Tait Takes Top Honours

ISSUE 7 SPRING 2007 Tait takes top honours Given the fantastic medal haul of 11 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, selecting the Scottish Sportsperson of the Year, was always going to be a difficult choice. More than 400 people, including team members past and present, attended the 2006 Commonwealth Games Annual Gregor Tait receives the Emirates Londsale Trophy from Denise Holmes, Sales Manager, Emirates Airlines and Louise Martin Awards Dinner sponsored by the Glasgow 2014 Bid with support from Clydesdale British record holder across the range of Announcing the winners, Louise Martin Bank and Scotlandistheplace.com. backstroke events, Gregor has returned CBE, Chairman of the Commonwealth Everyone was keen to re-live the Scottish to Scotland to train with Fred Vergnoux Games Council for Scotland said: “2006 Team’s best all time performance at City of Edinburgh to focus on the was an outstanding and memorable year in Melbourne and at the same Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. for Scotland’s Commonwealth Games time enjoy the contemplation of a Team and it was a privilege to be in possible home Games in In second place was cyclist Melbourne to share in the success and to Glasgow in 2014. Craig MacLean who had see so many first class ambassadors for an exceptional 2006. Scotland and Scottish sport. Indeed it was With the swimmers’ Craig not only led the fitting that in our 75th Anniversary year domination in the pool it sprint team to victory the Scottish Team should have its most was Gregor Tait, top athlete at the Commonwealth successful Games ever. of the Games winning gold in the 200m Games in Melbourne in March this backstroke and 200m individual medley year, but he followed this up with an “This year we were spoilt for choice and bronze in both the 100m backstroke outstanding individual performance at when it came to selecting a winner of and medley relay who was named the the World Championships in France less the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy. But I am Scottish Sportsperson of the Year and than a month later. There, he took silver sure that you will agree that the way our awarded the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy. in the individual sprint, beaten only by the swimmers dominated in the pool, winning reigning Olympic Champion. Known as a 12 medals including 6 gold, that Gregor Gregor has established himself as a loyal and committed team player, Craig Tait with his four medals is indeed our backstroke specialist over a number of has won no less than one Olympic, two worthy winner for 2005/6.” years, including winning a silver medal Commonwealth and seven World titles, in the 200m backstroke at the 2002 nine in team events. Also taking part in the celebrations were Commonwealth the delegates of the European Group of Games, and Taking third spot was double the Commonwealth Games Federation, making the Commonwealth gold medallist shooter visiting Glasgow to tour the facilities and final of the Sheena Sharp, for her individual and pairs hear about Glasgow’s exciting plans to same event medals in the 50m rifle prone, improving host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. at the 2004 on her silver medal in the pairs event in Olympic Games. 2002. With a 100% record in her events, Scottish and former Sheena has become the most successful Scottish woman ever at a single Previous winner: Chris Hoy Commonwealth Games, alongside swimmer Caitlin 2003/04/05 McClatchey. THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES COUNCIL FOR SCOTLAND NEWSLETTER 1931- 2006 Scotland is one of only six countries to have competed in each of the 18 Commonwealth Scotland celebrates 75 years of Games held to date. Over the years we have seen some truly heroic Scottish performances and below Commonwealth Games history we have selected just a few of the highlights. Scotland has a strong tradition when it comes to the Commonwealth Games and 2006 saw the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland celebrate the Hamilton: Dunky Wright, 75th anniversary of its formation on 30 April 1931. 1930 Marathon, Gold Originally named the Scottish National with over 6000 athletes and officials London: Edward B Melrose, Sports Federation, this preceded the competing in 16 sports. Scotland was 1934 Wrestling, Gold formation, by one year, of the British represented by 240 athletes and officials. 