Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) today announced the next 29 athletes selected to represent Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games this summer. Artistic Gymnastics, Judo, Weightlifting and Powerlifting athletes have been confirmed, following their nomination by the respective Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport and subsequent ratification by the CGS selection panel.

The group contains 22 Games debutants, three Commonwealth Games medallists, six former Youth Games athletes and three athletes who will compete in their home city.

A full squad of ten gymnasts (five men, five women) will compete for Team Scotland at the SSE Hydro, including London 2012 Bronze medallist Dan Purvis, who is one of six gymnasts making their Commonwealth Games debut. Three gymnasts will make the next step up to the senior ranks, having represented Youth Team Scotland at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man.

Winner of Team Scotland’s last Commonwealth Games medal in Gymnastics – High Bar Bronze in Melbourne 2006 – Adam Cox returns to the team along with Daniel Keatings, Amy Regan and Emma White. Frank Baines and Erin McLachlan join Purvis amongst the Games debutants, while Liam Davie, Cara Kennedy and Carly Smith will make the step up to the senior Games.

Judo returns to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since the 2002 Games in Manchester where Scottish athletes collected 10 medals and was Scotland’s most successful sport. Amongst those medallists were Graeme Randall (Gold), and David Somerville (Silver), who will act as Team Manager and Head Coach for the 14 athletes (7 men and 7 women) selected to represent Scotland at the SECC in July and they will undoubtedly be able to share their vast experience.

Sarah Clark (a Silver medallist in Manchester) and John Buchanan are the only judoka to have already competed for Team Scotland, and will make their second Commonwealth Games appearance some 12 years on, along with their 12 team-mates making their Games debut. Clark is one of five Olympians in the team alongside Euan Burton, James Austin, Chris Sherrington and Sally Conway.

Weightlifter Peter Kirkbride provided one of the highlights of Delhi 2010 with his Silver medal winning lift in the under-94kg competition, and will be looking to go one better in Glasgow. Peter is joined in the squad by three female athletes making their Commonwealth Games debut. Team Scotland will also make its first appearance in the Para-Sport Powerlifting competition with Michael ‘Micky’ Yule featuring in the Men’s Heavyweight competition.

SELECTED ATHLETES

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS (10):

NAME BORN/LIVES

Frank Baines Liverpool/Crosby

Adam Cox Edinburgh/Livingston

Liam Davie Bellshill/Carnbroe

Daniel Keatings Kettering/Corby

Daniel Purvis Liverpool/Crosby

Cara Kennedy Paisley/Paisley

Erin McLachlan Huddersfield/Huddersfield

Amy Regan Glasgow/Glasgow

Carly Smith Glasgow/Glasgow

Emma White Dunfermline/Birmingham

JUDO (14):

James Austin Burton-Upon-Trent/Edinburgh

John Buchanan Edinburgh/Broxburn

Andrew Burns Glasgow/Edinburgh

Euan Burton Ascot/Edinburgh

Patrick Dawson Edinburgh/Edinburgh

Matthew Purssey Chertsey/Edinburgh

Chris Sherrington Ormskirk/Broxburn

Sarah Adlington Shrewsbury/Edinburgh

Sally Conway Bristol/Edinburgh

Sarah Clark South Shields/Edinburgh

Stephanie Inglis Inverness/Edinburgh

Connie Ramsay Inverness/Edinburgh

Kimberley Renicks Bellshill/Coatbridge

Louise Renicks Coatbridge/Coatbridge

WEIGHTLIFTING (4):

Peter Kirkbride Irvine/Kilmarnock

Georgina Black Irvine/Kilmarnock

Louise Mather Alexandria/Glasgow

Sophie Smyth Irvine/Kilmarnock

PARA-SPORT POWERLIFTING (1):

Michael Yule Edinburgh/Lincoln

Photo credit: Jeff Holmes