Scotland Senior Women begin full-time training thanks to sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards

 

Scotland Senior Women’s journey on the ‘Road to Glasgow’ and the Commonwealth Games kicked off today when the squad gathered for their first day of full-time training at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
Scotland’s high performance athletes across 17 different sports with the potential to deliver a podium finish at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have been boosted with the news that they are among the recipients of individual sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards (SAPAs).
The £90,000 award to the women’s hockey team is allowing the squad to train full-time from today right through until the Commonwealth Games in July.
Speaking at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, where the awards were announced, Director of High Performance at sportscotland Mike Whittingham said:
“The sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards can make the difference to our athletes vying for a place on the podium, and it’s great to be able to boost the Glasgow Games prospects of 67 individual Team Scotland athletes plus those involved in the sports receiving team awards.
“Some of our athletes are already on UK-funded world-class programmes and require a ‘top-up’, while others are in the early stages of their high performance career and need that additional support to help them train and compete at the right level as they approach competition.
“SAPAs help ensure that Scottish athletes have the time to be fully focussed and concentrate on important areas such as recovery and injury prevention.  It is challenging to achieve success on the word stage and meticulous preparation is an essential ingredient.
“Through the SAPA scheme, we have now invested well over a million pounds in over 100 individual athletes plus those in teams receiving awards.  Using a mixture of Lottery and Scottish Government funding, we are building a world-class system for high performance athletes in Scotland – a vital component of delivering the sporting legacy from hosting the Commonwealth Games.
“The Commonwealth Games is just round the corner and athletes are approaching the home straight knowing they have the support of their governing bodies and world-class support from the sportscotland institute of sport’s team of coaches, scientists, and experts.”
Scotland Vice-Captain Catriona Ralph said:
“This award gives the team the best opportunity to perform at our very best at the Commonwealth Games.  In allowing us to train full-time, and the provision of first-class support services through sportscotland, we are able to focus entirely on our hockey and on representing Scotland as best we can.”
Minister for Sport and Commonwealth Games Shona Robison added:
“Team Scotland are anticipating their most successful Commonwealth Games ever. The flexibility provided by the sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards delivers an advantage during Scotland’s preparations for the Games.
“We have been able to help give both elite individuals and teams, like the women’s hockey squad, the resources to help them step up their training to fulfil their potential on the world stage. I am looking forward to seeing the players on the pitch, aiming for their best results yet, in what will be the best Commonwealth Games ever.”
Jon Doig, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said:
“I am delighted with the continued support for Commonwealth Games athletes in this latest round of SAPAs.
“We have been working closely with sportscotland to ensure that Scottish athletes have the necessary support in place to give them every opportunity to excel at the Games.  Coupled with the excellent support services provided by the institute, today’s athlete personal awards will enable athletes to focus on delivering the performance of their lives at Glasgow 2014 this summer.”

Scotland Senior Women’s journey on the ‘Road to Glasgow’ and the Commonwealth Games kicked off today when the squad gathered for their first day of full-time training at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Scotland’s high performance athletes across 17 different sports with the potential to deliver a podium finish at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have been boosted with the news that they are among the recipients of individual sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards (SAPAs).

sportscotland launch Scotland

(sportscotland Director of High Performance Mike Whittingham and Scottish Hockey Chief Executive David Sweetman welcome Scotland Senior Women to the Glasgow National Hockey Centre for the first day of full-time training thanks to SAPA investment by sportscotland. Photo Credit: Jell Holmes.)

The £90,000 award to the women’s hockey team is allowing the squad to train full-time from today right through until the Commonwealth Games in July.

Speaking at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, where the awards were announced, Director of High Performance at sportscotland Mike Whittingham said:

“The sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards can make the difference to our athletes vying for a place on the podium, and it’s great to be able to boost the Glasgow Games prospects of 67 individual Team Scotland athletes plus those involved in the sports receiving team awards.

Mike Whittingham and Linda C

(sportscotland Director of High Performance Mike Whittingham and Scotland Senior Women Captain Linda Clement. Photo Credit: Jeff Holmes).

“Some of our athletes are already on UK-funded world-class programmes and require a ‘top-up’, while others are in the early stages of their high performance career and need that additional support to help them train and compete at the right level as they approach competition.

“SAPAs help ensure that Scottish athletes have the time to be fully focussed and concentrate on important areas such as recovery and injury prevention.  It is challenging to achieve success on the word stage and meticulous preparation is an essential ingredient.

“Through the SAPA scheme, we have now invested well over a million pounds in over 100 individual athletes plus those in teams receiving awards.  Using a mixture of Lottery and Scottish Government funding, we are building a world-class system for high performance athletes in Scotland – a vital component of delivering the sporting legacy from hosting the Commonwealth Games.

“The Commonwealth Games is just round the corner and athletes are approaching the home straight knowing they have the support of their governing bodies and world-class support from the sportscotland institute of sport’s team of coaches, scientists, and experts.”

Scotland Vice-Captain Catriona Ralph said:

“This award gives the team the best opportunity to perform at our very best at the Commonwealth Games.  In allowing us to train full-time, and the provision of first-class support services through sportscotland, we are able to focus entirely on our hockey and on representing Scotland as best we can.”

sportscotland Launcjh

(L-R; Scotland Senior Women Vice-Captain Cat Ralph, Scottish Hockey Chief Executive David Sweetman, Scotland Senior Women Captain Linda Clement, sportscotland Director of High Performance Mike Whittingham, Scotland Senior Women Vice-Captain Leigh Fawcett. Photo Credit: Jeff Holmes).

Minister for Sport and Commonwealth Games Shona Robison added:

“Team Scotland are anticipating their most successful Commonwealth Games ever. The flexibility provided by the sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards delivers an advantage during Scotland’s preparations for the Games.

“We have been able to help give both elite individuals and teams, like the women’s hockey squad, the resources to help them step up their training to fulfil their potential on the world stage. I am looking forward to seeing the players on the pitch, aiming for their best results yet, in what will be the best Commonwealth Games ever.”

Jon Doig, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said:

“I am delighted with the continued support for Commonwealth Games athletes in this latest round of SAPAs.

“We have been working closely with sportscotland to ensure that Scottish athletes have the necessary support in place to give them every opportunity to excel at the Games.  Coupled with the excellent support services provided by the institute, today’s athlete personal awards will enable athletes to focus on delivering the performance of their lives at Glasgow 2014 this summer.”

 

Recent posts:

Back to all news
Back to top