• Commonwealth Games

Wales break golden duck at Glasgow 2014

Frankie Jones carried the Welsh flag at the opening ceremony, then ended their gold drought at the Commonwealth Games © Getty Images

Enlarge

Wales finally won their first gold medals of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on the third day of competition.

Rhythmic gymnast Frankie Jones struck first in the afternoon at the SECC by claiming gold in the individual ribbon event. That was followed a couple of hours later in the judo hall by Natalie Powell defeating England's Gemma Gibbons in the women's -78kg final.

Gault equals Commonwealth record

• England's Mick Gault equalled a Commonwealth Games record - at the tender age of 60.
• His bronze medal in the 10m air pistol event at Carnoustie is the 18th Commonwealth medal of his career and comes after he announced his retirement following Delhi 2010.
• Gault can claim the record outright if he medals in the 50m air pistol on Monday. He is currently tied with another shooter, Australia's Phillip Adams, who last competed at Manchester 2002.

"It is beyond words," Jones, who carried the Welsh flag at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, told the BBC. "I have had the most amazing few days, I literally can't believe that we just got to have the Welsh flag flying - it is phenomenal, I am so proud of myself."

England continue to top the medal table, though, with Fran Halsall's gold in the 50m freestyle making up for the swimmer's disappointment at London 2012. Her time of 23.96 seconds was a new Commonwealth Games record and the fastest in the world this year.

"I felt sick before the race, because I knew I could swim fast but sometimes I can try too hard," said Halsall. "If I can combine my strength and power it will get me to where I want to be, and this is where I want to be in two years at the Olympics.

"I knew I wasn't in my best shape in London two years ago, so it was great to know I could put on a show here in Glasgow."

Halsall's compatriot Adam Peaty also took gold, stunning Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh by becoming the first British man to go under 59 seconds in the 100m breaststroke, with home hope Ross Murdoch beaten into third.

"I can't believe it," said Peaty, who clocked 58.94 seconds. "It's a dream. I've studied Cameron van der Burgh for a while, he was my idol now my rival so I know he goes off quick but I caught him."

There was better news for Scotland in judo as flag-bearer Euan Burton brought the crowd to its feet with gold in the men's -100kg judo event, forcing Shah Hussain Shah of Pakistan into a submission to send the home crowd into a frenzy.

Their gold tally was added to by Sarah Adlington, who defeated England's Jodie Myers in the women's +78kg category. Christopher Sherrington then completed a Scottish hat-trick of judo golds with victory over Ruan Snyman of South Africa in the men's +100kg final.

Over at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, there was a second gold medal of the Games for para-tandem pair Neil Fachie and Craig Maclean, who came from a race deficit to defeat Jason Niblett and Kieran Modra in the sprint B2 tandem.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd