Author: The Author

John Linaker passing the baton to Bert McKay in the Edinburgh to Glasgow.   They ran fastest times on stages six and seven in 1962

As usual for any County Association, the first promotion in the year is the track and field championship.   The LAAA was no different.   The coverage was never great but in 1961 it was brief in the extreme.   

There was not much coverage of the Lanarkshire Track Championships held at Motherwell on 23rd May 1961, the above from the ‘Glasgow Herald being typical.  John Young of Springburn – a very good sprinter indeed in his day and the victim of a dreadful decision that had all the other sprinters in one competition (not this one!) arguing on his behalf – repeated his double of the previous year and, after many years of racing 440 yards events in the LAAA Championships and elsewhere, Willie Morrison of Larkhall won a Scottish title at 880 yards.   Bryce McRobert was a good runner who never quite achieved his best times in the biggest races, and Andy Brown?   What about the man who must have been the most consistent endurance runner of his generation with superb performances over road, country and track for well over a decade, and yet a man who was also prepared to run in local sports meetings and small highland games. 

The 1961 road relay championships was held at Shettleston’s HQ at Barrachnie on 1st December and Motherwell, led by ‘new boy’ John Linaker from Pitreavie who was now working in the area, won.   The report was headed “Motherwell Retain Relay Title.   Easy Victory at Barrachnie.   Motherwell YMCA had no problems in their attempt to retain the Lanarkshire senior 12-mile relay championship on Saturday at Barrachnie.   The team who won the McAndrew Cup open relay race held the lead after R McKay had given D Simpson a useful advantage at the end of the first relay.   Thereafter J Linaker increased the lead and thus gave AH Brown such an easy task that they won by 600 yards from Shettleston Harriers who were without GE Everett.   Shettleston however took the honours in both the youths’ and boys’ races.   The outstanding youth was the younger brother of AH Brown, and R Wedlock (Shettleston) again showed how good he is in the boys’ class with the best lap time.   Results:-

Senior (4 x 3 Miles) – 1. Motherwell YMCA (R McKay 13:50, D Simpson 14:46, J Linaker 13:48 , AH Brown 14:05); 2. Shettleston (H Summerhill 14:15, J McGhee 14:11, C Wallace 14:44, T Malone 14:41); 3. Monkland Harriers (J Finn 14:42, J Keenan 14:54, W McBrinn 14:41, W Drysdale 15:00).     Fastest times: 1.   J Linaker (Motherwell) 11:48;  2.   R McKay (Motherwell) 11:50; 3. AH Brown 14.05

Youths (4  x  2 1/2 miles) – 1.   Shettleston Harriers (G Skinner 9:42, G McIvor 10:08, J Patterson 9:55, G Kay 9:55);  2. Springburn (A Stevenson 10:04, I Hamilton 10:44, R Lochhead 10:04, I Young 9:55);   3.  Hamilton (T Quinn 10:01, F Murray 10:48, L Watt 10:33, G Greenshields 9:48)   Fastest Times: 1. AP Brown (Motherwell) 9:31; 2. G Skinner (Shettleston) 9:42; 3. G Greenshields (Hamilton) 9:48.

Boys 12 – 16 (4  x  1 1/2 miles) – 1. Shettleston Harriers (D Walker 7:21, R Thomson 7:32, D Dolan 7:01, R Wedlock 6:37);  2. Motherwell (J Jiles 7:23, G Reid 7:42, S Grant 6:45, R Darroch 6:49);  3. Shettleston B (J McCormack 7:54, P Dalton 7:32, R Morrison 7:19, W Hinds 7:12)   Fastest Individuals:   1. R Wedlock (Shettleston)  6:37;  2. D Middleton (Springburn) 6:40;  3. S Grant (Motherwell) 6:45.

Road Relay Champs, 14th October

A Fine Collection of Lanarkshire Runners at the Start of the Edinburgh to Glasgow: 

2nd left Roger Sandilands of Strathclyde University, Les Menelly of Shettleston, then Alex Brown of Motherwell, Tom O’Reilly of Springburn and Tom Callaghan of Monkland standing at the back in a dark vest.

In the championships held on 2nd December, John Lineker showed just how good he was when he defeated Andy Brown by approximately 100 yards with Graham Everett trailing in in third place another 400 yards back.   Motherwell took the team title from Shettleston by six points: Bert McKay was their last counting runner in fifth place.   Lineker was in the lead as early as the end of the four lap trail and was never headed.   Alex Brown won the Youths race from George Kay of Shettleston with fully 100 yards separating them.  Note though the early appearance of Ian McCafferty in third place in this race. Shettleston however took the team race.   Results below

John Lineker leading Lachie Stewart in the SAAA Steeplechase

The Track and Field Championships were held on  21 May, 1962 at Hamilton.   It was an interesting event with no fewer than 8 clubs sharing the medals and several new faces appearing whose owners would become very well known in the years to come – Eddie Knox of Springburn who would win first, second and third medals in the Cross-Country International, Ian McCafferty whose record goes all the way to Olympic Games via Commonwealth Games alongside Scottish and British international recognition on the track and over the country, and Norrie Foster, Scottish and British international decathlete and Pole Vaulter who competed in the 1966 Commonwealth Games, won gold medals at the SAAA (3 times) and AAA’s as well as those of different colours.   The range of events covered by the LAAA Championships was wide and the standard generally high, at times very high.    Read the report below.

BROWN WINS IN RECORD TIME.   AH Brown (Motherwell YMCA) retained the Lanarkshire Three Miles title last night at Hamilton with a time of 14:37, 8.1 seconds faster than the record, held by himself.   This was achieved on a heavy grass track.   W Morrison (Larkhall),  who will be defending his Western District title on Saturday at Scotstoun, won the 440 yards and the Mile in the respective times of 55.8 seconds and 4:36.5.   G Turner, running for the new East Kilbride club, won the 100 yards in 10.5 seconds, and the 220 yards in 24.5, and the Long Jump with a jump of 20′ 2″.   Other winners:- Seniors.   880 yards: TP O’Reilly (Springburn) 2:06.9; High Jump: E Coyle (Springburn) 5′ 6″; Javelin: N Foster (Shettleston) 131′ 2″; Discus: J Scott (Shettleston) 100′ 0″; Shot: J Scott 39′ 11″.   Junior Events:  100 yards: D Burns (Hamilton) 10.5 sec; 880 yards: G Greenshields  (Hamilton) 2:07; One Mile:  AP Brown (Motherwell) 4:44.6; Long Jump: N Foster (Shettleston) 19′ 6″.   Youths Events: 100 yards: J Irvine (Dalziel HS) 11 sec;  880 yards: R Wedlock (Shettleston) 2:08.7; High Jump: K McBride (Springburn) 4′ 9″; Long Jump: A McLean (Airdrie) 16′ 10 1/2″.   Boys Events: 100 Yards: K Moncrieff (East Kilbride) 11 seconds; 880 yards: (dead heat) E Knox (Springburn) and R Colvin (Springburn)  2:14.9; Long Jump: R Morrison (Shettleston) 16′ 7 1/2″; 4 x 110 yards relay : Shettleston 50.7 seconds.   

Norrie Foster

The autumn came and with it the short relays in October.   The Lanarkshire event was on 13th October and held at Bishopbriggs for the first time.  The title went to Motherwell for the third rime in a row but the surprise was Andy Brown in the second team.   The ‘Glasgow Herald’ tells us that “they beat their customary rivals, Shettletson Harriers much more easily than usual” by a minute and forty four seconds.   Brown had the fastest time of the day – 16:52 – and the B team finished third.   Motherwell had the four fastest individuals over the course on the day, the others being David Simpson in secons and Bert McKay and Alex Brown equal in third.

Senior 11 miles: 1. Motherwell (W Marshall 17:41, D Simpson 17:02, R McKay 17:11, AP Brown 17:11); 2. Shettleston (H Summerhill 17:19, I Donald 17:15, P Longfield 17:57, C Wallace 18:14); 3. Motherwell B (J Poulton 17:19, G Henderson ??, W McKnight 18:55, AH Brown 16:52); 4. Cambuslang Harriers.   Fastest Times: 1. AH Brown 16:52, D Simpson 17:02; 3= AP Brown and R McKay 17:11.   

Youths 9 Miles: 1. Motherwell (S Grant 11:54, R Darroch 12:00, R Findlay 11:48, I McCafferty 11:06); 2.  Springburn (J Rochford 12:31, D Tees 12:01, D Middleton 11:20, I Young 11:08); 3. Shettleston Harriers (G Skinner 11:17, G Kay 11:52, T Dolan 12:28, R Wedlock 11:44).   Fastest times: 1. I McCafferty 11:06; 2. I Young 11:08; 3. D Middleton 11:20.   Boys Six Miles: 1. Springburn Harriers (A ???6:07, B Morison 6:21, R Collins 7:53, E Knox 8:06); 2. Shettleston Harriers (R Pocock 6:11, W McVeigh 6:06, D Walker 8:17, R Thomson 8:??)

These Road Relays above, held on 13 October 1962 were strongly contested by Springburn’s younger teams – Eddie Sinclair was now coaching them and over the next several years they would be virtually unbeatable and would produce many top class athletes such as Duncan Middleton, Eddie Knox, Iain Young and Graham Williamson.

The actual 1962 Championships were held as usual on the first Saturday in December at Cleland Estate, and for the first time ever two brothers filled first and second places – no prizes for guessing Andy and Alex Brown who were followed by Henry Summerhill of Shettleston, but while there were only seconds between the brothers, there was over a minute between second and third places.   Motherwell, as expected took the team title.

As a footnote to the above results, if there is anything in heredity as far as running is concerned, there is not a lot of doubt about where the Brown brothers got their enthusiasm from.   The picture below is from the 1951 Edinburgh Marathon, and the figure second from the left in the dark Motherwell YMCA vest is called A. Brown.

The 1963 Track and Field Championships were held on Tuesday 21st May at Helenvale Track in Glasgow.    The journalists homed in on the fact that three records were broken but there was more to the meeting than that.   The report reads.   “Three records were made at the Lanarkshire Amateur Athletic Association championships last night at Helenvale Park.   JH Linaker (Motherwell) returned 14:30.8 for the three miles, beating AH Brown’s record of last year by 6.2 seconds, G Greenshields (Hamilton) reduced the time for the junior 880 yards by 1 1/2 seconds when he won in 2:0.6, and in the Youths 880 yards AD Middleton (Springburn) was 0.3 inside the previous best time with 2:00.1.   Other winners:- 

 Senior:  –  100 yards: J Burns (Shettleston) 10.9; 220 yards: D Burns (Hamilton); 440 yards: G Greenshields (Hamilton) 53.1; 880 yards: W Scally (Shettleston) 2:01.6; Mile: R McKay (Motherwell) 4:14; High jump: E Coyle (Shettleston) 5′ 4″; Discus: N Foster (Shettleston) 133′ 11″; Javelin: Foster 136′ 3″.

