Author: The Author

Gillon ~ or Rasputin?

Doug in the course of his journalistic career covered 34 years of the history of Scottish athletics and it would be a foolish and negligent historian of Scottish athletics who did not make use of this treasure trove of information.    It should not however be assumed that this did not happen without a lot of hard work and sleepless nights.   Sure, it was fun and he enjoyed doing it, easy it was not.   The information below had to be specifically requested and it tells tales that we would not otherwise hear.

How long before the event do you know that you are going?   One has to accredit with organisations like the British Olympic Association, IAAF, Commonwealth Games Federation/CGS Scotland months in advance (a process of around 18 in the case of the British Olympic Association for Olympics)

The first step in this process is the sports ed/editor convincing management the paper can afford it.  They often baulked at  it, and it was almost invariably a fight, but usually not involving me, rather others going in to bat for me.  So when it was agreed I should go, it was always on very tight budgets – can we do this on the cheap?   And despite agreements with NUJ chapel, re upgrades for flights lasting more than four hours, I have yet to experience one!

They always attempted to get hotels on the cheap, but were obliged to use media hotels at events, because the transport system is linked to them. There were constant rows about this: “You can get a cheaper hotel in Sydney.”

Despite it apparently being a doddle, there were huge financial and time pressures. The sports desk secy and I would spend hours finding the cheapest options before a package was agreed. Meanwhile trying to do the normal day’s work.

What sort of preparation did you need to do beforehand?   One builds up dossiers and background on competitors as part of one’s normal daily routine, but that would broaden and intensify before major events – particularly multi-sport events, eg I would not spend too much time normally on judo or fencing, for example, but pre OG or CG, that would change. The work-load became silly, but I knew I’d need all the facts at my fingertips when deadlines loomed, and some unknown (not necessarily British) had won Olympic gold.

I can imagine there were problems with communications?    The advent of computers reduced costs (by removing hours spent dictating copy and replacing it with a one-second call to transmit data).  In Moscow, for example, one would queue to use a phone for up to an hour. An apparatchik would call your name and a phone box number, and you would be connected.  It might take 30 mins to dictate 1000 words, longer if foreign names were involved. People monitored your calls. You could tell from the hollow echo on lines, and more pertinently that if one dictated something contentious or regime-critical, they would censor you by pulling the plug, and you’d have to start the queuing process again. On one occasion, when I was trying to send a report on a gay rights demo in Red Square, the line was disconnected five or six times. I placed a call to our communications people and got instructions on how to use a teleprinter. There was a battery of them lying unused. You had to hand your copy to the telex operator, and they could then vet it, but they were mostly unused because everyone wanted to phone, discus things with the sports ed, etc. I was able to commandeer one printer and batter out the rest of the story before they knew what I was doing. It may have helped that I had a bushy black beard then, and looked like Rasputin. One security guard look at my accreditation photo and burst out laughing, bellowing: “Rasputin! Rasputin!”

Post lap tops, it became easier, although initially the weight of kit to be carried was incredible. And still fraught, even though less time was spent on the phone. The kit included  a big pair of acoustic muffs into which you attached around the earpiece and mouthpiece of the phone. This transmitted fine from one’s hotel room, but in a stadium with 80,000 to 100,000 people, the noise corrupted the signal. So we learned to snaffle two bath towels from the hotel, and wrap them round the muffs and phone, to deaden the noise. Then we discovered that if you went into the phone wiring, and connected the cables, perhaps using crocodile clips, you could eliminate the muffs.

Comms links got steadily better, so that the likes of Sydney, Bejing, Delhi, Melbourne, London etc, were relatively simple, and the advent of the Internet speeded research. But beware the curse of unreliable Wiki.

The problem with Sydney is that it’s UK plus 10 hours ie 10pm in Sydney is noon the same day in Glasgow.

I’d go around all day in Sydney from event to event, swimming in the morning (expecting Brits to be eliminated) and track at night. You would shoe-horn in other events wherever a Scot or Brit was in action – lots of home-work to check who was on where and when, and the travel logistics. I’d go around all day watching events and hoovering up interviews (ie in the mixed zone where competitors leave the poolside or track, or in the judo hall or boxing, etc, and batter quotes into my laptop, transcribing in transit (buses, trains, taxis). When the live action finished, around 10pm, I’d phone the desk, tell them what the headline Scottish/UK stories were, and we’d agree a schedule of reports with word counts. Because I could file until almost 8am (Sydney) the following morning (10pm UK), there were days when I would write and file 6000-ish words of considered writing. That’s the equivalent of six page leads (c800 each) and 3-5 sidebars of 250-400 words. (In Beijing it was more, because blogs had arrived). This means that some days the only sleep I got was at my work station between filing by 8am and being in my press seat at whatever was first venue of the day, usually by 10am.

What actual reporting problems were associated with the different time zones? It’s no use reporting from Beijing that Usain Bolt broke the world 100m record here tonight to take the Olympic title in a  time of 9.69 seconds. By the time the Herald is on the breakfast table perhaps 10 hours after the race, everyone has seen the race several times, and heard the factual news. It’s no use talking about the margin and manner of his win, arms up 20 metres out, and easing off, etc

The report has to be analytical, eg:   

“Usain Bolt’s remarkable Olympic 100m title last night in Beijing, shaving 0.3 sec from his own world record with 9.69sec, cements his place in the pantheon of global sprinting. Of the 10 fastest times in history four are his, yet he has run the distance only 13 times. Five of the quickest 10 belong to his Jamaican compatriot, former world record-holder Asafa Powell, but Bolt, with his classic lightning pose, heralds a new era. Few would bet against the 200m world best, and the 4 x 100m record, falling to him in the coming days.

Yet Bolt, with his long levers, was second slowest out of the blocks (0.165).

Three men broke 10.00 in the quarters, seven in the semis, and six in the final where 10.01 and 10.03 were the fastest times ever recorded for the last two places.

Powell was eclipsed with 9.95 in fifth, again buckling under pressure. Yet Bolt dropped his arms at 80 metres, appearing to ease off before raising them at the line”.

Text book, it was not.

… Then proceed to analyse him, and take in the quotes from his coach and team management which would not be available until later in the evening, and consequently missing from immediate live reports.

So there’s a lot of research which has to be teed up in advance. And with the volume of copy required, even with the extra time available, there’s no time to relax. Most meals are snatched sandwiches and constant coffees, and plenty water.

With perhaps 12 first-round heats in the 100, and all the Brits and potential finalists to be covered, I’d be up and down six or eight flights from high in the stand to the mixed zone just for the opening day of the 100. And all the time one is trying to keep tabs on the Scot in the modern pentathlon, or the two Scots in the coxless pairs, or whatever.

You need to know exactly who is in action, where, and when, and what their chances are. Can you afford not to be there? What are the priorities?

Still with time differences: The problems are very different West of the UK, eg LA, Atlanta, Victoria, Montreal, Edmonton.

In Los Angeles, the 3000m started at 2.50 UK time. I had to dictate a run of the race piece on Decker v Budd as it happened (in the same way as one would do a Saturday evening paper football report) and then add a paragraph of intro saying who had won, and their time (from the finish clock), and be off the line by 3.00 – my ultimate deadline, or it would not make the paper. Given it was won in 8.35, that gave 125 seconds to dictate the intro on top, that Puica had won from Wendy Sly, and stitch in that Decker had been carried off in tears by her fiance, and that Budd had placed seventh. And hopefully make it all read seamlessly.

We were, I believe the only UK morning paper with a live report on the race. As much adrenaline as one wants for a day at the office, but hugely rewarding and professionally satisfying!

In London or Glasgow, one is in real time, so the amount of copy one can file daily is reduced – no more than 2500-3000 per day, and some of that might be a preview feature party composed in advance.   [In overseas locations you also try to have features part researched and written in advance.]

Accommodation, facilities, contacts – what difficulties could  be encountered when you arrived?    Accommodation was just standard and often very spartan but over-priced hotel rooms.   The Kuala Lumpur press hotel rented rooms by the hour until shortly before our arrival!   At least the sheets had been changed, and the walls painted.

Food was generally OK, but often snatched on the hoof.  One had an advance and reclaimed costs against receipts on return. There was a modest per diem for taxis, phone charges, food, occasional translation costs, but all had to be receipted and accounted for.

One is very much reliant on personal contacts, and building trust.   In the mixed zone, one is separated from athletes by a chest -high barrier, and  the athlete naturally will  immediately go to a known face.    It’s an ill-disciplined scrum, and  the noise is intense. If you are not close enough to get your recorder under his/her nose, you will have nothing, and though one can pick up on quotes from colleagues later, if the deadline is tight you have missed it. (one would not share quotes from an exclusive interview).

After the Games start, what are the problems with access to individuals, work space, etc?   The BOA and CGS increasingly want to control the media. Unless you have a relationship with a competitor, coach, or official, you can’t get past that. I prided myself on having an unrivaled contacts book (ie phone numbers and addresses), and a decent memory. Knowing the names of wives, children, parents (and their phone numbers), coaches & even family pets, is a huge asset. Likewise the background of injuries, allergies, previous competitive history – highs and lows. Often, not always, one would keep little electronic files on athletes. In the old days you’d have an envelope full of press cuttings on the bigger celebs, so that if asked for an 800-word feature on somebody, you could deliver.

