On returning from Delhi where we won Scotland’s last gold medal of the Games, light-heavyweight boxer Callum Johnson made the decision to turn pro and has been taken under the wing of former multiple world champion Naseem Hamed.
After joining team mates at the Sunday Mail sportscotland Sports Awards dinner in Glasgow on Thursday he made his pro debut on Saturday night as he fought on the undercard of Ricky Burns’ world title defence at the Braehead Arena.
Naseem Hamed hailed Callum Johnson’s “chilling” professional debut after watching his protege stop his opponent in the second round with Johnson proving too powerful for Belfast’s Phillip Townley.
“It was a chilling performance, an absolutely brilliant performance,” said Hamed.
“It looked like he had been in that ring as a professional for the past ten years. It was amazing – crisp shots, very confident.
Johnson, who is based in Lincolnshire but very proud of his Scottish roots, loved every minute of it.
“It’s good to get my debut out the way, I was a little bit nervous,” the 25-year-old said.
“I represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games, making my debut in front of all these people in Scotland, and to get a stoppage, I’m over the moon, I’m buzzing.
“I have been waiting for this since I was a boy when I first put the gloves on in the kitchen with my dad, I dreamt of turning professional and boxing in front of all these people.
“It’s just happened, and happened in good style I thought.”
At the Commonwealth Games Scotland Sports Awards Dinner in Glasgow on Saturday night, supported by Clydesdale Bank, there was recognition for a number of the nation’s top sportsmen and women after an exciting and action pacled year for Scottish sport.
The top award of the evening went to swimmer Hannah Miley, who saw off stiff competition to win the title of Scottish Sportsperson of the Year 2010 and was awarded the ‘Emirates Lonsdale Trophy’ and two business class tickets to Dubai, courtesy of team travel partner Emirates Airline as well as £1000 prize money. She becomes only the second woman to win the title, following hot on the heels or rower Katherine Grainger last year, and the second swimmer after Gregor Tait in 2006. The award is for performances between 18 September 2009 and 17 October 2010.
2010 was a golden year for Hannah finishing the year ranked as the world number one in her favoured 400m individual medley (IM) event. At the European Championships in Budapest in August, Hannah won the 400 IM in a new European Championship record, beating the 2009 World Champion from Hungary in her home pool. She also won bronze medals in the 200m IM and as part of the Great Britain 4x200m freestyle relay team.
At the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last month, Hannah withstood the pressure of being event favourite and rose to the challenge, taking gold in the 400m IM on the last day of competition in the pool. Her winning time broke the previous Commonwealth record held by 2008 Olympic champion Stephanie Rice by three seconds.
It was great news for Hannah, just back from a month’s warm weather training in Australia yesterday.
In runner-up spot receiving £500 was triathlete, Caitriona Morrison. Catriona has been competing at the highest levels for a numbers of years including representing Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and 2006. In recent years she stepped up to long distance triathlon, setting the world best debut time for an Ironman in the summer of 2009.
In 2010 she represented Great Britain at the World Duathlon Championships in Edinburgh, and racing over one of the most demanding courses ever devised, Catriona made home advantage count, to become world champion in a close run race. Earlier in the year Catriona won the Ironman Lanzarote, despite being stuck at the side of the road for 30 minutes with a broken chain. Running through the field, she won the event in one of the greatest comebacks ever in Ironman history.
Completing an impressive short list were shooters, Jonathan Hammond and Jen McIntosh, cyclist David Millar, tennis player Andy Murray and five times Emirates Lonsdale Trophy winner, cyclist Sir Chris Hoy.
Announcing the award, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “It is has been a particularly tough decision this year with so many fantastic performances to consider, not just at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, so many congratulations to all our nominees and runner-up Catriona Morrison.
“However, 2010 has seen Hannah Miley step up a significant level to secure her position at the top of the world stage and deliver not once, but twice in three months. Anyone who knows Hannah is in no doubt of her total commitment to be the very best in the world and already since returning from Delhi she has been away in Australia warm weather training. She is a worthy winner of the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy and we wish her all the very best as she starts to home in on her Olympic dream in London 2012.”
