Author: The Author

Adrian (8) following Paul Forbes

Photo courtesy Bill Blair

We were all saddened by news of the death of Adrian Weatherhead – a very talented, respected but in some ways under rated athlete.  No matter the surface, road, track or country, he excelled and gained Scottish honours.   His very good friend Peter Hoffmann wrote the following tribute.

Paul Forbes, Peter Hoffmann and Adrian

TEMPUS FUGIT

Very sadly, Adrian Weatherhead died suddenly in Faro Portugal on Sunday, 9th October, 2022.

He was a very dear friend and a great mentor to Paul Forbes and me for over half a century

We loved Adrian to bits.

Since 1996 on my regular visits from the Highlands down the A9 to the capital, at the top of my to do list was to arrange for the three of us to meet up for coffee, usually at Starbucks Holy Corner.

In more recent years my elder son Will would sometimes join us as did Jack Davidson on occasion too.

I knew what our get-togethers meant to me. But when Adrian’s wife Jean telephoned me on Thursday evening with the devastating news she told me how much he looked forward to our coffees with keen anticipation, I don’t think I’d quite realised what they meant to him too.

Jean mentioned how much he liked a photograph that Will had taken of the three of us outside Starbucks. I’m glad that he did. I have one or two others from previous such occasions over the years. I’m so glad to have captured some of those moments.

Paul and my relationship with Adrian go back 50 years.

And although in our very early years it may have been slightly different because of the 12 year age difference between us it somehow never felt like that. As Jack astutely remarked to me yesterday “He was like a 20- or 30-year-old with his cheery upbeat outgoing personality.”

When I saw him over the past summer he was as vibrant and chatty as ever making it difficult to get a word in edgeways! Over the decades it was always an absolute delight and pleasure to meet up to enjoy some great craic, laughter and fun peppered with wide-ranging conversations, not just about athletics, when we also tried to sort out the world, including that bastard Vladimir Putin!

For some unknown reason lost in the mists of time I began keeping journals back at the start of 1971. Adrian crops up regularly. During the past decade it occurred to me that not everyone did the same. They went on to become the basis for several books including a few athletics books including A Life In A Day In A Year – A Postcard From Meadowbank and Audacity and Idiocy. Adrian of course features prominently in these books.

It means that from the mists of time I can conjure up some aspects of our shared lives together rather than those just based on fading memories.

Our Edinburgh based athletics training group in the 1970s met up for several years under the direction of Bill Walker. On golden autumn days; on cold winter mornings and then on warm spring and early summer weekends, we met up to train. An integral part of the group was Adrian, a sub 4 minute miler; plus GB 400 metres hurdles international Norman Gregor; World Student Games 400 metres silver medallist, Roger Jenkins and his brother David Jenkins who in 1975 was the number one quarter miler in the world – the best on the planet (and at the time a clean athlete); Paul Forbes a 1 minute 45 second half miler and 3 times Commonwealth Games athlete as well as myself a European Silver medallist and Olympian.

In the winter if we ran 6 x 500 metres each one of us led out a repetition. It was usually down to Adrian to take on the final effort. He was always the strongest athlete in the group. We trained over various distances running like the deer in efforts between 200 and 1200 metres. And if you wanted to watch us train, it was impossible to get a seat at the Meadowbank café window because so many people gathered to witness those halcyon occasions.

As an athlete Adrian was as straight as a die and as hard as nails. And despite Paul and my small successes somehow Adrian out-gunned us both with his sub 4 minute mile in 3 minutes 57 seconds. It doesn’t really come much better than having that moniker throughout your life and to be remembered by.

Adrian was a very modest individual. He was honest and straight talking too but in a thoughtful and kind way – a lovely balance. He openly admitted that he wasn’t a great natural talent. Indeed I think his school sports master at Stewart’s told him that he would never make it as an athlete. OOOPS! BIG MISTAKE! Adrian was the last person to say that to!

In the days when running careers were much shorter I suspect Adrian may well have been close to being the oldest sub 4 minute miler in the world. His 3 minutes 57 second mile suggested to me a man who got close to the absolute best out of himself. But that said if he hadn’t been injured in his 36th year in 1978 I wonder just how fast he could have run a mile that season. Certainly over that previous autumn, winter and spring he regularly roughed Paul and me up in training when I debuted seriously at 800 metres more or less immediately running 1 minute 46 seconds.

Meadowbank gave Paul and me a sense of acceptance and friendship within a larger community as well as within smaller groups. We were so very fortunate to find such good role models as Adrian and come under his wing as detailed in the book A Life In A Day. Here below is one extract that captures those days:

27th November 1977 I was able to join Adrian and Paul for training today. I awoke at half past eight. It was a glorious Sunday morning out – really wonderful. There wasn’t a breath of wind not even a zephyr which is most unusual for Edinburgh. The ground was hard as iron with a heavy white hoar frost covering the landscape. I collected the Sunday newspapers and took our Fox-Terrier to Portobello Park. The temperature was minus three yet it didn’t feel that cold so long as you kept on the move. The dog and I had fun trying to catch leaves as they fluttered downwards from the tree branches high up above. All things considered I ran a fair session at lunchtime but I blew up on the last run. Because of the freezing temperature we decided to half the length of the recoveries so that we didn’t get too cold hanging around in between repetitions. Afterwards the three of us ran a steady 6 miles around Craigentinny Golf Course which was closed to the golfers. It’s always a great way to finish off a Sunday. I’m enjoying some aspects of half mile training and because Adrian ensures we only do a recovery run at an easy pace there’s some great craic between us. We discuss ideas about training and racing but also talk about politics – the whole gamut and in between enjoy some good laughs too. It was one of my most enjoyable runs ever all enhanced with it being a cold still and crisp afternoon with a beautiful orange globe sun sinking into the west…

Within a few years Paul and I started to get picked for Scottish international teams and then British teams too. In 1974 Adrian was our sole track victor over 1500 metres in Oslo Norway. Over the next four years we regularly flew together to such destinations as Munich; Athens; Dresden; Nice etc, and our friendship grew. And on occasion when he couldn’t run because of injury he might put a stopwatch on us in training proffering some excellent advice too.

When you share a life together throughout the four seasons of the year training in all weathers you get to know a person pretty well. Adrian was someone you could absolutely depend and bank upon.

13th January 1979 Last night was the coldest ever recorded temperature in Edinburgh – minus 27 degrees. Adrian and Ross Nicol and I ran a track session after the rescheduled New Year Sprint. It was the coldest I’ve ever run in and as in the cartoons my hands had gone stiff with the extreme temperature.

We enjoyed some funny moments too. When I lived in London, Adrian and Paul stayed overnight with me for the AAAs Championships. I record:

13th July 1979 Paul and Adrian came back to the flat. Paul and I sat up chatting into the wee sma’ hours. 3:30 a.m. – terrible! Somebody’s alarm went off and Adrian didn’t know what the fuck had hit him! Trust Paul and me to see the funny side of it!

Adrian was a regular figure to be seen during the working week gliding around The Meadows each lunchtime. You could set your clock by him. I regularly used to join him there on a couple of occasions each week. Sometimes I was amused at how some pretty solid athletes joined us but usually after only a few minutes thereafter disappeared off into the distance because we were running too slowly!

Adrian’s training philosophy was that too many athletes at that time did their aerobic running far too quickly and their track sessions far too slowly. His regular thrice-weekly track sessions were hard hard efforts – pretty tough sessions whereas everything in-between was easy.

Despite his high-stepping style akin to a thoroughbred horse which wasn’t best suited to cross-country running, when he turned out for what was his annual venture over the country at the Scottish Championships in the early 1970s on three occasions he finished an astonishing second in a race six times his specialist distance leaving the afore-mentioned fellow Meadows athletes in the dust!

The brilliant Andy McKean said that when he looked round nervously at Adrian prancing over the muddy ground not far behind him it gave him a fright. I actually believe his best chance to win the championship was in 1972 on his local course when the ground was crisp and flattish but he instead chose to run indoors for Great Britain in San Sebastian Spain. In later years when I asked him if he regretted that decision he told me in atypical straight-talking terms Not at all Pete – my preference would always be to race for Britain. As for me I’d have raced at Riccarton!

In the very early days when Paul and I first ventured down to Meadowbank Adrian often trained with the great professional miler Jimmy Gray. They put in some fearsome sessions together. But Adrian was no fan of the other code. In later years if we met for lunch and the topic came up he was pretty outspoken about some of the shenanigans that went on with some of the bookies and other controlling voices. But he had a deep respect for Jimmy and warmed to the likes of Freddy Bell too who was a wonderful character in his own right.

Throughout his long life Adrian remained incredibly fit. After he retired he kept to an almost identical pattern of training, day in, day out.

By the early 1990s he did his standard middle distance sessions up at Campbell Park, Colinton, a stone’s throw from where I lived. We had a lovely wee arrangement whereby we never contacted each other but knew the days and the likely times when he would be there. As in days of old we enjoyed those companionable sessions in each other’s company particularly in the warm-ups and the warm downs when we could talk and bore for Scotland! Adrian remained as fit as a butcher’s dug. And whilst I was less so, with my speed we were pretty eaksy-peaksy making for lots of fun on the springy grass throughout the 4 seasons of the year. Sweet memories.

