve played so many tournaments this year that I never had the opportunity to train properly until the end of September. But I’m currently training a few days a week at Scotstoun badminton academy ahead of the Scottish Open Grand Prix.

“It will be nice to play in front of a home crowd – and it will be great to be able to go home between matches and sleep in my own bed! I’ll be looking to build on my recent good performance at the London Grand Prix and I’m hoping the home crowd in Glasgow will help me do just that.

“I’m seeded second for the tournament and it’s always nice if you manage to achieve your seeding, but there are a lot of tough games before that so I won’t be complacent at all.”

As well as being second seed in the women’s singles event, Gilmour is also seeded to reach the final of the women’s doubles with Jillie Cooper.

The Scottish Open starts on Wednesday 20 November with qualifying rounds in four events, plus 32 matches in the men’s singles first round.

You can follow Kirsty on Twitter @KirstyGilmourr

Photo Credit: Badminton Scotland

Some of Glasgow’s best-known and historic locations will be at the heart of celebrations during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Glasgow 2014 and Glasgow City Council, alongside Glasgow Life, have revealed plans for ‘live zones’ at Glasgow Green, the Merchant City, and for further activity at the refurbished Kelvingrove Bandstand and other locations across the city.
The Live Zones will play a prominent part in Festival 2014 – which will transform the host city from 19th July to 3rd August as an invigorating mix of entertainment, culture and enjoyment fills the streets, spaces and stages of Glasgow. Festival 2014 will build on the nationwide Culture 2014 programme to show Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth at their best.
The zones will have a range of activities for everyone to enjoy, from watching the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and major sports occasions on the big screen, to highlights of Festival 2014, the Games time cultural festival which will showcase the best of Glasgow and Scotland’s arts and culture alongside that of the Commonwealth. There will be something for everyone in a varied programme of music, dance, theatre and comedy for families to enjoy and take part in and a range of interactive sports and games zones where people can emulate some of the athletes on show at the Games. The zones will be in operation throughout the Games period from 23 July to 3 August, 2014.
Councillor Archie Graham, the Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games and Chair of Glasgow Life, said:“Glasgow knows how to put on a party and whether you’re in town to watch a sporting event, or just want to sample the excitement, you won’t have to go far to be part of the Games.
“Glasgow has an outstanding track record in hosting events, such as the Merchant City Festival, Mela and World Pipe Band Championships – and we plan to build on that success by hosting the biggest party the city has ever seen.”
Festival 2014 will be at the heart of the Games experience, enhancing spectators, visitors and Glaswegians’ experience of the host city, bringing it to life in new and exciting ways, as well as playing a practical role in helping people navigate the city between sports venues.
A major expansion of the Merchant City Festival, will see this popular event play a crucial role in bringing Festival 2014 to the heart of Glasgow’s cultural quarter.

A host of popular presenters – including Hazel Irvine, Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, Ken Bruce, Susanna Reid, Bill Turnbull, Mishal Husain, Fred MacAulay and Dougie Vipond – will front the BBC’s Commonwealth Games coverage for Glasgow 2014.

The opening and closing ceremonies will be broadcast live from Celtic Park and Hampden and will be presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Hazel Irvine. Hazel will join Huw Edwards in the commentary box for both ceremonies.

Once the Games start, the BBC’s base will be in Pacific Quay in Glasgow from where they will broadcast across all major TV and radio networks, online and on the red button across the 11 day Games.

In addition to bringing all the action from the Games, the BBC also aims to boost the accompanying cultural festivities by using some of its leading presenters for both on and off-air programmes – including 16 days of major events from a pop-up BBC@The Quay venue alongside the existing BBC Scotland riverside HQ.

A raft of key BBC shows including The One Show, BBC Breakfast, The Ken Bruce Show, A Question of Sport and Who Do You Think You Are? will come from Pacific Quay during Games time – and more will follow as part of a daily schedule of live programmes and off-air events aimed at making the venue one of the main Glasgow festival hubs during the tournament.

