Falkirk Junior Bike Club and Kevin Brooks from Nairn Boxing Club have been named the first ever winners of a Team Scotland Stars award following thousands of votes cast in a public poll.
With the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic meaning that life is very different for all of us, Team Scotland Stars was launched as a monthly award to recognise those going above and beyond to help others through these difficult times. The response to the awards has been overwhelming in its first month and our June winners are truly inspirational.
From an impressive list of deserving nominations, Nairn Boxing Club’s Kevin Brooks topped the public vote in the individual category ahead of runners-up James Cairns from Bishopton Military Fitness Club, Lothian Disability Sport Archery Co-ordinator Richard Vallis and City of Edinburgh Volleyball Development Officer Emma Waldie.
Former Scots Guard Kevin served for seven-and-a-half years while secretly battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is drawing on the similarities of the current situation with his army days to help others. Head coach at Nairn Boxing Club, which he set up last year, he is now inspiring others to get into regular fitness routines with his virtual boxing training sessions using basic household items to create sessions without having to spend money on equipment.
Kevin is a full-time carer for his son who has severe autism and alongside his online boxing sessions his days are now filled with home schooling, exercising and shopping. He is also supporting and promoting the work of Poppyscotland, the charity that helped him and his family when he left the army and offers free training advice to former veterans.
“I feel privileged and honoured to be given such an award,” said Kevin. “I can’t believe the number of people that contacted me and my family to say how proud and happy they were that my volunteer work within boxing and my local community was being recognised.
“This award is for all boxing coaches, they all never give up in the pursuit of helping others. Each of them is working wonders in their local community, driven by the pure love of the sport and striving to make everyone, no matter their background, have a little happiness in their life via our beautiful sport.
“My family, Poppy Scotland and my entire community have helped me pursue my dream of helping others and I can’t thank them enough. To my wife – I love you – you’re amazing, my rock. And to my boxers and NBC members you’re simply the best. Thank you Team Scotland, you’re amazing and I’m sure you’ll bring back a record medal haul at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”
In the Group or Organisation category Falkirk Junior Bike Club’s impressive fundraising activity and true community spirit won the hearts of the Scottish public and June Team Scotland Stars award.
The young members of Falkirk Junior Bike Club raised over £10,000 for the local Strathcarron hospice during the first few weeks of lockdown. Over the course of one day, the children cycled a leg of a 12-hour relay to raise funds, covering over 750 miles around Falkirk.
They have also created a cycling “passport” that is not only available to members but now available for free to all children who get in contact with the club. This fantastic community hub, keeping kids focused and connected at a really unsettling time, gave them the nod over runners-up Helping Hands Edinburgh, Boxing Scotland and West Lothian Fencing Club.
Huge congratulations to our winners and to all our finalists and nominees, it’s amazing to see the good work being done by the Scottish sporting community in the face of these unprecedented circumstances.
Do you know an individual, group or organisation that deserves their moment in the limelight? Help us find the people making a real difference in these challenging times! Click here to nominate your choice for a Team Scotland Stars Award in July!
As Team Scotland begins the search for the Sport Team Managers who will help deliver success at Birmingham 2022, we are proud to announce a ground-breaking partnership with First Ascent and sportscotland to deliver a world-class learning and development programme for selected candidates and prospective Team Managers at future Commonwealth Games.
A critical component of a successful team, Team Scotland is seeking a cadre of up to 21 Team Managers capable of supporting each other for collective success at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. In addition we’re also looking to select a number of Understudy Managers, who will begin their journey as potential Team Managers for 2026 and be available to step in should any Team Manager become unexpectedly unavailable for 2022.
If you are interested in the role of a Team Manager for the Commonwealth Games we want to hear from you! Please click here to view the full advert and get in touch.