Knowing team managers and coaches was also important.

Building trust and confidence is vital, and sometimes that is obtained by not publishing. To me, it was worth sacrificing one racey story (not necessarily in the public interest) because it would gain you much more in the future. But I would never be party to covering up doping, cheating, etc.

Press work rooms were generally large, well equipped, with conference rooms for big interviews which might have 300 journalists, 30+ TV stations, and several dozen radio ones.

As stated above, occasionally (eg Beijing and Sydney) I sometimes did not get to bed.

I was fortunate that my desk would tell me “You’re the expert.   Just go where you think the story is.” In my early career, they’d perhaps ask me for a feature on Olga Korbut, or Ron Clarke.

How do local conditions affect you?  Humidity and heat in Atlanta, etc?   You just have to get on with the job, whatever the heat or humidity, make sure you drink plenty fluids. I usually kept my watch on UK time, to remind me of deadlines. There’s never time to acquire a hangover, which would in any event have been a very dangerous indulgence. The ultimate sin for a journalist is failing to hit deadline.

Bureaucracy could drive you mad: queuing three time for a sandwich or bottle of water in the likes of Moscow of Delhi.

Often I would be asked to pass on a message to athletes by their family or coaches, especially pre-mobile. I’d often let them use my phone in the stadium to call home in the days before mobiles.

What particular memories do you have of  separate Games?  Every major Games is memorable in its own way.    For many athletes (most of whom only do one OG or CG) it is often the defining experience of their lives. I count myself exceptionally privileged to have been part of that. I guess they are defining moments of mine. Curiously, like competitors, hacks also appear to rise to the championship challenge.   Almost all of the awards I have been lucky enough to win, and many of the winning works of others, have been filed from major events, or linked to them.   It was once pointed out to me that there were fewer Scottish journalists at the Olympics than there were Scottish athletes, and more GB Olympic competitors than there were GB journos. It was very competitive in journalism to get to the OG.

Are the Commonwealth Games really different from the others – ie ‘The Friendly Games’?The 1970 CG stand out, not just because they were my first, but because we did so well, and with athletes I knew or had competed with (Alder, Lachie, McCafferty, Ian Stewart, etc). It was a unique experience, wonderfully well-organised, even by today’s standards. ’86 was desperate by comparison, due to the boycott.    Melbourne and KL were outstanding, and Glasgow 2014 is right up there. There is a different, less frantic, gentler, attitude to the CG. They are friendlier, I guess.

Every Olympics has had something special, highlight moments, the bleak and the brilliant, from the 1972 Munich massacre and ’96 Centennial  Park bombing (Atlanta was my least favourite Olympics, and very badly organised) to watching Wells and Hoy, both of whom I knew well, win gold. The contrast between Moscow and LA, ideologically and indeed in every respect, made both magically fascinating. Barcelona, more for the Spanish culture than our results, I really enjoyed. Seoul for similar reasons. Sydney was the best, until matched by the GB success of London.

I actually enjoyed the World and Euro Athletics Champs more than almost OG and CG – able to focus without distraction on the sport that meant most to me.

I twice served as an assistant to the Press Liaison chap at Meadowbank, taking messages from the Press box to the control room and vice versa.   It was most revealing and altered my opinion of some of the gentlemen of the Press.   I would in all good faith take a Press release up to them in the box and among the generally civil greetings there would almost always be someone who would say something like “This is no good to me!   What I want to know is …. ”    Apart from the content it was at times said in a most unfriendly, condescending fashion.   Guys like Doug, Sandy Sutherland and Bill Melville have always been a pleasure to deal with.   It is easy to believe Doug when he says:

Doug on Ben Ledi with Norrie Foster, Russell Walker and Ross Hepburn

You will note from the above photograph (courtesy Ross Hepburn) that although Doug is associated strongly with cross-country, road and long distance running, his enthusiasm covers every event on the calendar and his continuing friendship with Norrie Foster (Shettleston – multi events), Russell Walker, and Ross Hepburn (Edinburgh AC, former world age group high jump record holder) is evidence of that.   The comments below come from some of his many friends in the sport and we start with two former Olympic 1500m finalists ~ Frank Clement and Lynne MacDougall

Frank Clement

“I came across Dougie in the early 70’s, probably at one of the Scottish Championships. We related to each other pretty well and, unlike other athletics journalists, I felt I could trust him and indeed this proved to be the case throughout both my athletics and work career.  We met each other often at major events and sports dinners  and also during the winter road and country seasons. When I began working at Babcock and Wilcox in 1974 Dougie would join myself and my training partner Norrie Scott for lunchtime runs around Barshaw Park in Renfrew. Dougie was working for the Sunday Post at that time and would arrive at our  training ground (Moorcroft Park) in his company’s pool car which was a black Morris Minor.  He and his wife Mary attended our wedding in 1975 and when I joined Glasgow City Council in 1978 Dougie and I would communicate regularly on a professional basis. Part of my job was to secure major events and Dougie was always supportive in encouraging this with forewards to bid documents, articles in programmes and of course newspaper articles.   

He was an active member of the Glasgow Sports Promotion Council (provides funding for major sports events in the city) and also served on the Selection Panel for the annual Sportsperson of the year Awards ceremony.   

I recall one particular story that we hatched up concerning the Scottish Vets Cross Country Championships that my club Linlithgow Athletics Club were organising in the 1991. The route took us past a medium sized but disused workshop at the bottom of Linlithgow Golf course and after some discussion with Dougie we agreed to open both doors of the building and take the race right through the workshop and past the lathes and turning machines. 

This step was duly rewarded with a headline in the Herald ‘ Linlithgow AC stage first ever indoor cross country championships’.  

One of my more recent memories was when Dougie was awarded the Lord Provosts Award in 2010 (Provost Bob Winter) for Journalism which coincided with his retirement. It was a fitting tribute to a man who gained the respect of all who had dealings with him, was always true to his profession and remained a trusted friend all through his career. “

Lynne MacDougall

Doug Gillon was a stable fixture all through my up and down athletics career.  I saw him at most races and became friendly with him over the years.  I would always get a Herald on a Monday to read Doug’s articles.  He really championed athletics in a city where sport is dominated by football. He achieved so many column inches because his coverage was erudite, entertaining and passionate so that even people not interested in athletics would appreciate the articles.  Doug was very interested in telling the athletes’ stories, not just reporting their performances and took the trouble to get to know people.  You could tell him things were ‘off the record’ and be confident that he would not write about them.  This meant that people were confident about speaking to him. He wrote a very nice and positive article about me in the mid 1990s which I appreciated a lot at the time.  

Doug really wanted Scottish athletes to do well. I remember that he took the trouble to  come to speak to me before an Olympic Trials final. This was not part of his work, but he wanted to encourage me. I don’t think I had any chance of making the team but I felt that he really believed that I could.  I think that this shows that Doug was much more than a journalist to many of the athletes that he wrote about.  

 

Doug also liked to have a drink after events!  One evening after the indoor championships at Cosford I found myself on a station platform with Doug, Mary Anderson and Andrew Currie (father of Alan and Alistair) Currie with the prospect of a 5 hour train journey on a Saturday night back to Glasgow. Doug set off to find an off licence and I thought that he was about to miss the train. He arrived back at the last minute, but empty handed.  However, there was a bar on the train and we passed the journey with rounds of whisky miniatures.  I’d had a rubbish run at Cosford but  left the train feeling very merry!

It was a great loss to athletics in Scotland when Doug retired, but I hope he is enjoying it!

Another Scottish Olympian – seventh in the marathon in Munich – who speaks highly of Doug is Donald Macgregor who has known him for many years and says ~

“Scottish sports writers of quality are rare; athletics writers of quality even rarer. While most column inches are occupied with football, in search of an imaginary triumphant past, Doug’s athletics writing has set a higher standard. He was one of the first to be aware of the threat of drugs in sport, one of the regular columnists in The Herald whose stories went far beyond the banal ‘well done’ for winners and ‘must do better next time’ for losers. I sincerely hope that Doug will continue to produce such high quality articles”

Well known and highly respected athletics historian Bob Phillips, long time friend of Doug’s, writes.

“In an ever depleting world of genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgable athletics writers, Doug Gillon is one of a very small and elite band.    Unlike most of the self-opinionated hacks who monopolise the internet and the printed columns, he likes athletes and prefers to write about them rather than the tawdry politics in which the sport is so often now immersed. I think that he, like a few others of us, really harks back to the eras of Pirie, Bannister, Zatopek and Clarke, when everything seemed so much simpler.”

