NI Commonwealth Games Selects First 12 Competitors for Delhi

The first twelve competitors of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team were named today as just over 140 days are left until the high profile event kicks of from 3-14th October in Delhi. Females dominate this first wave of announcements with seven out of the total ten including high profile stars such as Wendy Houvenhagel and Madeline Perry. Support is received from Sport Northern Ireland and many of the athletes who will be selected are funded through the public body.

Sports Institute (SINI) athlete Madeline Perry was the first nomination put forward for selection to Northern Ireland's 2010 Commonwealth Games team. In Delhi the Banbridge squash player will take part in her fourth Games this time without mixed doubles partner Steve Richardson. Since her return to the sport, after a violent street assault in Italy requiring a spell in hospital, Madeline has produced many great performances on the world circuit and has reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 6 in April 2006.

I am really excited about heading to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games, said the squash ace who will be helped by having her back-up team there as part of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council. I believe this is my strongest chance of medaling. Based on current rankings I will be ranked fourth at the Games and I have beaten the top three including the world number one this year so I believe this could be my year. The Commonwealths are a really special event, it is great to represent Northern Ireland and be part of a bigger team, and there is always an amazing atmosphere. However I have to have the mindset that this is like any other event and not to treat it differently. I am really pleased that Dr Phil Glasgow from SINI is part of the support team. SINI have been an integral part of my support over the last four years and it is great to have people who know me and know what it takes for me to perform around me at the Commonwealths.

There were no surprises in the cyclists selected. Olympic silver medalist Wendy Houvenhagel will be Northern Ireland's first female track competitor. Wendy won her medal at the Beijing Olympic Games, and Gold in the team pursuit at the 2008 and 2009 Track World Championships. The Upperlands cyclist will be competing for the first time for Northern Ireland. I'm really looking forward to representing Northern Ireland for the first time, said Houvenaghel. It will be a privilege. It’s where I was born and grew up and where my parents still live.

Houvenaghel will also contemplate taking part in the road time trial and maybe even the road race itself. For me the Commonwealth Games is a huge competition and the racing promises to be as tough as the World Championships, she added. I’m keen to maximise my chances of winning medals at the Games and I do have strengths on the road and the track. Ill be training primarily for the track but I feel I would also have chances on the roads as well.

David McCann and Michael Hutchinson who finished fourth and fifth in the individual time trial in Melbourne 2006 were added to the team. McCann has been in tremendous form on the Asian circuit in recent weeks by earning wins in the Tour of Philippines and the Tour of Taiwan.

The women bowlers line up with five players, a pair and a triple, which include Jennifer Dowds, Sandra Bailie, Mandy Cunningham, Barbara Logue and Donna McCloy. These bowlers, under the guidance of experienced outdoor and indoor international Sally McGarel, competed in the Indian capital earlier this year.

I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, said Bailie. When the letter arrived through the post telling me I was selected I was just over the moon, it was the best letter I have ever received. We will be training hard during the summer months and I have been working on my core strength and upper body strength at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland. It is really important to me especially with the conditions in Delhi.

Mark Montgomery who competed in the Manchester 2002 Games in the sport of Judo where he finished in 5th place has been selected in wrestling. The Aghalee man finished in fifth place at the 2002 games in Manchester and he is aiming high again, only 18 months after taking advantage of Sport NI's Talent Transfer Initiative and swapping his belt for wrestling garb.
He has already had a successful year with medals added to his collection. My target is to finish in the top eight and although that might not sound very high, in these Championships each country can enter two wrestlers per weight which means, whereas there is only one each in the Games so it has the potential to be twice as difficult.


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