In a first for Team Scotland, all selected Team Managers and Understudy Managers will take part in a two year, personalised training and development programme which combines modules, webinars, e-learning resources, and peer learning. The programme will cultivate knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours so each manager is highly confident, ready to deliver in their role and able to support Team Scotland athletes to perform to their potential in Birmingham.
Jon Doig OBE, Chief Executive at Commonwealth Games Scotland said:
“Our Team Managers are as diverse in background as the sports themselves, so it’s an exciting step to be able to combine our knowledge of the Games environment with First Ascent’s expertise in leadership and learning to offer a fully tailored and personalised development programme over the next two years.
“Feedback following Gold Coast 2018 highlighted an appetite for a more targeted approach to people development and we’ve worked closely with sportscotland since then to create the framework to achieve this. Whether someone is at their first major multi-sport Games or their tenth, it’s important that they have the confidence and skills to operate in what is a highly pressurised environment. This is a fantastic opportunity bringing long-term benefits, not just for these individuals and Team Scotland, but more widely as they take what they have learned back into their individual sports.”
First Ascent specialises in providing tailored learning and development programmes that utilise the latest scientific knowledge and tools to drive accelerated performance. They bring a sound understanding of high performance sport, having provided leadership, team development, recruitment and executive coaching programmes to organisations such as UK Sport, EIS, Sport England, Sport Wales and over 20 National Governing Bodies of Sport.
David Sales, Director of First Ascent Group Ltd, said: “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Team Scotland as they prepare for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. We are looking forward to working together over the next two years to select and develop the talented individuals who, as Sport Team Managers, will play an integral role in leading Team Scotland to success at the Games. Team Scotland 2022 is going to be a force to be reckoned with!”
Partnership working with sportscotland over the past two years has been instrumental in developing the framework of the programme and online delivery platform, and this will continue on the journey to Birmingham.
Mike Whittingham, Director of High Performance at the sportscotland Institute of Sport, said: ‘‘We are delighted to be working alongside our partners, Team Scotland and embarking on a new partnership with First Ascent. Our collaboration is designed to make team management as effective and seamless as possible. It is this type of preparation that fuels our ability to perform at our best, giving our athletes every opportunity to fulfil their potential.
“We are looking forward to building on a decade of success in Scottish sport and, while Birmingham 2022 will provide new challenges for all of us, we are ready and prepared to maximise the opportunity another UK-based Games presents following on from Glasgow 2014.’’
Team Managers do not need to have been athletes or coaches to be candidates for this role. Our successful Team Managers are characterised by a diversity of backgrounds in different sectors and with different functional skills in their careers. Attitude and mindset are far more important for success, than having had a career in sport. A belief in sport and a desire to play a key role in a unique global event will be important to you.
If you are attracted to the role of a Team Manager for the Commonwealth Games, please click here to view the full advert and get in touch.
Applications must be completed by midday on Friday 31st July 2020.
Following dozens of nominations from the Scottish sporting community, four individuals and four organisations making an amazing contribution to raising funds, helping local communities and encouraging us all to stay active have been named as finalists for the newly launched Team Scotland Stars awards.
These inspirational finalists are now looking for your vote, with the overall winners to be revealed after voting closes on Sunday 28 June.
Our expert judging panel of former First Minister for Scotland, Jack McConnell, badminton star Kirsty Gilmour and Team Scotland Youth Trust Board Director, Denise Holmes had the difficult task of narrowing it down to just four in each of the two categories to go forward to the public vote.
From an impressive list of deserving nominations, Nairn Boxing Club’s Kevin Brooks, James Cairns from Bishopton Military Fitness Club, Lothian Disability Sport Archery Co-ordinator Richard Vallis and City of Edinburgh Volleyball Development Officer Emma Waldie, who represented Team Scotland at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, are our individual finalists.
Find out more and vote for your choice in the Individual Category here.
The Group/Organisation category was equally hotly contested with Boxing Scotland, Falkirk Junior Bike Club, Helping Hands Edinburgh and West Lothian Fencing Club standing out for their commitment to improving their communities’ physical and mental well-being.
