England secured two gold medals and one silver in the opening day of Bowls and Para Bowls competitions at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.

In the Women’s Pairs event, flagbearer Sian Honnor, acting as skip, led teammate and longtime friend Amy Pharaoh to victory in a closely contested final against Malaysia. The win marked the fifth Commonwealth Games medal for both athletes. Honnor, who first competed in the Games in 2010, claimed her third gold medal, while Pharaoh, making her fifth Games appearance since debuting for Team England 24 years ago in Manchester, added her second gold alongside one silver and two bronze medals. Honnor’s achievement was celebrated by her family, with her husband Ian and their three children present in the stands.

In the Men’s Singles, Sam Tolchard captured his first Commonwealth gold after previously earning three bronze medals and one silver in prior Games. This victory represented a significant milestone in his career.

The Para Mixed Pairs B2-B3 final saw a dramatic finish as England’s Ron Homer and Sally-Ann Lewis-Wall, along with their directors Sue Davies and Elizabeth Shipley, were narrowly defeated by Scotland. The Scottish team, consisting of Mary Stevenson, Robert Barr, and directors James Aitken and Sarah-Jane Ewing, claimed gold with a decisive final bowl. The Scottish victory was met with enthusiastic cheers from the home crowd inside the packed arena.

The early success for England highlights the team’s strength in both standard and para bowls disciplines as the Commonwealth Games progress in Glasgow.