Nick Kyrgios has continued his preparation for the last grand slam of the year with a strong win over Tommy Paul at the Washington Open on Thursday (AEST).
The Australian was challenged in just his second singles match since Wimbledon and had to play his best tennis to defeat Paul 6-3 6-4.
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Kyrgios was locked in, firing off 15 aces including one rocket at 218km/h.
He was superb in the clutch moments — saving all four break points he faced and converting three out of four of his own break point opportunities.
Kyrgios was up to his usual antics when he got stuck into the umpire after he was given a code violation for ball abuse.
But the Washington crowd was in his corner and he showed his soft side in the first set, when an elderly fan was hit in the face by a ball that took a wayward bounce into the stands.
Kyrgios went over and handed the spectator one of his towels.
He is chasing his second title in Washington and will next face fourth0seed Reilly Opelka in the round of 16 on Friday.
After pulling out of the singles draw at the Atlanta Open last week with a knee injury, Kyrgios has shown impressive form in his two matches in Washington against Marcos Giron and Paul.
Nick Kyrgios was at his best against Tommy Paul. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
He needed just 59 minutes to beat Giron in straight sets and was his usual entertaining self, engaging with the crowd.
He won the doubles title in Atlanta playing alongside fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis and is a favorite to win the title in Washington ahead of the US Open, which begins later this month.
It wasn’t such good news elsewhere among the Australian contingent in Washington, with Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur losing to Taylor Fritz and Yoshihito Nishioka, respectively.
Australia’s Daria Saville upset top-seeded defending champion Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday at the Washington Open.
World No. 88 Saville ripped the seventh-ranked American in hot and humid conditions while Romanian third seed Simona Halep retired with illness down 7-5 2-0 to Anna Kalinskaya.
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“I stayed really composed,” Saville said.
“I managed the energy really well. It was very hot. But I thought it’s hot for everyone so get on with it.”
Saville booked a quarterfinal match against Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino, who beat Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-3 3-6 6-1.
The 28-year-old Russian-born Aussie won her only WTA title at the 2017 Connecticut Open but dispatched Pegula in 98 minutes for her second top-10 win of the year after downing Ons Jabeur at Indian Wells in March.
“Everyone’s attitude is I’m here to win the tournament and I’m no different,” Saville said. “I’m playing really good tennis right now. I’m excited for more.”
Saville fell to 627th in the world rankings after Achilles tendon surgery that sidelined her for most of last year.
Now she is into her third quarter-final of the year after Miami and Guadalajara.
“I’m happy,” Saville said.
“It creates good reputation. Players are going to say, ‘she’s playing well. She has some good wins this year’.
On the men’s side of the draw, Nick Kyrgios defeated Tommy Paul in straight sets to move into the round of 16 and continue his strong form ahead of the US Open.
It wasn’t such good news elsewhere among the Australian contingent in Washington, with Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur losing to Taylor Fritz and Yoshihito Nishioka, respectively.
The former fiancee of Michael Lichaa has refused to show up to court and give evidence – because she is pregnant – as the ex-NRL star fights domestic violence allegations.
The former Cronulla and Canterbury hooker has denied assaulting his former partner Kara Childerhouse during a heated late-night incident in February last year.
The conclusion of the matter was due to be heard at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday and Friday.
Police allege Mr Lichaa, 29, was involved in an argument that prompted concerned neighbors to call police to his Connells Point home in southern Sydney.
The court was told that the incident occurred after Mr Lichaa caught Ms Childerhouse cheating on him with his best mate and former teammate Adam Elliott.
The court was due to hear evidence from Mr Elliott on Thursday.
However, the police prosecution applied for an adjournment after tending to a doctor’s note saying that Ms Childerhouse was pregnant and she claimed she was unfit to give evidence until October 31.
Hours later the court was told that Ms Childerhouse’s mother had arrived at Sutherland Court House and told police that Ms Childerhouse did not want to relive the “trauma” and was worried about the stress of having to give evidence having already twice been in the witness box. .
Ms Childerhouse was in the middle of cross-examination when she failed to show up to court on Thursday.
The prosecution conceded that there was no guarantee that she would show up to court if the hearing – which has already dragged on for nearly nine months – was further pushed back.
“I’ve not heard any information which provides me with any confidence that Ms Childerhouse is likely to attend if granted an adjournment,” magistrate Melissa Humphreys said.
“It would appear Ms Childerhouse no longer wishes to participate in the proceedings.”
