Ten Scottish athletes have been chosen to represent Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney from 14-18 January 2009.

The athletes, aged between 13 and 19, will be competing in 11 Olympic sports; archery, canoe/kayak; diving; equestrian; fencing; gymnastics; hockey; rowing; shooting; triathlon and beach volleyball.

At the last Festival in 2007, the women’s hockey players won gold, when Beijing Olympian and member of the 2009 squad Laura Bartlett (Western) was present.

Joining her this time round will be Dundee Wanderers’ Becky Ward, while goalkeeper Amy Gibson is on the reserve list.

Kenny Bain (Kelburne) was part of the men’s hockey squad who took a silver medal two years ago, and hopes to go one better this time.  He will be accompanied by fellow Scots Gordon McIntyre and Ross Stott, the brother of full GB Olympian Niall.

Elsewhere, Commonwealth Youth Games shooting medallists Rory McAlpine and Jennifer McIntosh have been selected for the rifle event.  Hannah Stewart will compete for GB in the archery contest.

In total, over one hundred of Britain’s finest young athletes have been selected for the festival.  Last time round, in 2007, Team GB made the podium in all events, with 96 of the 101 athletes returning home with a medal.

The full list of Scottish athletes is as follows:

Archery
Hannah Stewart (Montrose)

Hockey
Laura Bartlett (Glasgow)
Becky Ward (Dundee)
Amy Gibson (reserve)

Kenny Bain (Glasgow)
Gordon McIntyre (Greenock)
Ross Stott (Dundee)
Gavin Byers (reserve)

Shooting
Rory McAlpine (Lasswade)
Jennifer McIntosh (Falkirk)

See the full squad here: http://www.olympics.org.uk/ayof09/teamgb.aspx