Athletics announce Commonwealth team

Thursday 20 June 2002

The Executive of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and Scottish athletics today (Thursday 20 June) announced the names of 28 athletes who have been recommended for selection for the Bank of Scotland Scottish team competing at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester from 25-31 July 2002. Five of the nominated athletes have still to prove their fitness by 9 July.

"There is no greater honour for a Scottish athlete than representing their country..."

The team is a blend of established internationals and exciting youngsters, led by Olympians Ian Mackie, Sinead Dudgeon and Kathy Butler.

Mackie, Ruth Irving and Jamie Quarry have attended previous Commonwealth Games, but for many of the exciting prospects including Lee McConnell, Chris Baillie and Susan Scott, this will be their first Commonwealth Games.

For the younger team members including Aileen Wilson, Gemma Nicol and Shirley Webb, the Games are expected to provide invaluable experience for their highly promising athletics careers.
For 15-year-old Nicol, selection caps a remarkable year. In February, during the indoor season, she broke the British under 17 record over 300m. She also claimed bronze in the Scottish Indoor Senior Championship over 400m.

In June she won silver at the European Schools International in France over 400m and then anchored Scotland to bronze in the 100 x 200 x 300 x 400m relay after collecting the baton in last place. She also won silver at the Sunday Mail Scottish Senior Championships over 400m.

Nicol will form part of a promising women's 4x400m squad, which also includes GB internationals McConnell, Dudgeon, Carey Easton and Lesley Clarkson.

Athletics Team Manager Leslie Roy said: "We have selected a strong team and expect athletes to be challenging for finals places. I am delighted for all those selected. There is no greater honour for a Scottish athlete than representing their country as part of the Bank of Scotland Scottish Commonwealth Games Team. I have no doubt they will all perform with great credit."

George Mitchell, Treasurer & Managing Director of Bank of Scotland, said: "Bank of Scotland Scottish Commonwealth Team is continuing to present a wealth of talent across a number of sports. This fresh, focused team of athletes have worked hard to reach this level in competitive sport and we are confident that they will continue to put the Bank's sponsorship, which goes directly towards team preparation, to good use as they train hard and get ready for Manchester 2002. We wish the team every success and support them all the way."

The team members announced today are subject to final ratification by the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland on June 25, when the full Bank of Scotland team will be announced for the XVII Commonwealth Games.

TEAM LIST

Kathy Butler - 5,000 metres, 1500 metres - subject to proof of current form

Lesley Clarkson - 4x400 metres Relay

Gillian Cooke - Pole Vault

Sinead Dudgeon - 400 metres Hurdles, 4x400 metres Relay

Carey Easton - 400 metres, 4x400 metres Relay

Alison Higgins - 10,000 metres

Ruth Irving - Long Jump

Lorna Jackson - Javelin - subject to proof of current form

Lee McConnell - 400 metres, 4x400 metres Relay

Gemma Nicol - 4x400 metres Relay

Hayley Ovens - 1500 metres

Gillian Palmer - 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres

Susan Scott - 800 metres, 1500 metres

Mhairi Walters - Hammer

Shirley Webb - Hammer

Aileen Wilson - High Jump - subject to proof of current form

Jamie Quarry - Decathlon

Chris Baillie - 110 metres Hurdles

Christian Nicolson - 10,000 metres - subject to proof of current form

Ian Mackie - 100 metres and 200 metres - subject to proof of current form

Jon McCallum - 1500 metres

Richard McDonald - 400 metres Hurdles

Iain Park - Hammer

Darren Ritchie - Long Jump

Glen Stewart - 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres

These recommendations are in addition to those already announced:

Lynne MacDougall - Marathon

Sara Jane Cattermole - 20 km Walk

Simon Pride - Marathon

• The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland (CGCS) is responsible for selecting and preparing the team representing Scotland at the Games and is financed through sponsorship and fundraising activities, and grant support from sportscotland.
• The total cost of preparing and taking a team to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 is around £450,000.
• A copy of the overall team and individual sport selection policy is available from the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland.
• The Scottish Team won 3 gold, 2 silver and 7 bronze medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Athletics won 1 silver - Allison Curbishley 400m.
• Scotland has competed in every Games since the first British Empire Games in 1930 winning a total of 270 medals (65 gold, 79 silver, 126 bronze).
• 16 sports are taking part in Manchester: Athletics; Badminton; Bowls; Boxing; Cycling; Gymnastics; Hockey (women's); Judo; Rugby 7s; Shooting; Squash; Swimming; Table Tennis; Triathlon; Weightlifting; and Wrestling.
• The 2002 Commonwealth Games are being held in Manchester 25 July - 4 August.
• In December 2000 Bank of Scotland announced its second time sponsorship of the Bank of Scotland Scottish Team for the Commonwealth Games. The Bank's sponsorship specifically funds coaching and preparation for the team to help improve our athletes' medal chances.
• Bank of Scotland is the largest commercial sponsor of youth sport in Scotland and this year over 20,000 young people will take part in youth development projects supported by Bank of Scotland.