Find out more and vote for your choice in the Group/Organisation Category here.
With the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic meaning that life is very different for all of us, Team Scotland Stars is a monthly award to recognise those going above and beyond to help others through these difficult times.
The public vote for our June Team Scotland Stars will remain open until 23.59 on Sunday 28 June. We look forward to presenting our winners with a digital award and, when it becomes possible for groups of people to come together, to welcoming them to a Team Scotland event where they can be presented with a physical prize and receive the recognition they deserve.
Read more about Team Scotland Stars here.
Team Scotland is recruiting four General Team Managers for the XXII Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August 2022. The successful candidates will work closely with the Chef de Mission and wider Team Scotland management team.
This is an exciting opportunity for experienced, dynamic individuals to be involved at the heart of operations as Team Scotland seek to provide the best environment for Scottish athletes to excel and perform with distinction at Birmingham 2022.
Each General Team Manager will take responsibility for one of the following areas:
- Accommodation & Village Facilities
- Team Services
- Performance Services
- Transport & Sports Logistics
Applicants should have at least five years’ experience of working at a Multi-sport Games and be able to show a track record of management and Team preparations. In addition to proven ability in a leadership role within a multi-disciplinary team, good time management and the ability to work for extended periods under pressure are required. Applicants should have a good working knowledge of the Scottish sporting landscape, a belief in sport and a desire to play a key role in a unique global event.
If you are interested in one of these roles, please click here to view the full advert, which includes a link to detailed information on each role and the application form.
These roles are voluntary positions, however agreed out of pocket expenses will be met.
Applications should be returned by email to: info@teamscotland.scot no later than midday on 16 July 2020.
Interviews will be held in the offices of Commonwealth Games Scotland or by video conference the week commencing 27 July 2020.
This is the first phase of recruitment and appointment of further specialist General Team Management roles and sport Team Managers will be progressed over the coming months, followed by sport specific and specialist support personnel.
Team Scotland (TS) endorses the principle of sports equality and will endeavour through our policies, procedures, actions and decision-making to ensure that no person (employee, volunteer, member or participant) who is part of TS or who comes into contact with TS, receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or social background.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has agreed a 24-hour change in start date and will now begin on 28 July 2022, running through to 8 August 2022.
The significant impact to the international sporting calendar caused by COVID-19 means that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, UEFA Women’s Football Championships, World Athletics Championships and European Championships will now all take place within a six week period in the summer of 2022.
The joint announcement from the Commonwealth Games Federation and Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee is the result of collaborative discussions between the leaders of some of the world’s major sporting events following both the World Athletics Championships and UEFA Women’s Football Championships moving by 12 months from 2021 to July 2022.
It ensures that Birmingham 2022 will now boast two full weekends of Commonwealth Sport whilst extending the rest and recovery period for athletes competing in the World Athletics Championships. The alteration to the Opening Ceremony date also avoids a potential clash with the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Football Championships, helping to protect and promote the profile of women’s sport.
The UEFA Women’s Football Championships will further enhance the ever-growing popularity of women’s football, while Birmingham 2022 is expected to be the first major multi-sport event in history to have more women’s medal events than men’s events.
In addition to the slight shift in date, Birmingham 2022 is working to refine the competition schedule to maximise the recovery time for those athletes who will be looking to participate in more than one major event in two years’ time and ensure that the Commonwealth’s best athletes can compete at the Games.
Jon Doig OBE, Chief Executive at Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “We welcome notice of the 24 hour move and planned refinement of the competition programme by Birmingham 2022 in response to the upheaval to sport caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The summer of 2022 will be a real treat for sports fans and this positive collaboration between these major events is a real boost in enabling our athletes to perform to their best across a packed schedule.”
CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE said: “In unprecedented circumstances, I am delighted that we have been able to work in partnership to ensure that the Commonwealth Games will take pride of place in what will be a fantastic summer of sport. “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all areas of life, including the international sporting calendar, has been huge. In adversity, I have been proud to work closely alongside partner International Federations and Governing Bodies to help shape a spectacular six-week period of elite sport. It demonstrates the very best of sport working at the service of athletes.
“On behalf of the Commonwealth Sports Movement, I am pleased that 2022 will now be a real celebration of women’s sport.
“I would like to thank World Athletics, UEFA and The FA for working with us to navigate very difficult circumstances to create an amazing summer of sport for fans and spectators.”
2022 Summer Major Sporting Event Dates
- The UEFA Women’s EUROs will take place in England from 6 – 31 July
- The World Athletics Championships will take place in Oregon (USA) from 15 – 24 July
- The Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham from 28 July – 8 August
- The 2022 European Championships will be held in Munich from 11–21 August
Following events in the United States, the Commonwealth Games Federation has released an open letter to sport to reinforce their commitment to their values, and stand in solidarity with all citizens, athletes and CGAs working actively to reduce inequality and build peaceful communities.
An Open Letter to Sport #BlackLivesMatter
Citizens across the world have mobilised to stand up for equal rights, for freedom, fairness, equality and justice.
This must be our wake-up call too. Surely it is time for the world of sport to grant itself a social and moral licence. A licence to use all its platforms to encourage athletes, coaches, officials, sponsors, administrators and fans to inspire, to educate, to stand for what they believe in. A licence to provide the scope and freedom for all our participants to be agents of change, advocates of integrity and ambassadors for respect, impartiality and non-discrimination.
Everyone working in sport is in the business of creating, protecting and promoting some of people’s proudest moments. People have often argued that sport is like life and that life manifests itself through sport. When glorious – sport inspires, excites, captivates, entertains and creates hope and pride; and when compromised – it angers, disappoints, disillusions, creates doubt and shame.
Let us not be on the wrong side of history. Let us ensure we are on the side of humanity and equality, the side of people and passion, not profit or politics. Let us continue to forge a future for Commonwealth Sport built on empathy, inclusion, trust and unity.
Right now, we are faced with managing the impact of a global pandemic and the pain, anger and sadness resulting from the tragic and brutal killing of George Floyd. Both raise the familiar spectres of inequality, racism and injustice into our hearts and homes and our wider communities.The world of sport cannot be an observer.
A Games, a match, a season does not happen in a vacuum.Silence or the status quo cannot be an option.It is our passionate belief that athlete advocacy and activism humanises, rather than politicises, sport.We must use our voices and continually seek to reduce inequalities and build peaceful communities.
Dame Louise Martin DBE, President
David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Executive
With the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic meaning that life is very different for all of us, Team Scotland has today launched Team Scotland Stars, a monthly award to recognise those going above and beyond to help others through these difficult times.
Each month we’re asking for your nominations to help us celebrate the amazing contribution that Scottish sport is making to keeping spirits high, raising funds, helping local communities and encouraging us to be active. The sporting action might be on hold but the sporting community is still going strong.
Launching the awards initiative, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive, Jon Doig OBE said: “Scottish sport relies on countless hours from many different people who work incredibly hard to inspire and benefit others. While sport looks very different for all of us right now, that spirit of generosity is, if anything, even stronger with individuals raising huge sums for charity, groups and clubs helping the most vulnerable in their communities, and governing bodies, athletes and coaches working tirelessly to keep the nation active and communities engaged. We want to celebrate that spirit and we’re looking for your help to find, recognise and thank these stars.”
Who can I nominate?
Any Scottish individual, group or organisation with a connection to sport and/or using sport or physical activity to help others. If you know someone who has raised money through a physical challenge, someone with a sporting connection now working on the front line, a club with a great idea to support their community or anyone going above and beyond to make a difference for others, please let us know.
How will the winners be decided?
