ΟNE of the highlights of the sporting year was somewhat eclipsed by the vagaries of football fever.
Just 24 hours before the Scotland football team were stunned and sent sprawling to the Euro canvas, an audacious fightback off the ropes transpired much further south.
Glasgow Warriors were underdogs in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
It wasn't just the altitude that was bearing down on the travelling team. The Scottish side were all but deafened by 55,000 raucous home fans in the Bulls' fabled stadium-turned-cauldron.
Amid a swirling cocktail of thick din and thin air, the well-acclimatised home side kicked on to a comfortable 13-0 lead by half time.
Yet, in an outrageously defiant effort, the hardy Glaswegians fought back, ultimately winning 21-16.
And their gnarly coach, Franco Smith, revealed the water of life had a part to play in the win of a lifetime.
When he started at Glasgow more than two years ago, one morning - at 7am - he produced a bottle of whisky to give the squad a taste.
He told his charges to savour it, keep it in mind and then one day, as soon as they won something big, he announced, "We will have an evening when we can have a dram and a cigar."
"Tonight I think these guys merit that," he told reporters after the historic African victory.
Smith was good to his word. But it's not the first time a simple dram has been used to mark or be part of - acts of incredible achievement and endeavour.
Esta historia es de la edición November 2024 de The Scots Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 2024 de The Scots Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Unst To Orbit
Shetland's spaceport is set to take Europe by storm, launching rockets to the stratosphere
Just Passing Through
A tale of the unexpected unfolds at dawn in a Stirlingshire glen as a rare, shy creature slips out of the shadows
Brigadoon Revisited
An affectionate look back at the low budget \"synthetic Scotch\" movie that still sparkles in the mist, 70 years on
A Brand New Opening
The Scots Magazine revisits the Old Course in St Andrews almost 70 years on and celebrates recent progress in welcoming women
Kenmore's Crossroads
Fury over a luxury redevelopment at the Perthshire village made news headlines around the world but is the tide of popular opinion turning?
Seeing Double!
Sam Heughan's Outlander body double, lain Wilkie, shares stories about his experiences on and off screen
The Story & The Song
With a soundtrack to a Shetland tale, author and musician Malachy Tallack blends his artistic passions in his latest venture
A Rebirth From The Earth
Erland Cooper's intriguing project has given nature and two determined fans a hand in shaping and bringing his new album to light
Nip Of Champions
Whisky has long been associated with moments of triumph, including a recent example of clever sporting motivation
The Waterside Hotel
A spectacular spot on the stunning Ayrshire coast