Congratulating the winners, Denise Holmes, Sales Manager Scotland, Emirates said: “Emirates is very pleased to continue its support of The Lonsdale Trophy, and we would like to offer our warmest congratulations to Hannah Miley on being awarded the ‘Scottish Sportsperson of the Year’. As official travel partner of Team Scotland, we are honoured to be associated with an event that acknowledged the achievements on the global stage of elite Scottish athletes like Kath Grainger, Sir Chris Hoy and Andy Murray.”
Four further awards were also given to specifically recognise performances at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. This programme, supported by Clydesdale Bank, has recognised an athlete each month since October 2009 as they vied for selection for the Games and has culminated in a number of overall awards.
Smallbore shooter Jonathan Hammond was announced as the Clydesdale Bank Male Athlete of the Games and was awarded £1,000. Jonathan is Scotland’s most successful individual athlete at a single Games wining two gold medals a silver and a bronze, only the second Scot after Ross Edgar in 2006 to win a full colour set at one Games. He won gold in the individual 50m rifle 3 position event and silver in the individual 50m rifle prone event and gold in the 50m rifle prone pairs and a bronze in the 50m rifle 3 position pairs events, both with Neil Stirton.
Clydesdale Bank Female Athlete of the Games and also awarded £1,000 was fellow smallbore shooter 19 year old Jen McIntosh, who won individual gold in the women’s 50m rifle prone, equalling the World Record score with 597 ex 600. She also won pairs gold in the women’s 50m rifle prone and pairs bronze in the 50m rifle 3 position both with Kay Copland. Her outstanding efforts meant she became the most successful Scottish female at a single Commonwealth Games.
Swimmer Robbie Renwick was recognised with the Clydesdale Bank Inspirational Performance Award. Robbie won Scotland’s first gold of the Games in the men’s 200m freestyle, coming back after bitter disappointment in the 400m freestyle on day one. After hearing ‘Flower of Scotland’ played for the very first time on the podium, Robbie dedicated the hard fought gold to his former coach, Eileen Adams, who sadly died of cancer earlier in the year.
The Clydesdale Bank Memorable Moment of the Games was awarded to weightlifter Peter Kirkbride. A ‘fired up’ Kirkbride shouted ‘Scotland’ as he lifted himself into silver medal position in the 94kg weight category. So pleased with his performance, he leapt up from the lifting platform in sheer delight and then eluded to the rapturous crowd just how easy it all was – all captured on camera! Both Peter and Robbie received £500 in prize money.
Also recognised tonight were five winners of Scottish Sports Aid Merit Awards supported by John Lewis Glasgow. These were made to: David McNamee, aged 22, a triathlete from Stirling, Jonathon O’Mara, a 15 year old tennis player from Arbroath; Lisa McKenzie, aged 21 from Edinburgh and a fencer; Grace Reid a 14 year old springboard diver from Colinton in Edinburgh; and Craig McNally, 17 from Edinburgh and a swimmer.
Duncan Hamilton, the executive director of Scottish Sports Aid went on to present the Scottish Sports Aid Junior Sportsperson of the Year 2009/10 to diver Grace Reid
Grace had an outstanding year finishing an incredible fourth at the European Senior Diving Championships in August, a result which saw her qualify for selection for Team Scotland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games as its youngest ever team member. In Delhi she had a wonderful experience and finished in sixth place setting the highest ever score for a British junior.
Commenting Duncan said: “We are delighted that John Lewis Glasgow is supporting our Merit Awards, and the award of the Junior Sportsperson of the Year. The backing of John Lewis and our other sponsors is vital for us to be able to continue to provide meaningful financial support for the up and coming Scottish sporting stars, especially in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. This is the first year that the awards have been sponsored by John Lewis, and we hope that this is the first of many years to come.”
More than 350 people across the Scottish sporting spectrum attended the event that reflected on Team Scotland’s success in Delhi and went on to look forward to when Scotland will host the next Games in Glasgow in 2014.
