Following an outstanding Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this month, where Team Scotland delivered its best ever performance, winning 53 medals including 19 Gold to finish fourth on the medal table, double Gold medallist Alex Marshall MBE was named Scottish Sportsperson of the Year 2014 and awarded the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy, at the Commonwealth Games Scotland Awards dinner in Glasgow tonight 15 August). He beat off stiff competition from two other finalists: Swimming’s Ross Murdoch and Para-Sport Cycling tandem duo Neil Fachie and Craig MacLean.
The dinner, organised by Commonwealth Games Scotland, is one of the highlights of the Scottish sporting calendar and recognises the achievements of Scotland’s athletes in Commonwealth Games Federation member sports over the past 12 months. This year was a celebration of the achievements of Team Scotland and the culmination of a hugely successful 12 year journey to Glasgow 2014 for Commonwealth Games Scotland.
Alex, a five-times Commonwealth Games representative, won Gold in both the Men’s Pairs event at Glasgow 2014 with Paul Foster and in the Fours with Neil Speirs, David Peacock and Paul Foster and is now Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games Bowler. He now ties with Allan Wells as the holder of the most Gold medals won by an individual Scottish athlete, after previous success in Manchester 2002 and Melbourne 2006. A legend of Scottish sport as a 19 times World Champion in both the Indoor and Outdoor codes, Alex led from the front as captain of the five-strong men’s bowls team that all won Gold medals – an unprecedented achievement. He was voted a deputy Flag bearer for Team Scotland for the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow Games and was Flag Bearer at the Closing Ceremony.
Marshall will receive two Business Class flights to Dubai courtesy of Award sponsor Emirates – the Official Airline Partner of Glasgow 2014 and a cheque for £1000.
The other finalists, with outstanding performances at Glasgow 2014, were swimmer Ross Murdoch and Para-Sport Cycling tandem duo Neil Fachie and Craig MacLean.
They will receive runner-up cheques.
20-year-old Ross Murdoch has had a stellar season with his win in the 200m Breaststroke setting a Commonwealth, Commonwealth Games, British and Scottish Record and making him the current number one ranked athlete in the world and third fastest of all time. His look and reaction on finishing and realising he had won has become one of the images of the Games. His 200m Gold was swiftly followed by a Bronze in the 100m Breaststroke where he set a Scottish record and he went on to be part of the Scottish record setting 4x100m Medley Relay team. Training at the University of Stirling, under coach, Ben Higson, Ross made his breakthrough at last year’s World Championships making the semi-finals of the 100m Breaststroke and hasn’t looked backed since. He travels out to the European Championships in Berlin this weekend, where he will be aiming to build on his growing international reputation.
Para-Sport athlete Neil Fachie switched from competing at the Paralympics as a track and field athlete to enjoy incredible success on the bike, winning a Gold and Silver in London with pilot Barney Storey, as well as success at World Championships with both Storey and Craig MacLean. Teaming up in Glasgow with fellow Scot MacLean, himself a multiple world champion, Commonwealth Games Gold medallist and former Team Scotland Flag bearer, the duo delivered double Gold on the track setting Commonwealth Games records. This makes Fachie, the reigning World, Paralympic and Commonwealth Champion and the current world record holder in the Para-Sport B Tandem 1000m time trial for visually impaired athletes.
Announcing the award, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “The last few weeks has given Scotland so many new sporting heroes and great moments that will live on in the memory for years to come, which together resulted in Team Scotland’s most successful Games ever.
“Selecting just one winner was an incredibly difficult task, and I am sure we all have our own personal Games highlight, but the achievements of our men’s bowlers led by Alex Marshall was quite outstanding and when added to Alex’s long list of achievements at world level, it clearly makes him a very worthy winner. I am delighted that Emirates are supporting the Lonsdale trophy again this year so we can properly recognise their achievements.”
Also presented tonight was the Sir Peter Heatly Trophy for the outstanding Young Sportsperson of the year. Established by the Heatly family in 2013, this year’s nominees were Erraid Davies, Swimming; Katie Archibald. Cycling and Kirsty Gilmour, Badminton.
Scotland’s youngest ever team member 13 year old Erraid became the darling of the pool and an inspiration to the nation with her Bronze medal in the SB9 100m Breaststroke, beating her personal best both in the heats and in the final. Training in her home in Shetland in a 16.75m pool at the most northerly active swimming club in the UK, she became a worldwide Twitter sensation with her achievements at Glasgow 2014.
