Jack Wright

The Wright family of Clydesdale Harriers was a three generational dynasty which produced runners who won national titles, football players and coaches as well as much-in-demand football trainer and physio.   Clydesdale Harriers was founded in May 1885 and the three Wright brothers (Jack, George and William) were founder members.   Jack’s sons Harold ( a sprinter) and Willie (a runner of modest talents but a first rate traainer, masseur and physio) carried on the family traditions and Harold’s son John won the Scottish Junior Championship  twice (1956 and 1957).

In Season 1889/90 the club handbook reported that “The past year was very fruitful in the bringing out and developing of cross-country talent of the very highest class, the best probably being JW McWilliams (cross-country champion of Scotland), C McCann (Scottish CCA Champion), C Pennycook (Scottish One Mile Champion) and Jack Wright (the ‘crack half miler’ but who was prevented by illness from taking part in any of the championships).”   This was no small praise when the Annual Report also said that “At present the Clydesdale Harriers are immensely stronger athletically than any other Scotch organisation.”    By 1890/91 he was the Local Captain for the Dumbartonshire section and was listed as having won one first prize and five seconds in the year as against brother George’s seven firsts, one second and one third.   This was the time of the split between the club and the Scottish Cross Country Association and one of the innovations brought in by the club was the running of a Junior Cross Country Championship of Scotland.   The Annual Report again: “The Scottish Harriers Union held a Junior Championship at which eleven teams competed.   Teams were entirely from our various sections.   The individual cross-country championship was won by Jack Wright in 48:50.”   As far as the SHU Junior Cross Country Championship was concerned his brother George had won it a year earlier.

George was a year older than Jack and won several notable victories in England.   I quote from an article in the ‘Widnes Weekly News’ from 1933:

“Forty years or more ago it is interesting to recall that George Wright was at the zenith of his athletics career.   Born at Rainhill he was one of a family of athletes.   He ran as a boy but was not successful though he was not daunted.   The first race he ever won was the one mile at Preston Pleasure Gardens.   He was then 19 years old.  Hr followed this by beating the late Tommy Burns in the four miles race at Farnworth and was third in the District mile.   A week later he won the mile at St Helens beating Bill Snooks – at this time a prominent runner.   Other successes included the mile at Sutton when he beat Kibblewhite; at Runcorn, Liverpool he beat Frank Lackey, at Woolton where he won the first of many gold medals, and two years in succession at Crompton.   Turning his attention to Scotland he had many great victories, the outstanding one being the winning outright of the Abercorn FC Sports Cup when he beat McWilliams and Gavin Stevenson.   His first victory in Scotland was in February 1889 when he was the Dunbartonshire Cross Country Championship over 10 miles.   At Clyde FC Sports he beat Andrew Hannah in a two mile race and won the mile at Greenock Morton FC meeting covering the distance from a short start in 4 minutes 28 seconds.   Many other successes came his way in Scotland and he was a member of the winning team in the Scottish Cross Country Championships with Clydesdale Harriers.   At Kirkintilloch he was first in the mile and second to his brother in the half mile.   He trained the Dalmuir FC Team for the Buchanan Cup.   Returning to pursue his winning career in England he won the mile at Widnes three times in succession, the two miles Junior Harriers at Manchester in a field of 100 runner4s and the mile at Chadderton, Poolstock and Rainford.   At Widnes in the Open he beat Jennison and at Warrington he beat Massey; he also won the mile at Blackburn Rovers FC Sports.   The Farnworth Harriers eight mile handicap fell to his prowess and he helped the Farnworth team to win the Liverpool District Cross Country Championship.”

 When so long ago as 1898 a representative of the ‘Football Express’ called to see George Wright he found his home almost furnished with his prizes.   He had a bedroom suite and many articles of furniture.   He had gold and silver medals, a dozen marble clocks, half a dozen watches, several cases of cutlery and many Gladstone bags.”

 The runners mentioned above such as William Snooks, Kibblewhite, McWilliams were all noted athletes who are well known to track statisticians.

Jack died in December 1934  and the finest tribute paid to him was by club president Jock Kirkland who said, “Copy him – because in his age and your youth, it was hard to tell who was the younger.”

