Duo set to help Scots to victory Finals date for Ross and Alice

Ross Paterson and Alice Baxendale from Paisley have been selected to be part of the Scottish athletics squad at the 2017 School Games national finals.

The School Games are an integrated multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes and will take place at Loughborough University from August 31 to September 3.

Nineteen-year-old Ross is a student at Castlehead High School in Paisley and is a member of the Red Star Athletic Club. Alice, 15, attends the High School of Glasgow and trains with Victoria Park City of Glasgow Athletic Club. Both will compete for the Scotland squad in the athletics section of the games.

They already have an impressive record of success – Ross has previously won gold in the 400m at the 2014 School Games and Alice has been ranked in the top 10 for under-15 girls discus event last year.

Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the games, seven of which include disability disciplines.

The four-day event is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Ross and Alice will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the games before going on to senior international success.

Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and GB sprinter Adam Gemili.

The games have proved to be a springboard for future athletes – 56 of the 382 athletes representing Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio competed at the School Games.

At the event Ross and Alice will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level.

They will live in a dedicated athletes’ village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in an opening ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds of spectators.

“Being a part of the games in 2014 was an incredible experience,” said Ross. “I loved the whole team experience and the chance to perform alongside future British athletes.”

“The finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Ross and Alice,” said Ali Oliver, chief executive officer of the Youth Sport Trust.

“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”

Tickets for the event are available at https :// www. ticketsource. co.uk/2017schoolgames