Each month we will share as many of these stories as we can on Team Scotland’s social media channels and the top entries in each category will be shortlisted as finalists by an expert judging panel. The shortlist will then go to public vote and the winners will be recognised with a digital award.
When it becomes possible for groups of people to come together, we look forward to welcoming all our winners to a Team Scotland event where they can be presented with a physical prize and receive the recognition they deserve.
Help us find the people making a real difference in these challenging times! Click here to nominate your choice for a Team Scotland Stars Award!
Other Ways to Help
The Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards has been the primary fundraising event in support of the Team Scotland Youth Trust, assisting the next generation of athletes realise their sporting ambitions and build life skills. Many are currently working to support their local communities at this time, while continuing to train in the absence of their usual facilities and face to face coaching support. As we look ahead to when sport returns they will need your help more than ever as they strive for selection and medal success.
With the Awards cancelled, this year, if you can, please think about supporting a future star with a donation to the Team Scotland Youth Trust.
Charity no: SC006246
With 11 Commonwealth Games medals between them Alex Marshall and Paul Foster sit right at the top of Team Scotland’s list of all-time sporting greats. For our sport focus series we caught up with the pair to talk about their success, their friendship on and off the green and how they are keeping active through the lockdown period ready for a return to competitive action.
Their competitive record at the top of their sport is phenomenal, both individually and as a pair. Both have 18 World Indoor Championship medals to their name including four gold and two silver together in the Open Pairs since 2011. Alex has a record-breaking six World Indoor Singles titles with Paul just one behind on five.
Their record at the World Outdoor Championships is equally impressive, the championships in 2012 seeing them become the first pair ever to win World Indoor and Outdoor titles in the same year. Alex showed signs of what was to come with three gold medals in 1992 as the newcomer to a team that included names such as World and Commonwealth champions Richard Corsie and Willie Wood. Now with 14 medals, seven of them gold, he and Paul, with four medals from two championships, are the experience of the team.
So has how they approach a major championship changed at all on the back of their success and what is their secret to producing results time and time again?
“Myself and Alex have had a lot of success on the bowling green together, winning many gold medals and World titles,” says Paul. “It’s down to the friendship we have on and off the green, the support we have for each other is incredible. Being best mates makes each of our jobs on the green a lot easier, we encourage each other whether we play a good or a bad bowl and that has made us one of the most successful pairs ever.
“I’ve competed in four Commonwealth Games so far and many World Championships so I can relax when I go to these events as I know I have put in the practice time and effort to give it my best. I just tell my team mates to enjoy it and as long as you have given it 100% then the awards will come.”
“Myself and Paul know each other’s game inside out,” agrees Alex. “That has been a massive part of our success as we progressed over the years, and we’re also always in each others company off the green which makes us a formidable partnership.
“To be honest the experience has not changed from the start of my career, I still get the same buzz now as I used to. Yes, there is more expectation as you have been successful before, but that doesn’t affect me in any way as my approach to the game has not changed. I do pass on my experiences to the other players in the team, as the more they know the better it is for the team.”
Paul’s first Commonwealth Games was Melbourne 2006, Alex’s incredibly all the way back at Victoria 1994, and since their respective debuts they have steadily climbed the all-time medallist list. With five gold and one silver Alex is now Team Scotland’s most successful athlete in any sport while Paul, with four gold and a silver, sits third, with Olympic gold medallist sprinter Allan Wells between the two.
“It’s a great feeling being at the top of your sport, but for myself and Paul to be at the top of Team Scotland’s ladder for success is incredible,” says Alex. ” On the back of our successes I think it is great for our sport to be given the recognition it deserves.”
Paul echoes the sentiment: “Our recognition as top athletes for Team Scotland means everything, with Alex the most decorated Scottish athlete and myself sitting 3rd just behind Alan Wells. I think it means a great deal to our game of bowls and shows how far in the game you can go when you put your mind to it.”
