Scotland's Highlights
Sport by Sport
Athletics
Scotland’s performances were highlighted by the spectacular emergence on the international stage by Liz Lynch in the first Women’s 10,000m Athletics event who delighted a capacity home crowd by winning Gold. Medals were also won by Yvonne Murray and Tom McKean, Scotland’s other two emerging middle distance stars who would dominate the rest of the 1980s.
The Men’s 4x100m Relay team continued on their medal winning ways with another Bronze, whilst Geoff Parsons won the first of what would be three medals at consecutive Games in the High Jump.
Badminton
Elsewhere, Gold was won in Badminton for the first time when Billy Gilliland and Dan Travers ignited an ecstatic capacity Meadowbank crowd with a win the Doubles, whilst Gilliland joined with Christine Heatly to win another Bronze to cap Badminton’s most successful Games.
Lawn Bowls
Gold was also won in the Men’s Bowls Pairs but Willie Wood’s absence in his hometown due to professionals being banned at this time was keenly felt. Scotland’s women bowlers playing in a full programme for the first time lost Gold only on shot average in the Singles.
Boxing
In Boxing, seven medals were won by the 10 Boxers but unfortunately there was no Gold. The unluckiest Boxers probably being Jim McAllister retiring after a cut and Dougie Young who was well ahead on points before being caught by New Zealand’s Jimmy Peau with a desperate punch 32 seconds from the end.
Cycling
In Cycling, Eddie Alexander won Scotland’s first medal since 1970.
Rowing - The return of Rowing saw Scotland’s first ever medal in the Coxless Pairs on a Strathclyde Park course later to host the World Championships. This event was notable for Scotland’s finest ever Rower, Peter Haining being forced to compete for England due to residency criteria and winning Gold for the “Auld Enemy”.
Shooting
The Shooting events saw a round trip of 230 miles between venues spread from Musselburgh to Kippen to Carnoustie. However, Alistair Allan and Bill McNeil couldn’t replicate all their Brisbane success. Despite repeating their Brisbane Gold medal score, this time they end 4th although later picked up a Bronze in the Rifle 3 Position Pairs to repeat their Brisbane result. In all the other Shooting events it was Silver and Bronze with Gold medals being elusive even for Olympic medallist Allan who was pipped only by his great British and World rival England’s Malcolm Cooper in a titanic struggle.
Silver and Bronze medals were also won in Swimming, Wrestling and Weightlifting with perhaps the most meritorious performance being the 4th by Weightlifter John McNiven competing in his sixth Games.
Overall the medal tally was Scotland’s highest ever. Whilst this perhaps reflecting the lack of depth resulting from the boycott, the Gold medal count was a case for Scotland of what might have been, much like the Games overall.