Police had attempted to contact her by phone and email and knocked on her door on Thursday; however, she did not respond, the court was told.
Ms Childerhouse has previously given part of her evidence in closed court. Defense barrister James Trevallion applied for all of her testimony from her to be struck out because he had not been able to cross-examine her on key issues.
Ms Childerhouse had claimed that during the incident that Mr Lichaa pushed her, causing her to hit her head against a wall, the court was previously told.
Mr Lichaa has pleaded not guilty to common assault and stalking/intimidate causing fear of physical harm.
He pleaded guilty to the less serious charge of destroying property.
Earlier, Ms Humphreys ruled that a statement given by Ms Childerhouse, in which she retracted the allegations, would be admitted into evidence.
The hearing has now stretched on since late last year – day one of the trial was held in early November last year before it returned to court in March.
The proceedings have so far been concerned with legal arguments about the admissibility of Ms Childerhouse’s statutory declaration in which she said she did not want an AVO taken out on her behalf.
The police prosecution has asked Ms Humphreys to rule it inadmissible after Ms Childerhouse claimed that she was pressured into making it by Mr Lichaa, his parents and solicitor.
However, Ms Humphreys said she could make no finding of impropriety and said it would be included.
Had you merely cast your eyes over the day’s racing results without watching a kilometre of live coverage, you may have thought upon seeing yet another Jumbo-Visma podium lockout that the Dutch team were simply continuing their run of domination this season at the Vuelta a Burgos .
However, this 1-2-3 was more the result of a horrible crash with 500m to go at the end of stage 2.
David Dekker, fourth in line of the Jumbo-Visma train and the rider the Dutch team were trying to set up for the stage win, fell as the bunch hit a speed bump with the tempo ratcheted up to warp speed as the finish line neared. His fall from him precipitated a mass pile-up behind, so big that the three Jumbo-Visma lead-out men ahead were clear to take the stage win.
Timo Roosen led Edoardo Affini across the line with Chris Harper third.
“It was really hectic already, and we took the front, Affini just pulled full gas and it was an all-out effort,” Timo Roosen said after the finish. “There was some speed bump out of nowhere, I didn’t really see it. I heard something behind me, but I didn’t know what happened. I looked behind me, and I thought it was David, and then I heard he had crashed. I went to the final corner at 250m and just sprinted to the line. Because of the crash, I was there, and I could win.”
Roosen was nevertheless happy with his fourth professional win, despite the circumstances leaving a bit of a sour taste.
“It’s a nice one to have on the palmares, but I hope to have it a different way,” he said. “I heard it was a big crash, I didn’t see anything. It’s not the most beautiful way to win a race.”
“I can say I got my birthday present today,” Matteo Trentin added. “I have no idea how I avoided the crash. Hope all the guys involved are OK! What a mess.”
Bahrain-Victorious’ Santiago Buitrago leads the race with three stages still to come, holding a three-second advantage over Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education EasyPost), Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers).
Will Ashcroft, the son of a triple premiership Lions great and the best player in this year’s AFL draft pool according to many scouts, will join the Brisbane Lions next year.
The Lions on Thursday confirmed they had formally agreed to join the club as a father-son selection at this year’s national draft after officially nominating Brisbane as his preferred destination earlier in the day.
It means Brisbane now gets the opportunity to match a rival club bid on Ashcroft, who’s widely regarded as the Pick 1 favorite for November’s draft.
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One recruiter told foxfooty.com.au Ashcroft “could play AFL this week” as he was on a “different level” to most of this year’s draft class.
Ashcroft’s father is Marcus Ashcroft, who played 318 games with the Lions and was part of the club’s famous three-peat premiership from 2001 to 2003.
He trained with the Lions’ AFL list last summer then played two games with the club’s VFL team in early May. He starred, of course, for the Lions against both Sydney and Coburg, averaging 28 disposals, eight tackles, six inside 50s and five clearances across the two matches.
Will Ashcroft of Vic Metro. Picture: Dylan BurnsSource: Getty Images
Ashcroft has impressed at every level he’s played so far this year, including in the recent AFL Under 18 National Championships. He booted two goals and averaged 33.3 disposals, 15.0 contested possessions, 10.0 clearances, 6.7 tackles and 6.7 inside 50s from his three Vic Metro matches.
The 18-year-old is the hot favorite to claim this year’s Larke Medal – the award given to the best player of the annual carnival — when it’s awarded next month. Recent winners of the honor include Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield, Dom Sheed, Jack Graham and Sam Walsh – the latter, of which, Ashcroft has been compared to for his elite on-field consistency and leadership, as well as his off-field professionalism of the.