Willie Wright

Harold Wright joined the club in October 1927 and Willie soon after.   Harold was a sprinter and a good one, while Willie, although being a solid club runner, was mainly a committee member and a trainer of athletes and football teams.   He had been vice captain in 1929 but was mainly a General Committee member rather than an office holder.   At the meeting on 2^nd May 1932 he was appointed trainer to the club. After training the club runners for a time he resigned the post – but not his club membership – to train the Duntocher Hibernian FC and then Clydebank Juniors and Yoker Athletic Football Clubs.   A good Committee Member and trainer he resigned on 15^th September 1933 and Tom Millar said in the ‘Clydebank Press’: “Not so good news item is that trainer Willie Wright is leaving us.   He takes up an appointment with Duntocher FC.   The Wrights have had a lengthy connection with the club.   Mention Jack Wright to an old Harrier and he will tell you the rest.   His two sons have naturally followed in his footsteps – Harold is our champion sprinter and Willie has given good service as a Committee man and trainer.   We are still assured of Willie’s best interest and I know I express the good wishes of the club in saying ‘success in your new job, Willie.’”   That he left on the best of terms was confirmed when it was noted three weeks later that “During the season our enthusiastic trainer Willie Wright took up a new post as trainer to Duntocher Hibernian FC.   In his letter of resignation he mentions that if at any time a member of the club is in need of treatment, he will be very pleased to do all he can for him.” 

 The club then went through several trainers, some of whom stayed for less than a full year.   The club was hungry for success and when they had a good group of athletes together and the trainer left, they again turned to Willie.   It was suggested at the August 1937 Committee Meeting that they approach him to take on the job of trainer.   The Minute of the September meeting reported that “a letter had been received from Mr W Wright accepting the position as trainer to the Harriers.   Mr Wright made a personal appearance at the meeting to discuss arrangements for the following cross country season.   The main features of discussion were: 

• Each Harrier to supply his own oil for massaging;
• Mr Wright gave the Committee a list of requisites for training kit;
• In the event of any difference between him and a club member, the member be referred to the Committee.

 He had clearly worked with committees and sportsmen before and knew what he wanted and needed.   This arrangement carried on until the War started, and the information gives an insight into what was regarded as necessary for the running of a local club.   How many clubs nowadays have this kind of provision for their athletes?

After the War at the Committee Meeting held on 28^th September 1945, it was reported that Mr W. Wright had been asked to be the club trainer.   “He will consider filling the post unless any football club asked for him.   He would come along until then.”  He appeared again in the Minute for 12^th February 1947: “Trainer’s Expenses and Gratuity: It was generally agreed that a gratuity be given to the trainer (W Wright) at the Presentation Social.   Amount to be £5.   Trainer to be asked to send an account for current expenses.”   

Harold Wright

He was a good sprinter but reports indicate that he was an unlucky one.  seems to have been an unlucky one.   The top club sprinter – referred to in the Minutes as our champion sprinter – and winner of many club sprints and track events, he was unlucky that the club had no trophies for track running at the time or he would surely have won several.    He was trained by his father in Clydebank.   They used a farm track off the Great Western Road Boulevard at times where he sometimes ran against a greyhound in training.   As for races, he was a bit unlucky as the race at Monkland Sports indicated.   The ‘Press’ said that Harold had very hard luck in the Open 100 just being pipped in his Heat but ‘his time is only delayed.’   But how unlucky can you get?   A report on the Queen’s Park FC Sports in June 1932 (just one week later) reads as follows: “Harold Wright waltzed through his Heat in the hundred and appeared to do the same in the semi final by at least a foot.   The judges decided otherwise however and the crowd on the terracing were not slow to let them know of their mistake or whatever it was.   The runner who was awarded the race protested to the judges in favour of Wright but it seemed beneath their dignity to change their decision.”   This was not the only case of Harold reaching the second round of the sprint and then losing out to a doubtful decision.

The ‘Press’ report of 17^th June 1932 joked that he was maybe wasting his time trying 100 yards handicaps.   He won the 880 yards off 35 yards easily.  This was maybe confirmed two years later when in June 1934 he was second in the half mile off 26 yards behind J Ewan (off 3 yards) and ahead of Tommy Arthur (off 6 yards).   Half miles seem to be a kind of family tradition!     Two weeks later and at the Lochwinnoch Sports Gala he won his Heat of the 220 yards but was unplaced in the Final.   A month later and at the Darvel FC Sports Harold was again in the Final of the Men’s Sprint but failed to qualify being beaten by the ultimate winner of the Final.  All summer he was a regular in relay teams.  