Katie had a breakthrough year in 2013/14 year wining Gold as part of the British Pursuit team at the World and European cycling championships, as well as winning team and individual medals in rounds of the World Cup series. In Glasgow Katie won a Bronze medal on the track in the Points Race by securing a win in the final sprint of the race and then went on to compete in the road Time Trial and was the lead rider for Scotland in the Road Race.
Going from World number 45 to world number 17 and number 2 in Europe, Kirsty has had phenomenal year, winning world ranking events in Spain, Sweden and Scotland, and reaching the finals of the London Grand Prix Gold event and the Scottish Open Grand Prix. Kirsty capped off her year by achieving the best ever result by a female badminton player at the Commonwealth Games, winning Silver in the Women’s Singles on the last day of competition.
This was another tough decision for the judging panel, but it was cyclist Katie Archibald that was announced as the winner.
More than 700 people from Scottish sport and business joined in the celebrations at Glasgow’s Thistle Hotel including 200 athletes and staff who had taken part in the Team Scotland celebration parade in the City earlier in the day.
The Team Scotland Athletes’ Parade through the streets of Glasgow today (Friday) saw thousands of people turn out to salute their heroes.
As the convoy of vehicles made its way from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to George Square thousands of supporters lined the route to get a glimpse of the stars of Glasgow 2014.
It was a fitting finale to the best ever Commonwealth Games, which saw Team Scotland deliver its greatest ever medal haul of 53 – 19 gold, 15 silver, and 19 bronze. It also gave all of the athletes one final opportunity to thank the people of Scotland for their amazing support throughout the Games.
Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “My ears are still ringing from the fantastic support Team Scotland athletes in every sport received at every venue at Glasgow 2014. The Scottish public roared us on to our greatest ever team performance of 53 medals including 19 gold and the Athletes’ Parade is a special way to say thank you for their incredible backing. The turnout again today shows just how much the Commonwealth Games captured the imagination of people in Glasgow and across Scotland. It has been a truly incredible experience to be part of.”
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Only a few weeks ago Glasgow delivered the best Commonwealth Games ever, and at the very heart of it were its people. An incredible amount of hard work and effort was put in from the organisers, Clyde-siders, Host City Volunteers, emergency services, armed forces, crowds of spectators and of course all of the athletes who trained hard, competed and broke records, gained personal bests and won medals.
“The parade through the streets of Glasgow today is for the athletes of Team Scotland who, with their record medal haul, should rightly have the chance to party with their supporters and celebrate together in the overwhelming success of the games. I am sure that everyone in Scotland will agree that every single member of Team Scotland, not just the medal winners, has done us proud and there is no higher honour than to represent your country on a global stage.”
Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “The Team Scotland Athletes’ Parade through the streets of Glasgow was a fantastic and fitting finale to the best ever Commonwealth Games.
“After the record-breaking performances of the athletes, it was wonderful to see people from across Scotland coming out to show their appreciation for what the team achieved during the Games.
“It was a memorable day for all the athletes as they got the chance to say a big ‘thank you’ to the whole country for the support they had during an unforgettable 11 days of competition.”
The record-breaking Glasgow 2014 Games may have ended but the memories of the 11 days when Glasgow shone on the global stage will remain.
Described as “the best games ever’ and ‘Pure Dead Brilliant’ by HRH Prince Imran in his Closing Ceremony speech, the latest figures released by the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee show the passion felt for and sheer scale of Scotland’s biggest-ever sporting festival.
Glasgow 2014 delivered:
96 % of tickets sold overall ensuring the athletes felt the roar of support from the stands
91 % Satisfaction in the Games from spectators
142 Commonwealth Games and nine world records broken
Spectator feedback, based on 20,000 responses, has shown overall satisfaction rates of Glasgow 2014 at an amazing 91 % with 86% of spectators saying they would be likely to recommend future big events in Glasgow and Scotland.
The three top words used by our spectators to describe the Games were fantastic, exciting and fun which was the experience organisers had hoped for it in the packed stadia.
The competitors set nine World Records and 142 Commonwealth Records and had the biggest integrated Para Sport programme in Commonwealth Games history
It was the first Commonwealth Games with children’s tickets and 86 % of all tickets were available to members of the public
The Opening Ceremony which boldly celebrated diversity, human rights and, according to Amnesty International, redefined ‘The Glasgow Kiss’ by sending a big kiss throughout the Commonwealth, which was watched by a television audience of over 1 billion people.
