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Moray athletes do Scotland proud at Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with two medals, powerful performances in cycling and triathlon and a big weekend in Alexander Stadium to follow


By Craig Christie

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Scotland's Commonwealth Games success has been backed by a huge effort from Moray's contingent of athletes - and there's more to come.

Ellie Stone. Team Scotland.
Ellie Stone. Team Scotland.

Former Forres Academy pupil Ellie Stone won silver in the B Tandem Sprint and bronze in the Tandem B 1000 metre time trial acting as pilot for visually impaired Aileen McGlynn.

The 21-year-old had hoped to compete as a solo cyclist, but only registered one of the two required qualifying times.

That led to her switching focus to tandem cycling alongside Paralympic champion McGlynn just 12 weeks before the Games.

Throughout all of that, though, Stone’s determination to succeed means she is leaving the velodrome with two medals.

Another former Forres Academy pupil, British champion cyclist Lauren Bell had a Commonwealth Games debut to remember after racing in four events.

Lauren Bell in the velodrome.
Lauren Bell in the velodrome.

The 23-year-old competed in the keirin, sprint, 500m time trial and women’s team sprint.

She helped Scotland get the Games under way at Lea Valley VeloPark last Friday with Iona Moir and Lusia Steele, posting the sixth fastest time in the team sprint to just miss out on a medal.

Another sixth place followed in the 500m time trial final where Bell was the quickest Scot in a pulsating final, finishing 0.72 seconds behind gold medal winner Kristina Clonan, from Australia.

Bell was third in her keirin heat and stormed through the next stage to reach the final where she finished 10th.

In the sprint, she lost to Canada’s Sarah Orban in the quarter finals.

Moray's triathletes did themselves, their families and Scotland proud with their performances in Birmingham.

Cameron Main and Sophia Green, both from Elgin, made their competitive Commonwealth debut in the men’s and women’s sprint triathlons.

Cameron Main and Sophia Green helped Scotland finish fifth in the Commonwealth Games mixed triathlon. Photo: Triathlon Scotland
Cameron Main and Sophia Green helped Scotland finish fifth in the Commonwealth Games mixed triathlon. Photo: Triathlon Scotland

The pair were 14th and 17th respectively in the sprints, then joined forces for Sunday’s mixed relay for a performance that came close to achieving a Commonwealth Games medal.

The Scotland quartet of Main, Green, Grant Sheldon and former Olympic 10,000 metre runner Beth Potter were in strong contention for a podium place, eventually finishing fifth.

Competing as the third athlete, Main held the silver medal position during stages of his cycle before the more experienced Welsh, Australian and New Zealand triathletes powered through, leaving Green to compete in the final leg and guide Scotland home to a rapturous ovation at the finish.

This weekend the attention turns to Burghead hammer thrower Mark Dry and Keith sprinter Rebecca Matheson.

Mark Dry on Facebook
Mark Dry on Facebook

Dry goes for a third consecutive Commonwealth Games medal in the hammer final tomorrow, while Matheson races in the 4x100m relay on Sunday.


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