...while Tattie is on a ROLL
ALEX MARSHALL has become Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games competitor but shrugged aside the description of ‘athlete’ as he basked in the glow of a fifth gold medal. ‘Tattie’ (pictured above) bagged his fifth title over four Games as he won the men’s fours in dramatic fashion alongside Ronnie Duncan, Derek Oliver and Paul Foster (inset, left to right). On a day when diver Grace Reid also made golden history and Scotland’s overall medal tally moved to 41, Marshall inched beyond former Olympic 100metres champion Allan Wells and para-cyclist Neil Fachie in terms of medals won. The 51-year-old, who won double gold in Glasgow 2014, and golds at Melbourne in 2006 and Manchester in 2002, said: ‘I can’t believe I’m standing here with five gold medals. More importantly, it’s another medal for Team Scotland. ‘The guys I’ve gone past at the top are real athletes. But we’re part of the same team. ‘To win five gold medals is a dream come true. When you think of some of the names up there, it’s incredible. We’ll have a few celebrations. ‘It’s going to be hard to get all five medals together because I’ve got them in frames in the house. Unless my wife wants to spend a bit more money, take them out of those frames and put them in a bigger one. She’ll probably do something like that, I would think.’ Marshall, who also won a silver medal in the men’s pairs earlier in these Games, said the team had been inspired partly by a desire to pay tribute to Foster’s father, Hugh, who passed away in January.
‘We wanted to win and dedicate the medal to Paul’s dad,’ he explained. ‘He’s been through a lot but it made him more determined to do what he’s done. It’s a special moment.’
Yet it all came close to disaster for the Scots against a determined home team in the final.
Marshall’s quartet had been trailing after Australia scored four shots in end two and three more in the next to lead 8-2. They closed to 12-11 down after 13 ends but Australia picked up a shot in the 14th end to go two clear.
Scotland had three bowls counting when Marshall sent their last bowl into the head, making it a large target for Aron Sherriff.
Thankfully for Marshall and Co, the Aussie’s attempted drive was wayward and the Scots team were celebrating a 15-13 victory.
Claire Johnston and Lesley Doig won a bronze in the women’s pairs, beating Canada 18-10 in the third-place match, while Scotland’s other medals on the day came in shooting and boxing.
Sinead McIntosh picked up a second medal of the Games, with a bronze in the 50 metre rifle three positions discipline.
Boxers Reece McFadden and John Docherty had to settle for bronze medals after losing their semifinals, which means Scotland haven’t won a gold in the ring for the first time since Manchester 2002.