Some amazing figures from the Athletes’ Village include:
Over 150,000 towels washed
30,000 laundry bags laundered
Nearly 500,000 meals served
Circa 65,000 handmade fresh fruit smoothies
100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables
65,000 Ice Cream tubs
Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, David Grevemberg, said:
“The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games has made history as the best Commonwealth Games ever, setting a new Gold Standard for the Commonwealth sports movement, new benchmarks for event delivery and receiving universal accolades for a proud Host City and its people for the joyous enthusiasm with which they embraced athletes and visitors during Scotland’s biggest-ever sporting and cultural festival.
“Working with our Games Partners, the 1500-strong team in the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee and thousands of organisations, businesses and individuals ….has kept people at the heart of our story. We have strived to maximise the legacy ambitions, of our partners and worked hard to deliver the maximum benefit for as many people as possible we did to deliver the Games.
“Staying true to our vision of an athlete centred, sport focused Games we worked hard to make Commonwealth athletes and the young people of Glasgow and Scotland an integral part of a world-class, community-relevant Commonwealth Games that makes people proud and leaves lasting impact.”
Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said:
“These were fantastic Games and the Organising Committee did a brilliant job in ensuring we had packed stadia at every venue which in turn helped our athletes perform at their very best. For Team Scotland it was an incredible experience with our largest team ever fielded and of course our record-breaking haul of 53 medals including 19 Gold.”
The Team Scotland Athletes’ Parade will be held in Glasgow on Friday, August 15 as an exciting finale to the Commonwealth Games.
The route will start at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum at 4.15pm before the seven-strong fleet of vehicles travel through the city to the finish at George Square.
Members of the public are being encouraged to line the route, giving the athletes an opportunity to thank them for their support throughout the 11 days of the upcoming Games.
Athletes are expected to arrive at George Square at around 5.30pm, where they will be welcomed by an anticipated 5,000 strong audience.
George Square will be a ticketed event, with a number of media outlets set to give away 1,500 of the tickets to members of the public through competitions.
An allocation of 2,500 tickets will also be provided to Games volunteers, with the athletes’ family and friends completing the audience.
Jon Doig, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said:
“The Athletes’ Parade is an exciting opportunity for Team Scotland to thank the people of Scotland for their backing throughout the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Their support was vital, roaring on our athletes as they proudly competed for Scotland and the Parade will be a fitting finale, where everyone can share in the moment and celebrate the achievements of the Games.”
Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, said:
“It is wonderful that this parade will give the people of Scotland the chance to come out to salute their heroes of the Games and allow the athletes the opportunity to thank Scots for their support.
“I’d urge people from across Scotland to come and be part of this special day, as Scotland celebrates its greatest ever sporting year.”
Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said:
“The parade’s atmosphere will be unbelievable. We have already seen the huge numbers of people across Scotland coming out to cheer the baton relay and this is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Scotland to once again show their support and appreciation for all of Team Scotland. Glasgow has delivered the best Games ever and the people help make that happen. It’s only fitting that both athletes and the public can say a big thank you to each other.”
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:
“Glasgow’s Games was the best there have ever been. It was a sporting event like no other with Team Scotland leading the medal charge in front of the best fans in the world.
“Glasgow is known the world over for its love of sport and nowhere will that be more evident than at the Athletes’ Parade through our city’s streets. It will give the people of Glasgow one final chance to be part of our Games and to celebrate with the stars of Team Scotland.
“It will be the perfect finale to the best ever Games.”
The Team Scotland Athletes’ Parade will be held in Glasgow on Friday, August 15 as an exciting finale to the Commonwealth Games.
The route will start at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum at 4.15pm before the seven-strong fleet of vehicles travel through the city to the finish at George Square.
Members of the public are being encouraged to line the route, giving the athletes an opportunity to thank them for their support throughout the 11 days of the upcoming Games.
Athletes are expected to arrive at George Square at around 5.30pm, where they will be welcomed by an anticipated 5,000 strong audience.
George Square will be a ticketed event, with a number of media outlets set to give away 1,500 of the tickets to members of the public through competitions.
An allocation of 2,500 tickets will also be provided to Games volunteers, with the athletes’ family and friends completing the audience.
