Shooter Tim Kneale is to carry the Manx flag at the opening ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month. Kneale, a bronze medallist in the double trap event at the 2010 Games in Delhi, has been given the honour of leading Team Isle of Man at the opening ceremony on July 23 at Celtic Park. Cyclist Jonny Bellis will carry the flag at the closing ceremony at Hampden Park on August 3. Bellis, who won a bronze medal for Great Britain at the 2007 World Road Race Championships and competed at the 2008 Olympic Games, will compete in track cycling at Glasgow 2014. It will be his second appearance at the Commonwealth Games having represented Team Isle of Man on the track in Melbourne 2006.
Kneale will be competing in the double trap discipline aiming for another medal, and is in top form having recently set a new world record score at an international competition in Germany. He was born in Douglas, grew up on family farm in Jurby, and is now living in Stranraer. Glasgow 2014 will be the third time he has represented Team Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games – in addition to Delhi 2010 he also competed in 2006 in Melbourne. He said:
“To be honest it came as a surprise to be asked, but it’s a great honour and I’m very proud to have been invited to carry the Manx flag and lead the team into the stadium.”
Gymnast Alex Hedges has been chosen as Team Captain for the Island’s national team at Glasgow 2014. He said it was a ‘huge honour’ to be team captain and it would be the pinnacle of his career. As Team Captain, Alex will act as a liaison between the competitors, team management and media.
Team Isle of Man will be represented in nine sports at the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer. The squad of 46 competitors is the biggest ever to represent the Island at the Games and will compete in athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming and triathlon. For more information about Team Isle of Man go to www.cga.im where you can also make donations to support the team.
Photo - Shooter Tim Kneale with his bronze medal from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. He will carry the Manx flag at the Glasgow 2014 opening ceremony on July 23.
