The Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council has announced a team of 18 athletes travelling to the Commonwealth Youth Games which will be held in the Isle of Man between 7th and 13th September 2011. Athletics has been allocated three places and North Down’s Matthew Martin (javelin), City of Derry’s Mark McGarvey (110mH) and Ballymena & Antrim’s Robert Moffett (hammer) all being selected. Matthew (Coach- Paddy McGrattan), who has also been selected to represent Ireland in the European Youth Olympics in July 2011, was selected on the basis of his consistent high performances in the Javelin.
Matthew will throw the 700g Javelin at the Commonwealth Youth Games and this season has thrown the qualification standard with this weight on numerous occasions, the best of which was a throw of 58.93m in Bedford on the 4th June 2011. In this competition Matthew got the better of a higher ranked English athlete, showing his competitive edge which bodes well for the Commonwealth Youth Games. As Matthew also competes in the U20 age-group he has been competing in the 800g Javelin on occasion and has managed to juggle the demands of the varying weight with relative ease. If the timetable allows, Matthew may also compete in the Shot Putt as a secondary event.
In addition to the athletes, five technical officials from the Province will be working at the IV Commonwealth Youth Games, including Ian Atkinson and Philip West from North Down AC. The other officials are Joy Alexander, Bob Brodie and Pam Brown, who has been appointed Track Referee for the Games.