Another astonishing dimension to Adrian was that when he hit 40 he refused to be classified as a veteran. Atypically he decided to try out some occasional road racing. He was quite brilliant at that too, winning races against athletes half his age. And so that it wouldn’t get too much in the way of his Saturday and his training he turned out for Edinburgh Athletic Club on the first leg of the famous Edinburgh-Glasgow Road Race usually handing over in first place. He then went out and ran a couple of Grangemouth Round the Houses Road 10k road races in approximately 29 minutes, possibly close to the existing World Veteran’s records at the time, not that he was interested in them.

But as to his legendary grit! I recall him telling one astonished well-kent local athletics coach that you had to be prepared to die if you wished to maximise your ability at middle distance running! Paul and I were in awe of this aspect of Adrian but equally so his incredible self-discipline.

Our Campbell Park sessions came to an end in 1996 just before I moved to the Highlands when Adrian was getting cramps during sessions in his thigh. Most unfortunately it turned out to be a blockage in an artery. When he received the bad news he jettisoned the likes of cheese and chocolate from his diet. And in that respect he had the discipline to remain below his racing weight and the ascetic qualities and sensibilities of a monk, not that he was religious, indeed quite the opposite.

Into old age he followed the spirit and approach to life as exuded in Tennyson’s great poem:

Ulysses

’Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

Push off, and sitting well in order smite

The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds

To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths

Of all the western stars, until I die.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:

It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,

And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.

Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’

We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield …

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

If he was free my son Will loved to join Adrian, Paul and me for our coffees. Like Jack he warmed to Adrian’s exuberance finding him such an interesting character. Being a lawyer and a good listener he was genuinely interested in Adrian asking him questions on many aspects of training and health which Adrian greatly enjoyed responding too in his articulate and detailed way.

As Jean said to me Adrian greatly loved his life including many other interests such as astronomy, shooting and playing the guitar.

Adrian was a life-enhancing character, who if you’re very lucky, you come across in life. He was engaging, warm and outgoing. I’m glad he so enjoyed his moment in the sun. I know both Paul and I feel very privileged to have been able to share some of those moments which were and remain an important part of our lives together on our journey with him.

My last contact with Adrian was a month or so ago to wish him a happy 79th birthday. He thanked me responding Tempus fugit

Tempus fugit indeed and very lovely and sweet memories of Adrian stepping out over the landscape in the years when we ran like the deer.

Adrian, back row, left, with the Scottish team in Vichy:

Adrian, Lachie Stewart, Bill Stoddart,  Bill Mullett, Dick Wedlock, Gareth Bryan-Jones in the rear, Norman Morrison, Ian McCafferty and Jim Alder in front.

Thanks, Peter, for that lovely portrait of Adrian as a runner, as a man and as a friend.   The last photograph is of Adrian with a really top class Scottish cross-country team, just one of the many occasions when he represented his country.

There are several mountain running challenges – eg  the Island Peaks Race – but the best known are probably the three challenges known in hill running circles as “Rounds”.   In Scotland it is the Ramsay Round, in Wales it is the Paddy Buckley Round and in England it is the Bob Graham Round.   

Scotland has the highest mountains (23 x 3000 feet), Wales has most summits and England has the longest running course.   Wikipedia tells us –

“The Bob Graham Round is a fell running challenge in the English Lake District. It is named after Bob Graham (1889–1966), a Keswick guest-house owner, who in June 1932 broke the Lakeland Fell record by traversing 42 fells within a 24-hour period. Traversing the 42 fells, starting and finishing at Keswick Moot Hall, involves 66 miles (106 km) with 26,900 feet (8,200 m) of ascent.

The Round was first repeated, in a better time, in 1960 by Alan Heaton. Since then over 2500 individuals have completed the Round with the fastest time being 12hr 23m set by Jack Kuenzle in 2022, surpassing Kílian Jornet’s record by almost 30 minutes. The women’s record is 14hr 34m set by Beth Pascall in 2020. The Lakeland 24 Hour record has also been improved with the current holder, Kim Collison, successfully reaching 78 summits in the allotted time.

Along with the Paddy Buckley Round and the Ramsay Round, the Bob Graham Round is one of the classic big three mountain challenges in the UK. Some fifty six individuals have completed all three.”

Unlike the other two, changes have been made to the Graham Round.   For instance it is permitted to run the round in either direction, clockwise or anti-clockwise so long as the runner starts and finishes at the Moot Hall in Keswick.   Another change was made when it was decided that Graham’s route was “not optimal for attempts on the absolute fell record.”   I’m not sure exactly what that means but there are now two Bob Graham Rounds.   The 24 hour round now has 78 tops, while the original has been left as a challenge in its own right.

The distance of the round has increased as follows (again from Wikipedia):

Building on the basic Bob Graham Round, later runners raised the number of peaks traversed within 24 hours still further:

• 1962: Alan Heaton – 54 peaks in 23:48
• 1963: Eric Beard – 56 peaks, involving 88 miles (142 km) with 34,000 feet (10,000 m) of ascent in 23:35
• 1964: Alan Heaton – 60 peaks in 23:34
• 1971: Joss Naylor – 61 peaks in 23:37
• 1972: Joss Naylor – 63 peaks in 23:35
• 1975: Joss Naylor – 72 peaks involving over 100 miles (160 km) and 37,000 feet (11,000 m) of ascent in 23:20
• 1988: Mark McDermott – 76 peaks in 23:26
• 1997: Mark Hartell – 77 peaks in 23:47
• 2020: Kim Collison – 78 peaks in 23:45

While women’s advance was – 

The sequence of ladies 24-hour records (for the number of peaks traversed within 24 hours or for the same number of peaks in a faster time) is:

• 1977: Jean Dawes – 42 peaks in 23:37
• 1978: Anne-Marie Grindley – 42 peaks in 21:05
• 1979: Ros Coats – 42 peaks in 20:31
• 1979: Anne-Marie Grindley – 58 peaks in 23:20
• 1994: Ann Stentiford – 62 peaks in 23:17
• 2011: Nicky Spinks – 64 peaks in 23:15
• 2020: Carol Morgan – 65 peaks in 23:57
• 2021: Nicky Spinks – 65 peaks in 23:45
• 2022: Fiona Pascall – 68 peaks in 23:26

Hill runners love their rounds.   All the home countries have their own multi-hill challenges – in Scotland there is the Charlie  Ramsey Round, in England there is the Bob Graham Round and in Wales there is the Paddy Buckley Round.   The latter covers more than 100 km and takes in 47 summits.   Wikipedia tells us that –

Runners may start at any point on the circular route (finishing at the same place) and may run the course in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. The route takes in the well-known high mountain ranges of Snowdon, the Glyderau and the Carneddau as well as the slightly less visited ranges of Moel Siabod, the Moelwynion, Moel Hebog and the Nantlle Ridge. The route was devised by the eponymous Paddy Buckley and first completed in 1982 by Wendy Dodds.   The selection of summits that must be visited is somewhat arbitrary and no rules appear to have been applied in selecting them.   Generally, it takes in the major peaks of the ranges that are being crossed, then any minor tops that are passed along the way are also included. Some of these tops really are just bumps on the ridge and not really summits in their own right at all.

Fastest times:

• For many years the fastest authentic round was by Mark Hartell in 18 hours 10 minutes;
• Then on 4th May 2008, this time was matched by Chris Near of Eryri Harriers. 
• The record was broken in July 2009 by Tim Higginbottom who completed the Round in a time of 17 hours and 42 minutes.
• This was further reduced in 2019 by Damian Hall with 17 hours 31 minutes, 
• Again on 30 August 2020 by Matthew Roberts with a time of 16 hours 38 minutes.
•  Kim Collison set a new best time of 16 hours 20 minutes in April 2021.
•  A year later, in April 2022, a new record was set by Finlay Wild who completed the round solo and unsupported in a time of 15 hours 14 minutes.

We have a separate webpage on Finlay Wild whose run was, as noted above, solo and without any support.   This was quite a feat for a man from Fort William running over a course which was so far from home and which, no matter how much planning had gone into it, must have been largely unknown to him.

The women’s record at September 2022 was 18 hours and 33 minutes by Jasmin Paris.

In the late 1970’s I was given a hard back copy of FAM Webster’s book “The Science of Athletics”, written in 1936, by Bernie Fickling of Springburn Harriers.   It was based on his earlier book “Why? The Science of Athletics”.   Lt Col Webster was the founder of the School of Athletics at Loughborough College and his book was to revolutionise the approach to athletics in Britain.   His protege Geoff Dyson came up with “The Mechanics of Athletics” in 1961 and was accepted all over the world as THE authority.  There were others (eg ‘The Human Machine’ by Adolphe Abrahams) but Dyson’s was the one that took off.  Webster’s book has been reprinted in America by Amazon in 2021.   They say:

“The Science of Athletics” is a comprehensive guide to athletics instruction written by F. A. M. Webster, originally intended for athletics coaches and teachers. It offers a fantastic introduction to the subject with a particular focus on the science, making it ideal for anyone with a serious interest in learning or teaching athletics. Contents include: “Considerations in Conditioning Athletics”, “Health Aspects and Health Training”, “Lessons to be Learned from Facial Expression”, “Human Mechanism”, “Considerations in Relation to Competition”, “Athletic Tests and Measurements of Ability”, etc. Frederick Annesley Michael Webster (1886 – 1949) was a British athletics coach and author, and soldier active during World War One. He wrote profusely on the subject of athletics, with his best known book being “Athletics in Action” (1931). Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in a modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on athletics.

