Lisa Bowman glad to be back representing Team NI as Daniel Wiffen narrowly misses out on 400m freestyle medal
Lisa Bowman rolled back the years as the Team NI netball shooter returned to the international arena after an eight-year hiatus.
Team NI faced a difficult opening group game against 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallists England and the side currently ranked third in the world – but despite the 83-34 defeat – Bowman relished being back on the big start at the Hydro in Glasgow.
“I was just excited to get back on the court and I was extremely nervous,” she stated.
"I am just glad to be here representing my country again and wearing the green dress, and for it to be in Glasgow where it was my first Commonwealth Games back in 2014, is phenomenal.
“The scoreline didn’t truly reflect how competitive the game was.
“Today was just about our processes and what we could put out there and I think everybody is coming off that court today positive and excited for the games ahead."
Bowman was being cheered on by her sisters Jenna and Kyla, who are also both Northern Ireland internationals.
She beamed: “I could definitely hear them shouting!
"The support from everybody...that is the one thing about Northern Ireland supporters they are small but mighty and you will always hear them in what is such a fantastic arena.”
Meanwhile, Gary Kelly made it three wins from three in section B of the men’s singles of the bowls.
The Ballymoney native dropped his first set of the tournament against Tongan teenager Liam Hill 6-9, but he rallied to take the second set 7-4 and then held his nerve to win the sudden death one end tie break.
In the pool, both Daniel Wiffen and Jack McMillan missed out on medals in the 400m freestyle final on Saturday.
Olympic gold medallist in the 800m freestyle back in Paris, Wiffen finished fourth, with his Northern Ireland team-mate McMillan touching the wall in seventh.
Wiffen will be back in the pool on Monday for the fastest heats of the men's 800m, where he will be tipped to win a first Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Elsewhere, Lottie Cullen has advanced to Sunday’s final of the women's 100m backstroke as fourth fastest in her heat.
However, there would be no such joy for her team-mates Danielle Hill and Grace Davison, who both missed out on qualifying for the final.
Attention then turned to Matthew Hamilton, who returned to the pool after an outstanding morning performance that saw him set new Ulster Senior and Irish Junior records. He produced another strong swim in the semi-final, taking 0.13 seconds off the Irish junior record of 52.75 that he had set earlier in the day. The performance placed him ninth overall and leaves him first reserve for Sunday’s final.
Ellie McCartney rounded off the evening for Team NI in the women’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals, where she clocked 1:08.63 to finish tenth overall, meaning she failed to qualify for the final.
Meanwhile, Team NI swimmer Victoria Catterson has had to pull out of the rest of the Games on medical advice.
She had already taken part in the 200m freestyle semi-final on Saturday and the women's 4x100m freestyle relay final on Friday.
She was also due to feature in the women's 100m freestyle heats but will no longer do so.
"On advice from the doc, I've decided to medically withdraw from the rest of the races here in Glasgow," Catterson posted on Instagram.
"I never take representing my country lightly and it's devestating I'm in this position. I'd like to thank Team NI for seeing to me so quickly and putting my health first.
"Time to get home and get healthy for Europeans in August and be the biggest Team NI cheerleader."