Bruce Malcolm, BBC’s Head of Commonwealth Games said: “As you’d expect, BBC Sport will provide the kind of coverage they did so brilliantly during the Olympics but we also want to join in the year-long celebrations both here in Glasgow and throughout the rest of Scotland by bringing our audiences a string of live events, concerts and Commonwealth-themed programmes. Both BBC Scotland and BBC Sport’s Games team will be based here in Glasgow for the duration with PQ acting as our Commonwealth Games broadcast engine room.”

Coverage throughout the day will feature live sport with venue presenters on site including Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and John Inverdale.

Coverage will start each day in BBC Breakfast, before Mishal Husain presents the morning action from 0900-1200.

Jason Mohammad hosts from 1200 – 1500 followed by Hazel Irvine from 1500 – 1900 with Gary Lineker taking up the reins for the evening show.

Mark Chapman will then bring together all the sports and late night events in a highlights programme with Clare Balding co-presenting from various Glasgow locations.

As happened with the Olympics, subject to any necessary approvals, the ambition on BBC Three is to have an extended schedule devoted to live Games action and presented by a combination of Dougie Vipond, Lee McKenzie, Manish Bhasin and Dan Walker.

Radio 5 live will be broadcasting from Glasgow everyday throughout the games. Nicky Campbell will lead the breakfast coverage from 0600 with Mark Pougatch presenting the live evening coverage. Delivering the first strand of Commonwealth coverage, Radio 5 live will launch its weekly programme ‘Get set Glasgow’ with Eleanor Oldroyd and Fred MacAulay co-presenting the first show and broadcasting live from Glasgow from 1930 – 2100 on Thursday 12 December.

In addition to the unprecedented television coverage, Glasgow 2014 will be delivered seamlessly across mobile, tablet, desktop and connected TVs meaning audiences can get closer to the action, wherever they are.

The Cultural Story

Commonwealth-related programming during 2014 includes major music concerts, documentaries and events. Documentaries planned include Clydebuilt: The Ships That Made the Commonwealth and Commonwealth City, which will look at the regeneration of the East End of Glasgow,

All the BBC Radio Networks will be delivering fantastic content before and during the Games. Highlights include Radio 2’s mid-morning Ken Bruce Show, Good Morning Sunday with Clare Balding, which is already featuring content from the Queen’s Baton Relay and will continue to look at cultural aspects of the Games in the run-up, along with another series exploring what Scotland has given the Commonwealth through music and interviews. There will also be a unique one-hour documentary presented by Lulu which will explore a musical map of Glasgow. Along with this, there will be a special Friday Night is Music Night with the 70-piece BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, joined by guests from the world of sport and music, to perform memorable orchestral music inspired by sport. This special concert will feature music from film scores, TV themes and the classics – everything from John Williams’ ‘Olympic Fanfare’ to Vangelis’s score of ‘Chariots of Fire’.

Radio 3 will be at BBC@TheQuay with World on 3 Live, and they will also have a 26-part series with unique new recordings of roots music from 26 Commonwealth countries, made by BBC Scotland.

Radio 4 will also have live programmes from Glasgow during the Games, including Tina C’s Commonwealth of Nations: The Empire Strikes Back – written and performed by Christopher Green to a live audience in Glasgow.
4Xtra’s The 4 O’Clock Show will record a series of programmes for families at BBC@TheQuay and The Asian Network will be live in Glasgow for the duration of the games, culminating in a live Bollywood style musical evening at BBC@TheQuay.
Elsewhere, Nations and English regions radio services, including Radio Wales and Radio Ulster, will be broadcasting from a hub within the SECC precinct, covering stories relevant to their areas.

Other highlights include Glasgow Girls on BBC Three, a musical drama telling the true story of a group of girls who banded together in 2005 to save their friend from deportation, and the final of The BBC Young Musician in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on 18 May 2014 – with the final broadcast on BBC Four and BBC Radio 3.