He is still highly thought of and was inducted into the England athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.   Others inducted at the same time were Don Finlay, David Moorcroft, Chris Chataway, Tessa Sanderson, Fred Housden, Wilf Paish, Fatima Whitbread, Marea Hartman and Douglas Lowe.

But to the book.   Let us first look at the table of contents.  

If we look at it the first thing that we notice is the word “considerations” – in other words the book is not a simple series of instructions, not a ‘cookbook’ approach to coaching.   It is not Chapter 1: Sprinting; Chapter 2: Middle Distance Running; Chapter 3. etc until all track events and all eight field events have been covered, schedules included, which will guarantee success.   He asks what we would now call FAQs, as well as some less obvious ones and attempts to answer them head on.   He covers food, psychology, etc.   He also in the course of the book deals with simple but essential skills the coach needs such as that of observation: facial expression has a whole chapter for instance.   But in the main the body as a machine – a clear fore runner of Dyson’s book of 1961 – is the topic under consideration.   The book has 31 pages of quality photographs, reproduced below.

Note that again it is not a simple series of illustrations of athletes in action although there are plenty of those.   Expressions appear again, relaxation and determination are there too.   He also mentions in the text and there is a page of illustrations on the camera in coaching.   His whole approach is laid out for all to see, to learn from and, yes, to query.   

For us, he is important as a coach whose work was important in the development of coaching and, especially, his place in the development of a coaching structure in Britain.   After the 1939-45 War, when the AAA’s wanted to do well in the Olympic Games of 1948, they appointed Webster as National Coach and he it was who recruited Geoff Dyson before such luminaries as John le Masurier and his generation came on the scene.    

There was more to the Gathering than athletics.

The period from 1971 to 1984 when the last known Games took place is difficult to cover.    It was a period when the Glasgow Herald, Scotsman, Courier and other papers tended not to cover what they regarded (maybe correctly) as local events.   What follows is what coverage can be gleaned from the various papers – and that is not a lot.   The Stirling Observer for 1984 describes it as the 33rd annual meeting.    If the first was in 1951 then it must have taken place every year since then.   But the lack of coverage suggests otherwise.   We can only report what we have though.

The first we have is a rather patronising article on the 1976 Dunblane Gathering which is short on detail but which nevertheless indicated that in at least two events there were GB international standard athletes taking part.   Paul Buxton and Don Macgregor were quality athletes in anyone’s book but there was no word of second placed athletes in the events.   

No account of the 1977 or 1978 Gatherings could be found but in September 1979 there was a more detailed report with results of the men’s 100, 200 metres, 3000m and road races, plus women’s  100 and 200m races.   The field events winners are also contained in the report.

Despite scanning back copies of the Glasgow Herald, Scotsman or a selection of other sports pages, no reports for 1980, 81 or 82 were available, nor was there one for 83.    There was however one for 1984.

The Glasgow Herald report for the 1984 Gathering read as follows:   “The backmarker Graham Crawford (Springburn Harriers) won the 3000 metres at Dunblane Highland Games on Saturday.   From the 30 metres mark he finished well clear of his clubmate Adrian Callan clocking 8 min 32 sec.   Jim Hendry (Bellahouston Harriers) won the open 800 metres from the 40 metres mark in 1 min 55.8, and Bob Dickinson (Irvine Athletic Club) too the Junior race with a 26 metre handicap in 2 min 0.9.    In a closely contested race, Stuart Easton (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) took the 14 1/2 mile road race in 1 hour 20 min 42 sec, finishing just two seconds ahead of Graham Getty (Bellahouston Harriers) with Northern Ireland Ireland internationalist Rod Stone taking third.   Ann Bates, first woman home in last week’s Edinburgh marathon, continued her splendid form winning the women’s race in 1 hour 43 min 16 sec.”

Judith Shepherd was a very good athlete indeed.   She competed for Bearsden Academy, Western AC, City of Glasgow AC and Clemson University in the USA.   She also ran for Scottish Schools, Scotland and Great Britain.   Winner of the SWAAA 3000m three times (1977, 78 and 79), she was also second in the 1500m in 1977 and second in the 3000m in 1984 and third in the 3000m in 1981.   She was also ranked every year from 1974 to 1985 with consistently good times over 1500m, One Mile and 3000m.  Judith’s career is profiled  here .  Some of her medals and trophies are below with introductory comments by Colin Youngson.

Judith Shepherd won Senior Scottish Championships on the track and over cross-country. In addition, she competed internationally many times for Scotland. Later on, she ran for Clemson University in the USA. Here are some of her awards. Many thanks are due to David Galloway, who selected and photographed this collection. 

1977 1500m silver medal

1977 3000m gold medal.

1978 3000m gold medal. Judith won this event for the third successive time in 1979.

1984 3000m silver medal

In the 1978 and 1979 Senior National CC Championships, Judith won individual gold. Her team (Glasgow AC) finished first too.

Judith won international track races for Scotland over 1500m (v Wales and Israel in 1979) and 3000m (v Norway in 1977; v Greece in 1978; and the above match in 1979).

In 1979, at Cwmbran, Judith finished third in the Scotland v France match.

She also raced for Scotland in three International Cross-Country Championships: finishing first Scot twice, including a fine 22nd overall in 1978. In three Home International Cross-Country matches, she was first Scot twice, with a best place of 5th (1978).  

Below are some of her USA mementos.

It is an interesting display.   Awards and trophies awarded change over the years – medals or shields or trophies with whirlies on them or even small statuettes.   Several types of trophies are shown here.   It is also an indication of the range of events on track and over country that she ran in with distinction.   Thanks to Dave and Colin.

We don’t have too many detailed accounts of the beginnings of clubs by those who were there at the time, nor do we have much detail on women’s running pre-1930.   Both of these were dealt with to some extent when Alan Lawson sent us this booklet on the early days of Dundee Hawkhill.   It is a fascinating insight into the early days of a club that was destined to make a significant mark on the sport.

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All Highland Games had their own programme cover which seldom changed – other than date and price.   This the Dunblane one.

By 1961 the Gathering had become a staple on the summer season circuit.   The meetings all had their fixed dates – eg. last two weeks in August were Bute and then Cowal, the first two weeks in September were Shotts and Ben Nevis on the same weekend and then Dunblane.   The attraction apart from the athletics was to some extent the beautiful scenery; for Bute there was the trip down the Clyde, for Cowal the sail across the Clyde and the beautiful west coast scenery, for Dunblane the arena itself was an attraction, the town with its cathedral and the walks along the river.   The Dunblane track was shorter than the others, grass too where the others were cinder and the location of the venue was easy to access from anywhere in the central belt.   The top class athletes who came year after year also persuaded others to follow.   Dunblane was a favourite venue.   

In the Herald of 10th September, 1962, the plaudits all went to Bellahouston youngster Conrad LaPointe in the sprints.   The report read: “The Scottish junior sprint champion, won the open 100 yards handicap from the short mark of 2 1/2 yards on Saturday at the Dunblane Highland Games.   He also assisted his club to win the medley relay.   JH Linaker (Pitreavie), the Scottish steeplechase champion, won the 14 mile road race in 1:18:00 and JP McLatchie (Ayr Seaforth, conceding up to 58 yards, won the open half-mile handicap from the short mark of 6 yards.   Miss J Lowe (Pitreavie) repeated hervictory of last year in the open 100 yards handicap, winning from 3 1/2 yards.

Results: 100 yards: C LaPointe, Bellahouston, in 10.2 off 2 1/2 yards; 220 yards: G Peters, Victoria Park, in 23.8 from 10 yards;  880 yards: J McLatchie, Ayr Seaforth, in 1:59.2 off 6 yards;  Mile: IR Young, Springburn, in 4:19.8 off 125 yards; Road Race:  JH Linaker, Pitreavie, in 1:18:00; High Jump:  G Reid, Grangemouth YM, 6′  5 1/2″ with an allowance of 8 “;   Mile Medley Relay:  Bellahouston (J Currie, D Young, C La Pointe, D Greig) in 3:44.2; Youths 100 yards: HJ Carmichael, unatt., in 10.7 off 4 1/2 yards;  Junior 880 yards: W McGubbin, Paisley, in 2:03.6 off 22;   Boys relay:  Doune Primary School; Ladies 100 yards: J Lowe Pitreavie AC, in 11.3 from 3 1/2 yards;  Women’s 220 yards: A McManus, Babcock and Wilcox, in 27.3 off 16; Women’s 4 x 110 relay: Western AC (A Jamieson, G Buchanan, A McDonald, A Wilson) in 52.7 seconds.

