Commonwealth Games: Hampden roars Clegg to gold

Libby Clegg celebrates her victory last night with her running guide Mikail Huggins. Picture: Greg Macvean

The visually-impaired athlete and guide Mikail Huggins, who together won Olympic silver at London 2012, crossed the line in 12.20 seconds to emphatically claim the title. The 24-year-old was out of the blocks far quicker than her three opponents and pulled away to win by more than a second to the delight of a raucous full house. She said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic to compete here. We won and we’re happy. It’s been amazing in here tonight and the crowd have been brilliant. We’ve had so much support along the way, all our fans watching, it’s been brilliant, just amazing.

“I didn’t really feel the pressure too much, but it is a bit daunting when everyone expects you to win and the pressure [is there].”

Clegg’s victory was a 13th of the Commonwealth Games for Scotland – two more than their previous highest number of golds set in Melbourne 2006.

Scotland’s record haul of gold medals was surpassed earlier in the day in emphatic fashion at Kelvingrove by bowlers Alex “Tattie” Marshall and Paul Foster, who coasted to victory against their Malaysian counterparts 20-3 in the Pairs final.

Veteran Marshall, who had been the hero 24 hours earlier with match-winning bowls against England in a thrilling semi-final, said: “I’ve won two golds at the Commonwealths before but this one tops the lot. Playing in your own back yard, in Scotland, in front of your own fans, you just can’t beat it. It’s simply the best.”

He also lavished praise on Foster, adding: “We got off to a good start and Paul was phenomenal from start to finish. It’s great to win the third gold medal and especially when it’s in Scotland. Definitely the highlight of my career and Team Scotland have broken another record, that’s the 12th gold they have won.”

Foster agreed: “I didn’t think anything would beat 2006 when I won the gold with Alex in the Pairs, but this tops everything. To win a gold medal on your home soil is phenomenal.”

Jen McIntosh later took bronze in the women’s 50m Rifle Prone shooting at Barry Buddon, near Dundee, her fourth Commonwealth medal, equalling the tally set by her mother Shirley, who enjoyed a prolific rifle career in the 1980s and ’90s.