 At the start of the 1933 season he  won his Heat of the 100 at St Peter’s Sports and Excelsior in the ‘Press’ commented that qualifying and not winning was becoming a habit.   Two weeks later Harold ran in the British Legion Sports and had three first places.   He started by winning the invitation 100 yards, then won the handicap 100 yards and then took first in the handicap 220 yards!   1934 was his last competitive season and in the first club confined meeting of the year he was second (off scratch) in the 100 yards to D Strachan (of 2 yards and ahead of H Anderson who was off 5 yards.   In the half mile he was second – off 26 yards this time – to J Ewan (3 yards) and in front of Tommy Arthur (6 yards).   Came the 120 yards in August he won the first Heat, Tommy Arthur won the second and in the Final they dead heated and shared the points.   The only other race reported in the ‘Press’ was the 100 yards at the British Legion Sports (a fairly big local meeting) he as third in the 100 yards, a race so close that it was said only the judges could separate the runners.   The result of the club’s points contest was a win for J Ewan and J Martin on 43 points with Harold third with 39.

Harold’s son John, trained by Willie, won the Scottish Junior (Under 20) Cross Country Championship twice – an entirely Wright Dynasty project.   The parent, coach, athlete triangle being entirely within the family!

John Wright behind George Govan of Shettleston at Hamilton

John is primarily known as a cross country runner who took up the sport as a Youth (Under 17) in 1954.   In his first run in the National Cross Country Championships was a tenth place in the Youths race – good enough but the following year he was second – only 14 seconds behind Billy Goodwin of Bellahouston Harriers and five ahead of J Ewing of Victoria Park.   The team was also second.

The Bible of Scottish athletics at the time was the ‘Scots Athlete’ magazine produced by Walter Ross and one of its top features was John Emmet Farrell’s Running Commentary which dealt mainly with Scottish athletics in a very knowledgeable way but also covered the international scene.  He previewed the race and then reported on it in some detail and it is his words that are used below.

‘The race for the Junior Cross Country Championship of Scotland appears to be, at least on paper, to be the most open of the races. …………………..Strictly on the basis of the showing at Lenzie, P McParland of Springburn and Geo. Govan of Shettleston who came to the tape in close proximity may be installed as co-favourites with that grand little Clydesdale runner John Wright lying handy.’   (Running Commentary by J Emmet Farrell) was how it was previewed and in the next issue the following report appeared.

‘At least half a dozen runners were forward to win the title but before half distance it was apparent that only P McParland (Springburn) and John Wright of Clydesdale would contest the issue.   The latter running very sweetly indeed stuck to his rival closer than a brother but could not quite cope with his rival’s stronger finish.   A grand win for McParland and a good showing for Wright’s chances next year as he is still a Junior.’

Result:   1.   P McParland (Springburn)     31:26   2.   J Wright        (Clydesdale)     31:36

 John kept working away and was by now one of the stars of the future in Scottish Athletics – indeed he was a ‘star of the present’ and after another year of sterling performances, he was once again a favourite for the National Junior Cross Country title by January of the following year.   Emmet Farrell again previewed the event:

 ‘Slim, consistent John Wright of Clydesdale Harriers looks at the moment a hot contender for this year’s Championship.’      His report of the race in the next issue was the kind that most runners can only dream about:

May 1957:  ‘Slim, immaculately stylish John Wright of Clydesdale running with machine like precision trounced his rivals in the Junior Championship and emerged the easiest winner of the day, an ample compensation for last year’s runner up position.    His form overshadowed the competent running of Edinburgh Eastern’s D. Togwell and Springburn’s J Rooney who finished in front of the more fancied Geo. Govan of Shettleston’.

Result:

1.   J Wright    31:50
2. D Togneri 32:2
3. J Rooney   32:52
4. G Govan     33:02                                                                                  

The following year it was held again at Hamilton Race Course but over a different trail.   In previous years it had been three laps of the race course proper but this time the course left the race course and went down past the Mausoleum and along the banks of the Clyde before coming back up to the course again.   He won again by an even larger margin – this time from Joe Connolly of Bellahouston Harriers leaving many good men such as Tommy Cochrane and Ian Harris of Beith behind him.    He went pn training and racing and went into 1958/59 in good heart.

One of the questions that any athlete would/should be asking at this point would be about the training he was doing to get these results.   Well, he was training six days a week, never training on a Friday.   His week went as follows.

Saturday: A race or an inter club run.

Sunday:    12 laps of the perimeter at the Recreation Ground at Mountblow in Clydebank.   The perimeter was a fairly accurate half mile and his coach, Willie Wright, always believed in a fast start to be right up with the race.   This meant a first lap in about 2:07 followed by another in about 2:12 before settling in to laps of 2:20.   In other words a mile in 4:19 followed by five in 4:40.   It would be a very good session to-day.

