countdwn COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND NEWSLETTER ISSUE 13 – SPRING 2010 Randall celebrates Chairman’s view gold Over the last few months, Commonwealth Games Scotland has been involved in a number of landmark projects and decisions. The official anthem for Team Scotland at this year’s Games was finally selected by our athletes in January, following a public engagement process that led to much Michael Cavanagh discussion and debate. I look forward to hearing the athletes’ choice played for the first time in Delhi at our flag raising ceremony in the Village and again, when Scots reach the New initiative to help Scots achieve in 2014 top of the medal podium. Commonwealth Games gold medallist in judo, Graeme Randall MBE will We continue to enjoy a strong lead an exciting new initiative, designed specifically to enhance the winning partnership with sportscotland. opportunities of Scottish athletes and coaches on the world stage. This year, in addition to their annual investment of £125,000, a further The Achieve 2014 programme has been team member will have the opportunity £20,000 has enabled us to forge created by Commonwealth Games Scotland to observe their own or a similar sport ahead with our Achieve 2014 initiative (CGS), with support from sportscotland to in competition and will complete specific in time for Delhi. CGS has always offer a select number of talented athletes tasks, overseen by a mentor who will work been at the forefront of development and coaches the opportunity to gain critical closely with them to ensure they achieve a and innovation, establishing the knowledge and experience of a multi- robust, performance related outcome. The Commonwealth Youth Games back in sport environment. This will assist their search is now underway to recruit the ideal 2000 and we believe Achieve 2014 preparations for medal success in Glasgow mentors who can support and inspire our will build on this. We are confident that 2014 and beyond. future champions in the Commonwealth investing in our future talented athletes Games environment. and coaches will help to ensure that As has been shown from post Games our athletes have the best preparation research reports, some athletes rise to It is anticipated that up to two athletes possible and can compete with the big multi-sport occasion whilst others and/or one coach per sport will be distinction in 2014 and beyond. are overwhelmed by it. Furthermore selected, following a nomination process in competing on home soil in 2014 will bring conjunction with Scottish Governing Bodies Finally, I am delighted to confirm that huge additional pressures. However with of sport and sportscotland. the Scottish Centre concept, which has prior multi-sport Games experience, team been so successful at recent Games, members are better able to cope with this Welcoming his new role, Graeme Randall will evolve further for 2010 to become unique environment and are more likely to said: “I am delighted to be able to use my Scotland House. A collaborative perform and deliver to their full potential. years of experience as an athlete and a high project between CGS, Glasgow 2014, performance coach to help others in the Glasgow City Council and the Scottish The project will cost up to £144,000 and same position. Government will enable us to showcase includes funding from CGS and an award what Scotland has to offer around Team of £20,000 from sportscotland, who have “Just getting a glimpse of the size and scale Scotland and the 2014 Games, as well also seconded Graeme to operate the of a Commonwealth Games will help the as a fantastic place to visit, live, work programme as the Achieve 2014 Director, athletes and coaches to get a feel for what and do business. part of his new role as a Partnership they will face, and allow them to plan how It will be led by Manager. Discussions are also ongoing with they will deal with it to make the most of Paul Bush OBE, a number of other funders. their winning opportunities.” Chief Operating Officer, Achieve 2014 will offer targeted athletes If successful, the programme will run again EventScotland and coaches in the Glasgow 2014 sports, in 2012 with athletes attending the London and former the opportunity to travel to the Delhi Games Olympic Games and then for the 2014 Team Scotland for a five day learning experience. Each Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Chef de Mission. Jayne Clason “I would love to go to Delhi as part of the team, I just can’t wait”, said Jayne. “I enjoyed going to India in December for Rewarding the Commonwealth Championships. It was really good experience and despite all our concerns we all kept fit and healthy and competed really well. The Scots won five success medals in total – our best haul ever at these Championships.” February The 2009 season proved a series of Herculean achievements for Ayrshire weightlifter, Peter Kirkbride, who is poised to represent Scotland in his second Commonwealth Games. The 22 year old from Hurlford near Kilmarnock, holds 17 British records, three of them taken in the season-ending Scottish With athletes in all 17 Commonwealth Games sport vying for selection for Delhi, Senior Championships in Pitlochry. He bettered Team Scotland’s Commonwealth CGS has continued to recognise and reward impressive performances through Games qualifying criteria by 20kg. In a final the Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month Awards. crowning glory after a spectacular season he became British Weightlifter of the Year. The award scheme is being run as part of These fabulous achievements, have led the Bank’s programme of support to Team Kirkbride to be named Athlete of the Month Scotland and is open to athletes in any of for February. the 17 participating sports who are eligible to represent Scotland at the 2010 Games. Clydesdale Bank – Peter began weightlifting as an 11 year Clydesdale Bank’s award of £500 to every Backing Team Scotland with old, at 12 won the British Schoolboy winner ensures that athletes training and Championships and at 13 he started competing at this level will benefit from investment in success. breaking British records. Now he holds 17 extra financial support to help them to different British age group records from achieve their goals. under 15 to under 23. He’s been winning Scottish senior titles since he was 16 and December Whilst recognising this year has been a holds every Scottish senior record. On the Ross Stott was named Athlete of the huge learning curve after his first taste of international scene, Kirkbride won gold Month for December in recognition of his major competition at senior level in the at the Commonwealth Youth Games in impressive performance at the World Cup European Championships, Stott hopes his Bendigo in 2004 and finished sixth in the qualifying event in New Zealand. Ross was growing confidence and recent form will last main Games in Melbourne 2006. integral to the team’s third place finish help him get more starts for Scotland. and he was justly named the man of the “Melbourne was one of the best tournament by the Scotland team coaching “My primary aim is to get selected for Delhi experiences of my life,” he says. “I was the staff. but beyond that I would love to get a GB youngest weightlifter ever to represent call up for London 2012 and follow in the Scotland and I was up against some good “I scored the winning goal in the penalty footsteps of my brother Niall.” competition. It was a totally different world shoot out in that match and I wasn’t to what I’m used to, being on the big stage keeping count before I lined up for the last January with thousands of folk watching you and penalty so I didn’t know I was playing a Wrestling for women is making its millions more watching you through the crucial shot, but scoring that goal topped Commonwealth Games debut in Delhi. It is a cameras. I’m a big show off in that way.” off a memorable tournament for us and a big sport in India and one in which the hosts great team effort”, said Ross. have targeted significant medal success, March however Scotland also plans to field some 18 year old Jennifer McIntosh from Falkirk strong opposition including 25 has shown she is also on year old Jayne Clason, who was target for selection awarded the January Athlete of for Delhi, following the Month Award. an impressive performance at Jayne only took up wrestling the Commonwealth 18 months ago, switching from Shooting Federation the sport of judo as part of a Championships sportscotland backed talent in Delhi in transfer initiative. Now she is February, the poised to represent Scotland official test at the Commonwealth Games event for the in Delhi and even has an eye Games. on a medal in the 55kg weight category, if she can replicate her She won gold form from the Commonwealth in the Women’s Championships last December, 50m Rifle 3 where she won a bronze against Positions Pairs 2 Ross Stott strong opposition. competition Sports on track for Delhi It has been a busy few months for many of the sports, with a number of them participating in training and competition opportunities in India. All have enjoyed a positive experience and also achieved some good results, whilst other sports have continued with their national and international competition programmes in search of qualification standards. Wrestling Cycling Wrestling had its most successful ever It was great to see Sir Chris Hoy return to Commonwealth Championships when international success at the world track it went to Jalandhar, India in December championships in March, following a year winning five medals.