Tom McNab was a Scottish international athlete, a world class coach and is a renowned novelist and playwright knows Doug and his work well too:

“Unlike most journalists, Doug entered  his profession with an enthusiasm driven by strong practical experience of athletics. That radiates through everything that he has written. “

Fellow journalist Sandy Sutherland says:

“I reported many events with Doug often the only other journo there or only other Scot!   Generous to a fault Doug would always help you out even when up to the eyes himself! A workaholic maybe but a thorough pro! Dont make them like that any more! A fan with a typewriter as we used to say! “

Ex-high jumper, turned former marathon runner, Russell Walker (picture at the top of the page) says:

Doug, as well as being one of the most interesting writers about sport in the English language, is also one of the friendliest and most generous of companions (although his driving is a bit frightening!).    Anything that Doug writes will get you thinking about the role of sport in all of our lives, participants or not, and, unless you are lucky enough to be as knowledgeable as he is, is guaranteed to provide you with new information or facts that you had never come across before. Anything he writes will have been very well researched and is of interest not just to those with a passion for sport. 
I know he has been a great support for many Scottish athletes and not only when they are in their prime but long afterwards, offering advice and practical help. 
He has been a great champion of Scottish sport and in particular, of Scottish athletics,over more than half a century. 

Ross Hepburn first met Doug when he (Ross) was a world age group record holder for the high jump.   They are still great friends and Ross was keen to have his say.

“My first memory of Doug dates from when he interviewed me at the Guinness School of Sport at Dunfermline College in 76/77.   It wasn’t until the late eighties until we met up again, by then I had lived in Germany since 79.

Now a young man, sort of foreign to his native country, whenever I came home for a holiday it was Doug who helped me along unselfishly.   Whenever I needed some sort of assistance, he was always there to help and point this or that out.   Even on the phone from Germany before “deadlines” if I had a question or something on my mind he would always help to sort it out!

I still have good memories as a younger lad getting the chance to visit the Herald sports desk, and getting tucked into bacon rolls at the paper’s local greasy spoon. Also the great stays at his house in Glasgow and Cornwall along with good conversations with him and his wife Mary still go through my head from time to time.

Equally I thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with him and his journalist mates during, amongst others, the World Championships in Stuttgart and Berlin. The one competition which topped the lot though was the European in Budapest in 98.   Due to a ruptured achilles tendon caused by a last try at high-jumping about 4 weeks earlier, I travelled by train with a stookie on from Stuttgart to Budapest changing in Munich and Vienna.  It was in Munich that I lost my rucksack with the anti-thrombosis injections inside, this was a bit worrying.

Once off the train in Hungary I contacted Doug, told him the story and without delay he phoned the British Team doctor who quickly arranged a meeting point.   Once it was clear what I needed we all got in a taxi to the next chemist and the necessary medication was purchased.   There we were, standing on the street with the medication,  when the doctor disappears quickly into a taxi back to the athletes hotel.  I said to Doug that I was going to ask him to give me an injection because I couldn’t do it myself.   “WHAT!” He says, “come on let’s get back to the press centre and let me have a think about this.” Back at the centre I tell him that in Germany the old lady next door has been giving me the injections. “OK, lets go in the gents and I’ll do it”.   We are by this time both in hysterics. We get into a cubicle, I lift up my t-shirt and say “Stick it into my belly!”   Then someone at the same time flushes in a neighboring cubicle.  Words cannot describe the horror we both felt at maybe being caught together in the gents in a cubicle – in went the needle, exercise over!   And we didn’t get caught.

Oh, and another thing (sorry about the plagiarism), I have to thank Doug for more than that injection and look forward to meeting up with him again sometime soon!

Eric Fisher (33 above) is a well known and successful coach from the East of Scotland.   The subject of a previous profile he has worked with athletes of Scottish and British standard.   He says

“I had the pleasure of meeting Doug early in my coaching life. Always knowledgeable he could be relied on to give solid advise and over the years I built up a good relationship with him. I could rely on him to support many of the athletes I coached and myself on some of the occasions when I was deemed out of order by the politicians of our sport. When he “retired” I felt that the sport was losing a man that always attempted to keep us in the forefront of the public”s mind.  He was always supportive in the development of the coaches in the sport and able to give good unbiased advice when asked. I always hoped he would write a book on his experiences within the sport, but maybe that is his latest project. Can I be at the front when it is published.”

Hamish Telfer, top class coach and administrator at GB level:

Always professional but not afraid of tackling the bigger issues within the sport.  He is a respected figure withing the coaching fraternity and his knowledge of athletics is encyclopedic.  The athletes both like and respect him.  He probes and often surrounds his reporting with personal touches.  He knows the sport inside out and is a strong advocate for Scottish athletes and Scottish Athletics and it is evident that he is always intensely proud when a Scot comes good.

*

And John Anderson encapsulates what everybody else has said with a simple  ~

“He’s a great guy!”

Doug interviewing Andy Forbes at the start of the McAndrew Relay.  Surrounded by officials and former athletes Molly Wilmoth, Willie Laing and Brian Goodwin.

But however good he was as a runner, Doug is best known and respected throughout the sports community in Scotland as a top class journalist and reporter.   He went to 12 successive Commonwealth Games, reported every Olympics from 1972 to 2012, and every World Athletics Championships from their inauguration in 1983 to 2009. Plus world championships in curling, world title fights in boxing, indeed, some 60 sports in nearly 50 countries.

When asked how he got into the sport his reply is  “I was in a privileged position, very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time – starting in journalism at the Sunday Post in 1968, the year Bellahouston became Scotland’s first custom-built sports centre, opening new opportunities for minority sport participation and public interest in it. And this coincided with hosting the 1970 CG in Edinburgh beginning to kindle the Scottish public’s imagination.”

That’s all true but there is more to a 34 year career with many awards and accolades than luck.  I could name several sports journalists who had all the luck and connections that could be wanted and who failed to stay the course, or even leave the starting blocks convincingly.  When I came into the sport in 1957, George Dallas was writing the reports for the ‘Glasgow Herald’: he recorded the events and people in the sport faithfully every week.    There were a couple of years when athletics was reported by ‘Our Athletics Correspondent’, before Ron Marshall who was correspondent for a time.   Doug occupied the post for much, much longer than any of them.   There are several pitfalls that can shorten a sports journalists career, and among those that Doug avoided are the following.

First, one famous TV reporter coming to Glasgow for the first Gaymer’s 10K road race asked a runner, “How far is 10K in miles anyway?”  Not Doug.   He always did his homework.   And for much more difficult aspects of the sort than that.

Second, there was the reporter who said that all cross-country races are the same, with the same team winning every week.   A remark like that shows a disconnect from the sport and a lack of understanding of what it is about.   He watched the races without seeing them.

Third,  there was the chap who wrote at length that the 1500m distance would never be taken to by British athletes or spectators.   They would be much more at home with an uncomplicated four laps, and perhaps the 1600m would be better suited to us.

So Doug’s  long career as a journalist was just “happy serendipity”?    I don’t think so.   Let’s look at how his interest in athletics developed and how the runner  became a journalist.   When asked Doug is quite straightforward .   Colin has already quoted Doug on his family background and the sporting inspiration that that provided.

Doug went as a student to Heriot-Watt University and while there was editor of Omega, the student newspaper.   He says hadn’t a clue what he was doing, “but it confirmed that my initial dreams about journalism had been correct.  I applied for a sports writing job but it was downhill in journalism from there!   Deputy sports editor was the closest I got to becoming an editor again (at Sunday Post, and then Sunday Standard) before switching to writing full time.  I enjoyed the creativity of page design and story and picture-evaluation, but I’d have hated the administration and bureaucracy of being sports ed, which is why I pursued reporting and covering events, having turned down an offer from Andrew Jaspan to become sports ed at Scotland on Sunday.

“I went for several interviews at the Sunday Post (some 80+ applicants).   I’m convinced there was nothing to separate those on the short list, until I was asked what I knew about sports other than football.  I guess I had a fair breath of knowledge and was able to answer some specific searching questions about Eric Liddell. That may have been what got me the job, for later I learned my interviewer was a huge Liddell fan, and had helped write a short book on him.

“This interviewer warned me that research is crucially important: for every reader, the newspaper reporter is “The Expert.” That’s a really scarey thought. An enormous responsibility if taken seriously. And a much more challenging ask in the era before the internet. Journalists today are overly-reliant on Wikipedia, over which there is no quality control or guarantee of factual accuracy. 

“Another bit of early advice came in the nature of sports writing as expounded by my first sports editor, an outstanding mentor called Johnny Rankine.  Like John Anderson, he had been brought up in the Gorbals.   He was giving another young reporter a bit of a bollocking for something, and I recall rather timidly remonstrating with him: “but Mr Rankine, he’s an awfully nice lad.    I don’t bloody want awfully nice lads, Dougie. I want cheeky young buggers that do their research and can write a bit.” And very pointedly he nodded at the book of football scores and statistics which it was my job to keep up to date after every Scottish League match.

