Billy Gilliland

Personal information
Born	27 March 1957 (age 68); Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Sport
Sport	Badminton
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing Great Britain
World Games
Representing Scotland
Commonwealth Games
European Championships

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.[1] He had previously reached the All-England final in both men's doubles and mixed doubles in 1982.[2]

He was a mixed doubles bronze medalist at the 1977 IBF World Championships with Joanna Flockhart.[3] 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.[4]

In 1986 he represented his nation at the European Championships again[5] 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.[6]

He now coaches badminton in a badminton academy.[citation needed]

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	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

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
1986	Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland	Christine Heatly	Ken Poole Linda Cloutier	15–12, 17–14	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

Mixed doubles

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

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1983	Scottish Open	Dan Travers	Andy Goode Gerry Asquith	15–6, 15–7	Winner
1984	Dutch Open	Dipak Tailor	Michael Kjeldsen Mark Christiansen	9–15, 15–7, 17–18	Runner-up
1984	Canada Open	Dan Travers	Razif Sidek Jalani Sidek	11–15, 9–15	Runner-up
1985	Canada Open	Dan Travers	Jens Peter Nierhoff Henrik Svarrer	12–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1985	Scottish Open	Dan Travers	Michael Kjeldsen Mark Christiansen	2–15, 4–15	Runner-up
1986	Dutch Open	Dan Travers	He Xiangyang Tang Hai	13–18, 9–15	Runner-up
1986	Poona Open	Steve Baddeley	He Xiangyang Tang Hai	7–15, 6–15	Runner-up
1986	Scottish Open	Dan Travers	Jesper Knudsen Henrik Svarrer	10–15, 10–15	Runner-up

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

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1980	Bells Open	Dan Travers	Ray Stevens Steve Baddeley	9–15, 9–15	Runner-up
1980	Welsh Open	Dan Travers	Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett	15–7, 11–15, 6–15	Runner-up
1981	Dutch Open	Dan Travers	Andy Goode Mike Tredgett	15–5, 15–8	Winner
1981	Portugal International	Kevin Jolly	Ray Stevens Derek Talbot	17–18, 15–12, 12–15	Runner-up
1981	Bells Open	Dan Travers	Duncan Bridge Martin Dew	18–17, 15–12	Winner
1982	Scottish Open	Dan Travers	Mark Elliott Donald Burden	15–10, 15–10	Winner
1982	Dutch Open	Dan Travers	Martin Dew Mike Tredgett	15–11, 5–15, 15–17	Runner-up
1982	Irish Open	Dan Travers	Ed Romejin Bas von Barnau Sijthoff	15–7, 15–8	Winner
1982	All England Open	Dan Travers	Jalani Sidek Razif Sidek	15–8, 9–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1982	Portugal International	Dan Travers	Darren Hall Ray Stevens	13–15, 8–15	Runner-up
1982	Victor Cup	Dan Travers	Martin Dew Mike Tredgett	3–15, 2–15	Runner-up
1982	Canadian Open	Dan Travers	Torbjorn Petterson Lars Wengberg	5–15, 3–15	Runner-up

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

References

^ Steve Baddeley, "All England Championships," World Badminton, June 1985, 8, 9.
^ Pat Davis, "All change at Wembley," World Badminton, June 1982, 12, 13.
^ "worldbadminton.net". Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
^ "Scottish title for Billy". The Scotsman. 15 September 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 19 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Badminton". Dundee Courier. 12 March 1986. p. 13. Retrieved 19 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Tragic injury deprives Scots of a medal". Dundee Courier. 28 July 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 19 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.