Gold Coast 2018 Para Bowls Squad Announced -

St Andrew’s Day (30 November) was a fitting occasion to announce the next 35 Scots, proud to be flying the flag for Team Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. The list includes six past medallists and 21 debutants from the sports of Boxing, Para- Bowls, Shooting, Triathlon and Weightlifting and now join those previously selected in Swimming, Lawn Bowls and Squash.

Para bowler Irene Edgar and her Director, David Thomas make a return to Team Scotland having won silver in Glasgow in the B2/B3 Mixed Pairs. Robert Barr, directed by Sarah Jane Ewing, will partner Irene this time around and the pair have already experienced success on the Gold Coast greens, taking silver at the 2016 Eight Nations Championships. In the B6/B7/B8 Open Triples, Michael Simpson is the sole returning member of the team that took 4^th place in Glasgow. He is joined by 2015 Singles World Champion, Martin Hunter and 2016 Scottish Champion, Mike Nicoll.

After many years of coaching and holding positions as Head Coach and Team Manager at the Commonwealth Games, within both mainstream and para bowls, Bob Dick has decided to step down ahead of the Gold Coast Games in 2018. The decision wasn’t taken lightly, and although Bob will remain heavily involved with Scotland’s para bowlers, he will not be attending any long-haul overseas events in the future. SDS is extremely thankful to Bob for his contribution to our programme and we are grateful that he continues to be involved at national level.

Although SDS is losing considerable experience at this level, it does provide a significant opportunity for one our national coaches to step into the role of Head Coach. Following a robust recruitment period we are delighted to announce that Bob Christie has been successful and will lead the selected players into, and during, the Games. Bob has a wealth of experience within bowls in Scotland both as a player and a coach, and in a relatively short period of time, he has made a significant contribution to the para bowls programme. We are confident that the players will respond to his leadership and look forward to the Games with optimism.

Janice Eaglesham MBE, Chair, Scottish Disability Sport said: “Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to announce a strong field of players to compete in two medal events at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Selection decisions were extremely difficult, but the five players and two directors that were chosen have a blend of experience, as well as a strong sense of team unity, which is vitally important for pairs and triples disciplines. I’d like to congratulate those players and directors, who will represent Scotland at the highest level, and we look forward to the Games with great optimism.”

Welcoming the newly selected athletes, Jon Doig OBE, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “Huge congratulations to all of the athletes who have been selected for Team Scotland. We look forward to them representing their families, communities and country with pride in 2018.

“Every athlete with a place on the team has met the tough selection standards, just to make the team and it is clear that we have the quality within the team to deliver our goal of having our most successful ever overseas Games.”

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Public Health and Sport, said: “A massive congratulations to the latest athletes announced to represent Scotland at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“By making it to the top of their respective sports, and being chosen to represent Scotland, they have already done a huge amount to make themselves, and all of us who will be cheering them on, so proud – and I have no doubt that will continue when the Games come around.”