Athletes gearing up for Commonwealth countdown

Thursday 18 October 2001

Some of Scotland’s top swimmers, badminton players and wrestlers were on the receiving end of nearly a quarter of million pounds today, thanks to the sportscotland Lottery Fund.

"Lottery money is already making a difference..."

The fund distributes the awards to top level athletes through its Talented Athlete Programme (TAP), which gives them financial support for training, coaching, competition costs, and in some cases, living expenses. All three sports will feature at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

If recent results are indicators, the Scots swimmers are going to be strong contenders in Manchester with a number of realistic medal contenders. Over £103,000 was distributed to twelve swimmers, including Edinburgh’s Ian Edmond and Gregor Tait, both of whom had superb results at the GB Short Course Championships in August. Gregor broke the seven year British record for 100m backstroke and Ian took gold in the 100m individual medley and the 200m breaststroke.

A number of other rising swimming stars were also given awards today, including Todd Cooper, Kirsty Balfour and Louise Coull. All the recipients are consistently improving which harbours well for the future of elite swimming in Scotland.

Paul Bush, Chief Executive of Scottish Swimming, said: “TAP awards are critical to Scottish Swimming's overall strategy for world level success.  The size of this year's group of recipients reflects the big improvements of the last couple of seasons and bodes well for our performances in Manchester and beyond.”

Overall, badminton received over £120,000 distributed between eight players. Awards were made to doubles teams Russell Hogg and Kirsteen McEwan, Craig Robertson and Alastair Gatt, Sandra Watt and Yuan Wemyss, and singles Fiona Sneddon and Susan Hughes.  The funding should enable the players to concentrate their energies on competing at Bolton Arena, which will host the badminton competition during the Games.

Anne Smillie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Badminton Union, said: “We are delighted with the financial support from the sportscotland Lottery Fund.  Lottery money is already making a difference with many of our athletes highlighting the benefits it has brought to their preparations for the Games and other high profile competitions, but it is in the long term that the benefits will really start to be seen in the form of sustained successes and continuing improvements in performance."

Wrestling has received just over £20,000 from the TAP programme. The sport returns to the Commonwealth Games in 2002 after missing out in Kuala Lumpur in ‘98. Luigi Bianco and Graeme English are strongly tipped to bring home medals next year. Glaswegian Graeme has recently returned from a two year retirement and proved that he is still a contender by winning the British Championships. A seasoned veteran of elite competition, he already holds two Commonwealth bronze medals and came ninth at the Seoul Olympics. 

Chairman of sportscotland, Alastair Dempster, said: “This is an exciting time for sport in Scotland, especially with Manchester hosting the Commonwealth Games next year.

“TAP funding ensures that we are giving our top athletes vital support and room to grow so they may continue to concentrate on competing at their best and help bring Scotland to the forefront of the international sporting stage.”

• A full list of TAP awards follows.

sportscotland Lottery Fund Talented Athlete Programme

Aquatics 

12 applications totalling:   £103,659.00

Badminton 

Eight applications totalling £123,640.00

Wrestling 

Five applications totalling £20,015.00