“I can’t wait to join the club and start earning the respect of all the players and coaching staff,” Will Ashcroft said.
“I was lucky enough to do some work with the midfielders last pre-season and I am really looking forward to learning from them and hopefully breaking into that group and seeing what we can become.
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“To be following after dad is a privilege and if I can achieve half of what he did then I would be happy. I am also looking forward to forging my own name.
“I’d like to say a big thanks to Leon Harris (Lions recruiter) he has done heaps of work over the years to support me. And also a huge thanks to my parents and brother and sister for all they have done.”
Lions football boss Danny Daly said it’ll be exciting to see Ashcroft follow in his father’s footsteps.
“Will is one of the most talented young players in the country and to have him choose the Brisbane Lions to start his AFL career is a huge moment for all involved,” Daly said.
Will Ashcroft of the Sandringham Dragons. Picture: Morgan HancockSource: Getty Images
“He has impressed at every level he has played at this year, and like our members, we cannot wait for him to pull on a Brisbane Lions jumper.”
Possibly complicating matters, in a positive way, for the Lions is they have another father-son prospect in first-round calculations, with Jaspa Fletcher – the son of Adrian Fletcher who played 231 games for four clubs including 107 for Brisbane – rising up draft boards following an three strong carnival games for the Allies.
It means the Lions could spend most of this year’s trade period banking selections to match rival club bids on Ashcroft and, possibly, Fletcher. As of July 26, the Lions held Picks 16, 34, 44 (via Port Adelaide) and 70 in the draft, but will need more picks in their arsenal to secure Ashcroft if his name is called at Pick 1.
Ashcroft’s main competitor for the Pick 1 mantle is seen as George Wardlaw – a powerful, competitive and combative inside midfielder that models his game on Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver.
For centuries, nay millennia, people have been obsessed with finding the fountain of youth. Rich mythology from the times of Alexander the Great and the legends of Greek history onwards have spoken about the quest for eternal youth.
Conquistador Juan Ponce de León was said to have been searching for the fabled fountain in the 16th century when he met his untimely demise in Florida, becoming an early example of “Florida Man”.
Perhaps Ponce de León would have been better off searching in and around Seymour: That’s where David Mundy hails from. Despite the endless march of the clock, Mundy seems to get better each year.
On Monday, Mundy called time on his illustrious and lengthy career. Since 2005, Mundy has been a rock for the tribe in purple, a constant force.
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His journey is unique, aging like a portrait of Dorian Gray and following a path that few, if any, players had forged before.
Blue Mundy
Mundy’s place as one of the competition’s best midfielders in the 2020s would have been utterly inconceivable in late 2004. Back then, Mundy was a talented junior player plying his trade for a talented Murray Bushrangers’ side, as well as for Vic Country.
David Mundy started his career with the Dockers in 2005 in defense.(Getty Images: Adam Pretty)
But Mundy wasn’t playing through the middle, instead playing as a full-back.
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A surplus of talented midfielders for the Bushrangers led the coaches to call for volunteers to play down back. The selfless Mundy volunteered for the new role, and he thrived in it.
Mundy started his career in defense, with his first AFL season ending with third place on the Rising Star list.
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But Mundy’s future was in the middle, a move that has paid dividends. His years in defense improved his ability to read the flight and bounce of the ball. Mundy is able to snatch the ball from the grasp of opponents at will.
His teammates — such as longtime teammate Michael Walters — attribute his ongoing ability to his footy IQ.
“He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with. He knows his way around the footy field which obviously gives him the longevity,” Walters said last year.
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On the field Mundy shapes as the hardest worker out there, often jumping and reacting before others can get a jump on the play. It’s perhaps why his game has aged so well, reliant less on speed than smarts.
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That’s not to discount his athletic abilities. One of the reasons that Mundy was a credible, tall defender was his sheer size and strength. At 193cm and 93kgs, Mundy was arguably one of the first of the current wave of “big bodied midfielders”, paving the way for Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli and Christian Petracca.
David Mundy’s disposal locations in 2022.(Supplied: Cody Atkinson and Sean Lawson)
Few can win the ball on the inside then drill the perfect ball down the throat of a leading forward. Mundy is able to release the ball to teammates via pinpoint handballs or shred opposition defenses via foot, with his disposal skills getting sharper over time.
He’s also got a knack of impacting the game when it matters.
