Commonwealth Games: Jay's golden shot for Wales: Glut of medals for Principality includes a first shooting gold since 1966

MICHAEL JAY, who is a builder, came away with Wales' first Commonwealth Games shooting gold medal for 28 years yesterday. Jay's victory in the individual rapid-fire was the first since 1966 as the Principality had its most rewarding day in Victoria so far.

David Morgan found the weights laden with precious metal again as he won two golds and a silver, while his namesake Robert's defence of his highboard title in the diving pool had a silver lining.

The Pembrokeshire-based Jay, who had won a silver medal in the pairs competition with Richard Craven, went into the final in fifth place from the qualifying rounds. But an accurate shoot in the final saw him overhaul the leader, Robert Dowling, to finish nearly two points clear of the Australian with a Games record total of 670.2 points.

Jay, who won the bronze four years ago in Auckland, said: 'It's nice to have the full set. When I was lying fifth in the qualifying it was clear that I had a lot to do. But I never doubted that I could achieve a lifetime's ambition.'

In cycling, Shaun Wallace could not maintain the recent 4,000m individual pursuit tradition established by the world and Olympic champion, Chris Boardman, and the world record holder, Graeme Obree. But the Hampshire rider won a silver after being beaten in the final by Australia's Bradley McGee, who set a Games record of 4min 31.371sec.

The Peterborough powerhouse, Stephen Ward, added to England's growing weightlifting haul with three silvers in the 83kg competition. There was also team success for England as the rhythmic gymnastics trio of London's Aicha McKenzie and the Cheshire sisters, Debbie and Linda Southwick, won bronze.

In the bowls, Northern Ireland's men's team of the Lisnagarvey duo, Noel Graham and John McLoughlin, Ian McClure (Portrush) and Victor Dallas (Coleraine) came away with the bronze.

The foursome finished second in their group to South Africa, who went on to take gold medal after beating Australia in the final.

The Scotland women's four also won a bronze medal after only missing out on a place in the final on shots margin to the eventual winners, South Africa. The team of Dorothy Barr (Ayr), Elizabeth Dickson (Eyemouth), Elizabeth Forsyth (Larkhall) and Janice Maxwell (Castle Douglas) had won five of their seven section matches.

England became certain of seven badminton medals, in addition to Sunday's gold, in the team event as Anders Nielsen reached the semi-finals of the men's singles and six doubles pairs also reached the last four.

The Australians have made a remarkable transformation and are now certain of five medals in badminton from these Commonwealth Games, whereas in all previous Games they had managed only one. The effect of funding from Olympic sources since the Sydney 2000 bid has already been remarkable.

(Photograph omitted)