Junior:  –  100 yards: N Foster 11.1; 220 yards: Foster 23.8; 880 yards: G Greenshields 2:00.6; Mile: I McCafferty (Motherwell) 4:22.6.

Youths: –  100 yards:  J Gribben (Shettleston) 10.7; 880 yards: AD Middleton (Springburn) 2:00.1; High jump: P Dolan (Shettleston) 4′ 11″.

Boys:  –  100 yards: E Warren (Shettleston) 11.1; 880 yards: J Grogan (Shettleston) 2:13.4; 4 x 440 yards relay: Dalziel High School 1:32.

Names to be picked from the results?   Among the seniors the legendary Bill Scally of Shettleston who had an excellent record as a runner over all endurance events, who was a good club man and administrator and respected by all in the sport, Norman Foster who won four events, and probably took part in others, indicating his developing prowess as a decathlete, McCafferty of course in the Junior age group, and Duncan Middleton who went on to have a good career as an 880 yards runner and win the AAA’s indoor 880.  These were only the winners and there were probably other good competitors who finished second and third to them.   The LAAA was thriving.

Ian McCafferty (Motherwell) running in the 1969 International at Clydebank

The road relays in October 1963 showed a further development in the strength of the Motherwell YMCA squad when they rook first and second places in the championships, with three individuals in the six fastest times.    Jim Johnstone of Monkland Harriers led the field home at the end of the first lap with the kenspeckle Henry Summerhill of Shettleston in second.   McCafferty ran second for Motherwell and took them into a lead that was never lost thereafter.   Motherwell A beat Motherwell B by approximately 500 yards with the B team containing Bert McKay – a former county cross-country champion.    Results:

Senior: 1. Motherwell (W Marshall 14:30, I McCafferty 13:50, AH Brown 13:57, AP Brown 14:31); 2. Motherwell B (G Henderson 14:39, J Poulton 15:11, D Simpson 14:24, R McKay 14:11);  3. Shettleston (H Summerhill 14:14, G Kay 14:55, W Scally 14:51, L Meneely 14:43);  4. Cambuslang (G Kelly 15:14, G Eadie 14:04, R Kerr 14:51, W Burth 15:48); 5. Shettleston B (G McIver 14:57, GE Everett  14:34, G Skinner 15:30, H Docherty 15:11);  6. Monkland (J Johnston 14:01, T Callaghan 15:14, C Ballantine 15:51, W McBrinn 15:34.      Fastest Individuals:  1. I McCafferty 13:50; 2. AH Brown 13:57; 3. J Johnston 14:03; 4. G Eadie 14:04; 5. R McKay 14:11; 6. H Summerhill 14:14 

Youths eight miles: Team Race – 1. Springburn Harriers ( M McLean 10:50; E Knox, 9:21, H Gorman 10:40, D Middleton 10:00); 2. Motherwell YMCA (S Grant 10:18, D Jones 10:31, J Galloway 12:16, M McInulty 12:29).   Fastest Individuals:  1. E Knox 9:21; 2. D Middleton 10:00; 3. S Grant 10:18.

Boys (12-16): Team Race:  1.   Shettleston(J McAllister 7:18, R Gourlay 7:17, D Walker 6:52, H Inglis 6:52); 2. Springburn (N Souter 7:34, I Donnelly 7:12, G Cooke 7:02, D Robertson 7:04); 3.  Motherwell (A Johnstone 7:31, I Weir 7:35, I Haworth 6:58, J Giles 6:80.   Fastest Individuals:- 1. J Giles 6:40; 2.=  D Walker and H Inglis 6:52; 4. J Hill (Shettleston B) 6:57.    I Donnelly was the best performer in the 12 – 14 grade.

Eddie Knox taking over from Ian Young (Springburn) 

The 7th December was the date for the County Championships which were held at Cleland Estate in 1963 and, with three runners in the first four places, Motherwell easily won the title yet again.   Shettleston had three in the first eight which meant that they were second team.   McCafferty, still a junior, had a 30 yard lead at the end of the first lap and built it to 140 by the finish.   Brown was second with Jim Johnstone of Monkland 7 second further back.   The Youths team race was won by Springburn (three in six).   Eddie Knox won with Middleton second a full 100 yards adrift.   The results tell the story:-

Senior/Juniors:   1 I McCafferty(Motherwell) 33:28; 2. AH Brown (Motherwell) 33:52; 3. JR Johnstone (Monkland Harriers) 33:59;  4. D Simpson (Motherwell 34:11; 5. AP Brown (Motherwell) 34:32; 6 H Summerhill (Shettleston) 34:58.   Teams: 1.  Motherwell (McCafferty 1, Brown 2, Simpson 4); 2. Shettleston (Summerhill 6, IC Donald 7, W Scally 8); 3. Springburn (10, 11, 13).   

Youths three miles: 1. E Knox (Springburn 16:59, 2. AD Middleton 17:15: 3. R Wedlock (Shettleston) 17:30; 4. A Blamire (Shettleston) 17:40; 5. S Grant (Motherwell) 18:53; 6. H Gorman (Springburn)19:01.   Teams: 1. Springburn (1, 2, 6); 2. Shettleston (4,8,9); 3. Motherwell (5, 10, 15).

AD Middleton running in the McAndrew Relay 

The Inter-Counties races were held on 1st February 1964 and it was a win for Lanarkshire in the team race.   McCafferty won the race, held at Cleland Estate and Lanarkshire had the first five places in the race.   1.   I McCafferty (Motherwell) 34:30;  2. JR Johnstone (Monkland) 35:17;  3. D Simpson (Motherwell) 35:29;  4. H Summerhill (Shettleston) 35:47;  5. AH Brown (Motherwell) 36:22;  7.  T Cochrane (Beith); 8. A Carse (Edinburgh AC); 9. JL Stewart.    Team result:   1. Lanarkshire;  2. Midlothian;  3. Dunbartonshire.   Ayrshire and Stirlingshire had incomplete teams.   

Youths race:  1.  E Knox (Lanarkshire);  2.  AD Middleton (Lanarkshire); 3. R Wedlock (Lanarkshire); 4. W Eadie (Stirlingshire).    Team Race:  1. Lanarkshire;  2. Midlothian;  3. Dunbartonshire.

The Track Championships were held on 26th May – a Saturday as opposed to the traditional Tuesday meeting and again there were some new names to come to terms with.   McCafferty and McKay were 

The 1964 Road Relays were held on 10th October at Airdrie and Motherwell YMCA won again from Shettleston, this time by almost half a mile according to the Glasgow Herald.   Again Jim Johnstone of Monkland led at the end of the first lap, this time with the fastest time of the day despite all the top men, including McCafferty, running.   McCafferty ran the second stage for Motherwell, took them into the lead and, given that the next two runners were Andy Brown and Bert McKay there was no danger of them being caught.   Eddie Sinclair’s youths retained the Youths team title.   

A fairly well known journalist is credibly said to have commented to Andy Brown in the 1960’s that ‘these road and cross country races are all the same, the same people and teams winning all the time’.   If true, this preposterous remark might have been made after the Lanarkshire Championships in 1964.   There were the same first three (McCafferty, Brown and Johnstone, the next two (Simpson and Alex Brown) swapped places, and the first three teams were the same in both races.   Add in the Youths race with the same winning individual, same winning team and you can see how the remark might have had some surface justification.   On a day of steady rain with very heavy underfoot conditions, both winners set fastest times for the course.   McCafferty won by approximately 200 yards in a time 14 seconds quicker than previously, and Knox was two seconds faster and 500 yards up on team mate Freddie Farrell who was second.   Results: 

Seniors: 1. I McCafferty (Motherwell) 33:14; 2. AH Brown (Motherwell 33:48; 3. JR Johnstone (Monkland) 34:20; 4. AP Brown (Motherwell) 35:03; 5. D Simpson (Motherwell ) 35:14; 6. W Eadie (Strathclyde University) 35:29.   Team: 1. Motherwell (McCafferty, AH Brown, AP Brown); 2. Shettleston (W Scally 7, L Meneely 8, G Skinner 10); 3. Springburn (M Logie 9, D Tees 11, T O’Reilly 12).

Youths:- 1. E Knox (Springburn) 16:34;   2. F Farrell (Springburn) 17:57;   3. R Anderson (Cambuslang) 18:15.   Teams:   1. Springburn (Knox 1, Farrell 2, D Robertson 6);    2. Cambuslang (R Anderson 3, S McIntosh 8, W Devine  13);   3. Bellshill YMCA  (D Richmond  5, T Boyle 9, J Smith 14)

They were held on 5th December 1964 and there were, as always, several interesting characters running round the muddy fields in the rain that day.   Bellshill YMCA (the first time among the medals) had a youngster called T Boyle in ninth place – the same Tommy Boyle who would go on to be a world famous coach with athletes like Tom McKean, Yvonne Murray, Susan Scott and others training to his instructions.   There was Bob Anderson of Cambuslang, a good runner it is true, but a man who would be fearsome in his loyalty and devotion to Cambuslang Harriers and its competitive success.   Walter Eadie of Strathclyde University would go on to Scottish Junior international honours.  The progress through the age groups of Jim Johnstone, Bill Scally and others has been noted too, but see the two old stagers in Springburn’s senior team – Moir Logie (later to run for Tayside) and Tom O’Reilly with young Davie Tees sandwiched between is maybe worthy of note.    

Dick Wedlock, 3, in the Scottish vest leading the field at Elgoibar race, Lachie Stewart wearing number 1.

The Inter-Counties championship was held at Cleland Estate on 6th February, 1965 and consequently it would be to an extent organised by the LAAA committee working with the Inter-Counties Committee.   The senior men’s team was weakened by the absence of Ian McCafferty and Andy Brown who were racing on the Continent but still managed to win.   Lachie Stewart (Dunbartonshire) too the race from AA Carse (EAC and Midlothian) with Dick Wedlock (Motherwell and Lanarkshire third).   Wedlock is an interesting athlete.   He started his career as a Boy member of Shettleston and won individual races and contributed to team success for Shettleston.   When he moved to Motherwell, he joined the local club, although he would later return to Shettleston when his work took him back there.    Senior Team Result:-

1,  Lanarkshire (Wedlock 3, J Johnstone 4, AP Brown 5, D Simpson 8, M Logie 14, G Skinner 15);    2. City of Glasgow (J Brennan 6, WH Barrow 9, I McPherson 10, P McLagan 11, J McLaren 12, J Reilly 17)   3.  Dunbartonshire (JL Stewart 1, I Donald 7, J Maclachlan 20, G Grant 27, H McErlean 30, P Younger 33.     4. Renfrewshire  143 pts;   5. Midlothian  1710;   Ayrshire and Stirlingshire did not finish complete teams.  