You always live in a bubble at the Commonwealth Games, so none of us are very sure what’s been going on at home, or how events in Delhi have been reported.
What we do know, though, is that these Games have been a success for Team Scotland – different to Melbourne four years ago, but certainly a success in so many ways, from the performances of our younger athletes, to the leadership qualities demonstrated by our more experienced ones, to the final medals table.
There were well-documented challenges in Delhi, and difficult circumstances, but we delivered medals each day, which gave us momentum. In that sense it has been similar to Melbourne, but in 2006 there was a medal rush at the start, whereas here it built towards a crescendo. There has been a different pace, but there’s a real sense here that we’ve finished on a high, which is a nice feeling.
Several things stick out for me. In spite of all the issues in the build-up to the Games, what has struck me is the real passion and sense of fairness of the Indian people we’ve been working with.
The guy who has driven my car, for example, greeted me every morning with a smile, and he would still be smiling last thing at night. The people have been friendly, eager to help, and – even in some frustrating situtations – their warmth, calmness and keenness to help, will stand as an abiding memory. There’s also been an enthusiasm for the Games from the people of Delhi that Glasgow can be inspired by and build on for 2014.
My most memorable Team Scotland moments have not necessarily been gold medal moments. Peter Kirkbride, the weightlifter, has been with us since the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Games, and that in itself is a source of pride, since the Youth Games began as our concept, with the first games held in Edinburgh in 2000.
Here in Delhi Peter won a silver medal, missing gold by a kilo. But his confidence, his technical ability, the way he commanded the stage, and the joy he felt at winning a medal for Scotland, were immense.
Then there was Steph Twell, who ran such a mature race in the 1500m, where she also won a silver medal. Again, her pride at winning that medal – her sense of sheer joy – was wonderful to witness.
David Millar made a big impression. Here is a truly world class athlete who was embraced by the team, and who embraced the team back. He’s a guy who’s been open about his past mistakes, but who we believed had something positive to offer the team – and I feel that confidence was vindicated here. His delight at winning a bronze medal in the road race – before his gold in the time trial – really struck me, as did his professionalism and his leadership qualities.
Another, younger David stepped up to the plate and proved his leadership qualities here in Delhi: David Carry. In the past, the swimmers haven’t been able to stay on for the rest of the Games after competing in the first week. But this time most of them did, and David proved a real talisman – he took young athletes from the Achieve 2014 programme on tours of the venues, and was fantastic with them: a real inspiration.
There are so many others – our shooters have been fantastic, for example – but for me a highlight was a reception we held in Scotland House towards the end of the Games, when we got many of our medallists on stage. As I watched them I thought about what a fantastic group they are – articulate about themselves and about their sport. These athletes deserve more recognition, and I hope Glasgow 2014 will give them that.
As in Melbourne, the spirit in the Team Scotland camp has been terrific, and perhaps the most satisfying thing about these games. Athletes who have finished their Games have been respectful and mindful of those who still had to compete – an example being our young diver, 14-year old Grace Reid, who was in action on the penultimate day, and also Martin Williams, our marathon runner, who had do get up at 4am on the final day.
Respect, friendship and professionalism – these qualities have been very evident in the team, among athletes, management and staff alike.
Having now witnessed the handover to Glasgow, I’m confident we can look forward with great optimism and excitement towards 2014.
Team Scotland’s shooters have put in a fantastic performance in Delhi, contributing a total of nine medals (four gold, three silver, two bronze) to the team total of 26. In Jonathan Hammond, shooting also lay claim to the most successful athlete in any sport, at a single Games (two gold, silver, bronze).
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t something I’d thought about before”, said Jon. “I had a belief that there would be medal opportunities in every event I had, and we prepared for it. Just little things throughout the year like shooting two big matches back to back. It was all in the planning so it’s hugely satisfying when it all works out in your favour.”