Following Pairs gold in 2012 and bronze in 2016, the duo should have been back on the Commonwealth Games greens of Broadbeach, Gold Coast this month for the World Outdoor Championships. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the event being moved to 2021, meaning they must bide their time for another shot at the title.
“Obviously I was disappointed for World Bowls to be cancelled but we can all agree that everyone’s health comes first and is more important,” says Paul. “Bowls will always be there when we are ready to come back and knowing that the Championships have been rescheduled to May 2021 gives us something to look forward to, back in the Gold Coast where we were very successful at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“Covid-19 has certainly hit all sports hard, but I have been out running and walking and watching old matches where I have won Commonwealth titles and World titles, so it keeps my mentality in the right place. Losing weight as well makes you feel you are going in the right direction to be prepared for the tournaments ahead.”
“Nothing really changes with the Worlds,” adds Alex. “The new date is the same time in 2021, with the same team, so it gives the team another year to prepare and I’m looking forward to returning to the lovely greens at Broadbeach.
“It has been difficult times for everyone out there. I have kept myself occupied with exercises in the morning, going for walks, and every day keeping my delivery action in place, so when things do go back to normal I will be raring to go. I cannot wait to start the competitive side of the game.”
Also on the horizon is the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and another opportunity to cement their place in Team Scotland history. For Alex it would be a seventh Games appearance, just one behind Team Scotland’s most capped Commonwealth Games athlete, fellow bowler Willie Wood.
“I will be available for selection and hoping to be selected,” he says. “My ambitions are always to medal, and hopefully gold. I know Leamington very well and the greens will suit the Scottish team.”
Paul is also raring to go and hoping to add to his medal tally: “Birmingham 2022 is definitely in my plans and I will be putting in all the hard work, as soon as we return to the greens, to get myself in the frame for selection. If selected my ambitions will be to medal in both disciplines and fingers crossed it’s the right colour that I get. The greens in Leamington are similar to what we we play on, so it will not take us long to get into our rhythm.”
With their past track record we certainly wouldn’t bet against 2021 and 2022 being more bumper years for this impressive duo and look forward to seeing them back doing what they do best very soon.
As part of our Sport Focus on Lawn Bowls we take a look at Bowls Scotland’s Try Bowls initiative, helping Scotland’s 850 clubs bring the sport to a new audience and strengthen their links with their local communities.
Bowls Scotland’s international stars are a force to be reckoned with on the global stage with consistent podium finishes at World Championships and Commonwealth Games, but for the sport in Scotland their success is just the tip of the iceberg. With one of the highest levels of club membership of any sport in Scotland, the heart of the sport is the huge participation across all age groups and abilities, with many bowling clubs embedded in the life of the local town.
Created in 2016, Try Bowls is Bowls Scotland’s national campaign aimed at getting new people into bowls, creating stronger links with local communities and increasing membership in clubs. From fun activities that introduce young players to the basics, through to the full game there’s something for everyone.
Through a resource pack, advice and input from their development team, event promotion and access to equipment, Bowls Scotland supports clubs to hold Try Bowls events each year to introduce the sport to a new audience or reignite a love for the game in those who have played in the past. With the sport one that can be enjoyed by all ages, some events have even seen four generations of the same family take part – from children four years old up to great-granddad at 87.
The initiative has continued to go from strength to strength, with clubs reporting increased numbers attending their events and going on to join year on year. Lundin Bowling Club in East Fife has welcomed over 100 brand new bowlers to their club coaching sessions in the three years they have run Try Bowls events, including 47 in 2019 alone, while Nairn Bowling Club has seen interest grow from 22 attendees at their 2016 event to 122 in 2019.
The initiative has introduced hundreds of people to the sport with 1 in 5 people who attended a Try Bowls event in 2018 going on to join a club.
Rosslyn Bowling Club’s event was a huge success for the club, almost doubling their membership.