There were also races for Youths and Boys – both won by teams from Lanarkshire.   Again, the most complete results for them come from Shettleston’s Clark Wallace (below).

The Lanarkshire Track and Field Championships in 1965 were held on Tuesday, 18th May – maybe the Saturday date in ’64 had not been a success – at Larkhall.   They were not well reported on.   All that could be found were some first places – you’ll see what that means from the following:

Senior Men:  100 yards A Robertson (Motherwell) 10.4 seconds; 880 yards R Wedlock (Motherwell) 2:00.8; Mile I McCafferty 4:20.2; Three Miles: I McCafferty 14:25.8.   Junior Men:  100 yards: R Hamilton (Dalziel HS) 10.4 seconds; 880 yards N McInulty (Motherwell) 2:08;  Youths: 100 yards: M Bell (Shettleston) 10.5 seconds; 880 yards: D Walker (Shettleston) 2:11.

Very few events mentioned – one sprint (no 220),  one middle distance event (no 440 and no mile apart from the Seniors) and  no field events at all.   If anyone has more complete results, we’d be glad to have them.

John Poulton crossing the finishing line for Motherwell YMCA in the 1964 Edinburgh – Glasgow

The 1965 road relay was reported in a novel fashion in the ‘Wishaw Press’ with its authenticity vouched for by the fact that it was in the Motherwell YMCA Harriers weekly column.   It read:   “Motherwell worked a permutation in their team last Saturday to allow the first two teams to be the Old  v.  The Young.   In the first lap they were as far back as 9th and 6th but with the first team men in each team coming up, we finished 1st and 2nd in the event – Lanarkshire Relay Champs.   Result – 1. Motherwell,  A McNulty 13:;23, R Wedlock 12:39, Alec Brown 11:54, I McCafferty 11:24  –  49:20.   2. Motherwell B – W Marshall 12:59, D Simpson 12:35, Andy Brown 11:48, R McKay 12:13 – 49:35.   3. Springburn Harriers 50:15.   Motherwell C were 11th with E Garry 13:56, E Moore 14:10, R Kennedy 15:48, J Poulton 13:37 – 51:31.   Fastest Times: 1.  Ian McCafferty 11:24;  2. Andy Brown 11:48;  3.  Alec Brown  11:54.   All Motherwell.

In the Youths event we were 6th – I Haworth 14:12, W Ford 14:59, J Dempsie 14:37, D Harkins 16:52 – 60:40; and 12th in the Boys section with T Warren 7:54, J Mullen 8:06, B Dow 8:27, G Dow 7:29  –  31:56.

Bill Scally passing the baton to Les Meneely in the Edinburgh to Glasgow.

The 1965 Championship was held in quite dreadful conditions at Bellshill at the start of December.   Add to that the absence of several of Motherwell’s top team men and the result of a win for Shettleston, it was not a good day for the holders.     The Youths had a particularly tough time when, after they thought that they had finished, they were told to run an extra lap.   Many dropped out at the thought, and one runner stopped for an estimated three minutes before setting out on his last lap.  It was a day for the tough men: First time in the senior/junior race Eddie Knox was second, Shettleston’s Bill Scally in fourth, Henry Summerhill in fifth typified the men for the conditions and the occasion.    The driving sleet and snow combined with ground that was rock hard, saw experienced cross-country runner Bert McKay of Motherwell, stop after one lap, put on his track suit and head for the dressing rooms.     Results:-

Senior Six Miles:   1.  I McCafferty (Motherwell)  31:23;  2. E Knox (Springburn) 31:58;  3. AP Brown (Motherwell) 32:11; 4.  W Scally (Shettleston);  5. H Summerhill (Shettleston); 6. G Skinner (Shettleston).               Team Race:  1. Shettleston (4, 5, 6);  2.  Motherwell (1, 3, 14); 3.  Springburn (2, 8, 9).

Youths Four Miles:  1. F Farrell (Springburn) 22:34;  2. M McMahon (Shettleston) 23:04;  3. D Walker (Shettleston) 23:19.  Team: Shettleston 10 pts

Boys: (14-16): 1. I Picken (Springburn); 2. N Souter (Springburn).

Tuesday, 24th May 1966 was the day and date of the Track and Field Championships which were held on the fast Helenvale track in Glasgow.   The headline act on the following day was Ian McCafferty running three miles in 13:28.4 with splits of 4:23.3, 9:00.8 for the mile and two miles.  The time was three seconds outside Fergus Murray’s Scottish record.   Bert McKay ran good mile of 4:13.9 which was only one tenth of a second outside Graham Everett’s record for the meeting.   Results:

Senior:  100: J Gribben (Shettleston) 10.5; 220: RR Mills (Airdrie) 24.2 seconds; 880: AD Middleton (Springburn) 1:58.1; Mile: R McKay (Motherwell) 4:13.9; Three Miles I McCafferty (Motherwell) 13:28.4; Medley Relay (880, 220, 220, 440) Shettleston 3:42.4

Junior: 100 yards: M Bell (Shettleston) 11 sec; 220: Bell 24 sec; 880: E Knox (Springburn) 1:59.2; Mile: Knox 4:26.4

Youth: 100 yards: JB McDonald (Springburn) 11 sec; 880: G Buchanan (Motherwell) 2:05.8; Relay ( one lap, 2 x half a lap, one lap) Shettleston 2:35

Boy: 100: J Cunningham (Hamilton) 11.5 sec; 880: A Gibson (Shettleston) 2:11; Relay: one lap, (two x quarter a lap, half lap) Airdrie 1:41.6

*

The 1966 senior road relay was won by Springburn with a team led by Eddie Knox, from Shettleston, whose fastest was Bill Scally, and Motherwell was third – less than 200 yards up on Monkland Harriers.   Well, there was no McCafferty, there was no McKay, no David Simpson for a start off and then there may be some who would quibble about the team running order but the reasoning was clear to see.   But the strength of the other teams has to be recognised, especially the young Springburn quartet whom Eddie Sinclair had coached through the age groups – the winning squad were Davie Tees (12:38), AD Middleton 12:49, Iain Young 12:42, Eddie Knox 12:27.   The Shettleston team consisted of Les Meneely (13:00), Bill Scally (12:20), Henry Summerhill (12:36) and Martin McMahon (12:51), none of whom were in the veteran category either.   The Motherwell team was built around the Brown brothers with Alex (12:27) second and Andy (11:55) third.   Willie Marshall (13:09) on the first leg had just received his life member’s badge for 20 years service to the club and Howarth (13:58) on the last leg was an unknown quantity.   For the complete story of the day, the Glasgow Herald report, including results is below.

Having looked at the results of the Road Relays above (8th October 66) it is possible to see the generations of young Springburn runners lining up one behind the others – Senior/Juniors have Knox, Young, Middleton and Tees, Youths have Nickie Souter, the Beanie Brothers and George Jarvie.   More than that, there were three sets of brothers in the Springburn squad (the two Beanie boys, the two Pickens and the two Lunn brothers) and all coached by Eddie Sinclair.   The steady and continued progress of Jim Johnstone at Monkland is also a hint that a distance runner doesn’t need a great team around him to progress – although the club at that time had older runners like Willie McBrinn, Tommy Callaghan, Willie Drysdale who could and would advise the younger member. 

Looking ahead a bit: The Shettleston team that won the English National in 1971.   Many of them learned their trade in the 60’s.

Back Row: Bill Scally, Henry Summerhill, Dick Wedlock, Norman Morrison and Alistair Blamire

Front Row: Les Meneely, Tommy Paterson, Lachie Stewart and Tom Grubb

Below is the report on the 1966 LAAA Cross-Country championship of 1966 held at Motherwell.   It marked the return of Wedlock to Shettleston but not eligible to compete as a team member at that point in the transition, he ran well enough to be third individual behind McCafferty and Alex Brown.  Ron Marshall’s report in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ was headed  McCAFFERTY EASY WINNER OF LANARKSHIRE TITLE’ and continued that ‘on a bitterly cold afternoon at the playing fields of Dalziel High School in Cleland, Lanarkshire’s Cross-Country Championships were held.   It was no clever job foreseeing the winner of the Senior title, but his manner of doing so was unexpected.”   It continued:

A wee bit patronising about the Springburn support, at best going for a cheap laugh, but a full report and fairly detailed results.   But it was a victory for Motherwell nonetheless although after losing the team championship to Shettleston in 1965 and the relays to Springburn in 1966, the question was maybe was the tide turning?   Just as Shettleston completely dominated the 50’s, Motherwell had been the top team in the 60’s so far; the Sinclair Conveyor Belt of young athletes was making Springburn much more of a force to be reckoned with.   Add in the return of Lineker to Pitreavie, his job in Motherwell done, and of Wedlock to Shettleston, and the future was intriguing.   That the 60’s so far, 61 – 66, had belonged to Motherwell YMCA is clear from the table below.   Not a single championship winner from any other club and only one athlete had been faster in the relays.

Graham Everett: Winner of the LAAA Cross-Country Championship 1956

Starting with the summer season in 1956 it is maybe appropriate to look at the range of tasks undertaken by the Association in the few years since its inauguration.   The county track and field championships were held on the 5th of June at Hannah Park, Shotts, with the results showing that at least eight clubs took part with several very well known and respected athletes taking part – McKay, Everett, Brown McGhee, Watt, Cairns and W Morrison of Larkhall would become a medal winning half-miler.   

For those competing who did not win a medal, a good performance might earn them a standard certificate.    Standard certificates were awarded at club level with standard medals at the national championship for those athletes reaching a pre-determined meritorious level of performance – standard times would be in the club handbook or in the meeting programme.   The Lanarkshire Association awarded their own certificates.   One of Shettleston’s Bill Scally’s certificates for the above meeting is below.

The road race held at the meeting had its own certificates and, although this example dates from the 1960’s, it demonstrates the point that the LAAA did much more than just organise cross-country relays and races.   Both runners were consistent performers for their club in countty district and national events and there will be more about them.

Shettleston Harriers won the Lanarkshire Amateur Athletics Association (LAAA) cross-country championship six times in the first seven runnings of the county championships, but between 1956 and 1960 the only winner was Graham Everett who won in 1956 and 1960.  The other winners were Andy Brown, Motherwell YMCA, in ’57, Bert McKay, also Motherwell, in ’58 and Andy Brown again in ’59.   These three victories were maybe a sign that dominance in the county was about to change direction.   But first there were the Road Relays.