The coverage doesn’t wait until 2014 though, as presenter Mark Beaumont is currently following the journey of the Queen’s Baton Relay for the BBC as it travels across 70 nations and territories – all produced by a team at BBC Scotland. The BBC are also already involved in a year-long learning project with the British Council and Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Class, which is a special initiative that provides teaching resources, online debates and interactive activities for schools to mark the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

BBC Scotland

BBC Radio Scotland will embrace Glasgow 2014 with live coverage of the Opening and Closing ceremonies and the whole schedule responsive to the action as and when events happen – giving a real sense of place, excitement and championing the athletes. Every medal that is won for Scotland will feature on the network with all the big moments covered for the listeners. Also, in a partnership with 5 live, the Radio Scotland afternoon schedule will change to host a daily co-production with Fred MacAulay and Eleanor Oldroyd.

The excitement won’t slow down in the evening when Radio Scotland head to live music events at BBC@thequay. There will be also be a special edition of Sportsound every night which will cover and reflect on the day’s events, as well as previewing upcoming key moments.

Reporting Scotland will have specially extended bulletins to reflect the news and sport stories at the Games and there will be reporters dedicated to bringing the best of the action every day to viewers. BBC Two Scotland’s Sport Nation will be featuring Commonwealth activity during the run-up and Games time and there will also be regular news and games updates on An Là and across Radio Nan Gaidheal’s daily strands.

BBC Scotland’s continuing drama River City is also getting into the Games spirit, with script writers currently in the process of planning some exciting scenes which will air next summer.

On BBC ALBA, documentary pieces planned include Kerry MacPhee, the South Uist triathlete and her journey to Glasgow 2014, and A gu U mu Ghlaschu – ABC of Glasgow – looking at the host city through the eyes of the Gaelic community.

For classical music fans, the BBC SSO mark 2014 with violinist Nicola Benedetti and composer James MacMillan joining the orchestra and students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on their first tour of India next year. The visit, in partnership with the British Council, is the centrepiece of the orchestra’s activities leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Finally, BBC Scotland recently welcomed 10 new apprentices, the third intake since the launch of the scheme in 2011, with apprentices working alongside the Commonwealth Games production teams in the delivery of BBC Scotland’s cultural and sporting programme.

Angus McLeod started shooting at the age of 13 when his school offered it as a Friday afternoon activity. Not keen on playing ball games, this was the perfect alternative.

Angus specialises in Full Bore – a discipline that many of us know very little about so Team Scotland caught up with Angus to get the lowdown on his sport.

“The name relates to the calibre used and distinguishes it from Small Bore. The calibre for the Commonwealth Games is .308 Winchester which is the commercial name of the cartridge used.”

“The main difference with the Full bore event compared with other shooting events is that it is shot entirely outdoors and we shoot at five different ranges starting at 300 yards followed by 500, 600, 900 and finishing at 1000. At 1000 yards the rifle barrel is actually pointing at place about eight metres over the target centre. The target centre or “bull” (which scores 5.0) at 1000 yards is 20 inches across with a Vbull within that at 10 inches scoring 5.1.”

“Apart from holding the rifle steady or ‘shooting flat’ as it is known, you must contend with the weather, in-particular the wind. The wind is the dominating factor in every shot you fire; it is common to apply a correction to your sights that relates to several metres at the target end. The most complex conditions are found when shooting in a strong ‘fishtailing’ wind where the wind switches quickly either side of your line of fire; when you apply a correction and fire at the wrong moment your error can be doubled, it can rain at the same time, and occasionally the target disappears in the mist.”

Feeling like we had a better grasp on what the sport involved, it was time to find out more about the man behind the machine.

Q: How much training are you currently doing and will this change in the lead up to Glasgow 2014?

AM: “I live fire every weekend or at least twice a week. This is supplemented with electronic training/ simulation using Noptel or SCATT. I also use an air rifle indoors as it is a cheap form of training. This will change as the Games get nearer with more team training, shooting as a pair and regular exposure to high level competition, which will mean travelling abroad over the winter too.”

Q: You experienced the high of winning a medal in Delhi (Silver in Full Bore Rifle Pairs with Ian Shaw) – tell us about that experience.

