Who Let the Dogs Out?
26th October 2005

With only 139 days to go until the start of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, 2002 Commonwealth gold medallist Steve Frew, today unveiled the 2006 Scottish Team mascots sporting the new Commonwealth Games tartan designed and manufactured by tailors and kiltmakers Kinloch Anderson Ltd.

139 black and white Scottie dogs, dressed in tartan coats were on show at Kinloch Anderson’s head office in Leith, Edinburgh and awaiting names which will be chosen by youngsters taking part in Clydesdale Bank’s ‘Name the Team Mascots’ competition.
The significance of the background to the tartan design goes back to the very first British Empire Games held in Canada in 1930, which were organised by a gentleman called Bobby Robinson. The name Robinson is associated with the Clan Gunn so the Gunn tartan sett was chosen as the basis of the design.
The white line specifically passes through the mid blue to represent the Saltire and the colour purple belongs to the Commonwealth Games Council logo and the Scottish thistle.
Welcoming their involvement, company Director, Deirdre Kinloch Anderson said: “This is an exciting project. It has been a great privilege to design this tartan for the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland particularly as it is to be the permanent tartan for all future Scottish Commonwealth Games teams and will hopefully become well established in Scottish tartan history.”

Commenting Louise Martin CBE, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland said: “We are absolutely delighted with our new Commonwealth Games tartan. Kinloch Anderson has gone out of their way to design a tartan to be proud of and one which we will now adopt for all future teams. I am very much looking forward to seeing it made up into the kilts for our parade uniform, which athletes and officials will proudly wear as they enter the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the very first time at the Opening Ceremony on 15 March next year.G
Gymnast Steve Frew is hoping to be selected for the team when it is announced next week and is keen to defend his individual rings title in Melbourne. Launching the ‘Name the Team Mascots’ competition, Steve said: “The team mascot has an important role to play in supporting the team down under in Melbourne. I am pleased that Clydesdale Bank has agreed to run a competition to find a suitable name for each of the two Scottie dogs. It would be really cool if youngsters get behind the team and enter a name.”
Glenn King, General Manager, Clydesdale Bank said: "The mascots have a
strong Scottish identity - a desire to succeed, strong pride in their
origin and a desire to perform well to meet people's expectations -
however, what the dogs are lacking are names.

"Clydesdale Bank, which is a proud partner of the Scottish Commonwealth Games Team, is throwing down the gauntlet to kids across Scotland to come up with two fantastic names that really suit the cheeky little Scottie dogs. Not only will two winners receive £250 in a new Clydesdale Bank Child Savings Account and their very own mascot, but a unique chance to meet the athletes as they leave for Melbourne next year. It's a great opportunity and we really hope this competition fires up the imagination of every kid across the country."
The competition is open to all children under the age of 16. All you need to do is email your name, address, contact number, date of entry, date of birth and suggested name of one of the two Scottie dogs to [email protected] or post your entry to “Name The Scottish Commonwealth Games Team Mascots”, FAO Mike Davis, Fast Track Events Ltd, 21 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H 9BP.
The competition will run until November 30th 2005 and the winning names will be chosen by the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland’s Chairman Louise Martin on the 5th December 2005, a date that signifies 100 days to go until the start of the Games.