The County Road Relay championships were held on 20th October 1956 at Shotts with events for Junior/Senior Men, Youths (Under 17) and Boys (Under 15).   The Senior race was won by the Shettleston A team of George Govan, Clark Wallace, Joe McGhee and Graham Everett from the Motherwell team of Bert McKay, Bryce McRoberts, Andy Brown and Tom Scott with Springburn’s quartet of John McCormick, Danny Wilmoth, Jon Rooney and Johnny Ballantyne.   Fastest times were by Andy Brown (11:54), Graham Everett (12:10) and Joe McGhee (12:16).   The Youths relay over a total distance of 6 miles was won by Shettleston A (T Malone, J Kay, L Botfield, D Drye) from Shettleston B (E Somerhill, W Hendry, J Hannah, W Keenan) and Larkhall YMCA in third (D Gebbie, W Dick, D Anderson, G Leggate) with the fastest times coming from T Malone and E Somerhill (Shettleston) both 8:00 and D Drye as third fastest (8:04) also from Shetlleston.   In the Boys race, Shettleston A (R Taylor, B McMonnagle, W Cunningham) won from Shettleston B in second and Motherwell YMCA in third.   The fastest times were by D Stein (Shotts Welfare) 7:21 and D Cunningham (Shettleston) 8:13.   

It was quite a tour de force by Shettleston – 3 team golds, two team silvers and on the individual count, all three fast time medals in the Youths race went to the club as did the second fastest in Senior and Boys plus third in the Senior race.  

Andy Brown

The County Championships in 1956 were held on 1st December at Hamilton.   Shettleston continued their run of success as this report shows.   It was a pity that Andy Brown could not run – it might have made for an even more interesting race. 

Into summer 1957 and the Lanarkshire Championships were held on Tuesday, 11th June at the Shettleston headquarters of Barrachnie.   The report reads.   “GE Everett, the Scottish Mile champion and record holder, who returned from the Continent on Monday after his successes there easily won the Lanarkshire AAA mile championship last night at Barrachnie beating a clubmate, JL Hendry, a former Scottish Junior Mile champion, by 25 yards in 4:13.1.   Another notable winner at the meeting was AH Brown (Motherwell YMCA) the Scottish six-mile champion, who won the Three Miles in in 14:49.    Other winners:-

100 yards: RM Steven (Shettleston) 10.4;   220 yards: G Reid (Shettleston) 24.5;   440 yards: E Reilly (Cambuslang) 52.5; 880 yards: A McNally (Shettleston) 1:57.4;   10 Miles: JM Kerr (Airdrie) 1:05:03;    Medley Relay: Cambuslang, 3:47.8;   120 yards hurdles: WG Montgomery (Cambuslang) 17.5; Shot Putt:  D Nicholson (Shettleston) 38′ 1″;   Discus: Nicholson  87′ 8″

Junior Events: 100 yards: G Reid (Shettleston) 10.6;   880 yards: J Kay (Shettleston) 2:06.8;   Mile:  L Botfield (Shettleston) 4:35.8;   120 yards hurdles: G Reid (Shettleston) 18.3;    Javelin: A Deas (Dalziel HS) 98′ 2″

Youth Events: 100 yards J McNulty (Shettleston) 10.9;   80 metres hurdles: A Gardiner (Motherwell YMCA) 11.5;  880- yards: W Hendry (Airdrie) 2:09.6; High Jump: J McKay (Dalziel HS) 4′ 8″.

Interesting list of events with hurdles races at all age groups and there were several absences such as Joe McGhee and Bert McKay who may have been competing elsewhere but again the host club had arrived mob-handed and their presence was shown.   The Road Relays were held on 11th October, 1957, and, like the track championships, were held at Barrachnie.   The results, however,  were a bit more balanced.

The Senior Championships resulted in a victory for the home club again and the story is told by the times and places.

The Youths and Boys races were held at Motherwell on the 19th October and the Youths race had seven finishing teams – 1.   Shettleston;  2. Springburn;  3. Motherwell;  4. Shettleston B;   5. Hamilton;   6. Motherwell YMCA B; 7. Shettleston C.   Fastest times were by B McKnight (Motherwell) 16:11, W McGurk Shettleston 16:24, and H Summerhill (Shettleston) 16:29.   There were six teams of Boys competing and they finished like this:   1. Shettleston A; 2. Shotts Welfare;  3. Shettleston B; 4. Springburn A; 5. Motherwell YMCA; and 6 Springburn B with fastest times being run by W Rennie (Shettleston) 5:26, W  Forrest (Shotts) 5:28 and G Mackie (Shotts) 5:34.    

Graham Everett to Eddie Bannon in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay

The 1957 Cross-Country Championships were held on 7th December at Auchengeich Colliery.   (Note that Pit Baths were often used in some parts of Scotland as changing facilities – often for a one-off race headquarters or in some cases as regular training HQs for local clubs – the washing facilities and the warmth inside the buildings were factors behind it.)   There were reports in many of the papers but as so often, Clark Wallace’s Shettleston Spreadsheet gave so much more factual information.   Note that although there was the regular club team awards, the original Ballot Team was included in the day’s agenda.

For a report on the race, we turn again to the ‘Glasgow Herald’.   “AH Brown (Motherwell YMCA), Scottish six-mile track champion showed his form on Saturday when he won the Lanarkshire senior cross-country title over a heavy double three mile course from Auchinairn.   He beat J McCormack (Springburn Harriers) by 100 yards in 31 min 9 sec with GE Everett (Shettleston Harriers) third, another 70 yards behind.   Springburn Harriers beat Shettleston Harriers who were without E Bannon by seven points for the team title, which was held by Shettleston.   At the half distance, Everett was forcing the pace, with McCormack  and Brown not far behind, and it was clear that Springburn, with T O’Reilly and E Sinclair well up, would be pressing Shettleston in the team event.   

YOUTHS EVENT   A Cowie (Springburn) was the outstanding competitor in the Youths 3 mile championship.   He beat J Bogan (Hamilton Harriers), a very promising runner, by 150 yards, with B McKnight (Motherwell) third, another 60 yards behind.   Springburn also beat Shettleston for this team title, winning by six points.”

Graham Everett winning the West District Mile in 1958 

In summer 1958 the Association changed their date for the championships to the last Tuesday in the month (26th) and it was held at Larkhall.   The report in the Glasgow was very short.   “GE Everett (Shettleston), the Scottish mile champion, last night won the Lanarkshire senior 880 yards title at Larkhall.   He beat J Thomson (Motherwell) YMCA by 30 yards in the good time of 1:57.7.   The other feature of this fixture was the sprint win of A Watt (Shotts Welfare AC) who won the junior 100 yards championship in the fast time of 9.9 seconds.   He later won the senior 220 yards championships in 24.9 seconds.   Other results:-

440 yards: W Morrison (Larkhall) 53.5 sec; Mile: R McKay (Motherwell) 4:22.5; Three Miles: AH Brown (Motherwell) 14:47.1; 10 miles road race: G Eadie (Cambuslang) 51:15; Hop, step and jump: R Gray (Shettleston) 46′ 3″.

That unfortunately is the report and results in their entirety.   Note that Motherwell at this time shared the services of Jim Thomson with Glasgow-based Victoria Park AAC whom he represented in the West District Track Championships.    The Shettleston paper had this report  (Spiker is of course Clark Wallace):

The road relays were held at Barrachnie in 1958 and again, although some of the National dailies did not report on the event, the Glasgow ‘Eastern Standard’ did and John McKay donated this report.

All the big names had turned out – Everett, McGhee, Brown, McKay and the rest – and Shettleston had been triumphant at the finish.  Motherwell had two of the three fastest times though. So much for the relays and it was onwards to the championships and the question was who, of the Brown, Everett, McKay, McGhee  would prevail over the longer distance?   Nor should such as Tom O’Reilly and Eddie Sinclair of Springburn be forgotten   An Interesting race to look forward to. 

Bert McKay, Motherwell YMCA, 1958 LAAA Cross-Country Champion

When it came to the Lanarkshire Cross-Country Championships in 1958, the title went to Motherwell YMCA for the second year in succession:   not Andy Brown this time but his friend and team mate Bert McKay, maybe better known as a miler than as a cross-country runner despite a very good record over several winter seasons.    The ‘Glasgow Herald’ reported on that race as well as the Youths race.   

“R McKay (Motherwell YMCA) who is better known as a track miler, won the Lanarkshire five and a half mile cross-country title decided over a  double course on Saturday in the vicinity of the new Duncanrig School, East Kilbride.   At half distance he looked a certain winner, for he was running strongly and within himself while the holder, AH Brown of the same club, not so happy, ran in fourth place, fully 50 yards behind.   McKay added to his lead over the final circuit of undulating country and produced a powerful finish.   He beat his nearest rival Eddie Sinclair (Springburn Harriers)  by 60 yards and P McParland (Springburn) was third, a further 20 yards behind.   Brown, obviously not fully recovered from his tendon strain, finished tenth.   Springburn retained the team title more easily than expected with the low tally of nine points by placing their three counting runners in second, third and fourth positions.   

J Bogan (Hamilton), who was running as an individual, won the youths three miles very narrowly from J Johnston (Monkland Harriers)who gave him a tremendous race down the finishing straight with only a yard separating them.   T Grantham (Springburn was third, 60 yards behind.   Shettleston Harriers regained the youths team title with an aggregate of 18 points – 10 points fewer than Springburn, the holders.   Springburn’s B team finished third with 36 points.”

Results: Senior 5 1/2 miles.   1. R McKay (Motherwell) 24:12; 2. E Sinclair (Springburn) 24:22; 3. P McParland (Springburn) 24:26;  4. J McCormack (Springburn); 5. T O’Reilly (Springburn; 6. T Kelly (Shettleston).         Team race:  1. Springburn (E Sinclair 2, P McParland 3, J McCormack 4) 9 pts;   2. Motherwell (R McKay 1, J Poulton 9, AH Brown 10) – 20;  3. Shettleston (T Kelly 6, W Gorman 13, C Wallace 15) – 34.   

Youths Championship: 1. J Bogan (Hamilton) 11:59;  2. J Johnston (Monkland) 12:00.  3. T Grantham (Springburn) 12:12.   Team race:  1. Shettleston (W Rennie 5, C Briggs 7, W Scally 6)  – 18.   2.  Springburn (T Grantham 3, R Sinclair 12, W Russell 13) – 28.   3. Shettleston B (J Carroll 10, J Scott 1, R Fletcher 15) – 36.

The track championships the following summer were on 26th May, 1959,  at Shotts’ Hannah Park.   “GE Everett (Shettleston), the British and Scottish mile champion, broke the Lanarkshire half mile record when he retained that title last night at Shotts.   Everett’s time of 1:57.3 was 0.4 seconds faster than his previous best.   He reached the tape six yards ahead of R McKay (Motherwell) who had stayed with him until about 100 yards from the finish. 