Jon Doig, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “The Athletes’ Parade is an exciting opportunity for Team Scotland to thank the people of Scotland for their backing throughout the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Their support was vital, roaring on our athletes as they proudly competed for Scotland and the Parade will be a fitting finale, where everyone can share in the moment and celebrate the achievements of the Games.”
Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “It is wonderful that this parade will give the people of Scotland the chance to come out to salute their heroes of the Games and allow the athletes the opportunity to thank Scots for their support. I’d urge people from across Scotland to come and be part of this special day, as Scotland celebrates its greatest ever sporting year.”
Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said: “The parade’s atmosphere will be unbelievable. We have already seen the huge numbers of people across Scotland coming out to cheer the baton relay and this is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Scotland to once again show their support and appreciation for all of Team Scotland. Glasgow has delivered the best Games ever and the people help make that happen. It’s only fitting that both athletes and the public can say a big thank you to each other.”
Badminton’s Kirsty Gilmour won Commonwealth Games Silver on the last day of competition at Glasgow 2014, bringing Team Scotland’s medal haul to a total of 53.
The 20-year-old was up against Canada’s Michelle Li in the Gold/Silver final at the Emirates Arena, with Li clinching the Gold, a class act on the day, 14-21 7-21.
However, picking up a medal of any colour, and being the first Scottish women to reach a Singles final, is something that she is extremely proud of. She said: “I’m trying to be disappointed but everyone is being so positive. I’m feeling delighted. I’ve got a Silver medal around my neck from the Commonwealth Games! I wanted to go one better, but Michelle was on fire today and I just had no answer. I gave so much yesterday, concentration wise, and that was probably the most I have ever concentrated in my whole life. So, to try and knuckle down and reproduce that was a big ask and I didn’t feel I was mentally 100% there.
“Going into this competition, the thought of winning a medal of any colour, I would have been absolutely delighted with. Obviously, Bronze and Gold you have to end on a win, but with Silver you’re so close and within touching distance, but I can’t complain, I’m delighted; it’s such an incredible feeling. At the Youth Commonwealth Games I was on the Bronze step, now the Silver, hopefully next time I can go one better. I’m the first Scottish women to make it to a final so I’m really happy.
“Not only that, two medals for Scottish Badminton is excellent. We had an outside chance in all the competitions we were competing in but we’ve come away with two medals and everyone is really happy. I think we’ll clink them together later.”
Today’s final lasted 38 minutes, with the first of the two games a closer affair than the second. Li moved ahead quickly at the outset, but then Gilmour responded with two points of her own bringing the difference down to 2-3 before the Canadian pushed ahead once again.
Gilmour was playing some nice Badminton at times with tricky, un-returnable shots, but was never really able to close the gap fully on her opponent. After the break in the first game the two athletes were exchanging points from the serve with Li managing to hold her dominance. The tie ended 14-21.
In the second game Li was moving comfortably ahead and took a 0-7 lead. At this point Gilmour looked sharp again, winning four consecutive points. However, Li kept cementing her lead with the second game finishing, 7-21.
Imogen Bankier and Robert Blair also picked up their Bronze medal at the Emirates Arena this morning for their success in the Mixed Doubles competition. Bankier said: “Standing on the podium was well up there as a career highlight. Finishing on a win was really special for us and at a home venue too. Knowing we’d won the medal yesterday gave us a chance to relax and take it all in and then really enjoy the moment on the podium when it came.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Scotland’s Alan Clyne and Harry Leitch came their closest yet to winning a Commonwealth Games medal, missing out on the Bronze medal, by the tightest of margins, in two sets to England’s Daryl Selby and James Willstrop.
The Scots’ 11-9 11-7 defeat at the hands of the higher seeded pair came after a long, bruising battle. Rallies were long, punishing and physical. At one point Clyne has his visor smashed from the backswing from his opponent’s racket.The match had everything the packed, mainly Scottish crowd could have dreamt of…except victory for the home pair who desperately wanted to medal this time, having finished fourth in the Delhi Games four years ago.
“We came here for a medal,” said Leitch straight after. “We came fourth last time, we have put in four years of incredibly hard work and it’s absolutely gutting to finish fourth.We tried to play relatively exciting squash, we tried to play our game but we just fell short again.
