News / Isles trio set for Commonwealth Games
THREE Shetland female athletes are to compete for Scotland in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games that start next month.
In the swimming pool, 22 year old Lerwick lass Andrea Strachan will be competing in the 50 metre breaststroke, where she won bronze in last year’s British championships and took silver in an international swim meet in Berlin this year.
Alongside her will be 13 year old Erraid Davies, originally from Dundee, who swims for the Brae club Delting Dolphins and is a member of the Scottish Para Swimming Squad. She will compete in the 100m breaststroke in Glasgow.
Meanwhile 20 year old Lynda Flaws, from Sumburgh, is one of three women in the seven strong table tennis team, the first time women have competed for Scotland in this sport in the Commonwealth Games.
The three join around 300 other Scottish athletes at the Glasgow games that run from 23 July until 3 August.
Shetland Islands Council convener Malcolm Bell said he was “absolutely delighted” to hear the news, pointing out that a community with less the 0.05 per cent of the population had provided one per cent of the national sports team.
“It goes to show that with hard work and dedication, growing up and living in a remote island does not need to stand in the way of representing your country at sport,” he said.
“Over the years Shetland has invested considerably in sporting facilities and it’s great to see that this investment is paying off in so many ways, including the development of elite sports people.”
Meanwhile the names of 97 islanders have been announced who will carry the Commonwealth Games baton as it wends its way around Shetland on 1 July.
The Queen’s Baton Relay began its journey from India last October through 70 Commonwealth nations and territories before it arrives in Scotland this weekend.
On 1 July the baton will be flown in to Sumburgh airport from where it will be taken to Sandwick, Lerwick, Scalloway, Aith and Brae where school and community events are being organised as part of the countdown to the Commonwealth Games.
Bell said he hoped local people would turn out in force to support the baton bearers.
“There’s going to be plenty to see and do on 1 July, with lots of events for children and adults alike,” he said.
“Our team are working hard to make the day memorable – it’s going to be a great event for Shetland.”
The names of the baton bearers can be found here.
The baton route can be found here.
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