DAME KELLY HOLMES admits she has been hugely impressed by the performances displayed by Scottish athletes this season, and believes there is yet more to come.

The first half of this year has garnered a significant number of major championship medals for Scots, beginning with an impressive haul of four at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in March. Laura Muir picked up two medals, winning silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 3000m in impressive fashion, with hurdles specialist Eilidh Doyle surprising everyone by winning bronze in the 400m, as well as Zoey Clark being a part of the bronze medal-winning 4x400m relay team.

It was then onto the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in April, where Scots picked up five medals, and that was in the absence of Muir, who was completing her veterinary degree.

It is these performances which have so impressed Holmes, who memorably did the 800m-1500m double at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But having followed a number of the Scots progress over the past few years, the Englishwoman, who will be guest of honour at Scottish Athletics’ FSPG Annual Awards dinner in November, has not been shocked by the team’s success.

“I understand that tally of five Commonwealth medals is the best achieved in terms of athletics with Team Scotland since 1990 and being told that didn’t surprise me at all,” she said.

‘I think everyone with an interest in athletics in the wider UK has been aware of the success of Scottish athletes and the profile for the likes of Laura Muir, Eilidh Doyle, Lynsey Sharp, Eilish McColgan, Chris O’Hare and Callum Hawkins.”

But what has particularly impressed Holmes has been the strength-in-depth of the sport north of the border, with a number of young athletes breaking through over the past few years.

“Now it seems to me that group has grown and we’ve seen the likes of Jake Wightman, Andy Butchart and Zoey Clark emerge at a high level and then Beth Dobbin and Jemma Reekie impress at the British Champs,” said Holmes.

“I’m really looking forward to learning more when I come to Glasgow and I’m certain what I will find is that it is a strong club framework and good coaching that are supporting this success.”

There is further opportunity for Scottish success at the European Championships, which begin in Berlin on Monday. A record 17 Scots have been selected to represent GB and a number of them go to the German capital with a very realistic chance of adding to Scottish Athletics’ medal tally for the year.

Amongst the favourites for silverware are Muir, who will only compete in te 1500m having indicated she would potentially go for the 800m-1500m double. But the 25-year-old is ranked number one in Europe by over three seconds over the longer distance and will be heavy favourite to win what will be her first-ever outdoor major championship medal.

Also targetting silverware is former European champion, Eilidh Doyle, who is ranked second in Europe in the 400m hurdles, although the Perthshire athlete has been hampered this summer by a calf injury which caused her to miss the British Championships.

And there is hopes for a medal in the men’s 1500m, which is currently dominated by Scottish athletes, with both Chris O’Hare and Jake Wightman in excellent form.

Holmes will be watching events unfold in Berlin with interest, and is optimistic there will be more Scottish success to shout about.

“Hopefully, by the Awards dinner in November, there will have been more podium moments for Scots with GB at the Euros in Berlin and across other disciplines, too,” she said.