AM: “The Delhi experience was hard work, made harder by the design of the Full bore range infrastructure and issues with an unproven scoring system. Coming through that and getting a medal was a great relief, effort = result.”

Q: What are your aspirations for Glasgow 2014?

AM: “Now I have had my selection confirmed I just want to just produce the best result I can.”

Q: What would it mean to you to compete on home soil for Team Scotland?

AM: “It would be great; like I’ve gone a full circle as I first shot a Barrybuddon aged 14.”

Q: Away from the sport – what is your career and how do you manage this with shooting?

AM: “I have just left the Army and I am now an independent consultant. I currently fit my job around shooting, but this will change over the winter to the opposite and cycle back to the former as the Games gets closer, but it does not always work like that!”

Q: What have been your sporting highlights to date?

AM: “There have been quite a few, but I don’t think like that – there is an expression I quote whenever I am asked this question – “you are only good as your next shot” – look forwards not backwards.”

Q: What would you say to encourage others to take up the sport?

AM: “Full bore is unique in that it is gender and age ‘free’ – anyone can win!”

Photo Credit: Donald McIntosh

Caroline Brownlie was one of the eight shooters announced last week as part of Team Scotland for Glasgow 2014.

The Air Pistol shooter who hails from Edinburgh and is now based in Hampshire has made the team for the second time following her representation in Delhi 2010.

Go Scotland caught up with Caroline following the good news .

Q: Firstly, congratulations in being selected for Glasgow 2014, tell us how you felt when you heard the news?

CB: Thank you! It was all very secret when I first found out so it really hasn’t sunk in yet. Now it’s all official I can’t wait to tell everyone!

Q: What have youe been doing in terms of competitions, training since Delhi 2010?

CB: I didn’t shoot for about a year from about August 2011 as I was on maternity leave. I did however finish a great 2012/2013 season with a personal best, GB qualifying score and a new Scottish record.

Q: How are you approaching your lead-up to 2014?

CB: I am really looking forward to 2014 and my focus at the moment is to increase the intensity and diversity of my training. Being selected early means that I can concentrate my training on competing at Glasgow 2014, rather than putting my efforts into qualifying. This for me will make a huge difference.

Q: Away from shooting, what do you do and how do you juggle everything?

CB: I’m a full time mum of three (ages 8, and 2 year old twins) so I could definitely add juggling to my CV! I make sure I have some time every day to train, but the key is to be adaptable to daily changes depending on the children.

Q: You’re based in Hampshire – how often do you get together with your other Scottish team mates?

CB: Scotland’s pistol squad is a great team, so although I can’t train with them regularly, when we do come together at competitions and training we all get on really well.

Q: As the only Pistol shooter currently selected for Team Scotland, what are your aspirations for Glasgow?

CB: In Delhi I was the first female pistol shooter to represent Scotland at a Commonwealth Games which was a great achievement, but in Glasgow I want to perform to a level that enables me to get into the final. You can only win a medal if you get into a final.

Q: How much of an impact do you expect a home crowd and home venue to have?

CB: On a personal level I wouldn’t be properly prepared if I didn’t accept that there is going to be a different level of pressure at a home games, but with early selection I can train for this.

Q: Can you give us an overview of the pistol shooting competition so people know what to expect?

CB: There are separate ladies and men’s competitions for Air Pistol, and I have to shoot 40 shots in 50 minutes. The top score you can get for each shot is a 10 and my personal best is 382 out of 400. The top 8 shooters go forward into a final which is a “lowest score sits down” elimination style.

Q: How did you get into the sport and would you encourage others to have a go?

CB: I started shooting at university (where I met my husband), and he introduced me to shooting. If anyone was interested in learning more about shooting (of which there are many disciplines) then they should get in touch with a local club.

Photo Credit: Alistair Devine

Commonwealth Games Scotland announced the selection of a further nine athletes to represent Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Eight shooters and one triathlete were added to the 23 track, field and road athletes and four squash players announced in September, bringing the total team size to 36 in what will be the last selections made in 2013.
The strength of Scotland’s shooters is evident, with six of the eight athletes announced today having contributed to all nine shooting medals won at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, helping shooting to finish as Scotland’s top sport at the Games.