John Linaker leading Lachie Stewart in the SAAA Championship

In 1963, the meeting had an unexpected rival – the first Glasgow Championships were held at Scotstoun and attracted many of the big names, some of whom had competed at Dunblane – like Hugh Barrow, Duncan Middleton, John Linaker, Andy Brown, Alan Houston, Conrad LaPointe and others.   But not all roads led to Glasgow and there were many top class athletes at Dunblane in 14th September.   First the exceptionally brief report: “R Marshall (St Mdan’s AC) and Mel Edwards (Aberdeen AAC) won the 100 yards and the Mile respectively from virtual scratch marks at Dunblane Highland Games at Laighhills Park on Saturday.   C McAlinden (Babcock and Wilcox) did well to beat N Ross (Edinburgh Southern Harriers)  in the 14 miles road race.   Winners:

100 yards: R Marshall, St Modan’s, in 10.1 sec off 1 1/2 yards; 220 yards: N Donachie , Edinburgh AC, in 23 sec off 15 yards;  880 yards: JL Stewart, Vale of Leven, 1:57..1 off 36 yards;  Mile: M Edwards, Aberdeen AAC, in 4:20.8 off 30 yards; Road Race: C McAlinden, Babcock & Wilcox, in 1:20:38, N Ross 2nd and D Simpson (Motherwell) 3rd.   Medley Relay: 1.  Edinburgh AC, 2. Larbert YC.  Winning time: 3:44.7;  High Jump:  D McGhee, Clydesdale, 6′ 3 1/2″ with an allowance of 6″.    Youths 100 yards: P Devitt, Blackburn AC, in 10.8 sec off 3 1/2 yards; Junior 880: H Robertson, Hamilton, in 2:00.5 off 50 yards; Women’s 100 yards: M Cameron, Hoover AC , in 11.6 sec off 6 yards; Women’s 220 yards: M Cameron in 27.1 off 13 yards; women’s 4 x 110 relay: 1.  Broxburn AC, 2. Clydesdale H.   Winning time 53.5 seconds.

If we look at the names there we see that Ronnie Marshall was third in the SAAA 100 yards in 1963, Neil Donnachie was a medallist in the 880 yards in the late 1950’s, Lachie Stewart is a legend, Mel Edwards was one of the best all round distance athletes the country ever had with a wonderful career over the country, on the track, on the roads and among the hills with many Scottish championships to his name, Charlie McAlinden was SAAA Marathon Champion in 1966 after being third in 1964 and 1965, Davie Simpson was a cross-country internationalist, and Norman Ross was second in the SAAA 6 miles in 1962 and ranked number 4 in the marathon in 1963.   And these are only the winners, there were many others who were ‘handicapped out of it’ in the Heats.

Mel Edwards

Donald Macgregor was the newest star to visit Dunblane when he won the road race there in 1964 and in the process breaking Linaker’s record for the course.   Others to shine were Ian McCafferty (Motherwell), Tom Brown (St Modan’s) and Maureen McLeish (Perth Strathtay).   The last named was a very good athlete indeed who has been almost forgotten about. 

*A semi-finalist in the 1970 Commonwealth Games,

*SWAAA champion over 100 yards, 200 yards – she won gold, silver and bronze in these championships –

* and topped the rankings for both 100 yards and 100 metres in 1966.   

*In September, 1964 she was in the top ten for both 100 and 220 yards and on the way up.   She really should be better known. 

 The Glasgow Herald report for the Dunblane Gathering reads: “DF Macgregor (Edinburgh Southern Harriers) was the winner of the road race at Dunblane Highland Games on Saturday in a record rime of 1:17 , one minute faster than the previous record held by JH Linaker (Pitreavie).   Macgregor, having finished twelfth in the British six miles championship and second in the Scottish championship over that distance, thus ended his most successful season on the track.   I McCafferty (Motherwell YMCA), off 20 yards in the one mile, overhauled the rest of the field and won in 4 min 17.3 sec, ahead of Tom Brown (St Modan’s).   Brown however won the 880 yards (handicap 16 yards) in 1;55, a good time on the 352 yards track at Laighhills Park.   Miss M McLeish (Perth Strathtay) won the women’s 220 yards off 1 yard in 26.7, and did well to take second place in the 100 running from scratch.”

Results:

100 yards:  1. G Rodger, Clydesdale, in 9.8 sec off 6 yards, 2. R Marshall, Jordanhill TC 1/2, 3. A Robb, Forth Valley

220 yards:  1.  HR Stewart, Forth Valley, in 22.7 off 12, 2. HJ Carmichael, Bellahouston, 11y, 3. JG Smith Pitreavie, 8y

880 yards:  1.  T Brown, St Modan’s, in 1:55 off 16y, 2. RR Campbell, Forth Valley, off 20y, 3.  JM Brown, Dumbarton off 20y

Mile:   1.  I McCafferty, Motherwell, 4:17.3 off 30y,  2.  T Brown off 35y,  3. T Callaghan, Monkland, off 90y

Mile Medley Relay:  1.  Glasgow University in 3:37.9,  2. Dumbarton AAC,  3.  Aberdeen AAC

Road Race:  1. D Macgregor, ESH, in 1:17,  2.  M Edwards, Aberdeen AAC,  Handicap: 1. AT Barrie,  2. D McLean (both Dundee Hawkhill)

High Jump:  1.  A Santini, Edinburgh University, 6′ 4 1/2 ” with a 9 1/2″ allowance, 2.  D McGhee, Clydesdale.

Youthe 100 yards:  1. J Docherty, Blackburn in 10.1 off 8y, 2. F McPartlin, Pitreavie, off 7 1/2y,  3.  P Devitt, Blackburn, off 1 1/2y

Junior 880 yards:  1. FJ Steele, Edinburgh AC, in 1:55.9  off 40, 1. MN Prentice, St Modan’s, off 10y,  3.  G Skinner, Shettleston, off 36y

Women’s 100 yards: 1.  JC Caldwell, Blackburn, in 11.1 off 6y;  2.  M McLeish, Perth Strathtay, off scratch,  3.  M Campbell, Forth Valley off 7y

Women’s 220 yards:  1.  M McLeish, in 26.7 seconds off 1 yard,  2.  M Campbell off 15,  3.  A Taylor, Forth Valley, off 12

Women’s  4 x 110  relay:  1.  Broxburn in 53.3 seconds,  2.  Bellahouston.

Fairly comprehensive results then and the ‘returners’ included the formidable Mel Edwards who was a genuine force to be reckoned with on the roads or over the country at this point in his career. There were two future Olympians (McCafferty and Macgregor), several Commonwealth Games athletes and Scottish internationalists.   The quality remained.

Donald Macgregor (K1) running in the Glasgow Marathon

From the Glasgow Herald of 13 September, 1965:-

J.L. STEWART EARNS NEW REPUTATION

14-mile success at Dunblane

J.L. Stewart (Vale of Leven) has in the last two weeks given himself a completely new reputation as an athlete in Scotland.   Well known for his three miling and steeplechasing, he has changed, at the age of 22, to the rigours of 14 mile races with absolute success.   Running in the 14 1/2 mile road race at Dunblane Highland Gathering on Saturday, he won in 1:14:50, an average speed of 11 1/2 miles per hour.   His time was 2 min 10 sec inside the previous record.   Second and unexpectedly so, was AH Brown of Motherwell, no longer the fiery runner of a few years ago – this is his seventeenth season – but still good enough to be within calling distance of Stewart at the finish, only 100 yards behind.   Those two had been leading until Brown was dropped with two miles to go.   DF Macgregor, last year’s winner, unfortunately had to drop out because of sickness after six miles.   Asked whether he would concentrate on the marathon next year, Stewart was reluctant to forecast.   A winter of cross-country, at which he is already an expert, may help him to decide.

The forfeit for being a good runner is to be handicapped severely at this kind of meeting, and I McCafferty, the national two mile record holder, found the task too great in the mile.   On a track with tight bends and a marshy surface, he threaded his way through all but five athletes, and expired in the last 100 yards, knowing he had no chance of overhauling R McKay, a clubmate   and the eventual winner.   

GD Grant (Dumbarton), the Scottish 880 yards champion, was also in the mire in his Heat over that distance, although he had admitted after the race he had been using it only as a warm-up for the mile medley which, sure enough, his club won well from a Middlesborough team.   The only back markers to win were DM Edmunds in the shot putt with 48′ 09″ from scratch, and R Marshall, timed at 10 sec off half a yard  from scratch in the 100 yards.”

