Big dates for Eilidh’s dad

Hurdling sensation Eilidh Child’s proud dad believes giving her away at her wedding will rival her Hampden medal win for sheer emotion.

Proud Ronnie, 60, was overwhelmed when Eilidh ran over to give him a big hug after she won silver in the women’s 400m hurdles final on Thursday night.

The cameras caught the dramatic moment beaming Eilidh, 27, draped in a Saltire, spotted her loving parents Ronnie and Gill, 59, in the crowd and dashed over to embrace them. And last night former policeman Ronnie revealed he’ll be just as teary when he gives her away at her wedding to fianc Brian Doyle, 37, on October 17 next year at Glenskirlie House & Castle in Stirlingshire.

Ronnie said: “Giving Eilidh away will definitely be emotional. She’s the last of my daughters to get married.”

However, one family member was less caught up in the action Eilidh’s 12-week-old niece Corrie who slept through all the excitement of her aunt’s momentous race.

Eilidh’s wedding comes after boyfriend Brian proposed during the couple’s holiday on Islay last September.

Ronnie said he knew about Irish runner Brian’s engagement plans before his medal-winning daughter did.

A smiling Ronnie said: “Brian asked me for her hand in marriage before he got down on one knee and proposed to her.

“He took me out for a pint beforehand and told me he was going to do it. Who was I to argue with that? We’re really happy with it all.”

Eilidh started running competitively when she was nine years old and won the P6 cross country championships in Kirkcaldy.

Ronnie, from Kinross, Perthshire, said the biggest sacrifice Eilidh’s made in her life has been spending time away from her family and the two men in her life Brian and their pet rottweiler Ben.

Harry Potter fan Eilidh, who is a big supporter of football club Hearts, was a PE teacher at Perth Grammar before making the bold decision to leave teaching and pursue athletics full-time.

Ronnie said she’ll always have the option of going back into the classroom.

He revealed: “She got her qualifications so she could always go back to teaching if she wanted.”