Heading the shooting line-up are the most successful male and female athletes overall from Delhi 2010, in Jonathan Hammond and Jennifer McIntosh. They won an impressive total of seven medals between them in Small Bore Rifle events including four gold. Both went on to represent Team GB at London 2012 and they are hoping for another successful Commonwealth Games on home soil next year.

Jen had her best World Cup placing with the Air Rifle this year, finishing 18th in Munich. Last year she made her first World Cup final taking 6th in the 50m Rifle 3P event also in Munich in her first year as a senior.

Originally from Aberdeen and now based in West Virginia, USA, Jon welcomed the news of his selection saying: “Now I am selected I can begin all the planning for the winter and next season in the lead up to Glasgow. Some of the new rules in our sport may alter how I prepare for the Games, but the biggest rules change of starting the scores from zero for the finals has really created a lot of equality and I think gives many more people the chance of winning a medal. All I can focus on is having the best performance possible and see what happens.”

“Like London it will be very special to compete at home, it probably won’t happen ever again for us in a major international competition, so that is something to savour. With the shooting in Carnoustie my parents, family and friends will not have far to travel and that will be quite special having all of them there regardless of the outcome.”

Other shooters selected include Delhi medallists Neil Stirton who won gold and bronze in the 50m Rifle Prone Pairs and 50m Rifle 3 Position pairs (with Jonathan Hammond), building on his silver medal from the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Ian Shaw and Angus McLeod who took silver in the Full Bore Rifle pairs in Delhi have also booked their passage in both the individual and pairs events for Glasgow 2014.

Alford’s Shona Marshall who took silver in the Clay Target Trap event in Delhi has assured her place, having been a regular contender on the Great Britain team over the last two years, just missing out on London 2012. Shona finished 8th at World Cups this year in both Mexico and UAE, and those scores contributed towards selection.Â

Caroline Brownlie will make her second Games appearance in Glasgow in the 10m Air Pistol, having secured her place in June when she set a new Scottish record on the way to winning the British Pistol Club Championships. She also represented Great Britain for the first time at a World Cup in Granada this year.

Sian Bruce is the only new face amongst the shooters announced so far. The 20 year old from Dundee will make her Games debut in the Clay Target Skeet event. Sian was European U21 Champion in 2010, and also won silver at the Delhi Test Event in 2010. She finished 7th at both U21 World and European Championships this year in what will be her last year as a junior.

There are still a number of shooting places on the team which will not be decided until next May, such is the quality of the competition. For example in the Women’s 50m Rifle Prone event which was won by Jen McIntosh in Delhi, there are six Scottish athletes who have all met the selection standard so far and they will have to fight it out for the two places available.

Triathlon makes a welcome return to the Commonwealth Games for a third time in Glasgow, having first been included on the programme in Manchester 2002, then in Melbourne 2006. For Glasgow 2014 an exciting new mixed team relay event will follow the individual men’s and women’s races, which are the first medal events of the Games on day one.

Scotland number one, David McNamee, has had an outstanding 2013 posting three top ten finishes in the Triathlon ITU World Championship Series and has been rewarded with early selection as a result. Originally from Irvine and an Accountancy graduate from the University of Stirling, David now trains down in Leeds as part of the GB programme with the world’s top two triathletes, the Brownlie brothers who look likely to be wearing England vests next July.

Welcoming his selection David McNamee said: “My last four years have been focused on reaching the Commonwealth Games and now to finally be selected is so exciting. I have never represented Scotland before which will be special and the fact it’s in Scotland makes it ten times more important.

“I picked up my first ever senior triathlon medal at a European Cup event at Strathclyde Park so I’ve fond memories competing there. To have everyone cheering your name gives you such a mental boost, even though in triathlon you’re not really fully aware of it until the run.”