Hammond will carry the flag for Scotland at today’s closing ceremony; an honour fitting for his fantastic performance, both as an individual and as a pair with Neil Stirton. Jon will also be joined by shooting colleagues Jen McIntosh and team leader Joan Watt, along with swimmer, David Carry who are also being recognised for their achievements and contribution to Team Scotland.
Jen and David have both put in fantastic performances at the 2010 Games, while Joan has been a devoted member of Team Scotland for many years. Starting as a physio in Edinburgh in 1970, Joan has also worked as a physio for athletics and shooting. She is the team leader for shooting in Delhi, and has played a major part in their success.
Jon narrowly pipped fellow shooter Jen McIntosh, who herself claimed an impressive three medals (two gold, one bronze). Jen also reached some personal targets; particularly winning gold in the 50m prone singles event, which was won by her mother Shirley at the 1994 Games in Victoria. With a world record, equalling performance of 597-42x, Jen also set a new Commonwealth Games record.
Jen is open about the inspiration and encouragement she has received over the years from both her mother and her father Donald. “A big inspiration for me was my mother, and I just want to thank my family and my friends for their support”, she said.
Jon also spoke about the successes of the team as a whole: “It’s been an incredible Games for shooting. Once we got a few medals it was good for morale, he said. “On the rifle side to pick up so many medals, particularly in the 3P was huge. We’ve always been strong in prone and we knew we’d have medal opportunities so that put us in a good frame of mind and maybe lifted a bit of pressure early on. To get four golds out of four in the prone events is just fantastic.
“Shona Marshall in the shotgun event has a medal, and the full-bore guys picked up a medal, so it’s great that we’re contributing as a team. I just wanted to do my best and try to pick up a medal in every one.”
The small-bore rifle team contributed seven medals in total (four gold, one silver, two bronze), which coach Donald McIntosh describes as being “beyond my wildest dreams”.
“Picking up three 3P medals was ahead of my internal target, and we almost had four”, said Donald. “I’m delighted for Shona Marshall, who has grafted so hard over the past few years, pretty much on her own. And the full-bore guys today had a great result.
“We’ve had a lot of support; financial and otherwise from the institute network over the past few years. We’ve had much more financial support over the past few years that we’ve ever had before from sportscotland and it’s delivered.”
Shooting Team Leader Joan Watt, is delighted with the performance of the shooting team out in Delhi and hopes that it will be the cornerstone for further development of the sport in Scotland. “I’m very proud of the whole team”, said Joan. “They’ve all worked so hard, and it’s fantastic to see them getting the praise that they really deserve. It is very good for shooting, and I hope that it will influence the future in terms of facilities and funding.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Donald McIntosh: “I think we can do more. We’ve got some challenges with the programme change coming up. We’re dealing with people being spread across the world. We struggle to train in the winter because we don’t have the facilities. If we can change that then we can do better.”
With a total of 26 medals (9 gold, 10 silver, 7 bronze) Team Scotland has celebrated a fantastic 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Only in Melbourne 2006, has Team Scotland won more gold medals (11).
Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman, Michael Cavanagh said: “When we arrived three and a half weeks ago we knew there were challenges ahead and I’m delighted about how the team has responded to those challenges, resulting in an excellent team performance.”
The sentiment was echoed by Team Scotland Chef de Mission Jon Doig, saying: “I have an immense sense of pride at what our athletes and support staff have achieved here over the last four weeks. I am delighted with the overall team performance and it exceeds our medal target prediction of 18-25.”
It is particularly encouraging to see the successes of younger athletes with 19 of Scotland’s 28 inpidual medallists competing in their first Commonwealth Games. “I said at the time of the team announcement that Delhi would give an opportunity for new heroes to emerge” said Jon. “We’ve certainly seen that to be the case during the past ten days of competition.”
It really has been a team effort in Delhi, and athletes have been quick to acknowledge the role played by the team management and support staff. Shooter Jonathan Hammond said: “I have to give a huge thank you to Michael and Jon for all their hard work, and also to the whole support staff. There have been so many people involved to make this happen and make it work.”
