Scotland's Highlights
"We are absolutely delighted with how the whole team performed and winning 29 medals is a major achievement, our best yet.” Louise Martin CBE, Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland.
“This is a very proud day for Scottish sport and shows just what can be achieved if we all pull together. It has been a great honour to lead such a committed group of athletes and staff and I believe what set us apart was the tremendous team spirit.” Chef de Mission, Paul Bush
"I've always hoped that people would talk about us inspiring the nation, but I never actually thought it would happen. I'm just so proud to be Scottish, it is just an amazing feeling. It's been a huge honour to be part of this fantastic team and to have done so well is unbelievable." Gregor Tait, Swimming - Top Athlete of the Games
Fast Facts
- Returning with 11 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze, a total of 29 medals, placing sixth on the medal table, the 2006 team was Scotland’s most successful team in Commonwealth Games history.
- 30 team members won a total of 29 medals across nine sports. There were 11 gold medallists, including four double gold medallists (Caitlin McClatchey, Gregor Tait, David Carry, Sheena Sharp.
- Swimming was the team’s most successful sport winning twelve medals (six gold, three silver, three bronze). This performance made swimming the most successful Commonwealth Games sport of all time.
- Scotland’s top athlete of the Games was swimmer Gregor Tait who won 2 gold, 2 bronze medals.
Sport by Sport
Aquatics - The Melbourne Sports & Aquatics Centre was the magnificent backdrop for the historic performance that unfolded in the pool. With an amazing double gold triumph on the first night from Caitlin McClatchey and David Carry, the swimmers grew in confidence to take on the Aussies in their home pool.
Winning 12 medals, 6 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze, swimming became Scotland’s most successful sport in Commonwealth Games history. A superb overall team effort with 11 swimmers winning medals, their success was built on the performances of their three double gold medallists, Caitlin McClatchey, David Carry and Gregor Tait. With a further two bronze medals to his tally Gregor was the Scottish swimmer of the meet and the top Scot of the Games.
On day 1, Caitlin McClatchey wins Scotland’s first medal of the Games taking gold in her less favoured 200m Freestyle. She sets a new British and Commonwealth Games record in the process, the fourth fastest swim of all time in this event.
Less than ten minutes later the Aussie crowd sits in stunned silence as Scotland the Brave rings out for the second time in succession, only this time for Aberdeen’s David Carry in the 400m Freestyle.
On day 3 Gregor Tait gets in on the action, winning swimming gold number three in the 200m Backstroke. Meanwhile Edinburgh’s Kirtsy Balfour takes on Aussie super star Leisel Jones and sits tight for silver in the 200m Breaststroke setting her second British record of the day. The finale of the night is David Carry, Euan Dale, Andy Hunter and Robbie Renwick all going under 1:49 to take silver in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay.
Day 4 saw the first ever one, two on the swimming podium for Scotland in the 400m Individual Medley. David Carry wins his second gold of the Games in a new Games Record beating Loughborough team mate Euan Dale into second place.
On day 5, first to keep the medals rolling in is Kirsty Balfour. In another confident performance she takes bronze in the 100m Breaststroke in a new British record. Gregor has a busy night in the pool first taking bronze in the 100m Backstroke before getting back in the pool to make his international debut at the 200m Individual Medley. Up against Carry and Dale of 400m IM acclaim, Tait goes on to win his second gold of the meet.
Caitlin McClatchey was not to be outdone though in the gold stakes. She was shaking as she took to the blocks with the burden of expectation for her favoured 400m Freestyle event. Up until the final 100m it was anyone’s race but Caitlin made a break up the final 50m and won her second Commonwealth gold medal.
It was the last night of Games action in the pool and the Scots were keen to add to their record medal haul of 11. It looked like being a night of near misses until the final event, when Gregor Tait, Kris Gilchrist, Todd Cooper and Craig Houston squeezed out the Canadians to take bronze in the 4x100m Medley Relay.
Athletics - The iconic MCG home of cricket and Aussie Rules in Victoria was the venue for the athletics competition, following major redevelopment work to ensure it was capable of accommodating the track. The Scots had a mixed competition in terms of success but finished with two medals to contribute to the Team’s impressive tally.
Chris Baillie was in the form of his life and took a well earned silver in the 110m hurdles on day 6 of the Games. It had been a particularly poignant day for Chris, who had made it through to the final as the second fastest qualifier, smashing the 6-year-old Scottish record set by his late brother Ross.
On day 8, the big race of the night saw Lee McConnell run against home favourite Jana Pitman in the 400m hurdles and take the bronze medal, vindicating her decision to switch from the 400m flat. In a packed stadium, the atmosphere was electric as McConnell ran a personal best of 55.25. The Australian icon came home in 53.82 to take gold; whilst GB team mate Natasha Danvers-Smith of England got silver in 55.17.
For Susan Scott it was a sense of deja vu on day 9 as the 28-year-old lined up in the 800m final against a truly world class field which included Maria Mutola from Mozambique. Despite a strong performance she narrowly missed out on a medal finishing 4th, but setting a new Scottish record in the process 1:59.02. Scott hadn't broken the two minute barrier since her 4th place at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, so again experienced the bitter sweet taste of setting a personal best, yet finishing just outside the medals.