“There were lots of long rallies and we tried to be as positive as we could but these guys kept the ball pretty tight. They know how to manipulate the court, but we hit some good shots and there was just a little slip here and there. We can be proud of the effort and we are certainly very thankful for the support we’ve had from Team Scotland and the general public.”
The Scots had established a two point lead on three occasions in the first half of the opening game but the momentum changed at 7-5. England closed the gap then stayed ahead to take the first game 11-9.
The margins were tighter still in the second game. The Scots came back from 3-5 down to 5-5 then went ahead 6-5. But two fine drop shots from the English in the next three points helped them reach 7-7 and after that they won the next four points.
“It’s hard to remember all the little points that occurred,” said Clyne. “There wasn’t much between the teams and in doubles there are such small margins that it can swing one way and another. Unfortunately on this occasion it swung towards them.”
The question on everybody’s mind is will the pair stay together for another go at a medal when the Games return to Australia in four years’ time. Of course it’s too early to say and the pair plan to sit down with coach Roger Flynn for a proper debrief.
What is certain is that the Glasgow Games gave squash its best opportunity ever to take centre stage in front of the Scottish public, who gave the home players an experience they will never forget.
“The overwhelming feeling right now is disappointment not to be able to get that medal in front of a fantastic crowd,” said Clyne. It’s been a great arena, a fantastic atmosphere, a great place to play and I don’t know if I will be able to play again in somewhere like this. I definitely won’t with this level of support.”
Photo Credit: Jeff Holmes
Charlie Flynn added Team Scotland’s 50th medal of the Glasgow Games and. fittingly, the half century was reached with Gold for the lightweight boxer from Motherwell. Not to be outdone, Josh Taylor, in the next bout also emerged victorious to add a second Boxing Gold to the impressive tally, in an action packed afternoon at The SSE Hydro.
Flynn picked up exactly where he left off in the semi-finals with a commanding performance in the final against Welshman Joe Cordina to take the first Boxing Gold for Scotland at the Games. Having represented Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011 he remained unphased by the step up to senior Commonwealth competition.
“Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable,” said Flynn after being awarded the win by unanimous decision. “I was feeling tired in the ring and I could feel it, but the crowd, they give you that energy they give you that buzz…and I’d like to thank the crowd because, honestly, they give you the extra in there.”
For Taylor, Namibia’s Junias Jonas was all that stood between him and a complete set of Commonwealth medals. He took Bronze at the Youth Games in Pune in 2008, Silver in Delhi two years later and was determined to make it Gold in Glasgow. The Prestonpans light-welterweight was more than up to the challenge, boxing well from the off, and was two rounds up and cruising before seeing out the third.
“I’m over the moon,” said an elated Taylor. “I dreamed about this a thousand times over and standing on top of the podium there, it doesn’t feel real, it’s just surreal, it’s overwhelming. Seeing my family there at the front as well makes it all magic.”
Taylor took up boxing after watching Scottish boxing legend Alex Arthur, the 1998 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist. Perhaps Taylor will now have provided some inspiration of his own.
Photo Credit: Jeff Holmes
Scotland’s Mixed Doubles pair Imogen Bankier and Robert Blair cast aside their disappointing morning semi-final loss to husband and wife duo Chris and Gabby Adcock by bouncing back in style to win Bronze. On a good day for Badminton Kirsty Gilmour also guaranteed herself a medal, beating number four seed Jing Yi Tee of Malaysia to go into tomorrow’s Gold medal match.
Bankier and Blair were defeated in the semi-finals by number one seeds Chris and Gabby Adcock, 21-14 21-14. The experienced Scottish duo picked themselves up, returning in the evening session to take on the Malaysian fifth seeds Peng Soon Chan and Lai Pei Jing.
The Scots trailed 15-12 in the first game but, in a remarkable display under pressure, they won nine of the next 11 points to take the opener 21-17. The pair then went on to win the second set 21-11 on their third match point and claimed the Bronze medal.
“To win here is by far the most satisfying thing I have done in my career,” said Blair. “It will be something I will always look back on as being incredibly special. After all the effort and hard work you go through, to actually come away with tangible success that we can look at in years to come is just brilliant.”
Bankier added, “It’s been such an emotional week, the whole season building up has been sometimes very stressful. We have had some amazing highs but some terrible lows as well and it’s all been for this tournament. This week was difficult from the start and we were really up against it with the draw and the disappointment this morning when we lost. I really think we could have done better and we didn’t play our best. To come back from that, pick ourselves back up, and come out and perform this evening was a challenge but I am incredibly happy with our Bronze medal. It’s very special to do it in front of a home crowd as well.”
