MARK IN GB GAMES TEAM

LOCAL sportsman Mark Montgomery will be the first wrestler from Northern Ireland to represent Great Britain at senior level in 16 years when he competes at this year's Commonwealth Games.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jul 2010, 10:20 BST
Updated 28th Jul 2010, 10:21 BST

Mark has also landed a sponsorship deal to boost his Commonwealth bid. With the games taking place in India in October, Mark has rather appropriately secured the backing of an Indian restaurant group.

It's been a busy time for the Aghalee wrestler with Mark's preparations taking him to the Mediterranean and eastern Europe where took fifth place in the Macedonia Open and third place in the Kosovo Open.

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At the Sassari Cup in Sardinia Mark won Northern Ireland's first FILA (International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles) medal when he took second place.

Mark commented: "Upon my return I competed in the British Championships and took a disappointing third place, but given my string of results at international level I received a big boost and was selected on to the GB Team. I was delighted as this made me the first Northern Irish wrestler to be selected to represent GB at Senior level in 16 years since my coach John O’Rawe."

He added: "It is now just under 10 weeks to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and during my final preparation stage I will be stepping up my wrestling sessions with John and continuing to train in the Sports Councils Performance Development Centre in Lisburn where I follow a strength and conditioning programme, together with sports psychology sessions and physiotherapy.

In the coming weeks New Zealand Commonwealth Games contender Stephen Hill will be coming to Northern Ireland to train and prepare with Mark, before he travels to Alushta on the Black Sea for a two-week training camp at the famous Ukraine Olympic Training Centre.

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"This camp includes 14 wrestling sessions per week and also strength and conditioning sessions so its going to be really tough," said Mark

"As you can imagine the amount of travelling to camps and competition is an expensive business and I'm very lucky to be supported the Sports Council and the Commonwealth Games Council. In addition I have also been sponsored by the Indian restaurant group Indie Spice and Jharna of Belfast.

Mark concluded: "At the moment both my coach John and I know we are receiving everything needed to prepare me for the games and I hope to improve on the seventh place I won at the Commonwealth Championships in December by placing myself in medal contention."

Related topics:Northern IrelandGreat BritainIndia