An early assignment involved training on the dunes at Gullane with Jock Wallace’s Rangers team

When Doug started with the Sunday Post in 1968,  the new phenomenon is Scottish sport was the first custom built sports centre in the country at Bellahouston and the ever alert Doug realised this would catch on.   He persuaded the sports editor that the paper should reflect this changing culture. He agreed, and Doug’s transition from football reporter to multi-sports writer was under way.

He says, “It was simply luck that I was in the right place at the right time. My good fortune continued with Edinburgh hosting the 1970 Commonwealth Games.”   The truth is that he spotted the significance of the new development before any of the other established or up-and-coming writers did and capitalised on it.   This eye for what was important in a development or story was crucial to Doug’s own development as a journalist and the growing recognition of this ability by his peers added to his reputation.   He was kept grounded by his running mates and also by the sports editor who once told him “Dougie, even a blind pig turns up the odd truffle!”

Domestically Doug was at as many athletics events, winter and summer, as most athletes.   Over the winter at the McAndrew relay, in the mud at Clydebank, on the road at Bishopbriggs, at the East Kilbride road race, as well as at championships all over the land.   He would be seen talking to runners – and not only the winners – on the day during the race and be on the phone the night before the event too.   He attended track and field events and was on first name terms with all the top athletes – and many of the also-rans as well.   His international portfolio also grew.

When we look at the events covered, the totality is really mind boggling.   International Games reported on include the following ~

1970:   Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh

1971:   European Championships, Helsinki;

1972:   Olympic Games, Munich;

1974:   Commonwealth Games, Christchurch;  European Championships, Rome;

1976:   Olympic Games, Montreal;

1978:   Commonwealth Games, Edmonton; European Championships, Prague;

1980:   Olympic Games, Moscow;

1982:   Commonwealth Games, Brisbane; European Championships, Athens;

1983: World Championships, Helsinki;

1984:   Olympic Games, Los Angeles;

1986:   Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh; European Championships, Stuttgart;

1987: World Championships, Rome;

1988:   Olympic Games, Seoul;

1989:   Euro Indoors, The Hague

1990:   Commonwealth Games, Auckland; European Championships, Split; Euro Indoors Glasgow

1991:   World Championships, Tokyo; World Indoors, Seville

1992:   Olympic Games, Barcelona; Euro Indoors, Genoa

1993:   World Championships, Stuttgart;

1994:   Commonwealth Games, Victoria; European Championships, Helsinki;  Euro Indoors, Paris

1995:   World Championships, Gothenburg;

1996:   Olympic Games, Atlanta;  Euro Indoors, Stockholm

1997   World Championships, Athens; World Indoors, Paris

1998:   Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur; European Championships, Budapest;  Euro Indoors, Valencia

1999:   World Championships, Seville; World Indoors, Maebashi (Japan)

2000:   Olympic Games, Sydney;  Euro Indoors, Ghent

2001:   World Championships, Edmonton; World Indoors, Lisbon

2002:   Commonwealth Games, Manchester; European Championships, Munich; Euro Indoors, Vienna

2003:   World Championships, St Denis, France; World Indoors, Birmingham

2004:   Olympic Games, Athens; World Indoors, Budapest

2005:   World Championships, Helsinki;  Euro Indoors, Madrid

2006:   Commonwealth Games, Melbourne; European Championships, Gothenburg;

2007:   World Championships, Osaka;  Euro Indoors, Birmingham

2008:   Olympic Games, Beijing; World Indoors, Valencia

2009:   World Championships, Berlin;

2010:   Commonwealth Games, Delhi; European Championships, Barcelona.

…  and even after he retired the ‘Herald’ editorial team persuaded him to come back to cover the 2012 Olympics in London and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow!     But that was only the track coverage (and with Doug we should probably add  … ‘so far!’)   Over the country he was equally active having covered the World Cross Championships in 1978, 80, 83, 87, 91, 92, 93, 95, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 05, 067 and 08   and  the europeqan cross country championships in 1994, 95, 96, 97, 98, 03, 08, 09.    Not content with that there were many European Cup and team championships and finals.

Running in the Kremlin with Sandy Sutherland, 1980

Of course at these events he was already on first name terms with all the Scottish athletes and officials as well as with British athletes from the other home countries.   His enthusiasm seemed boundless.   At the time of the Beijing Olympics, the Sports Journalists Association website reported on 8th August 2008, that Doug ‘had clocked up a landmark 10th Olympics’ adding that Neil Wilson of the Daily Mail was also attending his tenth. Alan Hubbard was also making it ten but his were not consecutive, his first being in 1964.   It went on “Although a Track and Field specialist, the versatile Gillon has been busy filing around 2000 words a day of features and news reports.”

If the coverage of these events looks like a doddle, then read here  for Doug’s account of covering the various Games and Championships in his own words.   It is a bit of an eye opener.

No editor would underwrite the expenses to these of a journalist who did not deliver the goods.   Doug earned every penny.

SJA Sports Awards 11/12/2014: Doug with Neil Wilson and Randall                                                               Northam

It wasn’t just the locals in Scotland who appreciated Doug’s work, he was well respected throughout the United Kingdom and even further afield.   He was a working member of the Sports Journalists Association who held an annual award ceremony every year in London.   Awards are given to print journalists in several categories as well as to radio and TV journalists.   Among the recipients are such as Claire Balding, John Inverdale, Mike Atherton, and the awards are greatly prized.   Doug has won several awards and in 2002 he won the double of Specialist Correspondent award and Regional Sportswriter award.   In that year he also won the Scottish Disability Sports Special Award.     A selection of his awards/trophies is below but it should be noted that there have also been a number of domestic awards which are also quite special.   The SDS award in 2002 has already been noted but in 2006 he was awarded the City of Glasgow Special Award – the first time that it had been given to a Sports journalist and, in 2012 was recognised by Victoria Park and given Life Membership.

Some of the Awards

1990:   Bank of Scotland Pres Awards:  Commended

Doug receives Life membership Certificate from Victoria Park President

 Doug also won his weight in whisky as best Scottish correspondent of the 1986 Commonwealth Games  (15st 05lbs, after going on a fattening diet).  This equated to 85 bottles.  And as the sports editor of the winning journalist also won his weight in whisky, our man also won a few Brownie  points!

Doug, being Doug, suddenly got an idea for another line of copy, or had maybe spoken to someone, maybe Coe and wanted to work the quote into his piece. Out came the laptop and he started tapping away again.   With the light fading fast a senior RAF officer came forward and ordered – it was definitely an order – on to the waiting machine.   We all got on board, took our seats and the looked around to see who was missing.   When we looked out of the window, there was Doug walking slowly across the tarmac being hurried along by the RAF big-wig.   His luggage slung over one shoulder, his laptop balanced on his arm and his mobile phone wedged up against his ear.   He was still working hard on getting a last, better line into his story.”

Doug with long-time friend and top class high jumper Ross Hepburn.   (Ross was world age-group record holder, and still the youngest male to represent Britain as a senior  at 15)

Further to the Frank Clement remarks, Doug had covered every summer Olympics since 1972  and four years later took pleasure in reporting on his friend and former training partner, Frank Clement’s fifth place in the 1500m final, where he insists Clement would have medalled had he not been barged off the track on the final lap.   It was a memorable race in more ways than one – on a wet day, Frank warmed up in the only unsheltered part of the arena, not the fastest on paper he planned, if he were with the leaders at 300m to go, he would make his move then.    If you watch the video, you will see that just at that point he was shoved off the track and on to the grass.   Watching it again, we have to agree with Doug’s opinion.   Again.

For the where are they now column, Doug replies when asked:  “I now live in a Cornish fishing village, sing in a male voice choir and a folk and sea shanty group for which I write song lyrics, and with whom I drink Real Ale. We raise thousands for charity.   The knees have gone, and now that I live on the shore of Plymouth Sound, amid stunning scenery for cliff top runs, I can’t raise a trot.

And still write one sports column a week  ….. “

His last column as a regular journalist was in the ‘Herald’ of 28th October, 2017, and in it he commented on the fundamental importance of belief, and quoted Walter Wintle’s poem that golfer Arnold Palmer kept on his office wall.   It reads

If you think you’re beaten, you are,

If you think you dare not, you don’t

If you’d like to win, but think you can’t

It’s almost certain you won’t.

Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man,

But sooner or later the man who wins,

Is the man who thinks he can.

He then finishes with the comment, “I believe the mind, not technological or physical advances, drives sporting improvement. 

He always said he wrote for the love of it…                   Now read what his friends and colleagues have to say about the man at this link

Doug at Work

Doug Gillon started out as a runner, a pretty good runner, before becoming one of Scotland’s best and most respected athletics journalists.   He attended three, four or ten times more Olympics than any athlete did, he covered more sports than any other journalist that I can think of has done, and still managed to keep his allegiance to his roots in the country’s athletics.   It is appropriate though to start where he started – and Colin Youngson covers his career as a runner.   

Eric Fisher (born 1946) became a good cross-country and marathon runner and a very good coach, as well as being a key figure on the Edinburgh Boys Brigade scene. He first got into the sport through Sunday School picnics where all the races were short sprints which he could never win. He wanted longer distance races, as did another youngster by the name of Douglas F. Gillon (born on the 12^th of July 1946) the subject of this profile. These picnics were all held at Dalkeith Country Park and when such races were introduced, these two used to beat everybody else easily.