Fellow shooter, Jen McIntosh added: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone, the support has been fantastic. I owe all my performances to them, particularly the physios we have been working with.”
With four medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Jon Hammond is Scotland’s most successful athlete in any sport at a single Games. Following this fantastic achievement, Jon will carry the saltire for Scotland during this evening’s closing ceremony. Jon will be joined by Jen McIntosh, swimmer David Carry, and shooting team leader, Joan Watt, along with swimmer, David Carry who are also being recognised for their achievements and contribution to Team Scotland.
Jen and David have both performed exceptionally at the 2010 Games, while Joan has been a devoted member of Team Scotland since 1970, as a volunteer, physio and team leader. Jon Doig said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce that our flagbearer will be Jon Hammond. I’m also very proud to be able to offer the opportunity to Joan, who has accepted.” The final place in the party is normally reserved for the Chef de Mission, but Jon has offered it to Joan, to celebrate her devotion to Team Scotland.
Team Scotland is famous for its morale and camaraderie amongst athletes, officials and supporters, with Delhi once again proving that we truly are 17 sports, one team. During competition, athletes have been supported by fellow athletes, support staff and partners. David Carry said: It’s really indicative of how we all get involved and there really is a genuine team atmosphere that I’ve noticed at this competition more than any other.”
David has also been involved in wider Team Scotland operations, particularly with the Achieve 2014 programme, which has given young prospective athletes for Glasgow 2014, with an experience of a major Games environment.
“I got to show the Achieve 2014 kids around the village, and really get involved with their visit. I passed on some of the mistakes I’ve made in the past and some of my lessons”, said David. “I think it’s one of the most impressive programmes that Team Scotland has put in place. To be able to get that experience and information is just amazing for those guys.”
Once again, the support for Team Scotland from commercial and public sector partners has been fantastic.
Michael Cavanagh said: “I would also like to pay tribute to both our commercial and public sector partners, in Clydesdale Bank, Emirates Airline andsportscotland. Without their full support we wouldn’t have even got across the start line. I’m delighted that the Leadership Trust put each of our team staff through their leadership programme, which has paid pidends over the last three weeks in the challenges we have faced.”
At the closing ceremony this evening, the Commonwealth Games will officially be handed over to Glasgow who will host the 2014 Games, marking the start of one of the most exciting four years periods ever for Scottish sport.
Jon Doig said: “We are starting to build our plans as we go into one of the most exciting periods in our history, being the host CGA for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014. We’ve always been an athlete focused team and Glasgow will be an athlete focused Games.”
Despite Delhi only just coming to a close, Jen McIntosh also has her sights firmly set on Glasgow: “The experiences I’ve had out here have been absolutely phenomenal and I’m really looking forward to Glasgow”, she said. “To have the next Games on home ground; I can’t even imagine what that will be like!”
Scotland’s boxing team will be going home with a full set of medals from the Delhi Commonwealth Games, after another exciting day at the Talkatora Stadium. Callum Johnson won gold in the light heavyweight (81kg) category, after Josh Taylor picked up silver in the lightweight (60kg) final. Stephen Simmons also collected his bronze medal in the heavyweight category (91kg).
Josh Taylor was first up in the ring against 2008 European silver medallist Tom Stalker of England. The first round was a tight affair, but the experience of the Englishman shone through as he went on to record an 11-3 victory.
Following the fight Josh was disappointed, but says he’ll take lots away from his Commonwealth Games experience. “It’s been a great experience and I’ve learned a lot, but I’m absolutely gutted with the result. I’ll definitely be back for it in 2014.”
Callum Johnson was next up for Scotland in another four-nations final against Thomas McCarthy of Northern Ireland. Scotland’s boxing team captain put in an exemplary performance to come away the deserved 8-1 winner. Following a first round, which saw no points scored, Callum raced on to a 6-0 lead in the second, before taking the third 2-1 to retain the medal won by Kenny Anderson in Melbourne four years ago.