 Winners:-

100 yards:  R Marshall, Jordanhill College, in 10 sec from half a yard; 220 yards: J Brodie, Edinburgh AC, in 23.3 off 16;  880 yards: W Evans, Airdrie, 1:58.2 off 34 yards;  Mile:  R McKay, Motherwell, in 4:19 off 25 yards; Road Race:  1.  JL Stewart in 1:14:50 from AH Brown; Mile Medley Relay:  Dumbarton AAC (GD Grant, RR Mills, JM Brown, C Martin) in 3:45.5;  High Jump:  J Jones Octavians AC; shot putt:  DM Edmunds, Strathclyde University, with 48’9″ from scratch; Scots hammer:  I McPherson, Atalanta Club, with 12′ 11″ with an allowance of 2″ 4″;  Caber: AR Valentine, HMS Condor; Youths 100 yards: R Drummond, Forth Valley, in 10.9  off 4 yards; Junior 880 yards: E Knox, Springburn, in 2:02 off 10 yards; Women’s 100 yards: J Clarkson, Maryhill Ladies, in 11.5 off 5 yards;  Women’s 220 yards: EC Stewart, Motherwell YMCA, in 26.9 off 15 yards; Women’s 4 x 110 yards:  Bellahouston) M Gauldie, M McGregor, P Prentice and H McCallum) in 55.1 seconds.   

Another good meeting to close the season with 10 internationalists among the winners and others such as McCafferty among the also-rans.

 G Grant (left) with other members of the GB world record breaking 4 x 880 yards team.

The 1966 version of the Gathering featured GB internationalists among the middle and long distance runners, the jumpers and the heavy events.   The already high reputation of the meeting was becoming even higher.   The number of ‘returning athletes’ also spoke volumes about the nature of the competition.   The report this time read:- 

GALLOWAY WINS SPRINTS AT DUNBLANE GAMES

“Despite inclement conditions, performances were good at Dunbland Highland Games at Laighhills Park on Saturday.   FJ Galloway (Babcock and Wilcox AC) returned excellent times in winning the 100 in 10.1 sec and 220 yards in 23.3 sec – remarkable performances considering the muddy conditions underfoot.   JL Stewart (Vale of Leven) was well outside the record time he set up last year in winning the 14 1.2 miles road race in 1:17:23, almost 2 min 30 sec slower than his previous best.   LM Bryce (Edinburgh University) was the most successful competitor in the heavy events with a win in the 16lb hammer, and runner-up in the shot and caber.   Bellahouston Harriers followed up their Scottish mile medley relay title victory at Shotts last week with a win in the event in 2:52.5  sec.

Winners:

100 yards:  1. FJ Galloway. Babcock & Wilcox, in 10.1 off  5;  2. J Williams, Bellahouston, off 2 yards’

 200 yards: 1.  FJ Galloway, in 23.3 off 11y; 2.  A McManus, Babcock & Wilcox, off 21

880  Yards: 1. WH Cameron, Perth Strathtay, in 1:59.5 off 52; 2. A Weatherhead, Octavians,off 10

Mile: 1. J Brennan, Maryhill, in 4:25.2 off 45,  2.  JR Johnston, Monkland, off 5

Road Race:  1.  JL Stewart, Vale of Leven, in 1:17:23,  2. PW Maclagan off 7:42

Medley Relay: 1. Bellahouston (J Carmichael, M McLean, W Robertson, J Williams) in 2:52.5,  2. Edinburgh AC, 3. Dumbarton AAC

High Jump:  1.  CW Fairbrother, Victoria Park, 6’1″ off scratch;  2. JA Black, Cowal AC, off 7″

Throwing the 16lb hammer: 1. LM Bryce, Edinburgh University, 48′ 6″ off 8′ 6″, 2. DM Edmunds, Strathclyde U, off 2′

Putting the 16lb ball: 1. J McPherson, Atalanta,with 118′ 6″ off 3′ 6″, 2. LM Bryce off 3′ 6″

Tossing the Caber: 1. TC Robb, Falkirk Victoria,  2.  LM Bryce,  3. DM Edmunds.

Tug of War: Denny AC  two pulls;  2.  Glasgow Police 0

Youths 100 yards: E Ross, Forth Valley, in 10.5 off 6 1/2″, 2. W Dickson, Airdrie, off 4 1/2 yards

Junior 880 yards: 1. W Devine, Cambuslang, in 2:4.4 off 26y,  2. JR Wood, Bellahouston, off 48 yards

Women’s 100 yards:  1. LA Barr, Motherwell YWCA, in 11.7 sec off 6, 2. EC Stewart, Motherwell, off 6 1/2Y

Women’s 220 yards:  1. R Elliott, Fauldhouse Victoria, in 26.8 off 7 yards,  2.  LA Barr off 14

Women’s 4 x 110 relay:  1. Motherwell YWCA in 54,8 sec,  2.  Western LAC

Primary Schools 4 x 110 relay:   1. Bridge of Allan in 68.7 sec   ,  2. Dunblane PS

The results above are indeed as printed but I suspect that the results of the 16 lb ball and the 16lb hammer have been switched!

*

In 1967 the tradition of top class sprinters was added to when Les Piggott of Garscube Harriers won the 100 yards from scratch.   There had been many top ranked sprinters such as St Modan’ George McLachlan, Ronnie Whitelock and Mike Hildrey of Victoria Park contesting the sprints and Piggott brought that right bang up to date.  That tradition, wedded to the series of quality VPAAC sprinters was was also kept alive by the running of AJ Wood, and the club’s win in the medley relay.   Shettleston’s Norman Morrison made his first appearance at the meeting too, winning the handicap mile.   The very brief report read:

PIGGOTT CONTINUES HIS RUN OF VICTORIES    

“L Piggott (Garscube Harriers) continued his run of victories from scratch on Saturday at Dunblane Highland Games when he won the 100 yards in 10 seconds.   AJ Wood (Victoria Park) also maintained his recent good form winning the 220 yards from an allowance of one and a half yards.   I McPherson (Shettleston Harriers) set a meeting record of 120′ with the hammer.”

Winners:  100 yards: L Piggott, Garscube, (scr)  10.0 sec;   220 yards:  AJ Wood, Victoria Park, (1 1/2) 23.1 sec;  880 yards:  DW Hursh, US Navy, 50y, 1:57.5   Mile:  NS Morrison, Shettleston, (30) 4:23.9;  Road Race:  1.  AP Brown, Motherwell) in 1:17:27,  2.  D Macgregor, Edinburgh Southern,  3.  AH Brown,  Hnndicap, JF Reilly, Victoria Park; Three quarter mile Medley Relay: Victoria Park AAC in 2:51.2 , Youths 100 yards: E Miller, Hamilton, in 10.6 sec off 8 yards;  Junior 880 yards: P Devlin, Greenock Glenpark, in 1:59.6 off off 42 yards; High Jump:  R Souter, Glasgow University, (3″)  6’3″; Shot Putt:  JE Lilley, Bellahouston, 50′ 7″ off 6″;  Hammer (Scots style):  I McPherson, Shettleston, 120′; Caber: LM Bryce, Strathclyde University;  Tug of War:  Denny AC.

Women’s 100 yards: R Elliott, Fauldhouse, in 11.5 off 1 1/2″;  Women’s 220 yards: FG McNab, Western LAC, in 26,6 off 11 yards.   Women’s  4 x 110 relay: Western LAC.

Not a long report, and the results were equally skimpy – eg only winners were listed and in the women’s relay, no time given.   Piggott, Morrison, the three in the road race, the Victoria Park relay team and the ‘heavies’ were all of a high standard.

Lachie Stewart, Dunblane Road Race victor in 1965, 1966 , 1968 and 1969

Glasgow Herald, 16th September, 1968

COMFORTABLE VICTORY FOR STEWART

You go to Dunblane Highland Gathering looking for a colourful spectacle, a big crowd and not much in the way of inspired athletics; that was precisely the picture on Saturday at Laighhills Park, writes Ron Marshall.   The winner who could claim to have had the most strenuous afternoon was Lachie Stewart, king of the roads this season, who went away with another £4 prize after what seemed like a comfortable win in the 14-mile race.   Grant, of Dundee, fell into the trap of trying to match strides with Stewart during the early stages and encountered the kind of acceleration that Stewart usually reserves for the finish.   Thereafter Grant dropped back behind Pat Maclagan and Donald Macgregor and those four finished in that order.   Maclagan was about 30 yards behind at the tape but said later he was sure Stewart was only loafing the latter part of the route.   Miss Moira Walls, with no high jump bar in sight, took to the sprints as the only outlet for her many talents and strode off with both prizes winning the 100 yards in 11.2 and the 220 in 26.4, both from middle-of-the-field handicaps.   The men’s sprints were undistinguished but Youths winner, D Strathdee was good enough to record 10 seconds off two and a half yards, or about four seconds faster than the senior winner.   Douglas Edmunds, currently reported to be tipping the scales at more than 19 stone, gave one of the best shot putt performances of the year, reaching 51′ 1 1/2″ , but in his other speciality, the caber, was marginally beaten by George McHugh.”