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Mundy stands almost alone for how his game has aged and improved over time. His 20 Brownlow Medal votes last year was the most of his career, and the most for a player over 34 years of age since 1985.
help the aged
Major milestones have become a regular occurrence for footy fans in recent years. Of the 98 players to play in at least 300 games, 63 have played in the 2000s.
In the past three years, the 10 “oldest” sides in VFL/AFL history have all been fielded by the ladder-leading Geelong.
The rules about player age and performance are being rewritten on a yearly basis, with improved fitness regimes and sports science programs as a contributing factor.
However, the long hangover from the Coulter Law — instituted in 1930’s VFL, capping payments and outlawing sign-on bonuses and other inducements — and lessons learned from it, might have finally eased on selection panels and recruiting departments across the league.
In the last round of the 1947 season, Melbourne spearhead Fred Fanning walked off the field triumphantly after kicking 18 goals in an afternoon of footy.
Despite the Fuchsias missing the finals by a game, Melbourne had real hope for the future, led by their 25-year-old goal master.
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However, it would be Fanning’s last game in the red and blue. Fanning received an offer for at least three times more money to play and coach in his wife’s home town of Hamilton. Fanning led his new club to a premiership immediately and kicked bags of goals for years to come.
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Fanning was far from the only player to leave the VFL in their prime. Peter Box is the only Bulldog to win a Brownlow Medal and a Premiership and was just 25 years old when he played his last VFL game. Box left for more money in towns like Goreng Goreng and Narrandera, where he dominated the competition.
The Coulter Law, in existence from 1930 to 1970, limited players to a meager wage, three pounds, for much of the time. Players would often build a platform in the VFL, before chasing proper professionalism in the VFA or lower leagues.
That law chased older and successful players out of the game, and gave clubs with good commercial contacts a huge edge.
Many of the long-term stars of the era were appointed as player-coaches — who were exempt from the law, such as Ted Whitten and Dick Reynolds — to keep them at their clubs.
The hangover from the Coulter Law took decades to overcome, alongside expansion of the competition. Recent studies have pointed to the effectiveness of players in their 30s on the field, with availability and health a bigger concern than loss of skill.
In the future, greater retention of older players — as Geelong has experienced with — might be the standard.
The Happy Mundys
When asked what he wants to accomplish before retirement, Mundy’s answer was simple: six more wins.
That would see the men in Purple hoist their first Premiership trophy aloft, going one better than their near miss in 2013.
In that game, Mundy was perhaps Fremantle’s best, nearly turning the match the Dockers’ way. Just three players remain from that Grand Final team, with Mundy, Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters still among the Dockers most important players when firing.
Few players get to go out with a Premiership win in their last game at AFL level, but Mundy’s career has followed the unbeaten path. For Freo to taste the ultimate success, Mundy will likely have to dive into the fountain of youth one last time.
A week after calls were made to unify Australian motorsport, the ownership group behind Supercars has revealed that may soon come to fruition.
Supercars is owned by a consortium dubbed Racing Australia Consolidated Enterprises Ltd (RACE) which is made up of three main parties – QMS Media APAC CEO Barclay Nettlefold, investment advisory firm Henslow, and promoter the Australian Racing Group (ARG).
On Wednesday, it emerged ARG had sold part of its shareholding in RACE, prompting a response from RACE chairman Nettlefold.
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The ARG-run Bathurst International and Supercar-operated Bathurst 1000 joined forces for a rare combined event in 2021 (Supplied)
In it, I have detailed the possibility of buying ARG outright.
In the statement, Nettlefold said the promoter did not have shares in RACE – despite its confirmation last year specifically mentioning ARG among the ownership group – rather, the shares belonged to individuals who were part of ARG.
Although Nettlefold stopped short of naming them, it has been reported the shares were owned by property developer Brian Boyd of PAYCE, who is a co-founder of ARG.
ARG owned roughly 30 per cent of RACE prior to the sale, which is understood to have been to existing shareholders Henslow.
Garry Rogers Motorsport co-owner Barry Rogers owns the remaining ARG portion of the pie.
“In the normal course of business shareholders buy and sell shares,” Nettlefold said in a statement.
“I wish to note ARG as an entity does not have a corporate holding in RACE, however individual shareholders that may be regarded as related parties of ARG do hold shares.
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The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series is into its third season (Supplied)
“A recent sale has been completed and the purchase of those shares has allowed for further consolidation in the shareholding of RACE.
