Scotland Celebrate First Gold Medal

The Commonwealth Games host nation has celebrated its first gold medal after a win from judo star Kimberley Renicks.

She took gold for Scotland in the women's under-48kgs final with victory over India's Sushila Likmabam in the event at the SECC.

Her win came soon after Scotland celebrated its first medal when Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston won silver in para-cycling.

The pair came second in the women's sprint B2 tandem at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The race was won by Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott, who picked up England's first Commonwealth Games track gold after beating the Scottish pair 2-0 in a best-of-three final.

One of Great Britain's most successful Paralympians, McGlynn has brought home medals from the past three Paralympic Games.

The cyclist, who has a visual impairment, won a gold medal at Athens in 2004, and two golds at Beijing in 2008.

At London 2012, she competed with new tandem pilot Helen Scott. They won silver in the B 1km Time Trial and bronze in the B Pursuit.

In 2009 she was awarded an OBE for services to disability sport.

Mike Whittingham, director of high performance at the sportscotland institute of sport, said: "I am delighted that Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston have secured Team Scotland's first medals at these Games. It is an excellent start to what promises to be the best ever Games for Team Scotland.

"I am also very proud that Louise came through sportscotland's Gold4Glasgow programme, aimed at identifying individuals with the talent and commitment to represent Scotland in Glasgow.

"Our faith has been justified and Aileen and Louise have done Scotland proud by winning silver.''

Louise Martin, chairwoman of sportscotland, said: "What an amazing achievement for Kimberley Renicks. We're all absolutely delighted that she will go down in history for being the first Scot to win gold at the Glasgow Games.

"It has been a terrific start for Team Scotland and our vocal, home crowd can help inspire the team to a record medal haul.''

There was soon more success for Scotland when Kimberley's sister Louise Renicks won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo's -52kg class.

In the pool Scotland's Hannah Miley won the gold medal ahead of England's Aimee Willmott in the women's 400m individual medley at Glasgow 2014.

It meant the 24-year-old Scot successfully retained the title she won in Delhi in 2010, while for Middlesbrough's Willmott a silver medal represents a best career return.

Kimberley Renicks said: ''It is absolutely brilliant. It is what I had been hoping for and what I have wanted for the last two years.

''The crowd have been behind all of us and it has been a great start to the Commonwealth Games.

''I could not have done it without Team Scotland and Judo Scotland, all of the fans, the family who have supported me all the way.

''If they had not put the effort in to get me to all of these places, I would not have been here today.''

She added: ''It has been really tough, because I was against girls I had never fought before, so you don't know how they are going to be.

''In judo you can win in the first 10 seconds or last four minutes, and I happened to win my fights pretty fast, which was good.''

Louise Renicks said of her victory: ''I have always believed I could get this medal, now I have got it, my job is done, and I am feeling brilliant, really proud of myself.

''I watched a bit of my sister's fight, where she won and then got her medal, but I had to keep myself focused.

''My mum and dad are here, and it is a really emotional moment, I was a bit upset when I came off the mat.

''I heard the Brownlee brothers won for England tonight, so now it is two families who can celebrate.

''I feel really proud with us getting the first gold medals for Scotland and there is much more to come.''

Speaking after her race Miley said: "I'm absolutely knackered. I don't need a swim down because I feel quite light-headed at the moment, I've got so much lactic acid building up,'' she said.

"Oh my God, that was just incredible. I literally couldn't feel my legs for the last 50 so, when I touched the wall, I was hoping and praying that I could go fast.''

There was more medal success for Scotland in the judo hall with Stephanie Inglis taking silver in the under 57kg category while Glasgow fighter Connie Ramsay secured bronze.

John Buchanan won bronze in the men's under 60kg category while James Millar took bronze in the under 66kg competition.