Running in the family: How Ben’s Scotland connection stretches back five generations

Wednesday 17th June 2026

Ben Sandilands celebrates Men’s T20 1500m gold at the Paralympics in Paris in 2024

Team Scotland name strong Para selection for Glasgow

Ben Sandilands will line up for Team Scotland for the first time at Glasgow 2026.

The Fife AC middle distance runner is Paralympic champion in the T20 1500m and won the World Para Champs gold, too.

But Scotstoun will mark his first Commonwealth Games appearance and that will be a huge source of pride for the Sandilands family . . . and a full circle moment.

Five generations ago, Ben’s ancestor George Sandilands represented Scotland in 1910 at Ibrox (a couple of miles from Scotstoun) in an International Meeting with Ireland. The Scotland ‘cap’ he won some 116 years ago now fits for Ben.

‘We were not really aware of what Ben’s great grandparents had been up to until his grandfather brought a lovely Scotland cap along to a family gathering,’ said Claire Sandilands (Ben’s mum).

‘It was beautiful and had patterned braiding on it with the date 1910.

‘We started making inquiries and asking about it. It turned out that Ben’s great, great grandfather, George Sandilands, ran for Scotland.

‘The meeting was at Ibrox Stadium in 1910 against Ireland. That earned him the Scotland cap which I guess became a family heirloom over decades and generations.

‘We now have it at home as Ben’s and we are really proud to own that family memento to athletics well over a century ago. It is five generations.’

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Down the last century or so, somewhere along the way it seems the athletics ‘baton’ was passed on . . .

‘Ben’s great grandfather was really into running, too, via his local YMCA group and racing cross country,’ added Claire. ‘He was also George Sandilands so it is a little confusing.

‘So running has always been there in this family. My husband (Rory), not so much. Rory did enjoy running but was more into rugby and tennis growing up.

‘He played a lot of tennis when he was younger. He actually represented Scotland at tennis at youth level.

‘Me? It was about running for fun and still is.’

Our eight Glasgow 2026 selected Para athletes gather for Team Scotland announcement last month (phto by Criag Watson)

Coach Steve Doig’s group, assisted by our chair David Ovens, are understandably excited about selections for the Games in the T20 Men’s 1500m.

‘I think it will be fantastic to see Ben in Team Scotland colours,’ added Claire

‘And the T20 Men’s 1500m should be really quite special with three Scots selected (Ben, Owen Miller and Steven Bryce) from the same training group in Fife.

‘The boys work together so well. They train, they talk, they chat and it is quite relaxed. A good athletics community with a big thank you to the coach, Steve Doig.’

Ben, Owen and Steven joined five other Scots when the eight-strong Para cohort was announced by Team Scotland.

‘It means an awful lot to me to have the Scotland cap and that link to the sport.

‘I’m delighted to be selected and looking forward to racing the Commonwealths. It is very exciting to have my training partners in the event as well.’