Everett completed a double when he comfortably won the mile in 4:22.6.   J Young (Springburn) had a double in the sprints.   He had a walk-over in his 100 yards heat and won the final in 10.2 seconds.   Later he won the 220 yards in 24.2 seconds.   AH Brown (Motherwell), the British YMCA cross-country champion, retained his county Three Mile title with a time of 14:45.1 and won the 10 miles, the time not being recorded.    S Lyons (Shotts) won the shot with a putt of 39 feet.   M Wilkinson (Shotts) set up a new record in the Boys’ 75 yards track race.   His time of 8.1 seconds was the fastest time returned in the country over the distance.   Other results:- Junior 100 yards JC Smith (Shettleston) 10.3; 880 yards: G Dewar (Shettleston) 2:04.3.   Youths 100 yards: A Robertson (Motherwell) 10.5; Long jump: L Spence (Shettleston) 19′ 2″; Boys 880 yards: J Grant (Monkland) 2:12.5.

George Govan of Shettleston leading John Wright and Joe Connolly in the National Cross-Country Championship

The 1959 Rd Relays were held on the 10th October at Coatbridge and resulted in two team victories for Shettleston.   The report read: 

“Shettleston Harriers were again prominent in the Lanarkshire road relay championships at Coatbridge.   They retained the senior and youths’ titles and finished second in the boys’ event.   R McKay, running in Motherwell YMCA’s second team, led the field over the first relay but G Govan running the third leg for Shettleston went ahead and eventually gave G Everett a commanding lead.   Over the final relay AH Brown, in Motherwell’s first team, put in a powerful effort and overhauled several runners for third place behind Everett and E Reilly (Cambuslang).   Results:- 

Senior 10 miles relay – 1. Shettleston (C Wallace 11:17, T Malone 11:25, G Govan 11:20, GE Everett 10:46)  44:48;   2. Cambuslang (G Eadie 11:24, W Kelly 11:46, D Kerr 11:21, E Reilly 11:02) 45:33;  3. Motherwell YMCA (B McRoberts 11:34, W McKnight 11:40, T Scott 11:45, AH Brown 10:38) 45:37.   Fastest Individual Times:- 1. AH Brown 10:38; 2. GE Everett (Shettleston) 10:46; 3. R McKay (Motherwell) 11:00; 4. E Reilly (Cambuslang) 11:02; 5. E Sinclair (Springburn) 11:07; 6. J McGhee (Shettleston) 11:16.

Youths eight miles relay:- 1. Shettleston (C Briggs 9:18, W Rennie 8:58, W Stein 9:55, W Scally 8:57) 37:08; 2. Monkland (J Finn 8:52, T Gallacher 9:15, E Marshall 10:30, J Johnstone 8:54) 37:31; 3. Springburn (R Sinclair 9:00, J Keenan 9:01, A Forbes 9:21, R Crawford 10:25) 37:47.   Fastest Individual Time: J Finn (Monkland) 8:52

Boys four and a half mile relay: 1.   Monkland 23:36; 2. Shettleston 23:48; 3. Springburn 24:26.

Eddie Sinclair (24) and Tom O’Reilly (27), both Springburn Harriers with Ian Harris of Beith after the Spean Bridge 10 Miles race

On  5th December 1959 the story in the Lanarkshire championshsips was Andy Brown regaining the cross-country title when the event was held at Dalziel Estate, Motherwell.   It was a simple story – Brown went straight into the lead, by half way round the six mile trail, he was 160 yards in the lead with Shettlest, on’s George Govan in second, followed by Eddie Sinclair (Springburn) and Gordon Eadie (Cambuslang).    Brown doubled the lead over the second half of the race and finished comparatively fresh in 31:03 from Sinclair.    Shettleston was without the services of Joe McGhee who arrived too late for the start.   The team race saw Cambuslang, Shettleston and Springburn with equal points.    Cambuslang got the verdict because their third counting runner was ahead of the two others.   Springburn who were the holders were placed third – not a good way to lose a title.   Monkland Harriers won the Youths race from Shettleston by the margin of one single point.   Jim Finn (Monkland) won the title.   

Individual race:- 1.   AH Brown 31:03; 2. E Sinclair 32:04; 3. Govan 32:09; 4. G Eadie (Cambuslang) 32:13; 5. G Gorman (Shettleston) 32:59; 6. J Poulton (Motherwell) 33:03.   Team Race:- 1.   Cambuslang (G Eadie, K Kelly 8, JM Kerr 16) 28; 2. Motherwell (Brown 1, Poulton 6, W McKnight 21)   Youths Race:- 1. J Finn 15:27; 2. W Scally (Shettleston) 15:43;  3.  J Johnston (Monkland) 15:41.   Team Race: 1. Monkland (Finn 1, Johnston 3, Grant 8); 2. Shettleston (Scally 2, C Briggs 5, W Rennie 6) 13; 3. Shettleston B (W Stein 10, J Baird 14, Davidson 18) 42.

The race highlights as picked out by a local paper:

The track championships were on 26th May, 1959,  at Shotts’ Hannah Park.   

Then on 9th August 1960 there was a meeting at Barrachnie which consisted of a series of road relays and the county 10 mile championships.   The 10 miles was an interesting race which had many very well known names for years to come on the start list – and not all as runners.   The result first:

1st:    H Summerhill   Shettleston Harriers   60:23

2nd:   AC Gibson         Hamilton Harriers      60:34

3rd;   M Logie              Springburn Harriers   60:48

4th:   W McBrinn        Monkland Harriers     61:54

5th:   D Simpson         Motherwell YMCA       62:44

6th:   T Malone            Shettleston Harriers    62:50

7th= I Donald              Shettleston Harriers     65:47

7th:= T Scott                Motherwell YMCA             ”

8th:   J Kerr                  Airdrie Harriers             68:03

9th:   A Naylor             Shettleston Harriers     68:11 

10th:   F Simpson       Shettleston Harriers      68:16 

11th:   A Reid               Springburn Harriers      82:13 

12th:   J McEachren  Shettleston Harriers      82:28 

13th: R Wotherspoon  retired

If we look down the list we note that Henry Summerhill was a long time Shettleston member who won medals of all colours on road and over the country, Alex Gibson was a Scottish cross-country international runner, Moir Logie was a good servant at Springburn who performed the same service for Tayside when he moved to that are, Willie McBrinn was a good marathon runner and veteran harrier who eventually joined Shettleston, Davie Simpson was a Scottish cross-country internationalist, Tom Malone was also a very good runner on road and country who, after emigrating to South Africa won the Comrades Marathon, Ian Donald was a very good runner indeed on all surfaces who won medals of all colours in the Shettleston colours, Tom Scott was a loyal member of his club who was killed in a car crash on his way to an English marathon and his team mate set up the well known 10 mile road race in his memory, John Kerr became a Scottish marathon champion, Alex Naylor is better known as a coach, (Scottish group coach for all endurance events), and administrator ( President of the SAAA) and Fraser Simpson was a member of the Fire Service who set up many races on its behalf.    A remarkable field.   The other races that day were 

• A Mile Medley Relay won by Shettleston in 3:44.9, from Springburn Harriers and Airdrie Harriers
• A Junior Relay won by Shettleston from Airdrie (only two teams ran)
• Senior Two Miles won by G Everett in 9:01.6 from E Sinclair and T O’Reilly (both Springburn), W Drysdale (Monkland) and W Morrison (Larkhall) retired.   
• A Junior 880 yards (6 ran) won by J Bremner (Springburn Harriers) in 2:11 from J Grant, T Gallagher (both Monkland), J Murray (Airdrie), A Callaghan (Monkland) and I Calder (Springburn)
• Youths 100 Yards won by A Robertson (Motherwell ) 11.1 from D Burns (Hamilton), B McMillan (Hamilton), J Grant (Monkland), T Callaghan (Monkland)
• Boys 880 Yards was won by R Findlay (Motherwell) in 2:18.9 from G Skinner (Shotts), A O’Boyle (Shettleston) and R Morrison (Shettleston).
• Boys 75 Yards won by A O’Boyle (Shettleston) in 9.4 seconds from A McAllister (Motherwell) and  (No initial given) Skinner (Shettleston). 

Almost exactly two months later the County Road Relays were held on 10th October at Larkhall when Motherwell triumphed in the Senior race and Monkland in the Youths.   The race was covered in the Glasgow Herald: “Motherwell YMCA deprived Shettleston Harriers of the Lanarkshire senior relay road title at Larkhall on Saturday when they led throughout the 10-mile event and won by 70 yards in 42:53 with Springburn Harriers third, about 200 yards behind Shettleston.   This rather surprising defeat of Shettleston was largely caused by the absence from the team of AJ Wood.   R McKay took the lead for Motherwell over the first relay from T O’Reilly (Springburn) and T Malone (Shettleston).   Shettleston stayed in third place until the penultimate relay.   AH Brown (Motherwell) was however given a 60 yard lead over GE Everett for the final leg and eventually extended his advantage by 10 yards.   Monkland were topo strong for their rivals in the Youths race and won by one minute fifty one seconds from Springburn with Shettleston third, another 30 seconds behind Springburn.   J Finn (Monkland) the holder of the Scottish youths’ cross-country title, had the fastest time over the two and three-quarter mile course of 11:11.   The best of the Boys’ two-grade race from twelve to sixteen years resulted in a win for Shettleston and the fastest relay of one and a quarter miles was registered by R Findlay (Shotts) whose team failed to finish in the first three.”

David Simpson, Motherwell YMCA

For some reason the 1960 LAAA Championship, held on the usual first Saturday in December, was not covered in the national papers – or none that we could find – but there is and account of the races in the  Motherwell Times.    Although it concentrates on the local team, it gives a fair account of the proceedings.      Owing to the foot and mouth disease the Lanarkshire cross-country championships could not be run over the country and a road trail was substituted.   The winner was Graham Everett of Shettleston, who beat Andy Brown by 13 seconds.   We were second team home in both the senior and youths’ team race with young Alex Brown just failing to equal his brother’s second place – Alex was third home in the youths’ race.   Our senior team was AH Brown 2nd, D Simpson 6th, and J Poulton 10th with W Marshall backing up in 13th position. “B” team finished 10th with D Young 26th, T Grantham 29th, J Hoey 49th and T Muir 52nd.   Youths Team had Alex Brown 3rd, J Dickman 7th, J Lewis 18th and C Devon fourth man in 28th place.   Dalziel High School boys D Goodman and J Dunn finished 23rd and 24th.   All who competed deserve praise for finishing the course in such wet and blustery conditions.   A word of praise also for the officials who had not dry clothes to change into at the finish.

Results:- individual – 1. G Everett, Shettleston 30:42; 2. AH Brown, Motherwell 30:55; 3. T O’Reilly, Springburn 31:58.   Senior teams: 1. Shettleston 13 points; 2. Motherwell 18 ; 3. Shettleston B  34.   

Youths:- 1. J Finn, Monkland 15:56; 2. J Grant, Monkland 16:10; 3. Alex Brown, Motherwell 16:23.   Youths teams:  1. Monkland 8; 2. Motherwell 28; 3. Shettleston 29.

Monkland Harriers visit us tomorrow (Saturday).   A good turn out is requested.   Eatables to be brought for the “after-run” tea.

