Scots win shooting gold at Commonwealth Games

Scotland's Kay Copland and Jen McIntosh fired their way to a shooting gold medal in the women's 50m rifle prone pairs on Day Eight of the Commonwealth Games.

Copland and McIntosh tied scores with English pair Michelle Smith and Sharon Lee on 1169 but took the gold on a higher x-ring count.

The x-ring is a smaller ring within the maximum 10 ring on the targets.

Indian pair Meena Kumari and Tejaswini took the bronze medal with a score of 1168.

Copland and McIntosh's gold took Scotland's gold medal tally to four and came hot on the heels of the one secured late last night by Colin Fleming and Joss Rae in the tennis mixed doubles final.

McIntosh savoured a gold medal secured in challenging conditions.

"It was pretty tough. It wasn't easy out there today. The wind was up.

"It was quite strong. We shoot on a reasonably sheltered range back home so it was bit of a struggle.

"It is an absolutely incredible feeling to win. Very satisfying. I hoped we were capable of gold but I didn't quite expect it."

On edging the English pair out for the gold, she added: "We quite often shoot together so it is good to beat them.

"We're Great Britain team-mates and there is plenty of banter between us but I'm not going to lie to you, it feels good to win."

Copland said: "It's a total shock to win. The wind was tough and I was saved by my team-mate. I couldn't get it right but we've won gold so it doesn't matter."

Lee, who always claimed an England silver in Melbourne four years ago, said: "It's always disappointing not winning the gold but still it's a medal."

Smith said she was hopeful of winning another medal in tomorrow's women's 50m rifle prone singles competition.