Head Coach Douglas Todman said: “Through holding the Try Bowls event we were able to attract 26 new bowlers, seven of which were juniors, and a further 14 new associate members. I’d highly recommend it, it was a really successful event, it got bowls out there into the town and there was a nice wee buzz around Rosslyn Bowling Club.”
While clubs’ Try Bowls plans for 2020 will be on hold for now due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is some good news for Scotland’s 56,000 playing members, with Lawn Bowls named as one of the outdoor sports able to make a return this week as lockdown restrictions are eased.
While a long way from a return to full operations, this will allow clubs who are able to adhere to social distancing and safety protocols to open their doors as a first step in the sport making a phased return and a welcome boost to the physical activity and mental well-being of members across the country.
One of the original six sports as the Commonwealth Games (then the British Empire Games) began in 1930, Lawn Bowls has been contested at every Games since with the exception of 1966 in Kingston, Jamaica due to a lack of suitable greens. Scotland’s bowlers have been a regular feature on the podium, winning 37 medals including 18 gold. From record medal tallies to historic firsts, here are just some of the highlights from 90 years of Team Scotland success.
London 1934 – First Gold Medal
While bronze for the Men’s Fours team of William Lowe, Charles Tait, James Morrison and James Brown replicated the result of their predecessors from 1930, Robert Sprot became Scotland’s first Commonwealth Games bowls gold medallist, going undefeated across nine rounds in the Men’s Singles. Sprot was a three-time Scottish Singles champion and his father, George, won the first ever National title in 1894. The Men’s Pairs saw Alex and George Niven take fifth place with four wins and four losses.
The Games were originally awarded to Johannesburg, South Africa, but the venue was changed to London amid concerns about the treatment of black and Asian athletes by South African officials and fans. The Lawn Bowls events were held at Paddington Sports Club in Maida Vale and Temple Bowling Club, the latter nestled within a square of houses formed by Denmark Hill, Herne Hill Road, Ferndene Road and Sunset Road.
Brisbane 1982 – A Golden Double
Scotland’s bowlers put in an incredible performance to take two of the four titles on offer in Brisbane. Willie Wood improved on his Singles bronze from 1974 and Pairs silver from 1978 to triumph in the Men’s Singles while John Watson and David Gourlay took victory in the Men’s Pairs. Australia won the Men’s Fours and Zimbabwe the Women’s Triples, the first women’s lawn bowls event ever contested at a Commonwealth Games.
All events were decided by a Round Robin tournament. Willie Wood won 11 of his 12 matches to come out a deserving winner ahead of silver medallist Rob Parrella of Australia and bronze medallist Peter Belliss of New Zealand who both finished on 10 wins. It was a similarly close affair in the Men’s Pairs with Watson and Gourlay taking the title on shots with an identical record of 11 wins, one draw and two losses as eventual silver medallists Lyn Perkins and Spencer Wilshire of Wales. Alex McIntosh, John Harper, Brian Rattray and Jock Fleming took fifth place in the Men’s Fours while Jessie Adamson, Janet Menzies and Jessie Lawson made history as Scotland’s first female Lawn Bowls competitors at a Commonwealth Games, finishing 11th.
Victoria 1994 – A Games of Firsts
One of only two occasions on which Scotland’s bowlers have taken three gold medals at a single Games (the other being Glasgow 2014), Victoria stands out in its own right, but the Games was also notable for several ‘firsts’. Sarah Gourlay and Francis Whyte took Scotland’s first ever women’s title with gold in the Pairs, beating South Africa convincingly in the final after an incredibly close battle with England to top their group, while Robert Brand won the first ever Para-Sport title with victory in the VI Singles ahead of Robert Hubbard of Australia.
Richard Corsie took Men’s Singles gold after bronze at both Edinburgh 1986 and Auckland 1990, beating England’s reigning World Champion Tony Allcock in the final. Both Corsie and Allcock had topped their sections with nine wins and one loss before Corsie had the edge in the final 25-20 to take gold. Bronze for the Women’s Fours team of Dorothy Barr, Betty Forsyth, Elizabeth Dickson and Janice Maxwell made it a record tally of four medals.