Later on, in 1966, Eric Fisher became involved properly in the sport when he was 19 years old and Claude Jones of Edinburgh AC who worked in Ferranti’s asked if there were any runners in the factory who were not involved in the sport. Eric was pointed out to him and he was invited along.   The first night there he was involved in a 2.5 mile race: it was a handicap race but all athletes started at the same time.  He saw one guy he knew and told the handicapper he could beat him.  It turned out that it was Doug Gillon (again) who had been attending George Watson’s College and was ranked number 3 in the United Kingdom for the steeplechase in his age group.   Eric kept up with them for about 100 yards, fell away and finished between two and three minutes behind them.   That wasn’t bad for a youngster on his first night though.

Doug Gillon features in the Scottish Athletics Yearbook which lists statistics from the 1965 season. With a time of 4.24.2 for 1500 metres Steeplechase, he was fastest Junior in Scotland, in front of his EAC team-mate John Fairgrieve. Doug produced this time in the Schools International fixture in Brighton on the 24^th of July, when he was narrowly beaten into second place after a bold front-running bid for victory. He had earned selection for the Scottish team by becoming Scottish Schools champion by winning the 1500m Steeplechase title at Meadowbank. His time that day, 2.25.7, was only 0.3 of a second slower than Alistair Blamire’s record, set in 1964. This was after Doug had finished third in the Schools mile at Goldenacre. The race was won by Jack MacFie of Daniel Stewart’s, who went on to finish third in the Brighton international mile. Doug and Jack trained together; and Jack was to run well for Edinburgh University, Scottish Universities, EAC and Victoria Park. His most successful event was probably 880 yards. He won many contests with a strong sprint finish and had a best time of 1.53.3.

(A really unusual feat was when Jack MacFie broke the outright record for racing up umpteen steps to the top of London’s Post Office Tower! This challenge took place in April 1968, shortly after Edinburgh University had won both the British Universities Cross Country and Scottish National XC team titles. He clocked a rapid 4 minutes 46 seconds and was 2nd to go up in the EU team of 6: Hugh Stevenson, Jack MacFie, Ian Hathorn, Andy McKean, John Exley and Ken Fife. All the EU runners were better than London University’s best. As an extra guest for EU, Sheila Duncan set a women’s record.)

Doug Gillon also made the 1965 Scottish Senior lists with 10 minutes 10 seconds for the gruelling 3000m Steeplechase.

In November 1965, Doug made the EAC team for the prestigious Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay – and what a successful debut it was. Doug took over from the great Jim Alder in 4^th place on the 7^th Stage and managed to hold this position. Although EAC ended up 5^th after the final 8^th Stage, they were presented with the Most Improved team medals.

There was further improvement for Doug in 1966: 9.46.0 for 3000m Steeplechase, run in London (14^th in the Scottish rankings). This was to be his fastest ever in this event.

The Scottish Universities Track Championships took place at Westerlands in Glasgow on June 3^rd 1967. Spectators watched Doug Gillon racing around indefatigably completing several events for the new Heriot-Watt University, a team that was short of numbers. The Scottish Association of Track Statisticians Archive makes clear about two of his best runs that summer: 58.1 for the 440 yards Hurdles (8^th in the Scottish rankings) and 10 minutes 0.2 seconds in the 3000m Steeplechase, when he won at Grangemouth on 6^th August (14^th).

In the 1967 E to G, Doug ran Stage 7 once more and improved his team’s position from 7^th to 6^th, which turned out to be their place at the finish.

In Summer 1968 Doug ended up 21st in the Scottish rankings for 3000m Steeplechase with 10.11.6. After he left university, his journalistic career took precedence.

Hugh Stevenson has been a member of Victoria Park AAC for many years. In his day a talented hurdler, who won the SAAA Junior 120 yards Hurdles title in 1965, he is notorious for satirical ‘imitations’ of athletics friends and foes. Doug Gillon featured frequently in Hugo’s humorous repertoire as ‘The Expert’, and was treated with fond derision as Gillon became Scotland’s finest Athletics Journalist. Doug’s friends at VP also included ‘The Doc’ (John Baird), ‘Jake the Snake’ (Jack MacFie) and ‘The Boss’ (Roddie Campbell).

Then in 1977, racing for Victoria Park AAC, Doug Gillon produced a surprise personal best time of 57.19 for 400 metres Hurdles (16^th in the Scottish Rankings). (Many years later, Doug was awarded Life Membership of VPAAC, for services to athletics journalism.)

Doug Gillon himself emailed a colourful series of memories from these early days. Inevitably these are much more entertaining than the previous paragraphs, which had to be sourced mainly from cold statistics!

“ I was born in Edinburgh on 12.7.1946, and attended George Watson’s College in Edinburgh where I tried almost every sport imaginable: athletics, rugby, squash, badminton, cricket in which I represented the school; learned to ski at Aviemore, and canoe in Loch Lomond and the Hebrides. I dabbled enthusiastically in basketball, hockey and volleyball, plus football (which we had to arrange for ourselves, being a “rugby school”). And tennis and golf at which I was abysmal. In fact not even as good as that. 

I was obsessed with sport from an early age and remember beating Eric Fisher who was in the same Sunday school class, probably before we were 10. It was a cross-country race of, of maybe .75 of a mile. I recall winning in a sprint finish (first race I ever won) I’m not sure if it was from Eric. Later, he trained for cross-country with the BB, and always beat me comfortably, as did another BB lad who gave Eric some competition. His name (McMahon, I think, but Eric could confirm) never featured in athletics in future, and whenever I recalled these days in the future, I always considered him a talent lost to the sport. Especially once Eric developed in the marathon. 

In the coronation summer of 1953 I remember reading the report of the first ascent of Everest. I was six and transfixed. I still have the newspaper with its souvenir pictures . . . Hillary, an alien figure against an impossibly blue sky. And who had taken this photograph, I remember thinking. Tensing, of course, but perhaps this was the first evidence of an enquiring sporting mind. The next was being summoned by my father to hear news of  Bannister, Brasher and Chataway, and the first sub four-minute mile. And I recall creeping out of bed at 3.00am on a spring morning in 1955, to tune in to Eamonn Andrews’ boxing commentary on the Don Cockell v Rocky Marciano world heavyweight title fight. Cockell got his head boxed off in nine rounds. I devoured every line of all the newspaper reports. I wanted to know all about these icons. Reading about them inspired me, and while doing the greatest job in the world, I’ve since been privileged to meet and interview many of them, including Chataway, Brasher, and Bannister. 

From an early age I had a dream . . . that I might be a good enough athlete to represent my country, to go to the Commonwealth Games, and perhaps even the Olympics. Well, it didn’t quite work out like that. There were a few injuries, the pre-lottery dilemma of carving a career, paying a mortgage, and raising a family. Not to mention insufficient talent. But life took odd twists which resulted in me covering 11 Olympics. Thanks primarily to having defied my parents’ wishes that I study law – a decision that caused a fair bit of domestic aggro. 

My father was a public relations consultant, involved in the then fledgling sport sponsorship industry. Many early such events in Scotland were his creation, including the first national awards dinner (Usher Vaux). This brought him into routine contact with the likes of Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, because his clients sponsored motor racing at Charterhall when these future F1 champions were young drivers. Winnie Shaw, Bobby Macgregor, Harvey Smith, Dick McTaggart, Ming Campbell, and a host of other celebrities were household topics of conversation. My dad brought home their autographs, and even that of Muhammad Ali. 

So sporting excellence was a step closer for me than just reading about it in the papers. My old man was on first-name terms with them. Yet when I announced that I wanted to write about sport rather than read law, he went ape. There was a lecture about sports writers, with whom he worked daily: how advancement relied on luck, and not necessarily talent, that there were many very good journalists earning a pittance on local papers, because they’d never had a lucky break. It was a hard-drinking, cynical and unpleasant profession. But he let slip some Damon Runyonesque tales about Scotland’s sports scribes, which only whetted my ambition. 

My eclectic sports participation meant I did no real athletics until I was 17. I discovered latent cardiovascular fitness by chance, thanks to a knee ligament injury sustained at rugby. I ran every day to recover strength (straight lines, no side-stepping), and was persuaded to do some track races. I discovered the long-standing school mile record was in reach, and beat it with 4:24.1 on a five-lap-to-the-mile grass track at Myreside. I was briefly coached by John Anderson whose rep sessions at Meadowbank (in some illustrious company) frequently made me ill. I’d have run over broken glass for him, but quickly learned he could cause a row in an empty house. I retain the greatest regard and affection for him – a truly iconic coach, and we remain friends. I’d never have become a journalist but for John and the life lessons which I did not even realise I was learning until decades later. 

I joined Edinburgh AC, and recall running a mile, 3k chase, and six miles “for the point” in one evening during a club match at Ayr. It was my first ‘chase and first time over a water jump. Not for the last time, I fell in, but managed to finish, in second or third, I think. 