Coming out of the ring, Callum couldn’t contain his excitement at taking the top prize in Delhi. “I’ve been saying all week what I was going to do and I’ve just gone and done it”, said Callum. “I’m the Commonwealth Games gold medallist and I’ve proved I’m the best in Britain. I want to thank the team for all the support I’ve had. I couldn’t do it without those boys and I couldn’t do it without my family. I know I’m on my own in the ring, but it’s a team effort. I’m just so thankful for their help and I’m over the moon with the result.”
Heavyweight fighter Stephen Simmons was ringside today to support Josh and Callum, wearing his legendary morph suit and ‘see you Jimmy’ hat. The bronze medal winner then changed back into the more appropriate team kit for his medal ceremony to cap off an exciting day for Team Scotland in the ring.
Prince Edward and Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond were also present in the crowd to watch Scotland’s two finalists. By winning medals in Delhi, Scotland’s boxers have maintained their enviable record of medalling at every Games since their inception in 1930.
Scotland’s bid for a Commonwealth Games medal on the squash court came to an end today at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in Delhi when Alan Clyne and Harry Leitch were squeezed out of the podium positions by Australians Ryan Cuskelly and Cameron Pilley in the bronze medal play-off match.
The first game was a tight affair until, with the scores tied at 4-4, Cuskelly and Pilley opened up a 10-4 lead to give themselves six game points. Clyne and Leitch saved one of them but the game went to the Aussies 11-5.
In the second game the Scots struck first to go 1-0 up before a controversial umpiring decision allowed Cuskelly and Pilley to level at 1-1, denying any momentum the Scots might otherwise have had. The Aussies took full advantage, opening up a 10-3 lead to give themselves seven match points.
Refusing to capitulate, Clyne and Leitch bravely saved four of those match points but in the end it just delayed the inevitable with the Aussie pair taking victory with a scoreline of 11-5 11-7 to claim the bronze medal.
Speaking after the match, Leitch was magnanimous in defeat:
“I don’t want to talk about decisions I just want to congratulate them on their medal. They played well and they deserved it.
“Winning and losing comes down to the smallest margins sometimes and things didn’t go our way today but that’s squash.”
Clyne continued: “There is an overall sense of disappointment. We felt we had a chance yesterday to win the semis and today we felt we had a chance to get the bronze. We played well and dominated some of the rallies but it didn’t work out for us.”
Although clearly disappointed, the pair were still able to take some positives from their experience and look to the future, with Clyne especially benefitting from the experience of Delhi:
“This is my first Commonwealth Games and it’s the biggest tournament I’ve played in. In Glasgow in four years time this experience will benefit me a lot.”
Leitch finished by saying: “We have a lot of people to thank – Scottish Squash, Team Scotland, sportscotland. It’s disappointing that we couldn’t get a medal for them but we put everything into it and couldn’t have done any more.
“In Melbourne I got to the quarters, this year it was the semis. It’s a long way away but hopefully in Glasgow we can reach the final and get a medal.”
It was another fantastic day for Team Scotland’s shooters at both ranges as the team collected another gold and silver medal to add to their collection. Jon Hammond picked up where he left off yesterday to collect gold in the 50m prone event, while full bore shooters Angus McLeod and Ian Shaw won silver in the pairs competition.
Jon shot well yesterday and put in another strong performance today, only dropping five shots to score of 595-43x. There was a tricky wind at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range today, but Jon dealt with it well to beat off Australia’s Warren Potent into second place.
After collecting his fourth medal of the Games, Jon said: “It was just a great day. Yesterday was fantastic, winning the pairs with Neil. Today I just wanted to have a good match and see what happened. I would have been pretty delighted just to have got a medal and come away with a medal in each event. To win it and to beat Warren in the final, who one of the best shooters in the world; is really satisfying.”
Donald McIntosh, small bore coach for Team Scotland was delighted with Jon’s performance, and the successes of the shooting team as a whole. “It was a fantastic performance from Jon today”, said Donald. “He had a great qualifying round in tricky wind, next to Warren Potent, who has been in the top two or three in the world for the last five years. He put in a great performance and increased his lead in the final, in what was a world class performance from Jonathan today.”
