Commonwealth Games: George Miller becomes oldest medallist as Scotland win bowls gold
- Published
Scotland win third bowls gold - with help of 75-year-old
2022 Commonwealth Games |
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Hosts: Birmingham Dates: 28 July to 8 August |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV with extra streams on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport mobile app; Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra; live text and clips online. |
George Miller, 75, says he "never dreamed of being here" after becoming the oldest Commonwealth Games gold medallist when Scotland beat Wales to win the B2/B3 mixed pairs bowls.
Miller is director for visually impaired bowler Melanie Innes who, along with Robert Barr and his director Sarah Jane Ewing, beat Wales 16-9.
He takes over as oldest medallist from compatriot Rosemary Lenton, 72, who won the Para women's pairs on Wednesday.
In the women's triples final, England beat Malaysia 17-9 in an exciting contest at Victoria Park.
Northern Ireland sealed their best-ever Games medal haul after the men's fours beat Wales 17-10 in the semi-finals to set up a final meeting with India.
After achieving his new Commonwealth accolade, Miller told BBC Sport he thought Lenton would be "quite pleased".
He added: "A year ago I never dreamed of being here. I got a phone call, and nearly fell off my chair to be honest. Here we are - where are we going to go from here?!
"Bowls is easier for older people - but any sport... walking football, rugby, you name it. Get out there and exercise, play games, compete. It's brilliant whatever age you are."
Welshman Gordon Llewellyn - who is also 75 but five months younger than Miller - had to settle for silver along with partner Julie Thomas.
Miller, who was born in November 1946, had already broken the record for the oldest Scot to compete at the Commonwealths.
Llewellyn was born in April 1947. He and his director John Wilson played with Thomas and her director Mark Adams.
Directors were awarded medals for the first time on the Gold Coast four years ago. Prior to that only the bowlers themselves were awarded them.
England triples success, Northern Ireland through to men's fours final
'Just incredible' - England beat Malaysia to win women's triple lawn bowls gold
Jamie Winch, Natalie Chestney and Sian Honnor of England beat Cook Islands 23-11 in the semi-finals to set up an intriguing tie with Malaysia in the women's triples event.
The trio have eight Commonwealth medals between them already and were aiming to add gold to their impressive haul.
Malaysia's Nur Ain Nabilah Tarmizi, Syafiqa Haidar Afif Abdul Rahman, Azlina Arshad were tightly matched with the host nation and found themselves with a 9-8 advantage at the 12th end.
But after a superb shot by skip Sian Honnor handed England a three-shot lead after 13 ends, the host nation began to apply more pressure and the gold medal was secured following Malaysian skip Arshad's failed strike in the 17th end.
In the men's fours semi-finals, England's Louis Ridout, Nick Brett, Jamie Chestney and Sam Tolchard lost out to India 13-12 in a see-saw tie and will now contest the bronze medal match on Saturday.
The Indian quartet sealed a place in the final with the last bowl of an almost two-and-a-half hour game.
They trailed the home nation by two points heading into the concluding end but skip Dinesh Kumar knocked the jack between three of his side's bowls for an incredible finish.
Northern Ireland's victory over fellow home nation Wales in the other last-four tie means they will leave Birmingham having stood on a minimum of 16 podiums.
Flagbearer Martin McHugh and Ian McClure - who won gold in 1994 and 1998 - along with Sam Barkley and Adam McKeown will tryto secure NI's second gold medal on Saturday.
Elsewhere on day eight
In the women's pairs, England's Sophie Tolchard and Amy Pharaoh will play Australia for gold on Saturday at 08:30 after beating New Zealand 19-12 in the semi-finals.
In the quarter-finals of the men's fours, Northern Ireland beat Scotland 18-15 in a thriller, meaning Scottish skip Alex 'Tattie' Marshall will not go clear of cyclist Neil Fachie as Scotland's most successful Games athlete.
The 54-year-old remains on five gold medals. England play India and Northern Ireland face Wales in the semi-finals from 16:30.
In the men's singles, Scotland's Iain McLean moved into the semi-finals with a 21-4 win over Canada's Ryan Bester.
Northern Ireland's Gary Kelly beat Jason Evans of South Africa 21-12.
However, England's Jamie Walker, a silver medallist in the men's pairs bowls competition in Birmingham, lost his quarter-final, 21-16 to Aaron Wilson of Australia.
Jersey's Ross Davis was beaten 21-12 by Fairul Izwan Abd Muin of Malaysia.
Gordon Llewellyn during the B2/B3 mixed pairs bowls final