SELECTED ATHLETES

SHOOTING:

Jonathan Hammond, Small Bore Rifle – 50m Rifle 3P (Aberdeen / West Virginia, USA)

Neil Stirton, Small Bore Rifle – 50m Rifle Prone (Aberdeen)

Jennifer McIntosh, Small Bore Rifle – 10m Air Rifle & 50m Rifle 3P (Falkirk / Edinburgh)

Caroline Brownlie, Pistol -10m Air Pistol (Edinburgh/Bishops Waltham, Hampshire)

Shona Marshall, Clay Target – Trap (Alford, Aberdeenshire)

Sian Bruce, Clay Target – Skeet (Dundee)

Angus McLeod, Full Bore Rifle – Queen’s Prize Individual & Pairs (Edinburgh/Warminster)

Ian Shaw, Full Bore Rifle – Queen’s Prize Individual & Pairs (Epsom, Surrey)

TRIATHLON:

David McNamee, Individual Standard Race, (Irvine/Leeds)
The events listed above are those in which athletes qualified for. Click here to see the full list of events athletes are entered in which may include additional events.

Photo Credit: Alister Devine

Commonwealth Games Scotland announced the selection of a further nine athletes today (31 October), to represent Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Eight shooters and one triathlete were added to the 23 track, field and road athletes and four squash players announced in September, bringing the total team size to 36 in what will be the last selections made in 2013.

The strength of Scotland’s shooters is evident, with six of the eight athletes announced today having contributed to all nine shooting medals won at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, helping shooting to finish as Scotland’s top sport at the Games.

Heading the shooting line-up are the most successful male and female athletes overall from Delhi 2010, in Jonathan Hammond and Jennifer McIntosh. They won an impressive total of seven medals between them in Small Bore Rifle events including four gold. Both went on to represent Team GB at London 2012 and they are hoping for another successful Commonwealth Games on home soil next year.

Jen had her best World Cup placing with the Air Rifle this year, finishing 18th in Munich. Last year she made her first World Cup final taking 6th in the 50m Rifle 3P event also in Munich in her first year as a senior.

Originally from Aberdeen and now based in West Virginia, USA, Jon welcomed the news of his selection saying: “Now I am selected I can begin all the planning for the winter and next season in the lead up to Glasgow. Some of the new rules in our sport may alter how I prepare for the Games, but the biggest rules change of starting the scores from zero for the finals has really created a lot of equality and I think gives many more people the chance of winning a medal. All I can focus on is having the best performance possible and see what happens.

“Like London it will be very special to compete at home, it probably won’t happen ever again for us in a major international competition, so that is something to savour. With the shooting in Carnoustie my parents, family and friends will not have far to travel and that will be quite special having all of them there regardless of the outcome.”

Other shooters selected include Delhi medallists Neil Stirton who won gold and bronze in the 50m Rifle Prone Pairs and 50m Rifle 3 Position pairs (with Jonathan Hammond), building on his silver medal from the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Ian Shaw and Angus McLeod who took silver in the Full Bore Rifle pairs in Delhi have also booked their passage in both the individual and pairs events for Glasgow 2014.

Alford’s Shona Marshall who took silver in the Clay Target Trap event in Delhi has assured her place, having been a regular contender on the Great Britain team over the last two years, just missing out on London 2012. Shona finished 8th at World Cups this year in both Mexico and UAE, and those scores contributed towards selection.

Caroline Brownlie will make her second Games appearance in Glasgow in the 10m Air Pistol, having secured her place in June when she set a new Scottish record on the way to winning the British Pistol Club Championships. She also represented Great Britain for the first time at a World Cup in Granada this year.

Sian Bruce is the only new face amongst the shooters announced so far. The 20 year old from Dundee will make her Games debut in the Clay Target Skeet event. Sian was European U21 Champion in 2010, and also won silver at the Delhi Test Event in 2010. She finished 7th at both U21 World and European Championships this year in what will be her last year as a junior.

There are still a number of shooting places on the team which will not be decided until next May, such is the quality of the competition. For example in the Women’s 50m Rifle Prone event which was won by Jen McIntosh in Delhi, there are six Scottish athletes who have all met the selection standard so far and they will have to fight it out for the two places available.

