Mark Dry, Scottish Hammer Champion and Scotland’s newest member of the plus 70m club, has this week declared his intention to win a medal at next year’s Commonwealth Games.

After a summer which saw him surpass the Delhi qualification mark of 66m fifteen times, Mark is now turning his attention to next year’s Games and his coach Chris Black’s 26 year-old Scottish record.

Speaking after picking up the in inaugural Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month award, Mark said about the Commonwealth Games: “It’s absolutely up for the win. I’m sitting third at the moment. There are a lot of guys behind me who could move up but the two guys who are ahead definitely aren’t out of reach. If things don’t change and I progress the way I want to there is no reason why winning is out of the question”.

The 21 year old, who moved from Elgin to Glasgow in 2007 in order to work with Scottish Hammer throwing record holder Chris Black, declared his appreciation for his new mentor: “Chris’s knowledge is the best in the world. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for him and his help. The amount of time and effort and research he has put in, video analysis and comparing me to the world’s best, is phenomenal”.

Dry said, with a nod toward his coach’s national standard: “it’s a target for next year. I respect the record but it’s been there far too long. It’s a shame that there’s been nobody between Chris and me who’s got the record and I want to be the man to change that”.

Mark will compete in his final competition of the season next weekend in Hull before returning to Glasgow for winter training.