Monday:  He would usually run from his home in Linnvale, Clydebank, out to Anniesland Cross (going round the outside of the toilets at the furthest point to make sure the distance was always the same) and back.   This was just under 5 miles and took a bit over 23 minutes.   It was again a fast run.

Tuesday:   It was a club night so he would train from the Baths in Bruce Street with the pack over distances of 10 or 12 miles most nights.

Wednesday: Willie Wright was friendly with Allan Scally the Shettleston Harriers coach so on Wednesdays he would go to Helenvale track in Glasgow and train with Graham Everett.   Where Willie usually got John to do repetition 400’s with 400 jog recovery (which was pretty standard for the time) Scally kept the 400’s in 58 or 59 seconds and progressively reduced the intervals until they were doing 15 x 400 inside 60 seconds with 60 seconds recovery.   (Graham was also an excellent cross country runner but was better known as seven times Scottish One Mile Champion and British Mile Champion who defeated Murray Halberg (New Zealand) for the title).

Thursday:   Another club night but he would only do an easy 4.5 or 5 miles if he was racing on the Saturday.

Friday:   He never ever trained on a Friday.

In 1958, like every other top athlete in the country he wanted to make the team for the Empire Games in Cardiff but only just failed to do so.   The trials were at the Scottish Championships and he ran in the Six Miles on the Friday night where he finished third in 30:22.8 and with three to go he should have been selected.   But the selectors decided instead to take only the first two finishers and add in Ian Binnie who had run but dropped out.   On the Saturday John could do no better than sixth in the Three Miles in 14:40.2.   The track at Meadowbank was very poor and cut up dreadfully so that after the first couple of laps, the runners were running in the third lane.   Most of the athletes signed a letter of protest to the SAAA’s about it.    It was a disappointment but nothing compared to the disappointment the following year over the country.

Although known as a country specialist he was clearly also a considerably good track runner with wins in many open and highland games meetings such as    Shotts, Strathallan, Bute and Cowal.           On one occasion he ran the first stage in the Scottish Medley Relay Championship at Cowal and although not an 800 metres specialist he was barely two metres down on Mike Rawson of Birchfield at the changeover and ahead of some top class half milers such as JP Paterson and Neil Donnachie.

After a good season he finished a very good ninth in the National Cross Country Championship of 1959 in a bunch of three with Connolly (Bellahouston), Ross (Edinburgh Southern) and John being seventh, eighth, ninth.   The selectors decided to take only seven to Lisbon and John and Ross were told they were reserves but not travelling.   The runners spoke to each other and agreed to pay their own fare out to Portugal.   Their clubs put up most of the money and then they were told that there was only room on the plane for seven.   They couldn’t come.   It was finally revealed that most of the plane seats were taken up by officials.   On the day one of the selected seven athletes couldn’t run and John’s name was actually printed in the official programme.   It was this event that led to him joining the Army to do his National Service – all 18 year olds had to do two years of National Service but like many others John had had his deferred because he was doing an apprenticeship in Singer’s Factory and could have had a further extension but he was so peeved that he decided at that point just to go and do it then.

When he reported to Oswestry for six weeks square bashing (ie basic training) he saw that they had a running track and asked one of the regulars if he could do some running.   The guy happened to be the regimental cross country champion and John didn’t get the permission.   After basic training he was posted to Germany and won the regimental championship despite going off the course and then represented the regiment at the Area Championships where he beat the much more fancied runner from the Gordon Highlanders.   They soon approached his regiment asking if he could be transferred to their Unit where he would be expected to train and run and could have every facility to do so.   Without asking him, the offer was turned down and he stayed with the regiment.   He won the Divisional Championships and went to the BAOR Championships at Dusseldorf where he finished second to Ben Grubb – British International cross country and steeplechase runner.   He ran regularly thereafter with such as Ernie Pomfret (another GB Internationalist), Tommy Cochrane of Beith and other high quality athletes.

He also joined a German club – MTV Celle – and ran for them regularly with good results with his friend Terry Wells who had not been a runner before joining up.   He enjoyed this time and combined the club running with Army duties.   When he left the Army he was running really well after training and racing with guys such as Pomfret and Grubb.  He ran a time trial over 3 Miles and was inside 13:30 which looked good for future athletics.

John returned after his two years National Service intent on taking up where he had left off but unfortunately he injured himself on one of the local tracks and despite several years of trying to get back in business of running at the top level had to retire from the sport with his undoubted talent unrealised or tested to the full.

Start of the Enschede Marathon: note Willie Day, Sandy Keith, Jim Dingwall, with others like Ron Hill and Dave Cannon also present.

[This list concentrates on marathon runners who, between 1979 and 1990, were selected for small Scottish teams which contested international matches within city marathons. Excluded are Commonwealth Games performances (by Jim Dingwall, John Graham, Graham Laing and Fraser Clyne) since these have been noted already in the complete Scottish International track and field records by the Scottish Association of Track Statisticians – SATS.]

1979

8/7/79 – the B.L.E. marathon (held at Tullamore in conjunction with the Scotland v Denmark v Ireland Track and Field contest), featured a Marathon International match with two man teams from Ireland (1^st), England (2^nd), Wales (3^rd) and Scotland (4^th).

For Scotland, Dave Clark was 2^nd in 2.18.01; and Colin Youngson 22^nd in 2.30.42.

1980

14/9/80 – The Glasgow Marathon included an international team match for the first time – England won from Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scotland did not finish.

Jim Dingwall of Scotland won in 2.16.07. Alastair Macfarlane and Colin Martin did not finish. The next two Scots to finish were Aberdeen’s Graham Milne (7^th in 2.24.47) and Clyde Valley’s Joe Small (9^th in 2.25.57.)

28/9/80 – The Aberdeen Marathon featured, in finishing order, England v Scotland v Wales v Northern Ireland. Three to count.

For Scotland, Graham Laing won in 2.19.33, Don Macgregor was 7^th in 2.26.48 (1st Veteran), and Evan Cameron 9^th in 2.30.13.

Alastair Macfarlane, Colin Youngson and Don Macgregor

1981

27/9/81 – The Aberdeen Marathon featured, in finishing order, England v Scotland v Wales. Three to count.

For Scotland, Don Macgregor finished 3^rd in 2.21.52 (1^st Vet); Evan Cameron 7^th in 2.26.23; and Graham Milne 9^th in 2.27.13.

18/10/81 – The Glasgow International Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) Scotland v Wales v Northern Ireland v Eire.

For Scotland, Colin Youngson was 4^th in 2.19.12, Des Austin 5^th in 2.19.19 and Alastair Macfarlane 6^th in 2.21.01. All three counters were required. The Scottish team was presented with specially inscribed SAAA gold medals.

1982

19/9/82 – The Aberdeen Marathon featured a match between (in finishing order) Wales v Scotland v England v Northern Ireland. Three to count.

For Scotland, Fraser Clyne was 3^rd in 2.19.58, Colin Youngson 4^th in 2.21.03 and Peter Wilson 10^th in 2.26.20.

5/9/82 – The Edinburgh Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England 7pts, Scotland 23 and Netherlands 25). For Scotland, Lindsay Robertson was third, Sandy Keith 8th and Craig Ross 12^th. Three to count.

17/10/82 – The Scotts Porage Oats Marathon in Glasgow, which was billed as the first Scottish People’s Marathon, included a match between (in finishing order) England v Scotland v Wales. (Northern Ireland, Eire and Spain also ran.) Two counters were required.

For the official Scotland team, Jim Brown finished 4^th in 2.20.38; Evan Cameron was 9^th in 2.21.58; and Don Macgregor 10^th in 2.22.06.

1983

13/3/83 – Barcelona Marathon. The Scottish team won, in front of Catalunya and Spain. Three to count.

For Scotland, Lindsay Robertson finished 6^th in 2:2:18:02, Andy Daly was 10^th (2:20:09) and Craig Ross 17^th (2:22:26).

11/9/83 – The Glasgow Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) Scotland v Wales v England v Northern Ireland v Eire. Three to run, two to count.

For Scotland, Peter Fleming won in 2.17.46, Colin Youngson was 4^th in 2.19.18 and Andy Daly 6^th in 2.19.30. For the first time, due to sponsorship by a Japanese firm, a Scotland tracksuit, shorts and vest were given to each of the three team members; and later on, engraved glass trophies were handed over. John Fairgrieve was team manager. (Later in the decade, sponsorship was given by an American firm, and Scotland wetsuits as well as tracksuits, shorts, teeshirt and vest were handed out liberally).

18/9/83 – The Aberdeen Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Wales v Northern Ireland v Scotland, but we did not finish a team, since Graham Laing dropped out at 18 miles after leading to 14 miles.

For Scotland, Peter Wilson was 6^th in 2.21.53 and Don Ritchie 9^th in 2.25.20.

Glasgow Marathon, 1983, with Murray McNaught , Jim Brown , Andy Daly, Charlie Haskett, Evan Cameron and Don Macgregor

1984

18/3/84 – The Barcelona Marathon included a match between many nations. The first three to finish were: Catalunya, Spain and Scotland. Three to count.