Shooting Team Manger, Donald McIntosh said: I’m delighted to have six of our Delhi medallists selected along with Sian Bruce and Caroline Brownlie at this first stage in the process. We have seen some solid performances throughout the year as the athletes learn to deal with the substantial rule changes introduced after the London Olympic Games, and we can look forward to further progress from all of them before the Commonwealth Games begin.”

Triathlon makes a welcome return to the Commonwealth Games for a third time in Glasgow, having first been included on the programme in Manchester 2002, then in Melbourne 2006. For Glasgow 2014 an exciting new mixed team relay event will follow the individual men’s and women’s races, which are the first medal events of the Games on day one.

Scotland number one, David McNamee, has had an outstanding 2013 posting three top ten finishes in the Triathlon ITU World Championship Series and has been rewarded with early selection as a result. Originally from Irvine and an Accountancy graduate from the University of Stirling, David now trains down in Leeds as part of the GB programme with the world’s top two triathletes, the Brownlie brothers who look likely to be wearing England vests next July.

Welcoming his selection David McNamee said: “My last four years have been focused on reaching the Commonwealth Games and now to finally be selected is so exciting. I have never represented Scotland before which will be special and the fact it’s in Scotland makes it ten times more important.

“I picked up my first ever senior triathlon medal at a European Cup event at Strathclyde Park so I’ve fond memories competing there. To have everyone cheering your name gives you such a mental boost, even though in triathlon you’re not really fully aware of it until the run.”

Making the announcement Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Jon Doig said: “I am extremely pleased to announce a further nine athletes selected for Team Scotland for Glasgow 2014. All eight shooters have continued to demonstrate that they are on great form and increasingly competitive at international level, whilst triathlete David McNamee has also had his best season ever.

“We are delighted to welcome them all to represent Team Scotland at our home Games next year and they can now go into their winter training period fully focused on reaching their peak performance next July.”

Adding her congratulations, Commonwealth Games and Sports Minister Shona Robison said: “I congratulate the nine athletes, a mix of Commonwealth Games medallists and newcomers, and wish them all the best with their preparations. Team Scotland has all the ingredients to succeed, with outstanding facilities, high standards of coaching and an extra £1 million Scottish Government funding for elite sport. Like so many others, I am looking forward to seeing our athletes competing and Team Scotland shining next year at Scotland’s biggest ever sporting event.”

Many of the athletes announced today have benefited from the support of sportscotland the national agency for sport and in particular from the high performance support and expertise provided by the sportscotland institute of sport.

Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “Congratulations to all nine athletes who are the latest to secure their places in Team Scotland. Excitement around the Commonwealth Games continues to grow and, working with Games partners and the Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport, sportscotland is determined to capitalise on the unique opportunity to strengthen Scotland’s sporting pathways from grassroots to club to performance sport.

“It will be an absolute privilege for all of Team Scotland’s athletes to compete in front of a home crowd, and, given the meticulous preparation of the athletes, governing bodies, coaches and experts at the sportscotland institute of sport, they will be the best prepared Team Scotland to compete at the Commonwealth Games.”

SELECTED ATHLETES

SHOOTING:
Jonathan Hammond, Small Bore Rifle – 50m Rifle 3P (Aberdeen / West Virginia, USA)
Neil Stirton, Small Bore Rifle – 50m Rifle Prone (Aberdeen)
Jennifer McIntosh, Small Bore Rifle – 10m Air Rifle & 50m Rifle 3P (Falkirk / Edinburgh)
Caroline Brownlie, Pistol -10m Air Pistol (Edinburgh/Bishops Waltham, Hampshire)
Shona Marshall, Clay Target – Trap (Alford, Aberdeenshire)
Sian Bruce, Clay Target – Skeet (Dundee)
Angus McLeod, Full Bore Rifle – Queen’s Prize Individual & Pairs (Edinburgh/Warminster)
Ian Shaw, Full Bore Rifle – Queen’s Prize Individual & Pairs (Epsom, Surrey)

TRIATHLON:
David McNamee, Individual Standard Race, (Irvine/Leeds)