Team Scotland’s cyclists were raring to go at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome on the opening day of the XX Commonwealth Games, and it was Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston who made history by winning the first Scottish medal of Glasgow 2014.

It was instantly clear that it was going to be a phenomenal day as Games Records were broken in the first event, the Men’s Sprint, with John Paul, Chris Pritchard and Callum Skinner all taking to the line for Scotland. After the Commonwealth Games record fell for the third time, Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer crossed the line in 9.779 seconds making it the 4th new Games Record of the event. Scotland’s Skinner set a time of 10.198 which was enough to see him through to the next round.

Multi Paralympian McGlynn and pilot Haston proved they were on top form in their qualifying event, smashing the Commonwealth Games Record in the Women’s Para-cycling Sprint B2 Tandem. This was then bettered by the English pairing Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott, setting up an intriguing battle. After taking on the Australians in the semi-final McGlynn and Haston went through to join the English duo to battle it out for Gold, making it home nations final. In a close race McGlynn and Haston took Silver, Scotland’s first medal of the Games. Laura Cluxton and her pilot Fiona Duncan came 5th.

McGlynn said,“To win Scotland’s first medal of the games on home soil, in front of a home crowd is such an honour. The noise from the crowd was incredible and really it was great to see the saltires flying. It’s taken a lot of hard work and many hours of training to get here, but I’m delighted.”

Louise Haston added, “Considering this is my first Sprint competition, I am so pleased to come away with a Commonwealth Games Silver medal and especially pleased that it is the first medal of the Games! I can’t wait to get back on my bike on Sunday and hear that home crowd again for my favourite event, the 1,000 metre Time Trial.”

In the Men’s Sprint, despite an incredible second lap, Callum Skinner narrowly missed out at the shot at a medal.
In the Men’s Team Sprint a further two Games Records were set, first by Team England and then bettered by Team New Zealand. Unfortunately the Scotland trio of Jonathan Biggin, Chris Pritchard and Callum Skinner missed out on a place in the final.

It was then the turn of Delhi Commonwealth Games Silver medallist Jenny Davis to take to the track followed by Elinor Richardson in the Women’s 500 metre Time Trial event. At the end of the event Richardson took 8th and Davis 9th.

On day 2 of the games the Team Scotland Track Cyclists will be taking the boards for Men’s Para-cycling 1,000 metre Time Trail, the Women’s 3,000 metre Individual Pursuit and the Men’s 4,000 metre Individual Pursuit.

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