ASKING why Scotland can't seem to produce a Jessica Ennis-Hill, Denise Lewis or Daley Thompson is a bit like wondering why England can't deliver an Andy Murray. World class superstars such as these these don't exactly grow on trees.

But while England has churned out a formidable conveyor belt of these combined events exponents over the last few decades – you could also throw Dean Macey, Kelly Sotherton and Katarina Johnson-Thompson into the mix – Scotland has lagged behind.

That might be about to change, though. Iain McEwan is the lead coach when it comes to the combined events at Scottish Athletics and he and an encouraging group of talent coming through in the younger age groups are determined to change all that.

Emma Canning, a 19-year-old from Glasgow, is Scotland's top-scoring heptathlete right now and she regards Ennis-Hill as an inspiration. The national combined events championships in Aberdeen this year produced two Scottish age-group records, with Holly McArthur breaking the Under-17 heptathlon record by some distance and Howard Bell doing likewise in the Under-20 decathlon. Jade Nimmo, who competed for Scotland in the long jump at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, is another athlete now turning her attention to this part of the sport.

They might not be winning gold medals right now. They may not even make the Scotland team for the Gold Coast in 2018. But by the time the Commonwealth Games in Durban in 2022 come along, McEwan hopes to have a Scottish success story to speak of in the combined events.

"This hasn't been one of Scottish Athletics best-performing areas, but there are a small group of dedicated coaches looking to change that," said McEwan. "We have to remember that Jess was special and that the scores achieved by her were exceptional. Our targets in Scotland are more modest at the present and representation in future Commonwealth Games for some of our aspiring youngsters is something they should be aiming for.

"It's worth noting that mastering seven events in a heptathlon takes time," he added. "And the average age of the top-eight athletes in London 2012 was 27. Emma knows she has a lot to learn, but she's definitely been inspired by Jess.

"Combined events in Scotland are on the rise, but the 2018 Commonwealth Games standards have to be achieved in 2017 and that might be too early for the current crop of decathletes and heptathletes, who are progressing steadily. Durban in 2022 could be a different story. Given the average age of the top competitors at London 2012, Durban might come along at the right time."

As for why Scotland haven't produced the same superstars of decathlon and heptathlon, things like the inclement weather and lack of appropriate facilities all come into the mix. "That [why we haven't produced the same talents as England has] is a complex question and as always there are many factors at play," said McEwan. "Maybe a couple of major ones relate to weather and facilities. Heptathlon and decathlon are highly technical events, and the athletes need to stay competent in all aspects throughout the year.

"Events such as high jump and pole vault can't be done outdoors in January in the hailstones and driving wind," he added. "Getting regular access to indoor facilities is therefore a key requirement for Combined Event athletes and in the past, those facilities were in short supply. It's not perfect now, but with facilities like the Emirates Arena, Ravenscraig, Grangemouth and Aberdeen Sports Village, there are more venues where good technical training can take place with a roof over our heads.

"Emma, Howard and Holly are all in my training group and they travel large distances to train with the group and to gain access to the facilities. Over a year they expend considerable effort and money, getting to the venues. Balancing all that with academic studies is a tough challenge. As a result, the number of athletes involved in Scotland in Competing Event competition is small and to gain the appropriate level of competition, our top athletes need to travel to England and Europe, which adds further challenges and expenditures. ScottishAthletics are showing greater commitment to CE in recent years and through programmes such as the National Academy our athletes will improve."

As for the golden girl of British athletics, McEwan is simply happy to pass on his compliments on behalf of the sport north of the border to a figure who made light of disadvantages such as her lack of height.

"She was small in a land of giants," said McEwan. "In the 2012 Olympics the top 8 finishers, excluding Jess averaged 5'10". That lack of inches never held her back though and she had the temperament not to be daunted by the physical presence of others. She always seemed to be in control of her emotions too and looked rock solid, emotionally, in even the most pressurised of situations.

"On the physical side she had power and speed. At the time of the 2012 Olympics she was running 22.83 for her 200m, which was very close to the time that the top sprint specialist was running that year. That power translated through to all her heptathlon events.

"She was also fortunate to have a coach who understood her and who built a strong support team around her. There aren't many athletes around who have stayed with the one coach for 18 years, but I'm sure that continuity was a major factor in Jess' development through the years. The CE community in Scotland would like to wish Jess all the best in her retirement and to thank her for the years of entertainment and inspiration that she's provided."