Robert Barr and Mary Stevenson, with directors Sarah Jane Ewing and Jim Aitken, won gold in the bowls Mixed Para Pairs B2/B3 VI after a spectacular tie-break victory over England. It was back-to-back golds for Barr and Ewing, who enjoyed the same success in Birmingham 2022, and a first gold for Stevenson and Aitken.

The contest was neck-and-neck from the outset with Stevenson in particular playing some excellent bowls. In the fourth end, England propelled themselves into a 5-2 lead, and the Scots weren’t able to claw it back, resulting in England taking the first set 7-2.

A strong second end in the second set saw Scotland kick into a 2-1 lead before extending it to 3-1 in the third end, but England clawed it back to 3-3 heading into the last end. It was Scotland who stood up to the pressure and they won the end to claim the set 6-3. It took the game to a tie-breaker, and the Scots pulled out their best bowls when the heat was on. Stevenson led brilliantly and Barr finished the game off with a bowl to spare and give Scotland the gold medal.

Robert said: “We just had to dig in after losing the first set, but we stuck to the task. We know it’s a difficult format and even if you lose the first set, you know you’re still in with a chance. With the second set, you go to a tie-break and you just dig in, go again, make sure you get the jack and control the game from there. Just keep the heid.”

Jim said: “It means the world to us. Any medal is special but to get a gold as well with all the fans.”

Sarah said: “We wouldn’t have done so well if we didn’t have the support from the staff, our families, the National Lottery as well.”