Barrier technique was clearly lacking; as were facilities. So having decided to do the #chase at the Scottish schools, I took the wooden bench seats from the Myreside stand, and stacked them three-feet high on the track, to practise hurdling, knowing that if I hit these benches I would go down, to focus the mind. So just like the real thing.

 I also recall a 3k chase at Westerlands (Aug ’65, I think) in which Lachie Stewart and John Linaker had a ding-dong battle. Approaching the bell, I heard them closing on me and just managed to avoid the humiliation of beng lapped as Lachie broke the Scottish record. 

EAC clubmates Jack MacFie, John Fairgrieve and I took 1, 2, 3 in the mile at the 1965 Scottish Schools Championships at Goldenacre. It seems significant, looking back, that we’d done regular very competitive weekly track rep sessions (eg 10×400, 6×600) together at Ford’s Road. As Goldenacre had no waterjump, the schools steeplechase (1500m) was held over to the Scottish Junior champs the following weekend, on cinders at Meadowbank. I won relatively unchallenged and was disappointed to learn I’d missed the national record by less than a second. I was told that medalling in both mile and 1500m SC was a first. I was more interested in it getting me selected for Scottish Schools. 

At Brighton I had a lead of 50 metres in the Schools International, but got caught right on the line by a guy called Barry Davies who was unbeaten in Britain that year. He later became a cyclo-cross international, I believe. 

There was no coach, and no advice at Brighton. I was then selected for an SAAA Junior team against the Army, a 2k chase, at Pitreavie. I managed to slip right under the water jump barrier for total immersion while warming up, but won the race in the same time as the runner-up. Definitely fuelled by how I’d felt when I lost on the line at Brighton. 

I briefly worked in London as an executive officer with HM Customs & Excise, sharing a flat with Northern Ireland 800m internationalist Les Jones, later to become GB athletics team manager. When Les died, sadly most prematurely, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with Linford Christie, carrying one end of the coffin at his funeral in Portadown. 

I joined Thames Valley where Ron Roddan was a young sprint coach. Did sessions with John Bicourt among others, and sometimes with a group which included Lillian Board. 

I took a sabbatical from C&E to study for a BA in Commerce at Heriot Watt University where Adrian Weatherhead was then star athlete and Bill Walker the leading coaching light, team manager, and factotum. I recall a uni cross-country at Caird Park where Adrian was leading by about 100 yards when he shot off course. I had to resist the temptation not to shout him back (I was second) but we were team mates, after all! And he won comfortably. But the general standard of athletics was so poor that I won the 400h, 880, mile, and 3 miles in one afternoon at the University championships. My times were so dire that I carefully expunged them from my memory. 

There were a few false starts before I became a journalist. I wrote the odd snippet for the school magazine at Watson’s. Malcolm Rifkind was a classmate, and before he moved at a young age, so was Mike McLean (800m CG 1970). Peter Burgess, who later won three Scottish decathlon titles, was also a contemporary and we were in the same team at the Schools international in Brighton (he did LJ then). So were my mates Jack MacFie and John Fairgrieve. 

England’s World Cup win in 1966 quite spoiled my day. I’d hitched overnight from London, got a lift from Edinburgh to Ayr, and won the Land o’ Burns steeplechase. Then came off the track to learn England, drawing 2-2 when I lined up, had won. I took silver in the Civil Service 3k SC in 9.46. Can’t recall who won. Weeks later, I fell on an escalator, damaging ankle ligaments which took months to heal in my early time at Uni. This caused me to drop the ‘chase and try various events including 400 hurdles, with little success. Eilidh Doyle would have beaten me by nearly 30 metres! I guess in league matches over the years I tried every event bar the pole vault, “just for the point”. 

Scotland’s big athletics hero was Jim Alder who had won the marathon at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston (and was to fight his way to silver in the 1970 Edinburgh CG). Jim was a cult figure, hard as nails. The Victor’s fictional comic strip hero, Alf Tupper, aka Tough of the Track, was a wimp by comparison.

 I’d run in the same Edinburgh-to-Glasgow team as Jim (my most terrifying moment as a young athlete was Jim Alder handing me the baton in the lead, at Airdrie War Memorial). I knew all his backround. I was in awe of him, of course, but he was friendly and gave advice. No arrogance, although he was among the best in the world. I could not help comparing him with some of the very one-dimensional footballers I queued to speak to outside Ibrox or Parkhead after reporting Old Firm matches. And Lachie Stewart was from the same cloth.”

Doug later added the following reminiscences:

“AT EAC a large group would go out on Sunday mornings. For me, those peaked briefly at a max of around 2 hours 10min which, eyeballs out for me, would be no more than 19-20 miles. These would be hilly: from Fords Road, out to Colinton, Redford, Balerno, and past the reservoirs. Finlay Steele was the top junior (around 51mins, I think in the Tom Scott in 1964 or 65). I recall finishing second junior to him on a very hot day on the Law to Motherwell course. I only just broke the hour but was well out of my comfort zone – completely wasted.

Bert Carse (later emigrated to Western Australia) would slaughter everyone bar Finlay on these Sunday runs. They started very friendly, everyone chatting. Silence would gradually descend, and then the boot would go in, and we’d fragment into little competitive groups.

Carse was the class act over three miles on the track, and Neil Donnachie, Bob Greenoak, and Barry Craighead were still competing for the club. Barry, who was then a joiner, would often give me a lift home in his van, which I recall once contained a coffin, or panels thereof!

I enjoyed handicap races at Highland Games, and on reflection they taught pace-judgement which sometimes seems lacking today, as a consequence of the decline of HG.

When I joined the Sunday Post (1968) I went out at lunchtimes, jogging from Port Dundas to Westerlands where I’d join a few others in a track rep session, then jog back. Lachie was often training there, and I recall Myra Nimmo too, training in the early 70s, prior to the ’76 Olympics where she did the long jump.

My training was indiscriminate, lacking structure as well as motivation because I could not race. Athletics contests in the late 60s were almost always on Saturdays – and I worked on Saturdays, focusing on my career, which caused me to abandon competitive aspirations. With a young family, serious commitment to training would have been a huge indulgence – unfair to my long-suffering wife, Mary. My job was disruptive enough to normal family life and she was hugely supportive of my work.

Nevertheless, I did attempt to keep in some shape. I’d go down to VP on Tuesday evenings. Jack MacFie put me to shame, travelling every week from Edinburgh despite being a GP. Our sessions were always competitive, whether track reps or round the Scotstoun area, or along The Boulevard. I’d also attempt to go out from home, perhaps once a week, and perhaps twice from the office at lunchtime but would only run a total of about 35 miles per week.

I’d various trails ranging from two to a maximum of seven miles, such as out to Mugdock reservoir  or round Dougalston.

League athletics opened some Sunday options in the mid ’70s, and briefly rekindled competiive juices. They did so again with the marathon boom in the early ’80s. I got quite fit prior to the Glasgow marathon in either ’81 or ’82, while working for the Sunday Standard, going out every day through Glasgow Green for about 35-40 mins and also from home. I got up to around 60mpw then. On marathon day I promised to run with Bobby Watson (Airdrie manager) in the early stages, until he settled down. I left him about five miles, and stupidly got sucked into the race. I reached 19 miles in a couple of minutes over two hours, and was really chuffed – felt I should break three hours. Within two miles I’d strained my groin. I dragged my right leg to the finish – passed by Bobby in Pollok Park! I finished in 3:45. I never ran another marathon, and about three years there was a Damascene moment: my 11-year-old son, Gregor, beat me over two miles when we jogged on holiday in Cornwall.

 I continued to jog two or three times a week into my 60s, but the knees are now paying for all those times I stepped over the door and onto the road or pavement. If I knew then what I know now, a lot more would have been done on grass. The last five years I have been able to do little more vigorous than a walk.”

It is important that we started with Doug as a runner and club man because it indicates that he knows the sport from the inside, is happy with the participants, and is, indeed, happy to be a participant.   How can one who mixes with The Boss, The Doc and Jake the Snake ever be accused of being out of touch?   Now read on for Doug’s journalistic career.

The Ben

The wonderful world of hill running has produced many top class runners, most with their own individual take on sport which is different from the attitude adopted by track and road runners.   As an example of this there was the international hill runner who was asked to run for his club in a track race and replied, “I’m sorry but  I don’t need to run on the track to know I’m fast; I just know within myself that I’m fast.   That’s enough.”   The runners on this page have done enough to prove anything that needs to be proved, all top class runners. some of whom have run over the country or on the road but all are in the main hill people.   Some will be the subject of full profiles elsewhere on the site.   The list is not comprehensive and will grow as the weeks and months go by.   Colin Youngson has compiled the following notes.

Go to the Scotstats website. At the top of the page, click on Competition, then on Off Track and then on Mountain, to find many facts about the international achievements of Scottish hill runners. 

On the Scottish Hill Runners homepage, click on Races. On the right-hand-side you will find Championships. Click on SHR Championship, then scroll down to Results for a list of All Time champions.

