Scots call-up for Commonwealth Games hopeful
ONE of Scotland's brightest young Commonwealth Games water polo hopefuls made her debut for her country at youth level on Saturday.
Alison Thompson, who has been tipped by her coach to be in the Games squad for Glasgow 2014, was the youngest member of the 14 strong team that competed in the Amateur Swimming Association Inter Regional Youth Girls' Championships in Walsall.
The 14-year-old, from Rowan Drive, Bearsden, was up against against teams from Ireland and a number of English regions.
And despite failing to reach the finals, Alison did score a goal for her country.
Youngest
The Bearsden Academy pupil said: "It was great representing Scotland. I was one of the youngest in the team. Some of the girls were 16 and 17."
Asked about her ambitions to compete at a higher level, she said: "I would look forward to competing in the Commonwealth Games maybe, but I know I've got a long way to go.
"I am not all that experienced and would have to train really hard to get to the right standard."
The gifted young athlete has been a member of East Dunbartonshire Water Polo Club for two-and-a-half years and was chosen for the Scottish squad after she was selected to play in trial at the beginning of January.
Alison has taken part in training sessions with the squad, but as most of the players are based in Dundee, Dunfermline, Stirling, Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh, she does not train with the team as much as she would like to.
She does, however, play every Sunday afternoon with her club at the Allander Leisure centre.
Coach David Walker revealed Alison is the first girl from the club to have been picked to represent Scotland, and believes she can go far with the right guidance.
David, a coach at the club for nine years, said: "She was spotted by the national water polo development officer Neal Raynor and was asked to go for trials in Edinburgh and Stirling before being selected.
"This is the team they will be developing for the Commonwealth Games when they come to Glasgow in four years time, and Alison will be just the right age.
"Although Alison may only be 14, she is already the same standard as the rest of the squad."
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Weather for Milngavie
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
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