“Regarding the potential sale of ARG to RACE as part of the initial RACE whole of sport strategy which is well documented, management and directors of Supercars and RACE continue to work through due diligence items in relation to a potential transaction and expect to finalize any recommendation this month.”
ARG had initially sought to buy the Supercars business on its own but consolidated its effort with Nettlefold and Henslow to form RACE.
RACE bought Supercars last year from Archer Capital and the existing teams.
In an interview with Wide World of Sports, Rogers said he had been disillusioned by the ownership group that he said had made false promises.
Rogers had been told there would be a greater presence of ARG categories at Supercars-run events.
A bumper 29-car Trans Am grid will take to Queensland Raceway (Supplied)
However, that has not been the case. In the interview, Rogers threatened to abandon the ownership group if attitudes did not change.
Soon, RACE could end up owning ARG with a decision to be made by the end of August.
ARG owns several properties including the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, S5000, Turtle Wax Trans Am Series, Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters, Australian V8 Touring Car Series (as Dunlop Super3 Series) and Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS.
It also promotes two events at Mount Panorama, the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour and Supercheap Auto Bathurst International as well as AWC Race Tasmania at Symmons Plains.
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EXCLUSIVE: Alligator Blood banned from Victorian spring carnival
Alligator Blood has been banned from racing in the Victorian spring carnival. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside Photography
Headline horse Alligator Blood has been sensationally banned from racing in the Victorian spring carnival.
In a bombshell development, News Corp can exclusively reveal the two-time Group 1 winner has been barred by Victorian integrity officials.
Victoria has followed the NSW lead in banning Alligator Blood from racing, due to owner Allan Endresz’s undischarged bankruptcy status.
“In relation to horses where you hold a majority interest: Stewards will not allow any horse in which you hold a majority share to race in Victoria until: (a) you annul your bankruptcy; and (b) resolve the ownership ascertainment issue to the Stewards’ reasonable satisfaction,” a letter from RV deputy chief steward Rob Montgomery to Endresz reads.
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“For the avoidance of doubt, the prohibition outlined in this section 2 includes the following horses: Alligator Blood and American Pioneer.”
Endresz said he may seek an immediate legal injunction over the matter – he will be on a hook-up with his legal team on Friday.
“We could seek an injunction or appeal the decision to try to keep Alligator Blood going,” Endresz said.
“I could also put an application in that converts 60 per cent of the ownership over to the other owners.
“But then they (integrity officials) say they might need to do due diligence on the finances of the other owners, that’s absurd.
“It’s distressing for Alligator Blood’s fans they have taken this hard-nosed approach, this was a specific rule introduced for me, there is no doubt about that.
“They (Racing Victoria) allowed Alligator Blood’s Cox Plate nomination and now they have done this today.”
Alligator Blood winning the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Grant Peters–Trackside Photography
In terms of banning Alligator Blood, Racing Victoria told Endresz “any future ownership application to amend your interest in the racing ownership of the named horses will be subject to stewards review and approval.”
Horses in which Endresz owns a minority interest may be allowed to race in Victoria, subject to stewards’ discretion.
Alligator Blood, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, was set to be a huge Victorian spring carnival drawcard.
He secured a famous and emotional win in the Stradbroke Handicap, giving Waterhouse her first Stradbroke win and her 150th Group 1 triumph.
Endresz’s wife – terminally ill Joy – was on death’s door when Alligator Blood won the Stradbroke and she passed away the following day but not before waking up and asking if the horse had won.
Bott said he would work with Victorian authorities to try to understand the decision, but rich Hong Kong races in December loomed as one potential option.
As it stands, Alligator Blood can still race in Queensland so there is also the option of the rich Magic Millions day on the Gold Coast in January.
“Where can we race? If it is Magic Millions we will look at that, or if it is an international campaign we will look at that,” Bott said.
Earlier on Thursday, before News Corp broke news Alligator Blood had been banned from the Victorian spring, Endresz also revealed he had nominated the star horse for the Japan Cup in November.
News Corp sighted a letter from Japanese racing officials about the matter.
“We recognize that Alligator Blood is one of the great horses in Australia,” a representative from the Japan Racing Association writes to Endresz.
“The nomination for the Japan Cup will close on 4 October. The JRA Selection Committee will be held as soon as possible after closing.
“We wish Alligator Blood continued success at the spring carnival.”
Allan Endresz with wife Joy, who passed away the day after Alligator Blood won the Stradbroke. Picture: Twitter/Facebook
It is a bold and unorthodox move to even consider as the Japan Cup is run over 2400m and Alligator Blood has never stretched out beyond 1600m.
