Northern Ireland at the 1978 Commonwealth Games

Northern Ireland at the
1978 Commonwealth Games
CG codeNIR
CGANorthern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council
Websitenicgc.org
in Edmonton, Canada
Flag bearersOpening: Michael Dunlop[1]
Closing:
Medals
Ranked 10th
Gold
2
Silver
1
Bronze
2
Total
5
Commonwealth Games appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
 Ireland (1930)

Northern Ireland competed at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978.[2]

Northern Ireland finished 10th in the medal table with two gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals.[3]

The Northern Irish team was named on 13 June 1978 and consisted of 57 athletes and 10 officials.[4] The Northern Ireland Sports Council and Recreation Trust helped with the £47,000 costs.[5]

Medalists

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Team

Officials

  • Dick McColgan - General team amanager
  • Billy Stewart - Assistant team manager
  • Robin Harland - Doctor
  • Tom Welsh - Athletics manager
  • Winston Wilkinson - Badminton manager
  • Bob Thompson - Lawn bowls manager
  • Gerry Storey - Boxing manager
  • Morris Foster - Cycling manager
  • Joan Owens - Shooting manager
  • Con O'Callaghan - Swimming manager

Athletics

Men

Athlete Events Club Medals
Clive Beattie400m, 400m hurdles
Mike Bullpole vault, decathlon
Martin Girvanhammer
Greg Patrick Hannonmarathon
William Kirkpatricklong jump
Paul Lawther1500m, 5000m
James Henry McGuinness800m, 1500m
John McLaughlinmarathon

Women

Athlete Events Club Medals
Vicky Hancox100, 100m hurdles
Linda McCurry100, 200, 400m
Wendy Grace Phillipshigh jump, pentathlon
Pam Reece800m, 1500m
Adrienne Smyth400m, 800m

Badminton

Men

Athlete Events Club Medals
Frazer Evanssingles, doubles, mixed, teamSt. Polycarp BC
John Scottsingles, doubles, mixed, teamAlpha BC, Lisburn
Bill Thompsonsingles, doubles, mixed, teamAlpha BC, Lisburn
Winston WilkinsondoublesBallymacarrett BC

Women

Athlete Events Club Medals
Barbara Beckettsingles, doubles, mixed, teamAlpha BC, Lisburn
Dorothy Cunninghamsingles, doubles, mixed, teamSt. Jude's BC
Diane Underwoodsingles, mixed, teamLea Village BC

Boxing

Athlete Events Club Medals
Ken Beattie67kg welterweight
Jim Carson-48kg light-flyweight
Gerry Hamill60kg lightweight
Tony McAvoy71kg light-middleweight
Barry McGuigan54kg bantamweight
Hugh Russell51kg flyweight
Kenny Webb57kg featherweight

Cycling

Athlete Events Club Medals
Archie Cunninghamroad raceArds
Tom Greenescratch, time trial, indiv & team pursuitCyprus CC
Billy Kerrroad race, pursuitBallymena
Len Kirkroad race, indiv & team pursuit, time trialArds
Padraig Shearerscratch, time trial, sprint, team pursuitPhoenix CC
Joe Smythroad race, team pursuitBritish Columbia

Lawn bowls

Athlete Events Club Medals
Jimmy Donnellyfours/rinksFalls BC
Michael Dunlopfours/rinksOrmeau BC
Stan EspiesinglesFalls BC
John HigginspairsYork Road Civil Defence BC
Brendan McBrienpairsFalls BC
Willie Murrayfours/rinksPortrush BC
Willie Watsonfours/rinksKnock BC

Shooting

Athlete Events Medals
George Bailie50m rifle prone
David CalvertFull bore rifle Queens prize pair
Martin FarnanFull bore rifle Queens prize pair
Tom Hewittclay pigeon trap
George Mace50m rifle prone
Ken Stanford50m free pistol, 25m rapid-fire pistol
Trevor Westskeet

Swimming

Men

Athlete Events Club Medals
Ivan Stanley Corry100, 200m breaststroke, 200m medley, relay
Rob Howard100m backstroke, relay
Simon Henry Magowan100, 200m backstroke, relay
Michael John Meharg400, 1500m freestyle, relay

Women

Athlete Events Club Medals
Jane Katharine Law100, 200m butterfly, 100m freestyle, relay
Claire Louise Logan100, 200m breaststroke, relay
Julie Parkes100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, relay
Catherine Janet Scott100, 200m freestyle, relay

Weightlifting

Athlete Events Club Medals
Robert Bruce Bamford82.5kg light-heavyweight
Laurence McConnell90kg middle-heavyweight

Wrestling

Athlete Events Club Medals
Ivan Weir82kg middleweight

References

  1. ↑ "Michael is our lead". Ireland's Saturday Night. 29 July 1978. p. 12. Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ↑ "Northern Ireland Edmonton 1978". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ "Medal Standings Edmonton 1978". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "Julie - VIP treatment". Belfast News-Letter. 14 June 1978. p. 14. Retrieved 7 May 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "Julie (13) for Games". Belfast Telegraph. 13 June 1978. p. 22. Retrieved 19 December 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Seven Up!". Ireland's Saturday Night. 10 June 1978. p. 4. Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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