Catriona Buchanan (Ochil Hill Runners)

Scottish Hill Running Champion 2010, 2012, 2018. Ran for Scotland in the Junior Women race at 2007 World Mountain Running Trophy; and then for GB in the same event in 2009 (7^th, first Briton, team bronze). In the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships, Catriona contributed to Scottish team silver in 2011. She won the prestigious Snowdon Mountain International event in 2010 and led Scotland to team silver. She finished second in 2011 and Scotland secured team gold. In the 2017 Home Countries International, Catriona finished second and Scotland secured team silver

Claire Gordon (Hunters Bog Trotters)

She ran as a Senior Woman in the World Mountain Running Trophy in 2006 and 2008. In the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, she made 6 successive appearances 2009-2014. Best position 4^th in 2013; team medals – silver 2013; bronze in 2010, 2011. In the 2009 Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships, Claire contributed to Scottish team silver. In the 2006 Snowdon Mountain International event, Claire finished 5^th and Scotland secured team silver. In the 2013 Home Countries International, she was fifth and Scotland won team silver.

Catriona Graves (Garscube Harriers, Edinburgh University, Carnethy)

She ran for GB Junior Women in the European Mountain Running Championships in: 2013 (6^th, first Briton, team silver); 2014 (7^th, second Briton, team silver); and 2015 (33^rd, fourth Briton).  Catriona Graves also ran for GB in the Junior Women event at the World Mountain Running Championships: 2013 (6^th, third Briton, team gold); and 2014 (5^th, first Briton). As a Junior, between 2012 and 2018, Catriona Graves ran cross-country seven times for Scotland (in the Celtic Nations event and the Home Countries International). She won the Scottish National under-15 title in 2012; under-17 in 2013 and 2014. In the 2016 Scottish Cross-Country Relay Championships, Catriona was part of the winning Edinburgh University team. In the 2021 British Hill Running Championships (Senior Women), she finished 6^th and contributed to Scotland team gold.

Anna Macfadyen (Forres Harriers, Edinburgh University)

In 2016, Anna won the Scottish National under 17 XC title. She was first in the North District XC championships, won the Scottish Schools XC and ran for Scotland in the Czech Republic, finishing seventh in the International Mountain Running Youth Cup. In 2017 Anna won the Scottish Schools XC title again; was second in the under 20 National XC; won the Celtic Games/GB Cross Challenge in Cardiff; and then won the English Inter Counties XC/GB Cross Challenge outright in Loughborough, which ensured GB selection for the Junior Women race in the World Cross-Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda, where she finished 48^th (third Briton). Also in 2017, Anna ran: 3km on the road for a Senior Scotland team, which lost to England but beat Ireland and Northern Ireland; and for GB in the Junior Women category of the European Mountain Running Championships, finishing 7^th (second Briton) and contributing to team gold. In 2018, having: won the Scottish National Under-20 XC title and led EU to team gold, and subsequently having run for Scotland as a Junior Woman in the 2018 Home Countries XC (the team came second to England but beat Wales and several other teams); Anna raced for GB in the Junior Women category of the World Mountain Running Championships. She finished 29^th and third Briton. Anna also ran in the 2018 European Mountain Running Championships (individual silver, first Briton, team silver). In 2018 and 2019, Anna Macfadyen won the under-20 Scottish Short Course XC title.

Christine Menhennet (Bellahouston, Clydesdale, Westerlands ) has been and is a superb hill runner over all  distances at home and abroad, including the Australian Island Peaks race.   She has summed up her career as follows:

I also became a successful mountain runner; I held several ladies’ records, have been Scottish Ladies’ Champion (1995), have won paired adventure races and have competed at International level. The Scottish hills are my playground; I have also trekked in the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Dolomites, Corsica, the Andes and the Himalayas. I love everything about the mountain and hill environment – the shattered peaks, the squidgy bogs, the changing light, the dark burns and the fragile flowers. I climb, trek, run, camp and bothy in the hills, and have done so for over 40 years. I was a founder member of Scottish Hill Runners, have been Ladies Captain of Westerlands Hill Running Club and I am a member of the Mountain Training Association and Mountaineering Scotland. 

                                                                                                           Charlotte Morgan

In the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, running for GB, Charlotte Morgan (Carnethy Hill Runners) took part in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In June 2018 Charlotte ran brilliantly to become World Champion and led her team to silver medals. Earlier that year, Charlotte (born in 1976) became Scottish Masters Cross-Country Champion. In December 2018, she was named  Scottish Athletics Masters Athlete of the Year. Back in 2013, she won the Scottish Hill Running Championship. In 2014, Charlotte was third in the prestigious Snowdon Mountain International and led Scotland to team gold.

Jasmin Paris (Carnethy Hill Runners)
Outright winner and record holder of the Spine Race (268 miles on Pennine Way) 2019 
British Fell Running Champion 2015 & 2018
SHR Scottish Hill Running Champion 2014 & 2015
SHR Long Classics Series Winner 2011, 2012, 2014 & 2015
SAL Scottish Hill Running Champion 2014 & 2015
Scottish Vest in World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge 2013
Lakeland Classics Trophy Winner 2012, 2013 & 2015
Philip Tranter Round (12hrs 41m) 2014
3rd British Fell Running Championships 2014
2nd Overall Dragon’s Back Race 2015
Winter Bob Graham Round Feb 2016 (22hrs 28m)
Bob Graham Round 2016 (15hrs 23m – Female record plus Carnethy record)
Ramsay’s Round 2016 (at the time the outright record -16hr 13min)
Paddy Buckley Round 2016 (18hrs 33m Female record)

 Beverley Redfern (Carnethy Hill Runners).

                                                                        Beverley Redfern: World Champion 1990

She was born in 1956 in Malta; but later became a teacher in Fife. In the 1990 World Mountain Running Trophy, Bev won a superb individual gold medal, when the Scottish team secured bronze medals. Bev won the Ben Nevis race (1989), broke the Ben Lomond Hill Race record (1990), and won Coniston Fell (1993) and the famous Sierre Zinal (1993). Years later, Bev returned to hill-running.

                                                                                       Bev Redfern: Buttermere Horseshoe 2018 

Joyce Salvona (Law & District, Livingston AC) Born 14/3/1958.

Joyce (or Jackie) ran for Scotland in five successive World Mountain Running Trophy championships (1988-1992). In 1990, along with Bev Redfern, Tricia Calder and Jane Robertson, she contributed to team bronze.

 John Brooks (Lochaber AC)

John was North District Cross-Country Champion in 1992 and 1993; in 1995, he equalled the Tinto Hill Race record; and in 1997 set the Creag Dhubh record. Between 1991 and 1994, John won the Scottish Junior Hill Running Championship four times in succession. He was Senior Scottish Hill Running champion in 1997 and 2000. In the World Mountain Running Trophy (running for Scotland as a Junior Man) John finished 33^rd in 1991 but was first Scot in 1992 (8^th and team bronze), 1993 (6^th) and 1994 (5^th). John also ran for Scotland as a Senior Man in 1998. John raced for his country in the 1996 European Mountain Running Trophy (first Scot in 14^th place)

Iain Donnan (Aberdeen AAC)

He raced particularly well for Scotland in the Junior Men category of the World Mountain Running Trophy, finishing 4^th in 2003 and 6^th in 2004. Back in 2001, he had run well for Scotland as an under-17 in the Celtic Nations XC.

Alan Farningham (Fife, Aberdeen, Gala) won the Scottish Hill Running Championships in 1988 and 1991. He was second in 1985 and 1986; and third in 1989. In the late 1980s, he was Secretary of the Scottish Hill Running Association. Races that Alan won included: Craig Dubh; Tinto; Tiso Seven Hills; and Eildon Two Hills. He gained top three placings in many other events. In his 1988 Scottish Championship win, he gained more points than good hill runners like Denis Bell, Des McGonigle ….. and even Colin Donnelly and Jack Maitland. Alan ran for Scotland in the World Mountain Running Trophy (Senior Men) in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1991. His best position was 26^th in 1988, when the team finished fourth.

Jethro Lennox (Shettleston H). Born 6 December 1976.

He was Scottish Hill Running champion in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

In the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, Jethro Lennox won individual gold in 2008. The Scottish team was third in 2009 (when he was first Scot in 10^th); and won team gold in 2011 (when he was fourth). In the World Mountain Running Trophy (Long Course) championship, Jethro ran for Scotland in 2007 and 2008 (when he was first Scot). In 2017 and 2018, Jethro won the M40 Scottish Masters Cross-Country Championships.

Jethro Lennox: Dumyat 2008

 Dermot McGonigle (Dundee Hawkhill H, Shettleston H)

He was Scottish Hill Running champion in 1986 and 1996. In the World Mountain Running Trophy (Short Course), competing for Scotland, Dermot finished first Scot in 1988, second Scot in 1987 and 1990 (when he was 18^th) and third Scot in 1991 and 1992. Running for Scotland, Dermot finished 20^th in the 1996 European Mountain Running Championship.

