Cycling enjoyed a medal rush on Friday night winning four medals; a silver for Mark Stewart, two bronzes for Erin Boothman and a bronze for Fin Graham.

Stewart, who competed at the Commonwealth Games here 12 years ago, was the personification of a brave Scot, as he led the Men’s Elimination for most of proceedings.

Admitting this isn’t his best event, he moved to the front to stay out of trouble and that’s where he stayed. Feeding off the deafening cheers every time a rider was eliminated, he seemed to grow in strength, as he kept pouring on the pace.

Soon there were only five remaining, then four, and as he dispatched the Kiwi rider, he knew a medal was his. A huge sprint distanced English rider Henry Hobbs, and in the end it was silver for the Dundee rider, who couldn’t match the speed of Australian Blake Agnoletto in the final run to the line.

The crowd loved it, and so did he. As he made his way to the podium, a rival referred to him as ‘the people’s champ’, which was extremely fitting.

Speaking joyfully to reporters afterwards, he said:

“I’m over the moon to be honest, in front of a home crowd and it really is a home crowd, I’ve got friends and family, my wife and her parents, nieces, nephews, old coaches – I know everybody and they’re all here. To be able to share that with them is super special. I didn’t think I’d come away with a silver medal so that’s pretty cool.”

It looks like Glasgow 2026 will be a coming of age for 19 year old Boothman, who hails from just outside Glasgow, as on her opening day of action she won a pair of Commonwealth Games medals.

First up was the Individual Pursuit, having qualified for the bronze medal final earlier in the day. A measured performance saw Boothman take a slender lead over Kiwi Bryony Botha in the early stages. Learning from perhaps an overly eager start in qualifying, the rising star stuck to her own pacing plan, before picking things up over the final 1500m to break her own Scottish record and win a brilliant bronze medal in a time of 4:30.222.

Less than an hour later, and just 10 minutes after her medal presentation, Boothman was back on track for the Scratch race. Coming into the closing stages Neah Evans, who won silver in this event four years ago, closed down an attack and was off the front for a couple of laps, before the Australian’s wound up the pace. But Boothman was well placed, and on a frantic last lap she moved herself into position to sprint for a medal.

Initially crossing the line a whisker off a medal in fourth, her result was upgraded after Welsh rider Anna Morris was relegated to fifth for deviating in the sprint.

As the news was broken to her in the mixed zone, a delighted Boothman said:

“I couldn’t be happier. I went into that scratch just as an opportunity to race after my Individual Pursuit, I really expected nothing and to pick up another medal, I couldn’t be happier. I literally can’t believe it. I did my first accreditation on this track here – it’s a 15-minute drive from my home, so it’s been surreal doing my recovery rides around my training roads.

“I know that everyone here, Scottish cycling and my family, are just here to support me with whatever I do. This morning, I woke up with nerves but it was more I wanted to prove to these home crowds that I can do what I can do. I’ve never competed in front of a full crowd before and it’s definitely something I’ll cherish for a long time.

It’s been so special to be part of Team Scotland – from the holding camp last week, and then coming up to Glasgow and being with the rest of the sports. I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”

In between those two bronze medals, Fin Graham added another in the Men’s C1-C3 1000m Time Trial. Whilst not his favoured event, the Strathpeffer man emptied the tank over four laps, missing silver by just two tenths.

An extremely proud Scot, Graham, who is World and Paralympic champion, soaked up his chance to race for Scotland for the first time, with friends and family watching on. Speaking afterwards he said:

“The kilo’s not my event so the goal was to come in and enjoy it, just give it a good go and see what happens, so to come away with a bronze medal is really special. That noise as well, it’s so special to ride in front of that. When you’re hurting and you hear the crowd go, it just gives you that wee bit to dig deeper, it gets you to the finish line. To go on the podium in front of a home crowd is amazing, to get a medal means the world.”

Lauren Bell bowed out of the Women’s Sprint at the quarter-finals stage, Iona Moir and Ellie Stone exiting earlier in the competition, whilst Michael Gill and Tim Shoreman finished 9th and 12th respectively in the Men’s Individual Pursuit.

Saturday will see more medal chances for Boothman, Stewart and six time gold medallist Neil Fachie.