For Scotland, Lindsay Robertson finished 6^th in 2.16.15, Peter Wilson 21^st in 2.21.42 and Colin Youngson 28^th in 2.26.04. John Fairgrieve was team manager.

30/9/84 – The Glasgow Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Scotland (did not finish) v five other countries. Two to count.

For Scotland, Jim Dingwall was 5^th in 2.16.44 but Peter Wilson did not complete the course.

16/9/84 – The Aberdeen Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Scotland v Eire v Northern Ireland.

For Scotland, George Reynolds was 2^nd (and SAAA champion) in 2.21.04, Charlie Haskett 4^th (2.21.37) and Colin Youngson 6^th (2.23.36).

1985

17/3/85 – The Barcelona marathon featured an international team match against top continental opposition. Scotland finished first team with three runners in the top six.

For Scotland, Paul Kenney finished second in 2.18.34; Tony Coyne was third in 2.21.33; and Mike Carroll sixth in 2.22.31.

1/9/85 – The Edinburgh Waverley Market Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) Scotland, Wales, Eire and England. Three to run, with two to score (with positions added for a cumulative total).

For Scotland, Mike Carroll won in 2.18.41; Scott MacDonald (Swindon) was second in 2.22.01; and Murray McNaught tenth in 2.27.54. [Certainly, as far as the Welsh team was concerned, this was an international match and Scotland won clearly with a total of 3 points (1^st and 2^nd places)].

15/9/85 – The Aberdeen Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Wales v ‘Europe’ v Scotland. Three to run and three to count.

For Scotland, Colin Youngson finished 2^nd in 2.23.58, Craig Ross was 12^th in 2.38.14 and Don Ritchie 36^th in 2.57. 43. Craig and Don got into considerable difficulties and did well to finish on the new, tougher course.

22/9/85 – The Glasgow marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Wales.v Scotland.

Mike Carroll from Annan & District (2.18.24) finished 6^th, with Don Macgregor (2.19.36) 10^th (and first veteran yet again). Those two beat all of the official Scotland team: Jim Brown (12^th in 2.19.50); Graham Getty (24^th in 2.23.25); and Evan Cameron (39^th in 2.26.39).

1986

18/5/86 – Wales hosted a four nation fixture at Bridgend, which incorporated the Welsh Championship and a match between (in finishing order) England v Catalonia v Wales v Scotland. Two counters were needed; and a cumulative time.

For Scotland, Frank Harper finished 7^th in 2.29.49; the other Scots were Doug Hunter and Keith Lyall. This was a two-lap, extremely hilly course.

25/5/86 – The Aberdeen Marathon featured a match between (in finishing order) England and Scotland. Four to run, three to count.

For Scotland, Colin Youngson finished 4^th in 2.27.56, Allan Adams was 5^th (and first veteran) in 2.29.10, Doug Cowie 8^th in 2.34.37 and Don Ritchie 9^th in 2.36.53.

21/9/86 – The Glasgow Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Wales v Scotland.

For Scotland, Frank Harper finished 4^th in 2.18.44; Allan Adams was 15^th and first veteran in a ‘lifetime best’ 2.23.03; and Murray McNaught 23^rd in 2.26.04.

Glasgow Marathon

1987

24/5/87 – The Aberdeen Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Scotland v Wales. Four to run, three to count.

For Scotland, Rob Hall was 3^rd in 2.29.54, Doug Cowie 6^th in 2.30.49, Bobby Ronald 10^th in 2.31.09 and Don Ritchie 11^th in 2.34.27.

5/7/87 – The Bridgend Marathon, which was the Welsh Championships over a tough course, included an international team contest. The finishing order was: Wales, Scotland, Catalonia.

For Scotland, Davie Watt was 2^nd in 2.28.50, Craig Ross 6^th in 2.43.46 and Samuel Graves 7^th in 2.50.27.

20/9/87 – The last Glasgow Marathon did not include a true International team match. Glasgow (Daly and Robertson) won an Inter-City contest, beating Cardiff and Dublin. First Scot was Terry Mitchell (2^nd in 2.19.40) and 3^rd was Hammy Cox (2.19.43). Brian Carty finished 17^th and first veteran in 2.25.18.

1988

22/5/88 – The Aberdeen Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) Scotland v England v Wales. Four to run, three to count.

For Scotland, Hammy Cox won in 2.21.15, Frank Harper was second in 2.22.20, Doug Cowie 6^th in 2.26.21 and Colin Youngson 10^th (and 1^st Veteran) in 2.28.38. Engraved plaques were the team prizes.