Winners: 

100 yards:  A Smart, Ballingry, in 10 sec off 10 1/2 yards;  220 yards: JM Christie, Ballingry, in 23.2 off 20 yards;  880 yards: RR Campbell, Forth Valley, in 1:56.3 off 14 yards;  Mile: I Young, Springburn, in 4:16.4 off 80 yards; Road Race: JL Stewart, in 1:15:48; Mile Medley Relay:  Bellahouston 2:55.0; High Jump: F McEvilly, Victoria Park, with 6′ 6″ with 9″ allowance; shot putt: DM Edmunds, Strathclyde University, 51′ 1 1/2″ off scratch;  Scots Hammer Throw: LM Bryce, Strathclyde University, with 121′ 9″ (I McPherson had a throw of 120′ 6″, a ground record, from scratch); Caber: G McHugh (Bellahouston); Youths 100 yards: D Strathdee, Stirling AAC, in 10 sec off 2 1/2 yards;  Junior 880 yards: D McEwan, Perth Strathtay, in 1:58 off 40 yards; Women’s 100 yards:  M Walls, Western LAC, in 11.2 off five and a half yards; Women’s 220 yards: M Walls, in 26.4 off 11 yards.   

There was no women’s relay result published in 1968.    

Victoria Park relay team – Andy Wood on the left, Hugh Barrow on the right.

In 1969 the sprinters were in good form in both men’s and women’s events.  Note that Georgena Craig of Western was running in the 4 x 110 team and it is a bit of a mystery why the Gathering had never had a middle distance race for the women – the men’s 880 had had several heats every year and there was also a Junior Men’s 880 so it would have been no problem to have a women’s 880 at the same time.   Note that the meeting continued to evolve with new events – the heavies were a comparatively recent addition and 1969 was the first year that there was a Three Miles event.

WOOD DOMINATES DUNBLANE SPRINTS

AJ Wood (Victoria Park) was again the star sprinter on Saturday at the Dunblane Highland Games.   After returning a winning time of 9.9 seconds off a one yard handicap in the 100 yards, he went on to take second place in the 220 yards event, despite starting three yards behind scratch.  First place went to 24 yard handicap runner AJ McManus (Babcock & Wilcox).   Lachie Stewart (Shettleston Harriers) had a 30 yard lead over Fergus Murray (Edinburgh SH) after 9 miles of the 14 mile road race and stretched the margin to 300 yards by the finish.   His time of 1:15:27 was one minute outside the record he set four years ago.   Laurie Bryce (Strathclyde University) with victories in the caber and 28lb weight collected the Brown Trophy for heavy events.   George McHugh (Bellahouston) won the shot putt with a ground record of 53′ 3″.

Results: 100 yards:  AJ Wood, Victoria Park, in 9.9 sec off 1 yard; 220 yards:   AJ McManus, Babcock & Wilcox, in 23 sec off 24 yards;  880 yards: A McLelland, Springburn Harriers, in 1:55.3 off 34 yards;  Mile: DF Gemmell, Clydesdale, in 4:23.4 off 105;  3 Miles: D Gunstone, Dundee Hawkhill, in 14:10.4 off 250 yards;  Road Race:  1. JL Stewart, Shettleston, in 1:15:27;  2. AF Murray in 1:16:20, 3. AA Johnstone, Victoria Park, in 1:17:20;  Medley Relay (1750 yards): Victoria Park (WH Barrow, G Cameron, L Harris, AJ Wood) in 3:09.1; Youths 100 yards:   J Tatton, Shettleston  in 10.3 off 2 1/2 yards; Junior 880 yards: AJ Reid, Perth Strathtay, in 1:58.1 off 38 yards; Shot Putt: GB McHugh, Bellahouston, with 53′ 3″; 28lb weight:  LM Bryce, Strathclyde University, 67′ 7″; Hammer (Scots); I McPherson, Shettleston, 118′ 3″; Caber:   LM Bryce;  Tug of War:   Denny AC beat Glasgow Police two pulls to nil; Schoolboys 1 lap relay: Bridge of Allan, 2:01.1; Women’s 100 yards: C Miller, Forth Valley, in 10.8 sec off 8 yards;  Women’s 220 yards: MW Barclay, Tayside AAC, in 25.9 sec off 8 yards; Women’s 4 x 110 yards relay:  1. Select Team  of C Miller (FVAC), N Frame (Law), E Stewart (Western LAC) and M Barclay (Tayside AC) in 54.1,  2. Western LAC with J Jamieson, C Wilkie, J Cooper and G Craig

Pat Maclagan, Victoria Park

In 1970 the wonderfully successful Commonwealth Games had just ended and the European Junior Championships were taking place and the sport was on a real high.   The Gathering had  another successful year although some of the very top runners were missing, resting after the excitement and strenuous efforts first of qualifying for the Games and second of competing there and trying to raise their own game for the higher level of competition.   The report on Dunblane was necessarily brief.

Glasgow Herald, 14th September, 1970

McLEAN MAKES IT EASY FOR THE REST

The performance of Mike McLean in the inter-club relay on Saturday at Dunblane Highland Games gave his Bellahouston Harriers colleagues such a tremendous advantage that they easily held on to their lead and finished comfortable winners from Garscube Harriers.   Pat Maclagan (Victoria Park) led all the way in the 14 1/2 mile road race and won by 1 min 11 sec from Andrew Faulds (Clydesdale Harriers) in 1 hour 17 minutes 58 seconds.”

Winners:- 100 yards: E Kerr, Forth Valley, in 9.8 sec off 7 1/2 yards; 220 yards: H Smart, unattached, 23.6 off 15 yards; 880 yards: DM Kennedy, Aberdeen AAC, in 2:03.7 off 35 yards; Mile: T Wiseman, Garscube, in 4:24 off 125 yards; Three Miles: J Brown, Monkland, in 14:32 off 100 yards; Road Race:  1. P Maclagan, 1:17:58,  2.  A Faulds 1:19:01,  3.  IC Donald, Clydesdale, 1:20:50; Medley Relay:  Bellahouston (M McLean, J Carmichael, C Pennycook, F Clement) in 2 min 59 sec;  Youths 100 yards: R Hislop, Law, in 11 sec off 6 1/2 yards; Junior 880 yards: F Evans, Stirling AC, in 2:03.1 off 46 yards;  Shot putt: G Davidson, Edinburgh University, with 50′ 2″ off 8′ 3″; Hammer:  AR Valentine, Elgin, with 113′ 6″; Caber:  J Ferguson, Monkland; Tug-of-war: Denny AC beat Glasgow Police by two tugs to nil; Women’s 100 yards: I Jeffrey, Grangemouth Olympiads, in 11.8 sec off 7 1/2 yards; Women’s 220 yards: G Craig, Western AC, in 27.3 sec off 10 yards; Women’s 4 x 110  relay: Grangemouth Olympiads (I Jeffrey, C Morrison, C Miller and J Allan) in 54.3 seconds.

 Mike McLean (12) chasing GD Grant (Dumbarton – a frequent visitor to Dunblane) in the SAAA Championship

The decade had come to an end with the successful Dunblane Gathering (where expectations were a good bit higher than suggested by Ron Marshall in 1968, having grown over the period.   There were previously no heavy events but these were an established part of the programme by 1970, the endurance events were added to with the three miles event having been introduced in 1969.   If there were still a high jump, then it was not mentioned in reports for 1969 or 1970.   The talents which spectators were treated included Ronnie Whitelock, Mike Hildrey, Andy Wood (all VPAAC), Les Piggott (Garscube) and George McLachlan from St Modan’s in the sprints; Ian McCafferty, Andy Brown, Bert McKay (Motherwell), Graeme Grant, Hugh Barrow, Adrian Weatherhead and Mike McLean in the middle distances; Lachie Stewart, Fergus Murray, Pat Maclagan, Don Macgregor, and Alistair Johnstone in the longer distances; Doug Edmunds,  Laurie Bryce, Ian McPherson, Dave Valentine in the throws and Crawford Fairbrother in the High Jump while Moira Walls, Ann Wilson, Georgena Buchanan , Alex Jamieson and Jinty Jamieson (all Western LAC), Maureen McLeish (Perth Strathtay) ans several very good relay teams in the women’s events.   Where would the Gathering go from here?

Dunblane Highland Gathering: 1951 – 1959    .  

The above photograph appeared in the Stirling Observer of  18 September 1984.   The Dunblane 14 was a popular race on the road running circuit and came one week after the Shotts 14 mile road race.   A lap of the track, over some rough country to the Ramoyle district of Dunblane, then out past the Queen Victoria School to Greenloaning and Braco before returning back along the back road through Kinbuck to join the out road at QV School and  in to the arena.   It would be a dangerous road now simply because of the huge volumes of traffic on the motorway from Dunblane to Braco but at the time it was well organised and stewarded by member of the Scottish Marathon Club working with the organising committee.   

The Games from the late 1950’s were held at Laighhills Park – a nice walk round by the river to the Park, up the hill to the arena which was in a kind of natural amphitheatre with grassy banking around a flat well-cared for grassy track.   Dancers, wrestlers, pipers shared the centre with the athletes and it was really good day out for whole families.   The local history tells us that the Dunblane Highland Games ran from 1951 to the 1980’s.   There had been a Gathering there in the very early 1900’s but information of them is scanty.   The Gathering – for such it was despite the Games tag above – from 1950 was held on the second Saturday in September.   There was a gap from the end of the 60’s to 1976 which did not detract from the appeal for athletes or spectators after it came back.   An amateur meeting, the prizes and marvellous silver trophies were displayed for the week before the games in a local shop window – possibly the Co-op ?    .

