Scottish Women's team - Dresden 2008

The squad is a mixture of youth and experience and all the players will have hopes of making titles or norms in Dresden.

Board 1. Heather Lang

Scottish Grade (1 July 2008): 1917

Scottish ranking, of eligible Scots, in active Scottish list: 3

FIDE Rating (1 July 2008): 2063

Scottish club: Grangemouth

Heather's best result was a very fine 10th= in the World U18 Girls in 1995. This will be Heather's 5th Olympiad following her appearances in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002. Heather has also played for Scotland in the 2005 European Cricket Championships. Heather appeared with other women chessplayers on BBC TV Eggheads and knocked out Judith in the head to head. Heather has just finished writing her first book, Head First Physics.

Board 2. Rosie Giulian

Scottish Grade (1 July 2008): 1862

Scottish ranking, of eligible Scots, in active Scottish list: 4

FIDE Rating (1 July 2008): 2032

Scottish club: Giffnock

Rosie was Scottish women's champion on six occasions and previously played at the Olympiads in 1980, 1986 and 2006. Rosie is married to FM Phil Giulian.

Board 3. Carey Wilman

Scottish Grade (1 July 2008): 1974

Scottish ranking, of eligible Scots, in active Scottish list: 2

FIDE Rating (1 July 2008): 2037

Scottish club: Wandering Dragons

Carey represented England in her early chess career. She was British Under 14 Girls champion in 1977, British Under 18 Girls champion in 1978 and ECO Girls Champion in 1978 before competing for for England at the 1982 Olympiad. She returns to the Scottish team after playing at the Moscow 1994, Yerevan 1996, Istanbul 2000 and Bled 2002 Olympiads.

Board 4. Women FIDE Master Amy Officer

Scottish Grade (1 July 2008): 1766

Scottish ranking, of eligible Scots, in active Scottish list: 5

FIDE Rating (1 July 2008): 1813

Scottish club: Carse of Gowrie

Amy has played chess internationally since the age of 8 years. On her Olympiad debut, at Turin in 2006, she scored 6/9 and thereby attained the WFM title at the age of 14, making her the sole titled Scottish junior. Amy has won various British titles U/8, U/9, U/10, U/12 girls as well as British Ladies Rapidplay champion for past 2 years. She is currently on a gap year before starting Edinburgh University Medical School in 2009, studying Medical Science. Amy is Scotland's youngest qualified arbiter.

Board 5. Rhian Hughes

Scottish Grade (1 July 2008): 1764

Scottish ranking, of eligible Scots, in active Scottish list: 6

FIDE Rating (1 July 2008): 1796

Scottish club: Edinburgh

Rhian showed early promise, she is a previous British under 9 champion and made her Olympiad debut at the age of 12, at Turin in 2006. Will she emulate Amy's performance in Turin and achieve the WFM title at 14? Let's hope so! Rhian is proud to have represented Scotland in many European and World Youth Championships. Away from the board she enjoys playing piano and is very interested in animals and wildlife.

Team Captain/Coach. International Master Steve Mannion

Steve is a very experienced and solid player who achieved the Fide Master title in 1989 and International Master title in 1993. Twice Scottish Champion (1990 and 1995) he was also voted Scottish player of the year in 2000. Now he is making his mark as a coach having guided Amy to the WFM title whilst captain and coach at the Turin Olympiad 2006. He also acted as coach for Scotland at the World Youth championships in 2007.