St Andrew’s Day (30 November) was a fitting occasion to announce the 11 Scots, proud to be flying the flag for Team Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Jon Doig OBE, and Minister for Public Health & Sport, Aileen Campbell MSP, joins the Shooting Team Manager, Donald McIntosh, and some of the shooting team selected for Team Scotland at the announcement on St Andrews Day.
The eleven-strong shooting team contains a wealth of experience with Ian Shaw becoming the second Team Scotland athlete (along with Alex Marshall) to make his sixth Commonwealth Games appearance. With silver at Delhi 2010 and bronze at Glasgow 2014, he will be looking for another podium position, particularly after taking the bronze medal at the 2017 Commonwealth Championships, held at the Gold Coast 2018 competition venue in Brisbane.
Five time Commonwealth Games medallist Jen McIntosh and younger sister Seonaid will also be in the medal hunt after an impressive 2017. At the European Championships in Baku, both sisters claimed an individual gold before combining with England’s Katie Gleeson to take gold in the team event. It was a similar success story at the Commonwealth Championships as they finished first and second in the Prone event, with Seonaid also claiming gold in the 3 Position.
With a gold, silver and bronze to his name from previous Games, Neil Stirton will be keen to return to the podium, having missed out in Glasgow, while Caroline Brownlie makes her third Games appearance in the Pistol discipline. 20-year-old Aedan Evans, finalist at the 2017 World Junior Championships, heads a list of six shooters making their debut for Team Scotland.
Angus Loudon, Chair of Scottish Target Shooting said: “Scottish Target Shooting is proud to nominate such a strong team for 2018, featuring Jennifer McIntosh, Scotland’s most successful female athlete at the Commonwealth Games based on the number of medals won and other strong medal contenders. As the results from the year, and more recently at the Commonwealth Championships earlier this month have shown, Scottish athletes are in fine form winning medals on the international stage and going into 2018 we hope to match, if not exceed the high standards and successes of the Scottish shooters at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
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.
“Boxing, para-bowls, shooting and weightlifting have all seen great results for Scottish athletes over the years – triathlon and para-triathlon give the chance to make that success even stronger. I am really excited to see the mark all our athletes make on the Games.”
The athletes announced on 30 November were:
- Aedan Evans - Pistol
- Calum Fraser - Shotgun (Double Trap)
- David McMath - Shotgun (Double Trap)
- Ian Shaw - Fullbore
- Neil Stirton - Rifle
- Sandy Walker - Fullbore
- Caroline Brownlie - Pistol
- Jen McIntosh - Rifle
- Seonaid McIntosh - Rifle
- Sharon Niven - Shotgun (Trap)
- Linda Pearson - Shotgun (Double Trap)