The first of the Gatherings was covered by the Glasgow Herald under the headline “ARBUCKLE’S ROAD RACE WIN” which referred to Andy Arbuckle of Monkland Harriers winning the 14 mile road race in 1:20:04 from WR Gardner of Falkirk Victoria Harriers.   The handicap winner was none other than JR Scott of Glasgow YMCA – Jimmy Scott, secretary of the Scottish Marathon Club.   The other winners were :

100 yards: C Morrison, FVH, in 10.4 off 9 yards; 220 yards: DT Galloway, Maryhill Harriers in 25.1 from 15 yards; 880 yards: A Orr, Shettleston, in 2:06 off 38 yards;   Mile:  AH Brown, Motherwell, in 4:31.5  off 25 yards; One Lap Junior: W Cameron, Victoria Park, in 24.8 off 13 yards;   High Jump:  A Galbraith, St Modan’s, 6′ 4″ off 10″;  Mile Medley Relay:  Garscube Harriers, in 4:06.4.   

Note that the event was held at Duckburn Park a popular venue for many sports events in Dunblane but the Gathering would soon move to the more suitable Laighhills Park.   In 1952 the meeting was on 13th September and the headline was “HIGH JUMPERS EXCEL” and referred to two Victoria Park High Jumpers RWB Weldon and J Payne who were first and second in the competition with W Piper, the Scottish champion from Glasgow Police, equalling the winner’s height of 5′ 11″ but was unplaced on handicap.   The road race was won by Harry Howard (Shettleston) from CD Robertson (Dundee Thistle) in 1:15:05.   It was a short, 4 laps to the half mile track and J Hamilton of Victoria Park ws unplaced with Tom O’Reilly of Springburn winning from the 32 yards mark.   Principal Results:

100 yards: WT Kinnis, Shettleston, in 10 seconds off 2 yards; 220 yards: EA Ramage, Larkhall, in 23.6 off 20 yards; 880 yards: T O’Reilly, Springburn, in 1:59.4 off 32; Mile:  J Eadie, Shettleston, in 4:27 off ; Road Race:  H Howard, Shettleston, 1:15:05; Mile Medley Relay:  Bellahouston, in 3:48.6; High Jump:  RB Weldon, Victoria Park, 6′ 3″  off 4″; 100 yards Youths: GA McLachlan, St Modan’s, in 10’6 sec of   3 1/2 yards ;  880 yards Junior: DK Ferguson, Tillicoultry, in 2:02.5 off 25 yards;  100 yards Women: E Sealey, Maryhill, in 11.8 sec off 1 yard; 220 yards women: M Cook, Airdrie, in 27.9 sec off 9 yards; Women’s Relay 4 x 220: Maryhill Harriers in 1:54.6.

There had been an increase in the number of events and the standard was a bit higher than in the previous year – with the Harry Howard v CD Robertson duel on the roads being one that was replayed over several races for several years with the ‘winner’ alternating between the two.

One year later, on 11th September 1953, Howard repeated his victory, this time over Joe McGhee of St Modan’s.  Two very high quality athletes again gracing the event.   This time the winner was clocked at 1:14:46 and the handicap prize went to W Jackson of the Royal Navy.   JV Paterson was the SAAA Steeplechase champion in 1953 and won the mile comfortably in 4:26.2 from the virtual scratch mark of 40 yards.   In the half mile, Bill Linton of Braidburn AC was back marker and was third to finish.   Principal Results:

100 yards:  GA McLachlan, St Modan’s, 10.1 off 6 1/2;  220 yards: GP Reilly, Victoria Park, 23.4 sec off 18 yards;   Youths 100 yards:  RA Sim, Tillicoultry & Hillfoots, 10.5 sec off 5 yards; Junior 880 yards:   E Mason, Tillicoultry & Hillfoots, 2:01.6 off 36;  880 yards: JF Reilly, Victoria Park, in 1:59.6 off 52;  Mile:  JV Paterson, Edinburgh Southern, 4 min 26.2  off  40 yards; Medley Relay:  Victoria Park, 3:49;  High Jump:  GA Mclachlan, St Modan’s,  6′ 3″  with 7″ allowance; Women’s 100 yards WF Brunston, Q Club, in 11.5 sec off 7 yards; Women’s relay, 4 x 110 yards: Maryhill in 54.6 sec.

JV Paterson, a frequent5 visitor and winner at Dunblane

The Glasgow Herald report for the meeting in 1955 came under the banner of “McGHEE’S RECORD ROAD RACE TIME” and read as follows.   “The outstanding performance of the Dunblane Highland Gathering was the win of J McGhee (Shettleston Harriers) in the 14 mile road race in a record time for the course of 1:12:17.   Also inside the record were G King, Wellpark Harriers, and H Fox, Shettleston Harriers who finished second and third.   AH Brown (Motherwell YMCA) gained his third mile win in a row from the reduced handicap of 45 yards in the fine time of 4:19.1.   He was quickly up on the limit runners and with a lap to go he was at the head of the field.   He narrowly missed qualifying for the final of the half-mile, decided some time before the Mile.   Miss D Tyndall (Tayside), the Scottish women’s intermediate sprint champion, gave a fine performance in the women’s 100 yard final, gaining third place from the lowest possible allowance of half a yard.”

100 yards: WS Greingan, Victoria Park, in 10.2 sec from 2 1/2 yards; 220 yards:  W Reville, Shettleston, in 24 second off 13 yards;    880 yards:  J Connolly, Bellahouston, in 1:58.4 off 44; Mile: AH Brown, Motherwell, in 4:19.1 off 45; 14 Miles: J McGhee, Shettleston, in 1:12:17; handicap winner R Donald (Glasgow YMCA); Medley Relay: Braidburn AAC in 3:59; High Jump: F Masterson, Braidburn, 6′ 2 1/2″ with an allowance of 9 1/2″.  

Junior 880 yards: H Muir Victoria Park, 2:03.9 off  20 yards;  Youths 100 yards:  J Young, Springburn, in 10.6 off 4 1/2 yards.   Women’s 100 yards: M Mitchell, Q Club, in 11.4 off  6 1/2 yards; Women’s 220 yards:  M Mitchell, Q Club, in 27.6 sec off 14 yards.

We can also note from the report that there were Heats for the half-mile as well as for the sprints.   There was a quality to the meeting too with three National Champions in McGhee, Brown, Connolly and Fox all taking part.

In 1956 the meeting was still being held at Duckburn Park and the quality was even higher than in the previous year with several winners from 1955 coming back and winning again.  The Herald reported:   “The fifth annual Dunblane Highland Gathering, which were held at Duckburn Park, were notable for the success of the backmarkers in the track and field events.   R Whitelock (Victoria Park) was in splendid form in the open 100 yards, winning his Heat from half a yard in 10.4 seconds, and the final one-tenth faster time from a competitive list of 50 starters.   

JV Paterson (Edinburgh University), the Scottish recorder for the half-mile, won his Heat in 2:03.6 from four yards behind scratch, and took first place in the final with ease in 1:59.2.   He won the Shotts half-mile from scratch last week, and as the programme was made up a week ago, it was easier for the handicappers to drop Paterson four yards than to raise the handicaps of the other runners of whom there were 55.   AH Brown (Motherwell YMCA) was another competitor to beat a large field.   He won the Mile, off 30 yards, in 4:21.3 on a grass track.   W Piper (Glasgow Police) showed his best form this season when he cleared 6′ 3″ in the High Jump.   J McGhee (Shettleston) , the Scottish and Empire Games marathon champion, made a new record for the 14 mile course of 1:12:07.   A McDougal, Vale of Leven, was also inside the previous best time, finishing only 13 seconds behind McGhee.   P Moy, a clubmate, was third in 1:14:28.   

M Mitchell from Q Club won the women’s 100 yards from 3 yards in 11.3 seconds, and it was a long mark competitor, LM Quinn, Tayside, who won the 220 yards.”

Quality and quantity – Dunblane had both.   The numbers quoted for 100 and 880 yards were big and both were won by Scottish record breakers and champions.   Brown, Piper, McGhee, McDougall and Moy were all international athletes.   Other winners included CC Morrison, FVH, in the 220,  Clydesdale Harriers won the medley relay in 3:50.7 and Ardeer Recreation won the women’s 4 x 110 yards relay in 53.3 seconds.