1938 Sydney: James Watson, Empire Games Federation, now the Boxing, Silver Commonwealth Games Federation. As In the 18 Games held to date, Scotland Auckland: Peter Heatly, Diving, the Games themselves have changed has won 330 medals. The first gold medal 1950 1 Gold, 1 Silver from ‘British Empire Games’ to ‘British was won at the first Games by Dunky Vancouver: Helen O Gordon, Empire and Commonwealth Games’ Wright in the marathon and a further 81 1954 Swimming, 2 Gold to ‘British Commonwealth Games’ to gold have now been won, the last being ‘Commonwealth Games’, so has the claimed by light heavyweight boxer Cardiff: Dick McTaggart, 1958 Boxing, Gold Scottish body reflected the changing Kenny Anderson in Melbourne. Indeed, Commonwealth and wider sporting boxing is the only sport to have won at 1962 Perth: Philip M Caira, community. In 2001 Jon Doig was least one medal at every Games. Weightlifting, Gold appointed as the organisation’s first 1966 Kingston: James Alder, professional full-time chief executive The full roll call of Games medallists Athletics, 1 Gold, 1 Bronze and a move to a company limited by has included some of Scotland’s most Edinburgh: Lachie Stewart, guarantee earlier this year became the recognised sportsmen and women. Their 1970 Athletics, Gold latest development. achievements have provided many of Scotland’s greatest sporting moments Christchurch: David Wilkie, 1974 Swimming, 2 Gold, 1 Silver Since 1930, the Games have remained and feelings of national pride as the the only multi-sport Games that Scotland Saltire has been raised and the national Edmonton: Allan Wells, competes in as a nation in its own right, anthem played. In 1958 even the anthem 1978 Athletics, 2 Gold, 1 Silver an important focal point for our athletes, changed from ‘Scots Wha Hae’ to the 1982 Brisbane: Willie Wood, Lawn sports governing bodies and the Scottish current choice of ‘Scotland the Brave’. Bowls, Gold public. This in itself has been the subject of Edinburgh: Dan Travers & Billy much debate over recent times. 1986 Gilliland, Badminton, Gold At the first Games in 1930, 400 athletes Auckland: Liz McColgan, from eleven countries (Australia, British 75 years has seen a lot of other 1990 Athletics, 1 Gold, 1 Bronze Guiana, Canada, England, Ireland, developments. The first Games in Newfoundland, New Zealand, Scotland, Canada saw the team travel by sea. In Victoria: Shirley McIntosh, South Africa and Wales) took part in just 1950 the boat trip to Auckland saw the 1994 Shooting, 1 Gold, 1 Silver seven sports. The first Scottish team team away for 113 days and included an 1998 Kuala Lumpur: Alex Arthur, comprised 15 competitors and three exhibition tour of many of New Zealand’s Boxing, Gold officials. Contrast this with the 2006 small towns and cities. The practice of Manchester: Chris Hoy, Commonwealth Games in Melbourne travelling by boat came to an end with 2002 Cycling, 1 Gold, 1 Bronze which took in 71 countries and territories, the 1954 Vancouver Games. Contrast this Melbourne: Gregor Tait, 2006 Swimming, 2 Gold, 2 Bronze As an athlete, official or spectator no doubt you will all have your own views - email [email protected] and let us know your favourites! 2 with the 24 hour Emirates flights direct from Glasgow to Australia reflecting how much the globe has shrunk. COMMONWEALTH Fashions have also evolved. Hats, gloves GAMES and even blazers are no longer seen as FACTS essential items for current athletes, being replaced by the ever fashionable kilts. Whilst there have been technological MOST GOLD MEDALS MOST MEDALS developments in everything from sports science and sports medicine support, to Sprinter Allan Wells has won Shooter Alister Allan has won media coverage and equipment design, the most gold medals for the most ever medals for some things are cyclical. The 1930 Scotland winning four gold Scotland totalling 10 from five requirement for swimming costumes to show two inches of trouser leg and out of his six medals. Games. have two buttons on the shoulder have been dropped, although the current full length swimming ‘fast skins’ have shown an inadvertent return to early modesty! In 1930 Ellen King’s swimming costume even doubled up as athletics kit, as Dunky Wright is reported to have won Swimming is the gold in her ‘still damp’ costume, it being most successful sport identified as the ‘coolest thing he could in a single Games find to run in’. winning 12 medals in Melbourne. This brings In the millennium, Scotland introduced the sport’s total medal the concept of the Commonwealth Youth haul to 67 including 17 Games and following the successful gold making them the inaugural event in Edinburgh, this has most successful sport now become an established part of the of all time. international sporting calendar, held in TOP SPORT Bendigo, Australia in 2004 and destined for Pune, India in 2008. Keen to remain at the forefront of BEST GAMES TEAM’S MOST innovation in Commonwealth sport, 2006 saw Scotland host the first ever Scotland’s most successful MEDALS Commonwealth Sports Development Games was in Melbourne Conference attracting 150 delegates from 2006 winning 29 medals Scotland’s highest medal across the 71 member nations including tally at any Games was in Fiji, South Africa, Malta, Jamaica, including 11 gold, to finish 6th in the overall medal table. Edinburgh in 1986 winning 33 India, Australia and Canada.

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