June 1988 – The Nuremberg Marathon included an international contest featuring a Scottish team. Hammy Cox won the race; and the other two Scots were Colin Martin and John Duffy (possibly in a time of 2.24.40). 

18/9//88 – The Anglesey Marathon included an international contest, featuring (in finishing order) Wales v Northern Ireland v Scotland v Spain. The island course was a tough, undulating one.

For Scotland, Sam (or Ian) Graves finished tenth in 2:34:22; John Duffy 12^th in 2.37.12; and Rod Bell 18^th in 2.40.55.

1989

20/3/89 – The Barcelona Marathon included a team result (in finishing order) of Wales, Scotland, and Catalonia 3^rd. Hammy Cox finished 6th (possibly in 2.18.05); Allan Adams may have run 2.26.32; and Colin Martin was the other Scottish team member. Welsh runners were: 13 Tegid Roberts 2:24:40, 18 Arwel Lewis 2:27:02 and 24 Dic Evans 2:29:29.

28/5/89 – The Aberdeen Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Scotland v Wales. Four to run, three to count.

For Scotland, Terry Mitchell was 2^nd in 2.24.53, Rob Hall 2.29.35 and Colin Youngson 7^th (and first veteran) in 2.31.23. Alan Robson did not finish.

10/9/89 – The Anglesey Marathon included the Welsh Championships and Commonwealth Games Trial. Included was an international contest (3 to run, all 3 to score) between (in finishing order) Wales (1,3 and 9), Northern Ireland (4,6,7) and Scotland (dnf – 2, 5).

For Scotland, Charlie McIntyre finished 4^th in 2.31.56 (but 2^nd in the team contest) and Doug Cowie 8^th in 2.39.06 (but 5^th in the team contest. There is no record of the third Scot who dropped out, unless Scotland only sent two runners.

Another from Enschede 1977: Sandy Keith, Willie Day and Colin Youngson (47) are the easy ones to spot

1990

27/5/1990 – The last Aberdeen Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) England v Wales v Scotland. Four to run, three to count.

For Scotland, Charlie McIntyre finished 4^th in 2.26.50, Don Ritchie 7^th in 2.31.00, and Doug Cowie 10^th in 2.32.55. Colin Youngson did not finish.

22/7/1990 – The Luton Marathon included a match between (in finishing order) Wales and Scotland.

For Scotland, Charlie McIntyre finished third in 2.30.00; Frank Harper 7^th in 2.33.34; and Doug Cowie, who unfortunately twisted his ankle on the morning of the race, 14^th in 2.45.07. Three counters were necessary so, against advice, the brave lad felt that he had to run.

1991

Scots were invited to the Las Vegas Marathon on an all-expenses trip but there is no evidence of a team race. Hammy Cox and Alan Robson tackled the full distance; and Peter Fleming the Half Marathon. 

London 1995: Allister Hutton, Lindsay Robertson, Jim Dingwall, Andy Daly, Don Ritchie,Fraser Clyne and Rab Marshall

SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL MARATHON MEN (1979 – 1990)

(Not including Commonwealth Games performances)

Allan Adams            1986 (2), 1989 = 3

Des Austin               1981 = 1

Rod Bell                    1988 = 1

Jim Brown                1982, 1985 = 2

Evan Cameron        1980, 1981, 1982, 1985 = 4

Mike Carroll              1985 (2) = 2

Dave Clark               1979 = 1

Fraser Clyne            1982 = 1

Douglas Cowie       1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 (2) = 6

Tony Coyne             1985 = 1

Hammy Cox             1988 (2), 1989 = 3

Andy Daly                 1983 (2) = 2

Jim Dingwall            1980, 1984 = 2

John Duffy               1988 (2) = 1

Peter Fleming          1983 = 1

Graham Getty          1985 = 1

Sam Graves             1987, 1988 = 2

Rob Hall                    1987, 1989 = 2

Frank Harper           1986 (2), 1988, 1990 = 4

Charlie Haskett       1984 = 1

Doug Hunter            1986 = 1

Paul Kenney            1985 = 1

Sandy Keith             1982 = 1

Graham Laing         1980, 1983 = 2

Keith Lyall                1986 = 1

Scott MacDonald    1985 = 1

Alastair Macfarlane1980, 1981 = 2

Donald Macgregor 1980, 1981, 1982,1984  = 4

Charlie McIntyre     1989, 1990 (2) = 3

Murray McNaught  1985, 1986 = 2

Colin Martin             1980, 1988, 1989 = 3

Graham Milne          1981 = 1

Terry Mitchell           1989 = 1

George Reynolds   1984 = 1

Donald Ritchie        1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990 = 5

Lindsay Robertson 1982, 1983, 1984 = 3

Alan Robson           1989 = 1

Bobby Ronald         1987 = 1

Craig Ross               1982, 1983, 1985, 1987 = 4

Lawrie Spence        1984 = 1

Davie Watt                1987 = 1

Peter Wilson            1982, 1983, 1984 (2) = 4

Colin Youngson     1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 (2), 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 = 11

INTERNATIONAL TEAM ROAD RACE: HALF MARATHON

28/8/88 – The Livingston Half Marathon included an international match, featuring (in finishing order): England v Scotland v Northern Ireland v Wales. Three to run, two to count.