CRUACHAN

And that’s a typical local weekly paper which usually appeared on a Wednesday or Friday after the race, telling the natives how the teams fared but giving the others a fair coverage and a look forward to the  next fixture.   Remember that there were quite a few inter-club friendly runs on clear weekends with Fast, Medium and Slow packs covering a trail devised by the host club and followed by a shower (or at Springburn there was a huge plunge bath where all the runners piled in) and a ‘purvey’ which was often a pie or a sausage roll or even sandwiches followed by home baking supplied by the club’s women members and/or the wives of the male runners.   This latter was often consumed in a committee room or even in the changing space but at Greenock Glenpark there were tables for four set out with table cloths on them which were set out while the runners were doing their thing.   Lanarkshire clubs were no different in that respect.

See also  Lanarkshire AAA 1956 – 60    Lanarkshire AAA 1961 – 1966    Lanarkshire AAA 1967 – 1970   .

Lanarkshire AAA: 1971 – 1975   Lanarkshire AAA: 1976 – 80   Lanarkshire AAA: ’49-80 Recap

Ben Bickerton (Shettleston, first winner of the Lanarkshire Cross-Country Championship.

The importance of local associations to the development of the sport, probably particularly the County Associations, is sometimes overlooked.   They organised county events – cross-country relays and championships, track championships, selected teams for inter-counties matches and helped local clubs organise and operate their own races.    There were more in the West of Scotland  eg there were Associations in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire before the 1939-45 War, those of Dunbartonshire and Lanarkshire started up after the War, the Glasgow Association was rather short lived with its members splitting between the four mentioned above but there were also groupings of clubs elsewhere, eg Stirlingshire.   

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A great deal of the early information below was recorded by Shettleston Harriers Clark Wallace – like many of his generation in clubs across Scotland he was runner, club official, administrator and more beside.   He was one of those whose motto was “You do what your club needs you to do.”    Many of the race results below came from his club notices as club captain in the 1950s: we are fortunate in that they were kept and that the information is available to us now.   It has been passed on to us by John Mackay of Shettleston and we are grateful for that.   A few words about the man:

Clark Wallace was an easily recognisable, good natured, hard running competitor at every distance up to the marathon and a key member of many club teams for a long period.   Off the track he was a tireless worker for the club too.   He had one international vest – in 1953 when he was thirty third finisher and a counting runner for the Scottish team.    He joined the club after the War at the same time as Willie Laing and both were to play big parts in the development of the post-war club.   Clark was a big heavy built man, not at all your typical distance runner.   His record in the National was Sixteen Races; Seven Gold, One Silver, Four Bronze

 He was equally at home on the road and he competed in nineteen Edinburgh to Glasgow Relays.   He ran in both 1949 races on the first stage and both times set fastest time for the stage, in 1950 he was fastest man on the fourth stage and in 1955 was again fastest on the fourth stage.   In total he amassed six gold team medals, seven silver and one bronze to add to his cross-country collection.   As a result of these he was an indispensable part of the London-Brighton team (the first two Scottish teams were invited to the National London to Brighton) and he took part in no fewer than eleven of these.   Always at home on the roads he was third in the SAAA Marathon Championships from Westerlands in 1963.   On the track, he was second in the SAAA Two Miles Steeplechase in 1954, third in the 3000m steeplechase in 1955 and second in 1956 and 1958.  

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The date when the Lanarkshire Amateur Athletic Association was first constituted is not clear.   We have this correspondence which it will be noted is dated 2nd February, 1949.   There is clearly an Association that had been up and running before that, and that the secretary was Bobby Craigen.   

The Lanarkshire Association’s first race was cross-country championship for Youths held at Wishaw and we are fortunate to have, courtesy of John Mackay, a completed programme for this event.   

The Press had short reports like this from the ‘Glasgow Herald’  “J Finlayson (Hamilton Harriers) was the outstanding runner in the Lanarkshire youths three-mile championship race at Wishaw.   He beat T Lambert (Springburn) by 150 yards.   J McNeill (Shettleston) was third 15 yards behind Lambert.   In the team race, Shettleston Harriers held a four-point margin over Hamilton Harriers with Motherwell third, three points worse than Hamilton.”   There followed results down to third place in all categories.     There is more detail than in either of the above in the results, as noted by Clark Wallace below.   Finlayson was clearly the best Youth athlete in the country, a fact that he proved when he won the Midlands District Championship and the national championship too.

Note some of the names in these results – a young Andy Brown from Motherwell who would go on to win the senior national championships and captain the Scottish cross-country team, finishing fourth.    It is sometimes forgotten that the county associations held track and field meetings as well as cross-country and road.   

The County Championship was held on 16th January 1950 at Cambuslang and Ben Bickerton beat team mate Jim Flockhart by 150 yards with Alex Gibson of Hamilton not far behind him.   There was no club team award that year with a ballot team race being incorporated instead.   The idea behind the ballot team race, which was quite common practice at the time, was to give runners in smaller clubs a chance of winning a prize that would otherwise be denied them.   All entrants from all clubs were grouped in three bundles according to ability, and teams were selected by athletes selected at random, one from each pile, to make a team. with the result being calculated as for any team race.

The first LAAA track championships were held on 4th July in 1950 at Helenvale Track in Glasgow and the results indicate that there were at least  6 clubs competing, ie Shettleston Harriers, Hamilton Harriers, Monkland Harriers, Larkhall YMCA, Springburn Harriers and Lanarkshire Constabulary.   We know from the above results that other member clubs included Motherwell YMCA making a total of 7.   The number was probably higher than that but even what we know, gives us a strong grouping  providing support and competition for each other.   

The report in the Glasgow Herald read: 

T TRACEY WINS MILE CHAMPIONSHIP  

Lanarkshire AAA Titles

T Tracey (Springburn Harriers), the Scottish three miles champion, and B Bickerton (Shettleston Harriers), the Scottish six miles champion, were notable competitors in the Lanarkshire Amateur Athletic Association Championships held last night at Helenvale Park.   Travey ran a well-judged race to win the mile from E Bannon (Shettleston Harriers) in 4 min 30.1 sec.   Bickerton dropped out when the pressure was applied over the last furlong of the race.   DK Gracie, holder of the 100 yards championship, did not compete, apparently reserving himself for the Scottish Universities  v  English Universities contest at Newcastle tonight.”

Results:

If we look at the names above we see several Scottish international athletes – Tracey was a top class runner in anybody’s reckoning especially over the country and on the road, Ben Bickerton was also an internationalist as was Eddie Bannon of Shettleston.  And was young G Craig the same George Craig who won the SAAA 6 miles title and ran for Scotland over the country as a senior?

Tommy Tracey (Springburn Harriers)

The cross-country season did not end at that point – the Inter-Counties Championship made its debut on 18th March and was held at Bishopbriggs with the Springburn Harriers club house as race HQ.    The original programme with entry lists was saved by Clark Wallace and can be seen below.

The result of the race was a win for Renfrewshire with 24 points with the other teams in order being Lanarkshire 125 points and Dunbartonshire 155 points.   The top individuals were W Lennie (Vale of Leven and Dunbartonshire) in 33:52, Tom Stevenson (Greenock Wellpark and Renfrewshire) 34:00 and Eddie Bannon (Shettleston and Lanarkshire) 34:16.

Walter Lennie (Vale of Leven and Dunbartonshire)

The second county cross-country championships were held on 2nd December in 1950.  The Senior Championship featured the same three as contested the County event on the track in July.   Tracey won by 150 yards from Bickerton with Bannon in third place.   Finlayson won the Youths race from Andy Brown with Tommy Limerick of Hamilton in third.   As explained above the Lanarkshire championships for senior men did not have  a team championship but rather a Ballot Team race.  

The Inter-Counties 6 miles Cross-Country Championship was held at Stirling on 16th December 1950 with four teams in contention.   The ‘Scots Athlete’ reported the results as below.   The sport was being rebuilt after the War with a ladder of progression being developed on cross-country as on track with club, county, inter-counties, district and national being the rungs up to the ultimate – the international.   The first Inter-Counties was reported on above and, as on that occasion, there were only four counties competing in the second.

The Track and Field Championships were held on Wednesday 4th July at Carluke and we know from the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser that Monkland Harriers were taking part and won three prizes but other results have so far been hard to get hold of and the next LAAA organised events were in the Cross Country season with the first being the Road Relay Championship at Motherwell on 27th October.   

Traditionally October is the month of road relays which ease the runners into the cross-country season.   At 4 x 2+ miles they serve the double purpose of sharpening the road runners and strengthening the track men for the coming longer events.   At their best in the 80’s and 90’s they were in order, McAndrew Relays at Victoria Park on the first Saturday in October, then the country championships, the Midlands and the National relays.  A gradual and deliberate progression in intensity devised and organised by the grass roots of the sport.  So it was that on  October 27th, 1951, the Lanarkshire Road Relay Race was held in Motherwell.    The race results as written out longhand by Clark Wallace are below.    Six clubs, seven teams.   Fastest times from I Tierney of Cambuslang Harriers with two Springburn men – J Gordon 7:39, and J McDonald 7:48  –  in second and third.   Joe Gordon was a very good runner who went on to be a very well known folk singer.   

The championship was held on 1st December, 1951, with 50 runners representing seven clubs were forward in the Senior Race and the Glasgow Herald report read: “E Bannon (Shettleston Harriers) beat T Tracey (Springburn Harriers) the holder, by 200 yards in the Lanarkshire Six Mile  County Cross-Country Championships at Shettleston on Saturday, winning in the fine time of 31 min 38 sec over a four lap course.   D Neilson (Motherwell YMCA) was third, about 170 yards behind Tracey.   For the Youths title, J Stevenson (Larkhall) beat the fancied candidate I Tierney of Cambuslang by 90 yards with J Lyle (Cambuslang) third, four yards behind Tierney.   The team contest ended in a tie between Springburn (J McDonald 4, J Gordon 6, P McParlane 8) and Cambuslang (I Tierney 1J Lyle 2 and J Farrell 15) with 18 points.   Shettleston Harriers (W Steel 5, J Miller 7, C Smith 9) were third.”

Eddie Bannon (Shettleston Harriers)

The Lanarkshire Association was one which supported the new Inter-Counties Championship and this was held on 12th January at Westerton and in 1952 was contested by only two teams – Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire.   Lanarkshire won more than comfortably with 51 points to Dunbartonshire’s 164.   The winning team was led home by of T Tracey 1, D Nelson 2, AC Gibson 3, AH Brown 5, J Finlayson 6  and J Eadie while the top six from Dunbartonshire were A Kidd  3, D Coupland 12, R Black 16, J Robertson 18, W Crowe 20, P Ballance 20.   This would go to be a fairly important fixture with Ayrshire and Bellahouston to join followed by other counties, mainly from the west of Scotland.

