Ballymena athletes in Commonwealth Games panel

Five sportspeople with Ballymena connections were among the first batch of 33 athletes announced by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council last week ahead of the Games in Glasgow.

Among them is bowler Barbara Cameron, who first competed in the Commonwealths back in 1994.

She is joined in the bowls panel by Jennifer Dowds and Donna McNally who, although they reside outside of Ballymena, play their club bowls of the Old Ballymoney Road-based club.

Kirsty Barr is named in the shooting panel.

The Shankbridge markswoman was part of the Northern Ireland set-up for the previous Games in Delhi in 2010.

Boxer Steven Donnelly was also part of the team in squad for those Games in Delhi and he will be looking to improve upon the disappointment of an early exit from the competition.

Donnelly, the recently-crowned Irish champion, will compete in the welterweight division and is one of 11 boxers named.

The Northern Ireland cycling team, which is yet to be named, will be managed by Ahoghill man and former Commonwealth Games competitor Ryan Connor.

Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council Chef de Mission Robert McVeigh said: “I’m sure that those selected can now focus on their preparation to perform at the Games in July and August.”