Badminton - Badminton had to wait until the second last day of the Games to reap their rewards in the Women’s singles event when Glasgow’s Susan Hughes pinched bronze in a dramatic three set decider against Elizabeth Cann from Jersey.
Hughes made a decisive start and quickly gained the advantage to take the first set 21-5. But Cann battled hard in the second and forced a tense third set decider. It was a game of changing fortunes as both players took turns to lead, drawing level again at 16-all, 17-all and then 19-all to take it down to the wire. But it was Hughes that stepped up to the mark when the pressure was on and claimed a nail-biting win 21-19and the bronze medal.
Basketball - Basketball was the only new addition to the Games programme in 2006 and the Scottish men’s basketball team were excited about the prospect of making their Games debut in Melbourne. Playing in Pool A they were up against Australia, Nigeria and India.
With only one win against India in the pool games they were in the playoffs for 5-8th place. A victory against South Africa left them to face Barbados to decide 5th and 6th places. But an ankle injury to Guard Laurie Costello just three minutes into the match seemed to seal their fate and Scotland lost 63-73 to take sixth place.
Boxing - All of Scotland’s boxers were up for the challenge and determined to go home with a medal, but it was Edinburgh’s Kenny Anderson who was the last Scot standing in the ring.
Anderson took on Adura Olalehin from Nigeria in the final, to battle it out for the Light Heavyweight crown. The clash to determine the gold or silver medal was settled in what often resembled more of a wrestling match than a boxing final as the Nigerian tried to frustrate the powerful Scot.
Initially it was the Nigerian who held the upper hand in the bout going 8-3 up in the opening round. Still down 13-7 after the second, the referee finally intervened to penalise the Nigerian who was holding.
The Scot then started to make his mark, landing a flurry of points in the final round to pass his opponent and take the fight by 23 points to 19, and with it the 12th and final gold of the Games for Scotland.
Cycling - There was nearly as much excitement and emotion at the velodrome as there was at the pool, forcing supporters, team officials and journalists to rush between the two venues determined to catch all of the action.
Day 1 brought huge disappointment for Olympic Champion Chris Hoy, out to defend his title in the Kilo. He had to settle for bronze when local boy Ben Kersten drew on home advantage to take gold, Jason Queally from England took silver and Chris pushed fellow Scot Craig MacLean into fourth.
A further two bronze medals were added to the cycling tally on day 2 starting with 28-year-old Kate Cullen from Edinburgh who clinched bronze in the 25km Points Race. Cullen, who had only ridden in four international points races prior to her Games debut, pedalled her way into sporting history as the first Scottish female to win a medal on the track.
Ross Edgar, the quiet man of the team, also won bronze for Scotland in the Keirin, despite crossing the line in fourth place. The 23-year-old found himself elevated to the podium after first place finisher Ben Kersten was disqualified for dangerous riding on the last lap. This was to be the first of three medals for the talented Edgar.
Edgar was back in action on day 3, this time in the Individual Sprint. He progressed steadily through the rounds, to reach the final where he faced the formidable challenge of reigning Olympic and Commonwealth champion Ryan Bayley. Edgar almost took the first race in a nail-biting finish but it was not to be and he had to settle for silver.
As the week progressed, the weight of expectation was building on Chris, Craig and Ross, determined to make up for earlier disappointments. Up against ‘the auld enemy’ in the Team Sprint final, the Scots pulled off the ride of the year to edge into gold medal position and post the second fastest time ever by a British team. For Ross Edgar, these Games exceeded all expectations, returning home with a full set of medals.
Just when the Scottish supporters thought it was all over, 26-year-old James McCallum from Edinburgh produced a welcome bronze in the Men’s Scratch Race, in what was only his third major event. It was an extremely proud McCallum who took to the rostrum. That concluded a magnificent cycling competition which saw Scotland win a record six medals: 1 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze.
Gymnastics - The magnificent Rod Laver Arena was packed to the rafters as the gymnastics competition got underway with the team events. Scotland’s men put in a very credible performance to finish fourth overall. Adam Cox and Daniel Keatings qualified for the individual all around competition, whilst Adam Cox, Steve Frew and Andrew Mackie qualified for apparatus finals on parallel bars, horizontal bar, rings and pommel.
The women’s team also produced a solid performance in the team event to finish fifth. In what was a superb effort from a relatively inexperienced team, Rosalie Hutton, Carol Galashan and Emma White all qualified for the individual all around competition, whilst Emma White, Jennifer Hannah, Rosalie Hutton and Helen Galashan qualified for apparatus finals.
The highlight of the competition came on day 6, but it was a tense evening for Scottish supporters. On the Floor it was so near and yet so far for 14-year-old Jennifer Hannah, the youngest member of the Scottish Team, coming agonisingly close to a medal, edged into 4th place by the final competitor.
