BENDIGO sport fans set the alarm clock for 2.30am on Friday.
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow kick off on Thursday at 5.30am (AEST) with the opening ceremony, but the real action begins later that night and Bendigo’s nine-strong contingent will be at the forefront from the start.
Track cycling star Glenn O’Shea is Bendigo’s first athlete with an opportunity to win gold.
O’Shea and his Aussie team-mates are favourite to make the team pursuit final at 2.35am (AEST) on Friday. He could also ride in the 40km point score at 3.26am, Sunday, July 27 and the 20km scratch race final at 3.18am on Monday, July 28.
Australia’s netball team, which includes Bendigo’s Caitlin Thwaites and Kerang’s Julie Corletto, has a busy schedule, starting with its opening pool game against Wales on Thursday night from 10.30pm (AEST).
The Aussies then play England at 6.30pm on Saturday, Barbados at 8.30pm on Sunday, Trinidad and Tobago at 8.30pm on July 28 and South Africa at 6.30pm on July 30.
The semi-finals will be played on Saturday, August 2 at 7pm and 9.15pm, with the gold medal game on Sunday, August 3 at 9.30pm.
The badminton competition starts on Thursday night with two Bendigo players to spearhead the Australian team.
Glen Warfe will take part in the men’s doubles and the mixed team event, while Jeff Tho will compete in the men’s singles, mixed doubles and mixed teams event.
The medal rounds for the teams event will be played on Monday, July 28 from 7pm (AEST).
The medal rounds for the men’s doubles will be played on Sunday, August 3 from 3am (AEST), with the singles to start from 8pm.
Bendigo shooter Geoff Grenfell has five-straight days of competition.
Grenfell will compete in the Queen’s Prize Pairs over two days from 8pm (AEST) on Friday and Saturday.
The Queen’s Prize Individual competition is over three days from 8pm (AEST) Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
LaTrobe University student Emma Cox is one of the medal fancies in Sunday night’s women’s double trap shooting event.
Bendigo hammer thrower Tim Driesen will start his campaign in qualifying from 8.45pm (AEST) on Monday night.
The hammer throw final is on Wednesday, July 30, from 5.50am.
Mountain bike star Peta Mullens hits the women’s cross-country course from 8.30pm (AEST) on Tuesday, July 29.
