Commonwealth spot for Grant
Uni athlete will team up with former student
Stirling University athlete Grant Sheldon has his sights set firmly on next year’s Commonwealth Games after securing a Team Scotland spot.
The triathlete will be teaming up with former student Marc Austin – who famously went toeto-toe with Alastair and Jonny Brownlee at the Glasgow games before tailing off.
Sheldon says he can’t wait to head Down Under for the showpiece event – and he’s determined to land himself some silverware.
He said: “It’s a pretty amazing feeling to have been selected for your country no matter the size of the event, but the Commonwealth Games is the biggest stage you can get for triathlon, so it will be a special occasion to be involved.
“I was in Australia four months ago, on holiday and just chilling out, but I’ve never raced there, though I’ve raced in New Zealand a couple of times. I think the Gold Coast will be good and I don’t know what to expect from it, but it will be an experience.”
He added: “I want to do the best that I can. Outcome-wise I want to win it but I would be happy with a medal. I just want to do the best that I can.”
Dollar sisters Jen and Seonaid McIntosh will also be hoping to land Commonwealth Games gold after being selected last week.
Older sibling Jen has already picked up five medals in shooting to make her Scotland’s most successful female athlete at the Commonwealth Games based on the number of medals won and will be a favourite to add more in April.
The sisters have had an impressive 2017, at the European Championships in Baku, they both claimed individual gold before combining with England’s Katie Gleeson to take gold in the team event.
Already part of the team are six Stirling University-based swimmers – reigning Commonwealth champion Ross Murdoch, double Olympic medallist and world champion Duncan Scott, Scott McLay, Craig McLean, European silver medallist and world finalist Kathleen Dawson and former world junior champion Craig Benson. Winners of the main trophies at Muthill Golf Club pose for the cameraman at the recent awards evening in the club when the biggest cheer of the night went to Frank Reid after he received the Captain’s Trophy, and the gents’captain holding aloft the Bell Trophy won by the gents’team