The County Track Championships in 1952 were held on Wednesday, 11th June, at Shotts and the short report from the ‘Glasgow Herald’ reads:

Short but interesting the victory in the junior mile was to be one of the first of many that Graham Everett was to win and second placed Finlayson confirmed his ability by also winning the junior half mile.   

The Glasgow Herald, of course, covered the relays on October 25th as part of its sporting coverage with – 

CAMBUSLANG RUN SPLENDIDLY

Cambuslang Harriers again proved their power on Saturday when at Inveresk, Coatbridge, they won the Lanarkshire eight mile relay championship for the second year in succession in the good time of 47 min 12 sec.   Springburn Harriers were second 90 yards behind and Shettleston Harriers A third a further 200 yards away.  Shettleston A led at the end of the second lap, but F Ross and I Tierney, who had the fastest time of the day. ran splendidly for the winners over the last four miles.   Young P McParlane, running last for Springburn, made a great effort to overtake Tierney and his time was only a second slower.   Details:-

1.   Cambuslang Harriers (W Mulrooney 9:57, W Morton 9:21, F Ross 9:18, I Tierney 8:57) 57:12;
2. Springburn Harriers (R Gaw 9:55, J O’Hare 9:20, D Harold 9:27, P McParlane 9:8:58) 57:28.   
3. Shettleston Harriers (J Miller 9:27, C Wallace 9:25, I Richardson 9:55, I Cloudsley 9:22) 57:58. Fastest lap times:- 1.   Tierney 8:57;    2. McParlane 8:58;    3. W Drysdale 9:13.

Lots of interesting names there too – note Clark Wallace on the second leg for Shettleston handing over to Ian Cloudsley who would win the Scottish Under 17 championship the following season.   Pat McParlane of Springburn would be a very good Junior runner and win the Scottish national cross-country in 1955/56.   

Clark Wallace passing the baton to Eddie Bannon in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay

The cross-country individual and team championships were held on 29th November that year at Dalziel Estate in Motherwell.   Report:

Despite fog and consequent poor visibility the Lanarkshire Cross-Country Championships for seniors and youths were carried through successfully in the Dalziel Estate, Motherwell.   E Bannon (Shettleston Harriers) was never seriously challenged for the senior title although J Finlayson (Hamilton Harriers) endeavoured for a time to keep pace with him.   Over the second half of the journey Bannon drew clear of the field of over 60 competitors and won by 100 yards in the good time of 55 min 50 sec.   Finlayson was second and J Fleming (Cambuslang Harriers) third, about 150 yards behind the Hamilton runner.   

The team contest was won by Shettleston whose counting trio of Bannon 1, C Wallace 4 and J Eadie 8 aggregated 13 points, beating Hamilton (J Finlayson 2, AC Gibson 7 and H Gibson 10) by a margin of six points.   The senior ballot team race run in conjunction with this event was won by C Wallace (Shettleston) 4, AH Brown (Motherwell) 6 and TD Reid (Larkhall) 21, who had a total of 21 points.   The Youths 3 mile championship was closely contested, I Tierney (Cambuslang) just beating P McParland (Springburn Harriers) in the good time of 17 min 1 sec.   F Ross (Cambuslang was third.   The team race ended in favour of Cambuslang (I Tierney 1, F Ross 3, and R Morton 4) with eight points.”

The 1950’s would be the decade when Shettleston dominated the event: they won the individual championship 7 times and the team championship 6 times and Eddie Bannon had 5 consecutive victories, while in the road relays (only instituted in 1953) there were 7 victories.   Clark Wallace’s Lanarkshire medals from the 1950’s, photographed by John Mackay, are below.

Into summer 1953 and the LAAA Track & Field Championships were held at Motherwell Stadium on Tuesday 9th June and the local ‘Motherwell Times had a good report as shown below.

The Road Relays were held on 16th October, 1953, at Shettleston while the host club’s rivals were competing at Dundee in the Kingsway Relays.    The ‘Herald’ reported that “Last year’s winners were again successful on Saturday.   Shettleston Harriers took the first two places in the senior race and the first in the junior at the Lanarkshire championships at Shettleston over 10 miles.   The holders A team took the lead in the senior race after the first lap.   E Bannon, running fourth, returned the excellent time for the 2 1/2 miles of 12 min 11 sec – the fastest time of the day – and finished more t5han a quarter of a mile in front of the Shettleston B team.  Springburn Harriers were third a farther 70 yards behind.   In the Youths race over 2 miles Shettleston led all the way and beat Springburn Harriers by more than 100 yards.   Monkland Harriers were third 130 yards behind Springburn.   Shettleton’s first runner T McCluskey had the fastest time of 10 min 5 sec for the 2 mile course.”

December 6th was the date in 1953 for the Lanarkshire Cross-Country Championships to be held at Cambuslang.   Clark Wallace had laid out the results immaculately on a double sheet of lined foolscap – an early spreadsheet but easier to manage.

It was a very high standard field indeed, Shettleston’s Bannon led a whole series of current or future internationalists – McLaren, Tracey, Fleming, Gibson, Reid, Fox, Stevenson among the seniors and in the Youths age group we have Cloudsley and Eddie Sinclair who would be a Scottish internationalist on track and over the road before becoming a well-known coach.    

The Lanarkshire Track and Field Championships were to be held on Tuesday, June 8th, 1954, at Helenvale Park in Glasgow with events for Seniors, Juniors and youths and the 12 mile road race was an unusual inclusion for any county’s Track and Field Championships.   The ‘Herald’ picked out JL Donnelly of Hamilton (three first places  shot discus and javelin), P Spalding of Shettleston (100 in 10.2 and 220 in 23.9) as meritorious performers but racked Tommy Tracey’s Two Mile victory, by only one single yard, over John McLaren of Shotts in 9:24.6.   It was another night when there were many very good athletes on display – eg DK Gracie, Scottish and British international sprinter and Olympic hurdler won the 440 yards, AH Brown won the Mile, Andy Fleming of Cambuslang won the 12 miles road race and Eddie Sinclair won the Junior Mile. 

DK Gracie

Came October 1954 and the traditional road relays were held and the event had lost none of its class as regards the quality of runners taking part.   If we just look at the results we see many who were famous at the time and others who would soon become so.   For instance TP O’Reilly (Tommy) was making his first appearance in these races with Joe McGhee (Scottish marathon champions both and McGhee of course would be Empire Games champion before the year was out.   George Govan was no mean performer either and Danny Wilmoth would become of the best known, best liked and most respected officials in the country.

In the club and individual championships of the county on 4th December, 1954, at East Kilbride, over a water logged, two lap trail, the two big names both turned out and battled for the title with Finlayson, now running for Glasgow University making his bid to win his first Senior title.    Bannon however prevailed to win his fourth county championship – although he was very fortunate to do so.

The track and field championships were held on Tuesday 8th June at Helenvale and the standard was as high as ever with some new names added.   The results as published show this as far as the winners were concerned but there were more down the field coming through.   Look at the results first.   

Senior: 100 yards: S Hunter (Shettleston) 11.1;   220 yards: P Spalding (Shettleston) 24.2;  440 yards: N Duncan (Larkhall) 53.7 sec.  880 yards: A McGown (Shettleston) 2:00.05;    Mile: G Everett (Shettleston) 4:18.4;   Two Miles: J McLaren (Shotts) 9:34.5;  12 miles road race: H Fox (Shettleston) 1:03:54.   

Juniors: 100 yards: W Montgomery (Cambuslang);  Mile: M Steven (Cambuslang) 4:46.8; Relay ( 2 x 105 yards + 2 x 220 yards) Cambuslang 1:08.8

Youths: 100 yards: A Watson (Shettleston) 11.1 sec; 880 yards: J Kay (Shettleston) 2:08.2

Graham Everett is of course a bit of a legend in the sport in Scotland with many international appearances on the track and over the country, but John McLaren of Shotts would go on to great things as a member of Victoria Park AAC 0 he was already British Junior Cross-Country champion.   He had been only one yard behind Tommy Tracey in this event the previous year, in 1955 he had an easier win when he beat J Finlayson by 150 yards.

John McLaren (Shotts) winning the British junior cross-country championship

The Road Relays were held at Cambuslang on 15th October and Shettleston were first and second teams in the senior race with Springburn third, and also took first place in the Youths race.    To provide the first two teams  indicated a real strength in depth for the upcoming Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay in November.   In the Youths race the club had two very good runners in T Malone and J Kay – Malone would be a real asset to the club before he emigrated to South Africa where he took to ultra long distances and won the Comrades Marathon.

The Championship was another triumph for Eddie Bannon, who recorded his fifth victory in the event and for Shettleston in the team race – this time their B team was third with Springburn splitting them both.  Andy Brown of Motherwell was second, sandwiched between Bannon and McGhee, and only 3 seconds behind the former.  In the Youths race, Springburn provided the victor and the winning team as they had done the previous year.

Undoubtedly the first five years were a triumph for the organisers and those whose decision it was to start the LAAA in the beginning.   Shettleston was the dominant team at this point but would it continue to be so?

Graham often picked the best spot on a road or cross-country race, or the best part of a track race, to get runners battling it out head to head.  At times he caught the very moment when the decisive break was made – note the first two examples below – at others the two man head to head was captured and then the victor on his own.   One of the former was in the Bathgate 10K road race in 1985 when Alex Gilmour of Cambuslang (05) and Lawrie Spence of Spango Valley (02) were in a duel for supremacy.   The first two of Graham’s pics show the breakaway by Gilmour.

Below: An example from the SAAA marathon 1985

SAAA Marathon: Evan Cameron, Alex Robertson, Colin Youngson and Graham Getty

Colin edges ahead

Shoulder to shoulder before Evan makes the break

Evan not only wins but laps third placed Graham Getty

Edinburgh 10 Start, good field including Mike Carroll (825) and Lindsey Robertson (1595)

Mike Carroll, Jim Brown 666 – the race is on

And within sight of the finish, Mike Carroll moves off.   And does the inclusion of the woman in the background add to the picture?   Graham could easily have left her out.

Neil Tennant leads Peter Fleming and Lawrie Spence early in the race

From four runners to two – Neil and Peter shoulder to shoulder at almost exactly the same place a lap or so later

And then there was one: Neil breaks away – he won by a distance.

Brian Carty and Davie Fairweather, Cairnpapple Hill Race 1985, battling it out with Brian edging away

Brian Carty approaches the finish alone.

Stevie Began (Springburn) and Rob Carey (Annan) had a great tussle until Stevie broke away – caught in the act above

Steve Begen (Springburn)  is away, National, Irvine, 1986

Edinburgh University 10, 1985, the struggle for supremacy after the pack has been dropped, Evan Cameron, Richie Barrie, Peter Fleming, Andy Daly

Evan wins – you can see the effort required in his face!

