Published: Friday, 16th July, 2010 9:30am

Auchinleck bowler set for Delhi

With only weeks until the start of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, East Ayrshire Council has launched a support campaign for three very talented local athletes.

Clare Johnston of Auchinleck Indoor Bowling Club and Graeme Kane and Peter Kirkbride of Kilmarnock Amateur Weightlifting Club are set to be named in the Scotland Commonwealth Squad to be announced on Wednesday 18 August.

East Ayrshire's Talented Athletes: Graeme Kane, Clare Johnston and Peter Kirkbride

The three athletes are supported by East Ayrshire Council and the Sports Council through the Talented Athlete Support Programme and we wish each of them the very best of luck in their pursuit of Medals at the Games. The Council also hopes that their dedication and success will inspire thousands of others to get involved in sport as the country gears up for the 2014 Games in Glasgow.

Councillor Kathy Morrice, Spokesperson of Improving Community Health and Wellbeing said: "We are really proud of these individuals and what they have already achieved in their respective sports. We hope that they bring back Medals for Scotland and East Ayrshire at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi later this year. It's really important though to make it clear that we want to see more people taking part in sport. As Council we value sport and physical activity - it brings great benefits to individuals and our communities. You don't have to be really talented to take part there are opportunities at all levels in East Ayrshire and we'd like to see lots more people committed to getting active."

Clare and Peter will be on hand at Play Day, Kay Park on Wednesday 4 August to demonstrate their sports and take some coaching sessions. This will be a fantastic opportunity for our young people to meet athletes of a very high calibre.

The Council would like to see the whole community get behind these athletes and support them on the road to gold medal success in Dehli this October. The Council hope to be able to screen their performances live at a venue in East Ayrshire - for further information please contact the Council's Sports Development Manager on 01563 576 721.

Clare, Graeme and Peter won't be the only ambassadors from East Ayrshire at the Games this October; three local people have also been selected to take part in the Handover Ceremony which marks the transfer of Games responsibility from Delhi to Glasgow. Craig Butcher, Ashleigh Wardrop and Amy Gibson will perform in the closing ceremony to showcase Glasgow and Scotland to the rest of the world. The performance which will take place in the spectacular Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be beamed live across the Commonwealth to an estimated audience of 1 billion people.

Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, John Scott said: "I am delighted that Craig Butcher, Ashleigh Wardrop and Amy Gibson from East Ayrshire Council are training to be part of the 348-strong cast to perform in Delhi, inviting the rest of the world to the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in 2014."