“We’ve had a lot of support; financial and otherwise from the institute network over the past few years. We’ve had much more financial support over the past few years that we’ve ever had before from sportscotland and it has delivered.”
Jon’s pairs partner Neil Stirton also shot well today, and narrowly missed out on a medal, coming fifth in the final with a score of 592-31x.
On the full-bore range at the CRPF Campus, Kadarpur Angus McLeod and Ian Shaw completed the pairs competition, to come second with a score of 587-46v. There have been technical equipment challenges at the full bore range throughout the competition, but the Scots battled well to take silver, just one point behind New Zealand. It’s the first medal for Team Scotland in the full-bore competition since 1982 in Brisbane.
The two shooters were delighted with the result, with Ian saying: Ian “I’m relieved to have won the silver. We just missed out last time round, when we finished fourth so it’s great to get a medal here. We missed out on first by a point and a couple of v scores.”
It’s been a long week of competition for the full bore shooters in the Delhi sun, but Angus says the preparation has paid off: “It’s been four years of training to get to this point”, he said. “The heat hasn’t actually affected either of us too much; in fact we’ve become quite accustomed to it. What it has affected; is at long range the visibility has been poor. Sometimes it was almost impossible.”
Action at both ranges concluded today, with nine of Team Scotland’s medals, including four gold, being awarded to shooters, making them the top performing sport at the 2010 Games. Shooting team leader Joan Watt said: “I’m very proud of the whole team. They’ve all worked so hard, and it’s fantastic to see them getting the rewards that they really deserve.”
Sebastian Coe was a visitor to Scotland House in New Delhi on Tuesday, urging Team Scotland’s medallists “to encourage thousands of kids to take up sport,” and telling athletes from the Achieve 2014 initiative that their experience in Delhi can act “as a stepping stone to a medal in Glasgow 2014.”
Lord Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), also highlighted the close links between Glasgow 2014 and London 2012, which he joked would be “a test event for 2014.”
And the double Olympic gold medallist reminded all those involved in Glasgow 2014 that, following Thursday’s closing ceremony, “you’re the next taxi off the rank” – an experience with which he is familiar, with London having taken over as next Olympic host city after Beijing in 2008.
“With the handing over of the flag,” Lord Coe told the Glasgow 2014 organisers, “you’ll notice that your preparations, your pace, and the scrutiny and interest around the [Commonwealth] Games, will quicken.
“I’m delighted that our organisations work as closely as they do,” he continued, “and we’ve done so from the very beginning. I remember standing in our own headquarters in Canary Wharf on the day [Glasgow] won the right to stage the Games. I remember all our teams standing twenty-deep around televisions, and there was genuine excitement.
“It’s really important that these organisations work together. We have a complementary interest here, and that is legacy. It’s really important to go on driving young people into sport. Every medal is and should be used to drive thousands more kids into sport.”
Addressing Team Scotland’s medallists, including swimming gold medallist Hannah Miley, Lord Coe added: “It’s not just about being here with a medal; there’s now some responsibility to get back into your communities and inspire people. It’s a virtuous circle.”
In addition to the medallists, young athletes from the Achieve 2014 programme were in attendance. Thirty athletes, in three groups, have travelled to Delhi to experience the athletes’ village and venues, to give them a taste of a multi-sports games.
“I’m delighted you’ve got the Achieve 2014 programme up and running,” said Lord Coe. “I know myself, from my own experiences, that the ability to absorb the atmosphere of a multi-sports event is really as important a part of that competition process as being out there on the track.
“It’s not the same as going off to an individual event, no matter how important that event is,” he added. “This is a really big learning process. This could just make the difference between appearing in 2014 and getting a medal in 2014, and I would urge you to really use this as a stepping stone.”
John Scott, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said that Lord Coe’s visit to Scotland House was “an example of the co-operation [between London 2012 and Glasgow 2014] in practice.”
