Billy Gilliland

William Allan Gilliland (born 27 March 1957) is a former badminton player from Scotland who won medals at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

Biography Although he won the Scottish national singles title in 1979, the tall, angular Gilliland was a doubles specialist at the international level with his greatest success coming in mixed doubles. Gilliland won mixed doubles at the prestigious All-England Championships with England's Nora Perry in 1985. He had previously reached the All-England final in both men's doubles and mixed doubles in 1982.

He was a mixed doubles bronze medalist at the 1977 IBF World Championships with Joanna Flockhart. Though he won numerous tournaments abroad, perhaps Gilliland's most impressive badminton accomplishment was sharing twelve consecutive Scottish national mixed doubles titles equally with two partners, between 1976 and 1987. With regular partner Dan Travers, he won nine Scottish national men's doubles titles during that period.

In 1986 he represented his nation at the European Championships again and also in 1986, was denied an almost certain mixed team bronze medal when Alison Fulton in the third match was carried off the court, with Scotland leading Australia 2–0 at the time.

He now coaches badminton in a badminton academy.

Achievements World Games Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1981 San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States Dan Travers Thomas Kihlström Stefan Karlsson 15–10, 0–15, 9–15 Silver Bronze

Commonwealth Games Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1986 Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland Dan Travers Andy Goode Nigel Tier 15–8, 15–5 Gold Gold

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1978 Clare Drake Arena, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Joanna Flockhart Mike Tredgett Nora Perry 7–15, 7–15 Silver Silver 1986 Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland Christine Heatly Ken Poole Linda Cloutier 15–12, 17–14 Bronze Bronze

European Championships Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1984 Guild Hall, Preston, England Dan Travers Morten Frost Jens Peter Nierhoff 13–15, 14–18 Bronze Bronze

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1978 Guild Hall, Preston, England Joanna Flockhart Steen Skovgaard Lene Køppen 4–15, 4–15 Bronze Bronze 1980 Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands Christine Heatly Mike Tredgett Nora Perry 15–6, 7–15, 13–18 Bronze Bronze

IBF World Grand Prix (13 titles, 17 runners-up) The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Men's doubles

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1984 Scottish Open Gillian Gowers Duncan Bridge Sara Leeves 15–8, 15–7 Winner 1984 Dutch Open Gillian Gowers Martin Dew Gillian Gilks 14–17, 15–13, 6–15 Runner-up 1984 Denmark Open Imelda Wiguna Dipak Tailor Nora Perry retired Runner-up 1984 English Masters Gillian Gowers Martin Dew Gillian Gilks 15–18, 7–15 Runner-up 1984 Canadian Open Karen Chapman Nigel Tier Gillian Gowers 3–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1985 Hong Kong Open Gillian Gowers Martin Dew Gillian Gilks 10–15, 16–18 Runner-up 1985 Chinese Taipei Open Gillian Gowers Martin Dew Gillian Gilks 8–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1985 Japan Open Gillian Gowers Martin Dew Gillian Gilks 15–10, 18–15 Winner 1985 All England Open Nora Perry Thomas Kihlström Gillian Clark 15–10, 15–12 Winner 1985 English Masters Gillian Gowers Steen Fladberg Gitte Paulsen 15–7, 15–5 Winner 1985 Canada Open Nora Perry Jesper Helledie Johanne Falardeau 15–6, 15–9 Winner 1985 Scottish Open Gillian Gowers Rob Ridder Erica van Dijck 15–12, 10–15, 18–17 Winner 1986 Chinese Taipei Open Nora Perry Jesper Helledie Erica van den Heuvel 15–8, 15–3 Winner 1986 Japan Open Nora Perry Nigel Tier Gillian Gowers 17–15, 15–9 Winner 1986 Poona Open Nora Perry Rob Ridder Erica van den Heuvel 15–6, 15–8 Winner 1986 Hong Kong Open Nora Perry Andy Goode Fiona Smith 15–5, 15–3 Winner 1986 English Masters Nora Perry Jan-Eric Antonsson Gillian Gowers 12–15, 17–15, 17–14 Winner 1987 Chinese Taipei Open Gillian Gowers Steen Fladberg Gillian Clark 7–15, 18–14, 5–15 Runner-up 1987 Japan Open Gillian Gowers Lee Deuk-choon Chung Myung-hee 12–15, 5–15 Runner-up 1987 Hong Kong Open Gillian Gowers Jiang Guoliang Nong Qunhua 18–14, 13–15, 15–7 Winner 1987 Malaysia Open Gillian Gowers Steen Fladberg Gillian Clark 7–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1987 World Grand Prix Finals Gillian Gowers Stefan Karlsson Maria Bengtsson 8–15, 15–18 Runner-up

International tournament Men's doubles

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1980 German Open Christine Heatly Steen Skovgaard Anne Skovgaard 6–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1980 English Masters Karen Chapman Christian Hadinata Imelda Wiguna 6–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1980 Scottish Open Joanna Flockhart Mike Tredgett Karen Chapman 2–15, 2–15 Runner-up 1981 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks Alastair Baker Linda Gardner 15–5, 15–0 Winner 1981 Swedish Open Nora Perry Martin Dew Gillian Clark 15–4, 18–14 Winner 1981 Bell's Open Nora Perry Martin Dew Gillian Gilks 17–16, 15–10 Winner 1981 Portugal International Eva Stuart Rob Ridder Marjan Ridder 8–15, 17–14, 15–11 Winner 1981 India Open Karen Chapman Ray Stevens Nora Perry 12–15, 3–15 Runner-up 1982 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks Morten Frost Lene Køppen 18–13, 15–9 Winner 1982 All England Open Karen Chapman Martin Dew Gillian Gilks 10–15, 17–14, 7–15 Runner-up 1982 India Open Karen Chapman Thomas Kihlström Jane Webster 18–14, 15–11 Winner 1982 Indonesia Open Karen Chapman Martin Dew Gillian Gilks 15–5, 8–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1982 Portugal International Eva Stuart Ray Stevens Nora Perry 9–15, 9–15 Runner-up 1982 Bell's Open Gillian Gilks Ray Stevens Nora Perry 15–11, 7–7 retired Winner 1982 Canadian Open Karen Chapman Paul Johnson Claire Backhouse 10–15, 15–6, 15–8 Winner 1984 Scottish Open Karen Chapman Dipak Tailor Karen Beckman 15–3, 15–6 Winner