George King leading Joe McGhee with Hugo Fox in fourth

In 1957 on September 14th, the man of the moment was JV Paterson.  He was back year after year as were such top guns as Andy Brown and Joe McGhee to run on a short distance grass track with big fields that the distance men had to weave their way through.   The Gathering must have had something to be so well supported.   The 1957 report read: “JV Paterson (Edinburgh University) the SAAA 440 and 880 yards champion, had a strenuous day at Dunblane Highland Games on Saturday, running in five races.   He won his Heat in the open 100 yards running from 4 yards, but was beaten in a semi-final.   He then ran from scratch in the open half-mile and qualified readily for the Final in which he was beaten in a fast finish by GW Jackson, a former Falkirk Victoria Harrier but now attached to Woodford Green AC, London, and RA McFall (Athenian AC).   Paterson conceded 30 yards to Jackson and 26 to McFall.   Paterson’s final appearance was in the Medley Relay in which he helped his team to victory.   Miss NP Beattie (Tayside AC) appeared to be well treated in the women’s sprint handicaps both of which she won. “

Winners: 100 yards: G McLachlan, St Modan’s, in 10 sec from 6 1/2 yards;  220 yards: N Taylor, Airdrie Harriers  in 23.3 off 21; 880 yards:  GW Jackson, Woodford Green, in 1;56.4  off 30 yards; Mile: R Black, Bellahouston, in 4:21.5 off 115 yards; 14 Mile Road Race:  1. H Fenion, Bellahouston, 1:12:36; 2. J Jones, Bedlington Harriers, 1:14:42; 3. H Fox, Shettleston, 1:15:29;  High Jump: D Morrison, Edinburgh Northern, 6′ 3″ with an allowance of 9″.   Medley Relay: Edinburgh University in 3 min 50 sec.   

Youths: 100 yards: A Black, Pitreavie AC,  in 10.4 sec off 1 yards;  880 yards: JB McLean, Dundee Hawkhill, in 2:00.2 off 42;  Women’s 100 yards:  NP Beattie, Tayside, in 11.4 sec off 8 yards;  220 yards:  NP Beattie in 26.3 sec off 17 yards.   Women’s 4 x 110 relay: Ardeer Recreation, 53.9;  Schools Relay:  1. Doune;  2. Braco; 3. Dunblane.

The outstanding decathlete George McLachlan of St Modan’s AC, had been a regular at Dunblane – it was his local meeting – but was a bit unfortunate when he returned to what had been a happy hunting ground for him in 1958.   It was a very good meeting with Joe McGhee returning to racing, WJ More, an outstanding steeplechaser and miler, Alan Houston a very good high jumper, Doris Tyndall returning to Dunblane again.   The Press report: “GA McLachlan, St Modan’s, was the outstanding sprinter at the seventh  Dunblane Highland Gathering.   He was only placed third in the Final but he was very close and had he not been pulled for beating the pistol there is little doubt that he would have won the handicap for he ran from one yard behind scratch.   The winner’s time of 9.6 sec from 6 1/2 yards suggests that the course was a little short.   J McGhee (Shettleston Harriers) , a former Empire Games marathon champion who has not raced for almost two years, ran in the 14 miles road race and finished a creditable third behind K Boyle (Sunderland|) and JA Gibson (Maryhill Harriers) who won at Shotts.   

A Houston (Victoria Park), a former British Junior High Jump champion, equalled his best with a jump of  6′ 2″ and won the event with his handicap of  2 1/2″.   Miss D Tyndall, Tayside AC, the Scottish women’s sprint champion, finished third  in the 100 yards off scratch to Miss H Inglis (Broxburn High School, who was brought back to two yards for her double at the Shotts meeting.   Miss Inglis also qualified for the Final of the 220 yards and finished second from the short mark of five yards.”

McLachlan was most unfortunate – in a championship or open graded meeting on a 440 yard track, he would have been warned and, unless he was illegal a second time, that would have been it.  But at the Highland Games, a false start meant being pulled back a yard.   There are those even in the 21st century who think that championships could do away with cards of any colour by adopting this simple rule – no runner wants to set up his blocks behind the starting line.

Principal Results:   100 yards: AD Scott, Victoria Park, 9.6 seconds off 6 1/2 yards;  220 yards: W Beresford, Airdrie, 22.2 off 15 yards;  880 yards:  WA Mason, Monkland Harriers, 1:55.0 off 18 yards; Mile: WJ More, Kilmarnock, 4:11.4 off 40 yards; 14 Mile Road Race:  K Boyle, Sunderland in 1:15:54;  Medley Relay:  Clydesdale H in 2:58.9;  High Jump: A Houston, Victoria Park, 6′ 4 1/2 ”   with an allowance of 2 1/2″.   

Youths: 100 yards: JW Burns, unattached, in 10.0 off 5 yards;  Junior 880 yards GH Hare, Monkland, in 1:57.2 off 40 yards; Women’s 100 yards: H Inglis, Broxburn AC in 11 seconds off 2 yards; Women’s 220 yards: Y Phillips, Dundee, in 26 seconds off 10 yards; Women’s 4 x110 relay: Broxburn AC in 53.3 seconds.

Andy Brown, four times mile winner and road race winner too at Dunblane.

McLachlan showed his class at Dunblane again in 1959 when he won the 220 yards from the three yards mark in 22.5 just a week after winning at Shotts.  He was unlucky again in the 100 yards at Dunblane though when he was eliminated in a semi-final when running from scratch.   Andy Brown ‘Scotland’s outstanding road distance runner’ won the road race by more than half a mile from Joe Connolly (Bellahouston) with Joe McGhee in third.  It was Brown’s seventh consecutive road race victory of the summer.   In the Women’s events, Broxburn AC won the 4 x 110 yards relay breaking the record set by Ardeer at Cowal Highland Games two weeks earlier.   Their winning time of 49.9 seconds was a tenth quicker.   Principal Results: 

Men’s 100 yards:  W Talbot, Glasgow Police in 9.8 sec off 5 yards; 220 yards: GA McLachlan, St Modan’s, 22.5 sec; 880 yards: J McLean, Dundee Hawkhill, 1:53.3 off 38;  Mile: R Penman, Bellahouston, 4:11.4 off 16; Road Race: AH Brown, Motherwell, 1:19:24; Medley Relay: Shettleston Harriers, 3:42; Youth 100 yards: J O’Donnell, Falkirk Victoria, 10 sec off 6 1/2 yards;  Junior 880 yards: AM Baxter, Dundee Hawkhill, in 1:57.4 off 32;  Women’s 100 yards: D Benassi, Broxburn, in 11.1 off 2 1/2 yards; Women’s 220 yards: H Inglis, Broxburn, in 26.1 off 4 yards; Women’s 4 x 110 relay: Broxburn (Bennassi, M Porteous, M Tripney and H Inglis) 49.9.

M Hildrey, Victoria Park

If the standard of competitor had been high, in 1960 it was such that the Glasgow Herald headline shouted loudly

A MEETING OF CHAMPIONS

“The feature of the Highland Games at Dunblane on Saturday was the meeting of MG Hildrey (Victoria Park) and R Whitelock of the same club, the present and past Scottish and sprint champions, in the open 100 yards championship.   Whitelock, off 1 yard, won his Heat in 10.2 sec, and Hildrey won his in the same time.   The two met in the first semi-final in which Hildrey beat his club mate in 10.1 sec, but Whitelock won the final by one yard  in 10.0 seconds.   Hildrey later won the handicap furlong from scratch in 22.9 seconds beating T Wilkie (Tillicoultry) and WM Campbell (Glashow University) to whom he was conceding 13 and 4 yards respectively.   W Black (Maryhill Harriers) won the half-mile handicap from the virtual scratch mark of 4 yards in 1:58.1.   The Scottish three mile champion, E Sinclair of Springburn Harriers, was first to finish in the 14 miles road race but as he was an unofficial starter, the race was awarded to JA Gibson, Maryhill Harriers, whose time was 1:23:44.   M Ryan, M Varman, GA McLachlan and JH Murray was the successful team for St Modan’s in the Mile Medley Relay .”

Results:  100 yards:  R Whitelock, Victoria Park, in 10.0 off 1 yard;  220 yards: M Hildrey, Victoria Park, in 22.9 off scratch;  880 yards: W Black, Maryhill, in 1:58.1 off 4 yards;  Mile: R McFall, Edinburgh Southern, in 4:20.6 off 55 yards; Road Race, JA Gibson, Maryhill, in 1:23:44;  Medley Relay:  St Modan’s AC in 3:42.2.    High Jump:  G Gorman, Victoria Park, 6′ 0 1/2″ with a 9″ allowance; Youths 100 yards: J Brannan, Bowhill YC, in 10 sec off 5 1/2 Yards; Junior 880 yards: J Finn, Monkland Harriers, 2:01.9 off 4 yards; Women’s 100 yards: E Steedman, Broxburn AC, in 11.6 sec off 5 yards; 220 yards:  E Steedman in 27 sec off 1 yards; Women’s 4 x 110 Relay: Broxburn (Benassi, Steedman, Tripney and Inglis), 2. Maryhill;  3. Springburn.  Won in 51.9 seconds.

In Part Two of the Dunblane Gathering story we will cover the period from 1961 to 1984 – there was a gap of several years when there was no Gathering but we can come to that.   So far we have seen the progress from the first of the series in 1951 to 1960 when there had been Scottish and international champions running, Scottish and British record holders in competition and characters galore flocking to the small cathedral city in central Scotland.

Dunblane Highland Gathering: 1960 – 1970  .   Dunblane Highland Gathering: 1971 – 1984