Evergreen shot put star Scott Rider had mixed emotions after his third top-10 finish at a Commonwealth Games.

The 36-year-old, who became British Champion this year for the first time, threw a season’s best of 18.40m to qualify for Monday’s final at Hampden Park, though was unable to better that in a strong competition, eventually finishing 10th.

The Wilmington PE teacher – who also competed at a Winter Olympics in 2002 – admitted: “I was a little flat. There was an opportunity to get into the top-eight but I wasn’t really able to get hold of one.

“It was solid what I did. I qualified 10th and finished 10th. A couple of top throwers bombed- out, which I didn’t expect, so on reflection if I could have put something half-decent together I could have sneaked top-eight.

“I’m a bit disappointed, but that’s what I’ve been throwing all year, low 18s... I hoped there was something more there, but it just didn’t happen.”

Having competed in Melbourne and Delhi, Rider admitted: “This Games and the village experience has been great and this is the best I’ve thrown in the Commonwealth Games.

“The standard is way up from four years ago. It’s not easy to make top eight anymore.”