 Phil Mowbray (Hunters Bog Trotters)

As a Junior Man, Phil ran twice for Scotland in the World Mountain Running Trophy. In 1992 he finished 9^th and contributed to team bronze. In the European Mountain Running Trophy, Phil ran for Scotland in 1999. When he was aged between 34 and 48, Phil raced in many Scottish Hill races, nearly always finishing near the front.  

Tom Owens (Mercia Fell, Shettleston H). Born about 1982.

In 2011, Tom won the Mourne Peaks race, including the British Long Race Championships. He was Scottish Hill Running Champion in 2015 and 2016. In the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, running for Scotland, he finished second individual in 2011 and contributed to a marvellous team gold. Racing for GB, Tom was fourth (1^st GB) in 2016 and contributed to team silver. In 2017 he was fifteenth but still first finisher for his team. In 2018, Tom was 25^th in the World Trail Running Championships; and in 2019, fourth in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc.

Brian Potts (Clydesdale Harriers, 9 June 1962)

Brian was an excellent club runner who really found his event when he took to the hills.   Brian won races such as Kaim Hill, Tinto, Melantee, and Half Ben, in addition to taking part in cross-border ‘raids’.  His level of consistency was indicated when he won the Midweek League (Whangie, Dumyat, Kilpatricks, Ben Sheann and Cort-ma-Law).  When he won Kaim Hill in 1988, the Scottish Hill Runner commented that “solid performances in both uphill and downhill brought a well deserved victory.”   (Second was Alan Farningham, third was Dermot McGonigle).   Brian ran for Scotland several times –  at the World Mountain Running Championships in 1989 and 1991 and there were others.  He enjoyed every one of them.   

Prasad Prasad (Clydesdale Harriers, Squadra Porcini)

Callander-based Prasad is a cyclist as well as a hill runner who has represented Scotland internationally in the Commonwealth Hill Running Championships (2008), Snowdon (2008), and the Home Countries International in 2010.   He also won the Scottish Hill Running Championships in 2010.   Between 15th June 2005 and 13th February 2016, he competed in 53 races and won 33 and had 6 second places.   He has won all of the Trossachs hill races – Ben Ledi, Ben Sheann, Stuc a Chroin, Lochearnhead, Tarmachan, Callander Crags (winter and Callander Crags (summer).   He also has victories at Tinto, Carnethy, Dumyat, Ben Lomond and many other of the classics.  

 Chris Smith (1977-2020)) Aberdeen AAC, Thames Valley Harriers.

Born in Daviot, Aberdeenshire, Chris took up cross-country running as a schoolboy at Inverurie Academy. As a Junior, he went on to run cross-country for Scotland twice, in 1994 and 1996. On the track, he won the Scottish Schools Group A 2000m Steeplechase in 1995. In 1999, he won the Senior Scottish 3000m Steeplechase title. In the European Mountain Running Championships, Chris Smith ran for GB five times: 2012 (Turkey), 2013 (Bulgaria), 2015 (Portugal), 2016 (Italy) and 2017 (Slovakia). His best position was 8^th (second Brit) in 2013, when the team won silver medals. Chris also contributed to team silver in 2015 and bronze in 2016. In the British Athletics Mountain Running Championships, Chris Smith won silver in 2017 and bronze in 2015 and 2016. He won the Snowdon Mountain International in 2016 and, representing England, the Home Countries International in 2017.

Chris Smith

Tragically, Chris died from hypothermia, having become lost during a very cold training run in Glen Lyon, a remote, mountainous area of Scotland. Tributes were given to him as a fine runner, enthusiastic, selfless team-mate and true gentleman. A fund has been set up in his name to support promising young runners.

 Joe Symonds (Dundee HH, Kendal, Shettleston H). Born 1983.

He was Scottish Hill Running champion in 2016 and 2021; and 2012 British Fell Running champion. As a Senior, Joe ran for Scotland in the World Mountain Running Trophy championship in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. He finished first Scot on three occasions, including a brilliant fourth place (same time as the bronze medallist) in 2007. In 2008, running for Scotland, Joe was 9^th in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge. In the 2009 and 2012 WMR Championships, Joe represented GB teams. In the World Cup series, he was third in 2007. In the 2007 and 2008 European Mountain Running Championships, he ran for GB. In the Commonwealth Hill Running Championships, racing for Scotland, Joe won individual bronze in 2011 and contributed to team silver.

Neil Wilkinson

Neil came originally from Helensburgh but lived for many years in England. In the World Mountain Running Trophy (Long Course), Neil ran for Scotland in 1993 (first Scot in 15^th place), 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 (first Scot again). In the European Mountain Running Trophy, Neil ran for Scotland in 1999, 2000 (7^th place, team silver) and 2001. Neil won the Snowdon Mountain International in 1999 and 2000. Later, Neil became an England Mountain Running team manager.

In the 2019 European Mountain Running Championship, 23-year-old Jacob Adkin (Edinburgh University, Keswick) secured an excellent individual gold. He was backed by fellow Scots Robbie Simpson (7^th) and Andy Douglas (9^th) and GB won team gold.)

Jacob Adkin

World Mountain Running Trophy, Gros Glockner, Bergen, 2000

Angela win; Isabella Zaitkowszca (Poland 2nd), Ludmilla ???(Slovakia,  3rd)

World Mountain Running Trophy, 2001

European Mountain Running Trophy

European MRT

Alaska WMRT: AM 2nd and Tracey Brindley 3rd (1st Team) and Lynne Wilson

Team in white France? Team in red Austria??

WMRET, Bergen: Angela 1st with Birgit Suntag Germany 2nd, Isabella Zatakowski Poland 3rd

Three Peaks

Photographs 1     Photographs  2

..

….

Alaska WMRT: Melissa Moon ( NZ) leading Angela 

The European MRT 1999.

Sierre-Zinal: at the highest point of the race 

Copyright: W Stinn

Edinburgh WMRT:  Arthur’s Seat

World Cross-Country, Belfast

World Cross-Country, Belfast

Denis suggests that this one could be Reunion ’98 or Borneo ‘99

Sore injury in sunny Madeira

Photographs  1          Photographs 3

Three Peaks Race, 1999:  “Still pushing hard in the closing stages

Tasmanian Boat Race: Angela and Joyce Salvona

Angela, David Rodgers? Mark Rigby, possibly one of the juniors? Martin Hyman, (behind )Alan Milligan? Tracey Brindley, (Helene Diamantides behind flag) ‘Chunky’ Andrew Liston (with flag) and Megan Smith

Photographs  2     Photographs  3

That is some photograph.   All runners have injuries and some are more serious than others – for hill runners maybe most serious if they happen on the hills far from first aid.   Hill runners also have a problem that other runners don’t have – on the track, especially, but also  or the road, joint flexibility is a good thing but often comes at the cost of stability of the joint.   Hill runners really want both!   Then there is the nature of the terrain which is constantly changing and can cause serious injury – I know one very good runner who slipped when coming down a scree slope and ripped his thigh open.    As a genuine multi terrain runner and racer, Angela has had her share of injuries,but the season was never a write off and the seasons which were affected to some extent by injury are noted below.

Early Years   Cross-Country   Hard Racing Years 1   Hard Racing Years 2

2001 – 2019

Having read and studied the many stamina and character testing events up to this point it must be evident that the skills that must be mastered are many, not the least of which are navigational and which are often to be appied ‘on the hoof’ and in real time.    There are races – even our own Glencoe Skyline Races – which note on the information sheet for intending runners – “Risk of Death.”   Runners have respect for the hills and the conditions but they also have real respect for other runners on the hills.   Denis Bell adds these comments for our information:

“As we have said already, in testing conditions, hill runners need to be competent ‘orienteers’ or should we say good with map and compass .. Angela ranks herself as ‘good-competent’ but she acclaims Helene Diamantides and Brenda Boland as truly brilliant., and Angela openly admits to ‘several mistakes’…if you are very good, you need to be very honest. Angela is and always has been very true to basics and ‘the obvious truths’!!!”

In this context he adds: 

”  Two lovely wee stories Angela shares are, first, when she was out with her beloved twin sister Janice and on Ben Dorian, it was rough and snowy ( hill runners will get ‘that’!) and the map blew away…they were using the attachable grippers called ‘Katulas’ and they got off safely….!

When hiking Angela will go with ‘full Winter gear’ …but will not go into the mountains in ‘bad’ weather and unknown territory….(we talked about a tragedy a year ago and both Angela and I agreed with incredulity, about the ‘top racer’s choices’….).

The second story, is this one.    She winces a wee bit when recalling being on a buttress of An Teallach, in the Winter, with Helene in the lead, and with Mark Johnston and Adam Ward (great hill friends all over many years) and conditions were very, very ‘sketchy’ ( sketchy??   ’we’ ‘the readers’ need to be considering this as significant risks!!).

2006: World Sky Running: won all races, broke all records except Kinabalu

Early Years   Cross-Country   Hard Running Years 1      Injury Troubled Years