Nat Muir (Shettleston) and Peter Fleming (Bellahouston), National, at Falkirk

We have established that Graham was a keen runner and he has been running through five decades now with no sign of stopping.    But maybe we know him better as a photographer of quality.   How did he get into the photography business?  

Always interested in photography, it was only when he went to Edinburgh Art College in 1983 that he managed to buy himself a camera using part of his student grant.   When he went to see his pals running, he started taking his camera along with him.   At that time he didn’t have what he calls “a fancy camera with motor drive or a huge assortment of lenses” and sometimes he didn’t have the required cash to buy a lot of film.   Being resourceful he decided to send the pictures that he took to magazines to cover his costs and also get some cash to buy the aforementioned film and also to get some pictures of Scottish running events out there.  He sent his photographs to Athletics Weekly who bought them, to the many magazines that appeared during the ‘running boom’ and Scottish publications like ‘Scotland’s Runner’.  This all paid for film, prints and travel. When he moved to London in 1988 he gave up running and photographing events.    Most of the negatives ended up in a box at his Dad’s.

It would be a mistake, of course, to say that he only used his camera to take photographs of athletics.   The British Culture Archive has a gallery of his pictures which starts 

“British Culture Archive

As a young punk from Broxburn in West Lothian, Graham MacIndoe started out on his creative path studying painting at Edinburgh College of Art.   That all changed when Graham developed a serious passion for photography, documenting street life around 1980s Edinburgh, creating intimate portraits of ordinary people going about their day-to-day lives.

Ordinary People

He went out every weekend when he wasn’t in the painting studios at college, taking lots of photographs.   He wanted to document the real Edinburgh – the ordinary people in the working class parts of the city, away from the tourist attractions that are portrayed across the world, places like Craigmillar, Wester Hailes and Pilton.”

You can read more and see the photos that he took away from athletics in the 1980’s at the British Culture Archive website page

https://britishculturearchive.co.uk/edinburgh-in-the-1980s-graham-macindoe/

Back to the athletics though.   By 1991 he was married with a son and at that point moved to New York City where he continued and developed his interest in photography by working in photo galleries – and he also resumed his own running.   When he got his green card, he set up in business as a freelance photographer working for magazines, design and advertising companies.

Several years ago he came across the negatives again and started scanning them and putting them up on Facebook.

So much for the athletics photographs – how about the profession away from sport?   He has been, he says, “Lucky enough to travel the world taking photographs and has worked for IBM, ESPN, MasterCard, Fidelity, New York Times magazine and The Guardian magazine.    He has also photographed many celebrities – such as Desmond Tutu, Tony Bennett, Gary Oldman, White Stripes, The National, Craig Ferguson, Frank Gehry and probably the most famous of them all, Michael Jackson.    

His photography goes wider than just the commercial work of a high standard.   His biography as noted on his website (grahammacindoe.com ) says:

Like all athletes, this runner/photographer has been snapped a few times himself.   Maybe not all to the same high standard as his own but certainly some good ones.   Running since the 1980’s he is still getting in the miles in the third decade of the twenty first century.   If you doubt for a second that he’s a runner, look at the delight on the faces of the ‘old guys’ both in Scotland and New York.   Some pictures are also on the other pages but the collection is interesting in its own right.  Some pictures – 

IN SCOTLAND

Brother Fraser Macindoe in Edinburgh Half Marathon, 1985

Fraser again – the Rannoch Marathon, also 1985

IN USA

New York 1996

New York, 1999

GRAHAM IN ACTION 1986: Falkirk Half Marathon

Graham Macindoe (Edinburgh Southern Harriers and New York City Harriers) was born in Broxburn on 13th March 1963.   Maybe better known to us as a photographer of many high quality photographs and, through them, memories and at times moments of inspiration.  Where did his running all begin?   

– How did you get started? “I got into the sport through a couple of friends who were running and because I liked Steve Ovett. I was never a great runner but stuck at it and ran some okay times and I’m still running regularly.”   

-Were you coached?   The group I trained with were coached by a guy called Ronnie O’Byrne. He was a good coach and even though I was on the slower side compared to some of the others he always gave me plenty of time. He was known for selling running shoes and spikes out the back of his car at races too.

– Was there anyone locally that particularly helped or inspired you?  I’d been running for a while when I was introduced to Brian Carty who worked in the Leyland Factory in Bathgate with my dad. He was a big influence and I ran with him occasionally on his long runs. When I moved to Edinburgh I joined ESH and got to know quite a few of those guys and especially Evan Cameron, Sandy Cameron and Neil Thin amongst others. I trained with Scott Cohen a bit back then and got to know Mark Fallows who I’m still friends with as we both live here in the US as does Scott. We even get out for a run together now and again. 

– during what years were you competing? I ran competitively off and on in Scotland during the mid ’80s then moved to London, but family life and college reduced my running a lot. I restarted when I moved to NY in 1992 and ran some of my best times then. At home I ran a few District Championships and one National but mostly did 10k, 10 mile and half marathons on the road. I only ran as a senior as I only started running when I was about 19. I’ve managed to keep running reasonably injury free and still run most days. Last time I was back I did a few nice runs with John Gladwin (the Scottish one) and Alex Robertson. 

Incidentally, Alex Robertson said that they had two great days training when Graham was back home recently and said that he had done a lot with Evan Cameron, and adds: “I did not even know he was taking all these photos of us back in the day. I am glad he has given us great memories through his posting.   All I would like to say is a big thank you Graham, because you have given us some great memories by posting all these photos.   Thanks from all the guys of the 80’s.”

-How did you get into running in the States?   I just started running again to keep fit then saw a couple of races locally, so I ran in them, did okay and joined a local club. Soon after I met my mate Patrick and ran with him – we both ran 1:13 in a half soon after. We still run together and did 11 miles the other day. I took a lot of pics in NY too but lost them during my divorce along with other stuff. 

Mark Fallows, Scott Cohen and Graham in Brooklyn

Running in NY as he does now, he really enjoys training with Mark Fallows, ex-Edinburgh AC, and Scott Cohen, formerly of Edinburgh AC, Reebok Racing Club and Mizuno AC, which you can tell by looking at the picture above!

Although he now lives in New York, he keeps his interest in Scottish athletics alive via his Facebook page, on his visits back to Scotland and contact with friends.   Back in 2015, his Dad found some old programmes in the local Thrift Shop and on investigation found that they had belonged to Andy Forbes who, in many of them, had noted results.   He sent them on to Graham who let us see them and we have them up on this site at  Andy Forbes’ Programmes page.   The programmes are

*mainly from the 50’s and 60’s but include some from the 1970’s,

*include some from the AAA’s Cross-Country and the SAAA Cross-Country Championships

*SAAA and Glasgow Championships

*include Rangers Sports and some Highland Games.

He’s a lucky man to have a collection that belonged to a man who was an Empire Games silver medallist, Scottish track and cross-country champion and all round top class athlete.   Just a few shown below.   

After the Broxburn 5 miler, 1984 : Graham, Dave Howard and his brother Fraser 

It should be noted that Graham has always had good runners to train with – for instance, Evan Cameron was a top class endurance runner and Alex Robertson (14:36 5000m, 30:40 10000m, 9:03 steeplechase) was also a very good athlete at home.   In America he has been running with Mark Fallows (1:51 800m, 3:43 1500m) and Scott Cohen (8:30 3000m, 14:41 5000m, 31:26 10000m and 2:18 marathon).   He himself was a useful runner with a 32+ 10K and a best time of 1:13 for the half marathon.

He currently lives in Brooklyn in NYC and has a 32 year old son, Liam.    He also continues to run for keep-fit purposes and follows the progress of Scottish running.   He becomes a V60 in March this year and has been running, with a short hiatus, since he was a junior man and he is still smiling in all the running photos I have seen.   The man’s a real runner.

Finishing in the Bathgate 10K, mid 1980s

 Like all enthusiasts he has his collection of mementos: note the Kenyan vest and photograph with a famous signature below.

  A Kenyan vest and a signed photograph of Kip Keino: that one came from a friend working on the  Commonwealth Games Baton relay, he printed out the photo, got it signed and managed to get a vest too.    He also has a Steve Moneghetti Commonwealth Games shorts and jacket given to him by Steve himself!   How about that, then?

We cannot do a profile of Graham without including the photographs.   Follow at the links below for some info about his career as a photographer and a look at just a few of his photographs of the Scottish scene.   The photographs and his Facebook page have been the source of a great deal of pleasure to athletes in Scotland, some athletes have rekindled friendships as a result and all have had their memories freshened up.   

Graham Macindoe –  Photographer   Graham and His Friends    

Gallery of Champions            The Marathon (1)             The Marathon (2)            Track             Race Starts             Making the Break   

All athletes have  photographs of themselves in action that presents themselves as they want to be seen, or as they think they were when they were running really well.   Sometimes a family member or another runner takes such a picture but often there is something in the background that is not quite right, or it isn’t framed quite right and half of a leg is out of shot, or whatever.   Graham has taken photographs of runners of all standards that are ones that the subjects would like to see on the wall at home, or on the sideboard or mantelpiece.  This page will have a dozen champions taken in full flight.

Allister Hutton

Bobby Quinn

Tommy Murray, 1986

Yvonne Murray, 1985

Liz Lynch, 1986

Elspeth Turner

Christine Haskett Price

Colin Donnelly

Terry Mitchell

John Graham

We all have runners that we particularly look up to:  One of Graham’s is Brian Carty (above) 

Nat Muir

John Robson

Don Ritchie

Graham Williamson

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This page has pictures of race starts – mainly but not exclusively cross-country – and a few taken just after the start.   He knows which photographs are important to the runners and distance running aficionados – the straight on as the athletes thunder towards the viewer, the side on where the runners action can be seen, from a position high up looking down on the runners, sometimes from high up looking down at the front of the charge that is the race start.   Have a look at these.

National Cross-Country Championships, 1985, Youths

Juniors, 1985

The National, Irvine 1986

A really unusual view of runners toiling up the Dragon Hill, with the ghouls waiting at the top.   Supporter shouts – 

“You can pick up some places here!”..moments later …   “Hold your place” … “Keep running!”  … “Well, walk fast!”

Not a start?  No, but I remember a friend setting up his cine camera at the start of a National but at the wrong side and when the gun went, the runners headed off away from the camera!

The Junior Championship (always the smallest field) in 1986

The National, Callander Park, 1987: note that out of the hundreds in this picture, many of them can be recognised by looking at the faces – a dramatics picture indicating the size of the occasion with amazing clarity .

Youths National, 1987

Change of surface: Start of Six Stage Road Relay 1986: very clear – all runners can be named by looking at their faces.   

Livingston, 1985, Youths Race

Kodak 10K, Glasgow 1986

Nigel Barge Road Race, 1985

Gaymer’s Women’s 3000m Glasgow 1985

Edinburgh to Glasgow, 1986, Start

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