Having already performed his routine twice on parallel bars that evening due to faulty apparatus, Livingston’s Adam Cox took to the High Bar, his preferred discipline. For Cox it came down to the last performance of the night having been narrowly edged out of silver medal position by the second last competitor Wales’ David Eaton with Nathan Gafuik of Canada still to come and capable of medalling. Fortunately for Adam, the score he posted early in the competition was sufficient to hang onto third place and secure a bronze medal.
Hockey - This was the first time that Scotland’s men had qualified for the Commonwealth Games and they found themselves in a tough group up against Australia, New Zealand, England and Canada.
After three successive defeats, they beat Canada 2-0 and went on to secure 7th place after beating an impressive South African side 2-1, to finish two places above their ranking going into the tournament. Two players, Niall Stott and captain Mike Leonard, celebrated their 100th caps on the opening match of the Games.
Scotland’s women were also in a difficult group and after losing their opening two matches against New Zealand and England they went on to beat Canada 2-1 and Barbados 8-0. They wound up their Commonwealth Games of 2006 with a comfortable 3-0 win over Malaysia to finish in fifth place overall one place higher than their ranking.
Lawn Bowls - Scotland’s tradition of success in lawn bowls continued in Melbourne in both the Men’s and Women’s Pairs.
Defending Commonwealth champion Alex Marshall, with new partner Paul Foster, progressed steadily through the early rounds to reach the final unbeaten. Up against England to decide gold and silver, Scotland won the first set 11-6. However play was interrupted for around 10 minutes while staff battled to clear the greens of a swarm of small black beetles which had rained down during the first set.
The second set saw England come back to win a convincing 12-2 and force a tiebreaker. Despite being on the back foot, Marshall and Foster held their nerve rallying strongly to win the tiebreaker in two ends and take the gold for Scotland.
Joyce Lindores and Kay Moran also made it to the final in the Women’s Pairs. But a strong Aussie pairing, with skip Karen Murphy in stunning form, put paid to Joyce’s hopes of finishing her fifth and final Commonwealth Games with a second gold medal. Despite their best efforts the Scots lost 2-0 and had to settle for a well earned silver.
Rugby 7s - Keen to build on their Manchester Commonwealth Games experience, Scotland’s Rugby 7s team entered the Telstra Dome full of optimism. They got off to a flying start against Niue winning 33-5, but in a physical encounter against Canada they finished a disappointing 10-7 down. All hopes of an upset against world champions Fiji failed to materialise and they went down 33-5.
Relegated to the Bowl competition they beat Namibia 26-12. However their Commonwealth Games experience came to an abrupt end after suffering a 12-5 loss to Tonga in the bowl semi-final.
Shooting - The Scots took to the ranges at Port Melbourne on the third day of the Games and clinched both a gold and silver medal in the 50m Rifle Prone Pairs events.
Martin Sinclair, partnered by Neil Stirton, put in a sterling performance and took the first shooting medal of the Games, with Sinclair setting a new Scottish record in the process.
The women’s event followed, with Sheena Sharp and Susan Jackson going one better than their silver in 2002 to win gold. Jackson has medalled in three consecutive Games, boasting medals of all three colours.
Not satisfied with one gold, Sheena Sharp from Huntly, proved she was still on target when she took her second gold in the 50m Rifle Prone Individual event four days later. In a close contest she finished just one point ahead of Juliet Etherington of New Zealand who won silver, and two points ahead of Johanne Brekke for Wales, who claimed bronze. Sheena finished the Games as one of four double gold medallists.
Squash - Scotland’s No.1 John White was in fine form and progressed steadily through the opening rounds to reach the quarter final. Up against home crowd favourite Andrew Palmer (AUS) on centre court, the top Scot won the first game 2 – 9, but sadly lost momentum as the match progressed, conceding 10 – 8 in the next. The number one seed Palmer went on to take full advantage of the remainder of the match, taking the last two games 9 – 6, 9 – 0.
Triathlon - Despite an excellent pre-Games build-up, there was disappointment for both Catriona Morrison and Kerry Lang in the Women’s Triathlon.
The Melbourne Triathlon was an event of contrasts for the Scots. Lang got off to a strong start in her favoured swimming component, reaching the transition point in third place. But a problem with the strap on her cycling helmet meant she dropped well down the field.
For Morrison it was her slowest swim in almost four years, leaving her too much ground to claw back, although she did manage to climb from 21st to 16th place in the run including passing friend and team mate Lang who finished in 18th spot.
Weightlifting - Tommy Yule secured Scotland’s 20th medal with a bronze in the Men’s 94kg. Tommy entered the snatch phase of the competition at 146kg and took to the platform in confident mood. A successful lift at his first attempt, he went on to lift 151kg to finish in second place. In the Clean & Jerk Tommy had a successful first lift at 175kg but failed to improve on this.
His fate was then in the hands of Kiwi Grant Cavit who was the only person left in the competition who could deny him third spot. A back injury to Cavit forced him to withdraw and Yule’s higher combined score assured him a bronze medal behind an Australian one, two.