“They said they were setting Better Loosen Up a task when he won the Japan Cup (in 1990) and this horse (Alligator Blood) has already proven the doubters wrong,” Endresz said.
Alligator Blood headed north from NSW to race in the Queensland winter carnival after Racing Queensland did not follow the NSW decision to ban Endresz-owned horses from racing.
With Alligator Blood banned from racing in Victoria, it has left the headline horse in no man’s land, unable to race in either of Australia’s biggest racing states.
On Thursday morning, the TAB fixed odds market had Alligator Blood as a $26 chance in the Cox Plate.
But after the news he had been banned, TAB removed Alligator Blood from all its spring carnival betting markets including the Cox Plate.
Alligator Blood had been set to have a trial at Cranbourne next Tuesday.
Will Ashcroft has officially nominated to join Brisbane as a father-son selection in the 2022 National Draft.
Ashcroft, the potential No.1 pick in this year’s draft, is the son of 318-game triple-premiership Lions champion Marcus Ashcroft.
The teenager has starred for Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League and for Vic Metro in the Under 18 National Championships.
Ashcroft put his name up in lights after racking up 51 disposals for the Dragons in a NAB League match in June.
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“I can’t wait to join the Club and start earning the respect of all the players and coaching staff,” the young midfielder told Brisbane’s website.
“I was lucky enough to do some work with the midfielders last pre-season and I am really looking forward to learning from them and hopefully breaking into that group and seeing what we can become.
“To be following after dad is a privilege and if I can achieve half of what he did then I would be happy. I am also looking forward to forging my own name.
“I’d like to say a big thanks to Leon Harris (Lions recruiter) he has done heaps of work over the years to support me. And also a huge thanks to my parents and brother and sister for all they have done.”
Ashcroft is averaging 35 disposals in the NAB League and 33 touches across three games for Vic Metro.
His younger brother Levi is eligible for the 2024 National Draft.
The women’s 10,000m race in Birmingham has produced one of the iconic moments of the Commonwealth Games, with Scotland’s Eilish McColgan upsetting the odds to emulate her mother Liz Nuttall by taking gold in the event.
The pair had an emotional embrace in the stands after the race, which saw McColgan break the Commonwealth Games record.
Nuttall (formerly Liz McColgan), won the women’s 10,000m world title and the 10,000m crown at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986.
She went on to successfully defend her title in Auckland four years later. In the process she set a Commonwealth Games record for the event of 31 minutes 41.42 seconds.
Eilish McColgan and Irine Cheptai gave it everything in a thrilling final lap of the women’s 10,000m final, before McColgan came away to win.(Getty Images: Al Bello)
Thirty two years on, her daughter came into the 10,000m facing the task of beating favorite Irine Cheptai of Kenya.
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The 25-lap race was a tactical battle, with McColgan lifting the slow early pace before it evolved into an elite group of six, that then became a group of three with Cheptai and compatriot Sheila Chepkirui Kiprotich.
Kiprotich then dropped back with a suspected leg problem, leaving McColgan and Cheptai alone.
The crowd in the Alexander Stadium roared her on, McColgan gritted her teeth and hung in on the final lap as she refused to be broken by the Kenyan runner.
The pair ran down the back straight with Cheptai leading by a meter or so, but McColgan was still there and kept responding to every move.
As they ran towards the final turn, McColgan was on her shoulder and the crowd noise grew again.
The Scottish runner seemed to lose balance slightly but regathered herself for one last push entering the straight. She finally drew level and then moved in front.
Both women were on the limit, but McColgan had enough in reserve to draw ahead in the final stages and sprint clear for gold.
The emotions were high for Eilish McColgan as the Scottish runner brought the house down with a stirring win in the 10,000m, like her mother had 32 and 36 years previously.(Getty Images: David Ramos)
She raised her arms in triumph as she crossed the line, then the tears flowed for McColgan as she tried to process the fact she had won.
McColgan stopped the clock in a time of 30:48.60, smashing the existing Games record by nearly 40 seconds — another Kenyan, Selina Kosgei, had broken Nuttall’s mark at the Manchester Games in 2002.
As the crowd went crazy, she waved to the stands, while draped in a Scottish flag.
McColgan then ran over to her mother in the stands, and the pair embraced as first McColgan and then Nuttall teared up.
The Scottish team has now won seven gold medals in Birmingham.