Alex Marshall, competing at the first of his six Games to date, and Graham Robertson, competing in his final of three Games, took fourth place in their section in the Men’s Pairs, the same finishing position as Joyce Lindores in the Women’s Singles, while Gary Hood, Ian Laird, Willie Wood and Willie Hay just missed the Fours medals as they finished third in their group.
Glasgow 2014 – Golden Greens in Glasgow
At the iconic Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre, spectators were to bear witness to some of the most consistent and impressive bowling by Scotland in many a Games.
Alex Marshall and Paul Foster dominated Malaysia 20-3 with three ends to spare, to win Scotland’s record breaking 12th gold of the Glasgow Games with victory in the Men’s Pairs. The five-strong men’s bowling team went on to further success with Marshall and Foster adding a second gold in the Fours with teammates David Peacock and Neil Speirs beating England 16-8, whilst Darren Burnett controlled the Singles final beating Canada’s Ryan Bester, 21-9 to ensure they all went home with gold, as the action drew to a close at Kelvingrove.
The women’s team had contrasting fortunes. The Fours came close, but lost, 15-21 against New Zealand in the bronze medal match to finish a heart-breaking fourth. Scotland went out in the quarter-finals in both Singles and Triples, whilst the Pairs were unable to progress beyond the group stages.
Glasgow 2014 saw Scotland’s Para- Sport Lawn Bowlers compete in the Games for the first time since 2002. The Para-Sport bowlers were also on form and got the Lawn Bowls medal tally off the ground. Mixed Pairs B2/B3 competitors Robert Conway and Irene Edgar, together with their directors Ron McArthur and David Thomas, had to settle for silver after losing 14-10 to South Africa in the final while Scotland’s Para Open Triples B6/B7/B8 team of Billy Allan, Michael Simpson and Kevin Wallace narrowly missed out on the bronze medal to England.
The total of four medals (three gold and a silver), was double the Lawn Bowls pre-Games medal target and resulted in their most successful Games ever.
Gold Coast 2018 – Record Breakers
The competition got underway on day one of the Games at the Broadbeach Bowls Club, a world-class venue which is regular host to the Australian National Championships and a range of top level
international events. And it proved to be an incredible nine days for Scotland’s bowlers on the hard baked greens, with 10 of them returning home with medals as they steadily accumulated two gold, two silver and a bronze, to become the most successful nation of all-time in Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls.
There was a first ever medal for the Women’s Triples team, with Kay Moran, Stacey McDougall and Caroline Brown winning silver, and there was a bronze for Lesley Doig and Claire Johnston in the Women’s Pairs. Ronnie Duncan and Derek Oliver both made perfect Games debuts, being crowned double gold medallists. They won gold in the Men’s Triples, with 2014 Men’s Singles gold medallist Darren Burnett then in the Men’s Fours with Alex Marshall and Paul Foster.
Alex Marshall soon overcame the disappointment of losing out to Wales in the Pairs gold medal match, winning gold in the Fours to take his career tally to five gold and one silver and become Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete of all time, with teammate Paul Foster only just behind him with four gold and a silver, moving up to third.
Team Scotland also had entries in both para-sport Lawn Bowls events. Irene Edgar and her Director, David Thomas made a return to Team Scotland having won silver in Glasgow in the B2/B3 Mixed Pairs and teamed up this time around with Robert Barr, directed by Sarah Jane Ewing. They came agonisingly close to the medals, missing out 13-12 to Wales in the bronze medal match. In the B6/B7/B8 Open Triples, Michael Simpson was the sole returning member of the team that took fourth place in Glasgow and was joined by Mike Nicoll and Garry Brown. The trio finished fifth in the group stages, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.