The pair claimed the first medal in Mixed Doubles since Dan Travers and the current Scotland Team Manager, Christine Black, won in 1986.
In an exciting Women’s Singles semi-final match against number two seed Jing Yi Tee, Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour, won the match, putting her into the Gold medal final tomorrow.
“To have this whole crowd behind you, although there are a few Malaysian supporters in, which I appreciated, it’s fantastic,” said Gilmour. “The feeling is just, I can’t explain it, it’s such a nice place to be and it’s exactly how I planned it going in my head. For it to turn out this way is just a dream.”
Gilmour battled back from 19-10 down in the second set to eventually win the match 21-13, 21-19. “I said to myself I either was going to just give the two points away, reset for the third set and start again, as if it was love all, or I could just keep going. Then I got one point and another point, then I was like, ‘you can’t stop now.’ I just had to keep going. I’m going to enjoy watching that later.”
Gilmour will now go on to play Canada’s Michelle Li, which is set to be a thrilling final. Looking ahead to playing the third seed she said: “I have never played Michelle Li so it will be very interesting. I am sure she has some notes on me, and I am sure we have some notes on her so I think it’s going to be tough tomorrow if we can both dig in and hold on.”
“Now I have got a medal guaranteed it’s such a nice feeling but that in no way means I am going to let up at all, so we are going to have to see what happens tomorrow. Hopefully I will be feeling physically 100%, as I am at the moment.”
Gilmour will be on court on the eleventh and last day of competition for the Women’s Singles final at 11.00am.
Photo Credit: Duncan McEwan
Team Scotland wrapped up the Athletics action at Hampden with two sixth place finishes and a fifth in the 4 x 400m relay.
The Men’s 4 x 400m squad had every reason to feel pleased with their 3.04.07 time on a wet night, only 24 hours after setting a National record on the same Hampden track. Less than a quarter of a second shy of their record breaking run in the heats, Scotland changed the running order with Kris Robertson leading off to Grant Plenderleith on the second leg, Jamie Bowie on the third and Greg Louden bringing the baton home.
In the end England won it from the Bahamas in a tight finish, as Louden held on well for fifth. Following the race Robertson announced he’s retiring from this level of athletics: “That’s my last race – my last as a professional athlete,” he said. ”It has been a struggle to be fit for this at times but I’m proud of what we achieved at a Commonwealth Games. We made the qualifying time and then we knocked a bit off that to get a National Record. Tonight we were up against some really quick teams and we’re happy with what we did to finish fifth. The time is actually not all that much slower and, given the conditions, and it being the second race, that’s decent. We’ve three guys there who are younger than me and I really think they can improve – watch out for them setting PBs next season.”
Chris O’Hare left the arena disappointed not to have medalled in the 1500m but he has the looming European Championships as a major new focus later this month. A little adrift at the bell in a packed field, he started to surge in characteristic fashion, but initial hope around 150m from the end ebbed away on the home straight and he came in sixth in 3.40.63. “I knew that coming in I was going to have to be brave and give it everything I’ve got, dig down deep and give the last 200m everything,” said O’Hare. I didn’t quite have it in the last 50.
“I came off the bend and thought, ‘I can get a medal here if I just keep working.’ But maybe that’s a bit naive. For me, right now I’m in the learning phase and the upswing. I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and giving it everything I’ve got.”
Laura Whittle had already claimed sixth in the Women’s 5,000m final, clocking 15.33.72, with Beth Potter 9th and Steph Twell 14th in a race won by Mercy Cherono of Kenya. Whittle said: “I fell out of love with the sport two or three years ago – certainly in a competitive sense. I watched the Olympics and that made me want to come back so it has been brilliant reaching this level. Finishing sixth is a ‘silver medal’ for me in terms of position; that’s what I thought beforehand. I worked my way through from the back of the field over the course of the race and I’ve finished first Scot and second Brit, which feels great. It is long time since I’ve been at a major championships. The last one was the Euro U23s. So just to get involved in a championship final like that was really special.”
Pole vaulter Henrietta Paxton didn’t get over her opening height of 3.80m amid dreadful conditions for the event. One of her poles broke in the warm-up and she was one of six vaulters who failed to register a height in the competition.
Photo Credit: Mark Shearman