Thursday, September 1, 2016 Scottish swimmers head to Loughborough for 2016 UK School Games UK School Games runs from 1st - 4th September (swimming: 3rd September) 43 Scottish swimmers representing Scotland North & West and Scotland South & East are travelling down to Loughborough today to compete in the UK School Games 2016, an event that brings together 1,600 of the UK’s best young athletes for four days of sporting competition . The Games have been a launch pad for many elite athletes. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 150 of the competitors previously took part in the School Games.. Sport England Director of Community Sport, Mike Diaper, said: “The School Games are so important because they’re where our future Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games medal winners get a real sense of what it’s like at a major multi-sport competition. By bringing them together at high-profile events like this, we’re giving them a head start over up-and-coming athletes from around the world. “Loughborough University has a fine reputation for sporting excellence, so it’s a fantastic venue for 2016. I’m certain next year will build on the brilliant finals we’ve had in Manchester, Sheffield and the Olympic Park.” Loughborough University Executive Director of Sport, John Steele, said: “Loughborough is proud to deliver across the full spectrum of sport, from performance to participation and from coaching to volunteering. With this in mind, I have no doubt whatsoever that we will empower our students, staff and volunteers to help deliver an unforgettable School Games experience for everyone involved. I speak on behalf of all of my colleagues at Loughborough in saying we are relishing the challenge of staging this iconic school sport event.” Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive, Ali Oliver, added: “The School Games give a true taste of high-level multi-sport competition to the UK’s best school-aged competitors. I have no doubt that Loughborough will continue the excellent reputation this event has now rightly gained.” There are 45 swimming events in the jam-packed 2016 School Games timetable and this year all the action will take place over one day of competition on Saturday 3 September. Plus, with each race at the Games being swum as a final, it’s sure to be a fast and exciting day out! Athletes will compete in both individual and team relay events for points. The number of points awarded to each athlete after a race contributes to the overall team total. Eight teams compete in the School Games representing England North, England Central, England East, England South, Scotland North & West, Scotland South & East, Ireland and Wales. For more information on the swimming schedule please click here: http://www.2016schoolgames.com/swimming Scottish swimmers competing at the 2016 UK School Games: Name Team Club Adam Donachie North & West Boys Blantyre Andrew Macintosh North & West Boys East Kilbride Callum Warnock North & West Boys Bellshill Sharks Craig Greenock North & West Boys Cumbernauld ASC Duncan McKinney North & West Boys COGST Joe Watt North & West Boys COGST Kyle Hughes North & West Boys Motherwell & Wishaw Lewis Beagrie North & West Boys Hamilton Baths Marshall Illingworth North & West Boys South Ayrshire ST Scott Gibson North & West Boys East Kilbride Thomas Balfour North & West Boys Bellshill Sharks Alice Alcaras North & West Girls COAST / Bridge of Don Bobbi Greig North & West Girls East Kilbride Hannah Dryburgh North & West Girls Aberdeen ASC Katie Mackenzie North & West Girls COGST Katie Robertson North & West Girls South Ayrshire Megan Niven North & West Girls South Ayrshire Nikki Millar North & West Girls East Kilbride Serena Iheagwaram North & West Girls COGST Toni Shaw North & West Girls COAST Zoe Macdonald North & West Girls Milngavie & Bearsden Archie Goodburn South & East Boys Warrender Baths Club Christian Buchanan South & East Boys ELST / Musselburgh Fraser Allison South & East Boys Warrender Baths Club Greig Rowe South & East Boys Carnegie ASC Jonah Walsh South & East Boys Warrender Baths Club Jospeh Penman South & East Boys Inverleith Keir Edgar South & East Boys FIRST / Bo'Ness ASC Oliver Carter South & East Boys Carnegie ASC Ross Neally South & East Boys Trojan ASC Ryan Retson South & East Boys FIRST / Grangemouth Steven McCormick South & East Boys FINS CSC Anya Reed South & East Girls FIRST Beth Johnston South & East Girls BEST / Galashiels Cara Smyth South & East Girls INCAS Ellie Rielly South & East Girls Heart of Midlothian Emma Govan South & East Girls Livingston & District Dolphins Katie Taylor South & East Girls Heart of Midlothian Katy Smith South & East Girls Warrender Baths Club Keeanna Macinnes South & East Girls Heart of Midlothian Lexie Waller South & East Girls Heart of Midlothian Roisin Ramsay South & East Girls Warrender Baths Club Sophie Smith South & East Girls Arbroath St Thomas Supporting coaching staff attending the 2016 UK School Games: Name Team Club Role Aaron Sievewright North & West COGST Coach Laura Bowie North & West Cults Otters Assistant Coach Morag Mitchell South & East Carnegie ASC Coach Craig Mitchell South & East Warrender Assistant Coach Supporting team staff attending the 2016 UK School Games: Name Team Club Role Kim Figgins North & West East Kilbride Team Manager Shannon McCleland North & West Dumfries Dolphins ASC. Assistant Team Manager Dawn Calvert South & East Aquanauts Livingston Team Manager Laura Muncey South & East Kinross Otters Assistant Team Manager