Bowls first to nominate teams for Commonwealth Games

Tuesday 9 October 2001

With just less than 300 days to go until the start of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester next year, the Scottish Bowling Association have today announced their nominations for the Bank of Scotland Scottish Team.

Bowls has been included in all but five Commonwealth Games since their inception in 1930 and Scotland has traditionally enjoyed considerable success with the men having won six gold, three silver and five bronze medals over the years and hopes are high for Manchester next year.

George Mitchell, Treasurer & Managing Director from team sponsors Bank of Scotland said, "We are delighted to welcome the first nominated team members to the Bank of Scotland Scottish Team.  The men's bowling team will be spending the next few months training to be ready for Manchester 2002 - assisted by the Bank’s sponsorship which goes directly towards coaching and preparation.  Hopefully the medals will follow and we wish the team every success."

The proposed men's team line-up includes a mix of youth and experience, world champions and Commonwealth Games medallists, with five players making their Commonwealth Games debut.

Veteran, Willie Wood looks destined to make a record seventh Commonwealth Games appearance and is the most capped Scottish player ever. Willie is also one of the most successful Scottish competitors of all time having won two gold, one silver and one bronze.

Commenting on the team nominations, Roger Black, Secretary of the Scottish Bowling Association said: "This is a formidable team we are proposing to take to Manchester. Scotland are highly regarded in Australia as the best in the world at the moment with six of the top ten players coming out of Scotland. We are hopeful they will return from the Games next year with medals."

The bowls events of singles, pairs and fours will be held at Heaton Park in Manchester only 30 minutes from the main City Centre Games venues with the singles competition starting on the 26 July 2001.

The team announced today is subject to ratification by the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland next June, when the full Bank of Scotland Scottish Team will be announced to represent Scotland at the XVII Commonwealth Games in sixteen sports.

TEAM NOMINATIONS

Graeme Archer, Edinburgh

34 year old Graeme has been a Scottish international since 1994 indoors and 1996 outdoors but this will be his first Commonwealth Games. Last year he was the World Indoor Bowls Council world champion.

Darren Burnett, Arbroath

Only 25 years of age, Darren has already had 9 senior indoor caps and 8 senior outdoor caps for Scotland having come through the junior ranks of the sport as Scottish, British and world junior singles champion. This year has been particularly successful becoming Scottish indoor singles champion and World Indoor Bowls Council champion, and only last weekend became the British Isles indoor singles champion. This will be Darren’s first Commonwealth Games.

Gary Mackie, Kirkaldy

30 year old Gary has 12 caps for Scotland and this will be his first Commonwealth Games.

He was Scottish pairs winner in 1996, British pairs winner in 1997 and European mixed pairs champion in 1999. Two weeks ago, Gary together with David Peacock, defended their European mixed pairs championships by winning the team event again – the best from 13 countries.

Alex Marshall, Tranent, East Lothian

This will be the third consecutive Commonwealth Games that 34 year old Alex has competed in since his first cap for Scotland at the age of 21, giving him 39 caps in total. Alex has won a host of indoor and outdoor championships mainly in pairs events. In 1999 he won the world indoor singles championships and last year (2000) Alex held both the indoor and outdoor world championships pairs titles.

David Peacock, Dalkeith, Midlothian

31 years of age, David has had 12 outdoor and 27 indoor caps for Scotland since 1992, but Manchester will be his first Commonwealth Games. David has enjoyed international success in 1999 as European team and individual winner, 2000 Scotland v Israel test series winner and this year as winner of the Hong Kong invitation rinks competition.

George Sneddon, Broxburn, West Lothian

George has been capped for Scotland since 1995 at indoor events and since 1998 for outdoor bowling. George had a particularly successful season in 2000 at the world championships winning gold in the pairs, silver in the team and bronze in the pairs. He was also singles winner of the Hong Kong Classic and winner of the Scottish two bowl pairs event. George will return to Hong Kong next month to defend his title.

Willie Wood,  East Lothian

See above for details.

Actual playing positions (singles, pairs, fours) will be named closer to the event.