Turning to the athletes, Scott reiterated that the Glasgow Games would be “about you guys – it’s all about the sport. Seb has made that very clear as chair of 2012, and we share that ambition.”
Thursday’s closing ceremony will, said Scott, represent “our big occasion, because that’s when we pick up the flag and move forward towards the next Commonwealth Games. We want our athletes to focus on our handover piece, when we will invite the Commonwealth, and indeed the world, to come to Glasgow and enjoy what we aspire to deliver, which is an outstanding Games.”
Though the handover piece remains shrouded in secrecy until Thursday evening, Scott promised that Glasgow’s contribution to the closing ceremony would be “an interesting, classic, fantastic piece of creativity from Scotland.”
Steph Twell and Team Scotland’s women’s 4x400m relay squad produced strong performances on the final night of the athletics programme at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Twell followed her bronze medal in the 1500m with a brave run to finish fourth in the 5000m. In a tactical race dominated by the three Kenyans in the field, who managed a clean sweep of the medals, Freya Murray took up the early pace, with Twell emerging to challenge until the Kenyans began to step on the gas in the final three laps.
“In the 1500m I’m aware of the tactics but you can see how tactical the 5000m can be as well,” said Twell. “It’s not that it didn’t suit me, it’s just the way the race was. The three Kenyans were the strong favourites going into it. I was going in ranked fourth, so I’m super happy to come away from the championships with a bronze from the 1500m. That’s a testament to how I’m developing in 1500m, and I’ve still got a long time to develop at the 5000m.
“Doing the 5000m was always a bonus,” she continued. “You can’t normally do that at major championships. So I’m happy to come here and get some tactical experience. I definitely think the Kenyans had tactics as a team; you could see them helping each other out. I tried to mix it in there but it wound up and wound up in the last four laps.
“I was running fast,” she added. “They were just running faster. But to come away with a medal, I couldn’t really be happier.”
Later, the women’s 4x400m team, with Lee McConnell joining Gemma Nicol, Eilidh Child and Kathryn Evans for the final, ran a Scottish record on their way to sixth behind the surprising winners, India, whose success produced a cacophony of noise inside the stadium.
“I went out quite hard, and tied up a bit at the end,” said Nicol, “but I still felt quite strong and we got an alright changeover – I’ve seen better.”
Child took responsibility for a first changeover that perhaps wasn’t as slick as it could have been, but for which she more than made up with a rapid leg that moved the Scots briefly up to second. “I mucked up the changeover a bit by going off too early,” said Child, the 400m hurdles silver medallist. “But I felt strong coming in. It was an amazing experience – I really enjoyed it.”
Evans echoed this. “The noise was crazy, it was immense, and I really enjoyed it. As long as Lee doesn’t hang up her spikes just yet, I think there’s another couple of seconds’ [improvement] there.”
McConnell, who last ran in a Scottish 4x400m team eight years ago at the Commonwealth Games, enjoyed breaking the national record, with their 3.30.91 in Delhi shaving 0.59 seconds from the mark set on that occasion in Manchester.
“It was brilliant running with these girls,” said McConnell. “It’s been eight years since I last ran in a Scottish team, but I think in 2014 they’ll be looking for a substitute for me – or maybe I’ll just run the 4×400.”
Evans added: “Now we’ve got a 4×400 team in the Commonwealth Games we should keep it there. And maybe in Glasgow we can win a medal, like the Indians have done here. The crowd really helps you, so I’m looking forward to Glasgow.”
Alastair Hay was another finalist on the final night of competition, running the men’s 1500m. Having found himself crowded out in his heat, in which he placed seventh, Hay was determined not to make the same mistake again, going out fast and mixing it with the leaders for much of the race. In a close race the 25-year old was outpaced on the final straight, coming in 12th.
“It was good to get to the final and I felt quite good the first couple of laps,” said Hay. “I allowed myself to get jostled coming into the penultimate lap, but that was the only thing I got wrong. But I can work on that and get better. I’m pleased. The atmosphere was brilliant; it was a privilege to be part of it.”