For Scotland, Peter Fleming finished third in 65:13; Charlie Haskett fourth in 66.26; and Hammy Cox 13^th in 70.16.

NB  Apparently, there was also a Half Marathon international at Livingston on 30 Aug. 1987.

The gentleman (and I use the word advisedly) above is the first honorary president of Clydesdale Harriers until his death in 1895.    There is a complete profile of  “Blatherwick of Row” available if you follow this link  where not only do you have an outline of his career and occupation but various other interesting facts about the setting up of an amateur athletic club at that time.   This section looks at the running of the club in its early years when there were very few (at times no) races.   So rather looking at results or runs done we can start where the club started – with its Constitution as set out in the club’s handbook, and then a look at the handbook to see how these rules were implemented

First:  THE CLUB CONSTITUTION

There were no other clubs in existence and no club constitution to use as a guide but there were gentlemen’s clubs in all the major cities and towns who did have such documents.   It is not accidental that the Clydesdale Harriers constitution resembled them    I reproduce it in full.

RULES

I.   That the club be called “The Clydesdale Harriers”

II.   That the object of the Club be the promotion of Amateur Athletics generally, and Cross-Country Running in particular.

III.  That the general management of the club be vested in a Committee not exceeding Twenty-Four Members of whom Fifteen shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, including, at least, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Captain and Vice-Captain, the remaining members to be elected by the Committee and by the Sections (one from each section).   Seven Members to form a quorum. 

IV.   That each candidate for election upon filling up a form (on which the Rules of the Club are printed) declaring that he is an amateur and that he will abide by the Laws of the Club and of the S.A.A.A., shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another, after which his name will be submitted to the Committee, and if agreed upon, passed.   Any Member of Committee shall have the power of demanding a Ballot in the case of any Candidate.   One black ball in four to exclude.

V.   That the Annual Subscription for Ordinary Members be two shillings and sixpence, payable on 1st October each year; Honorary Members five shillings, and that the Subscription for Life Members be One Guinea.   New Members Subscriptions must be paid within One Month from the date of notice from the Secretary that their application has been passed, otherwise their election may be declared null and void.   

VI.   That the Treasurer shall place before the Committee the names of all Members one month in Arrears for Subscriptions or other monies, the Committee then having the power to erase the names of such Members from the books, as well as to enforce the payment of such Subscription, and no one whose Subscription has been allowed to fall into arrears shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of the Club.   

VII.   That any member intending to withdraw from the Club shall give written notice to the Secretary before the Annual General Meeting, or be liable for another year’s Subscription.

VIII.   That any Member violating the Rules of the Club, or of the S.A.A.A., or doing anything prejudicial to the interests of either, may be expelled from the Club by the votes of two-thirds of the full Committee.

IX.   That the uniform of the Club be Black Knickers and White Jersey, and that the Club Badge (a Horn and Whip, with the motto “Excelsior”) be worn on th left breast at Athletic Sports, and the Gate Badge on the back at cross-country runs.   Members are specially requested to enter under the name of the Club at Athletic Meetings).

X.   That the Committee shall appoint an Advising Board of experienced members to confer with and advise the Secretary as to matters requiring to be dealt with by said Committee, and generally to watch over the interests of the Club.   The Committee shall also allot the management of the Head-Quarters Districts to certain of its members who will look after the Districts, and assist the Secretary and Treasurer so far as these are concerned, the Section Committees appointing their own District Managers and otherwise looking after the immediate business of their Sections.   The Committeeshall also appoint a Business Committee and any other Sub-Committees that which they may consider advisable, and have full power to fill up vacancies in General Committee and act for the Club (except to alter Rules), the majority in all cases to decide, the Chairman or President  of the Club, however, having the Power to appeal to a full Special General Committee Meeting.   Proxies to be allowed at such meetings only.   That the Meetings of Committee be held on the first Thursday of each Month, or as near that date as possible, at least two days notice to be given by the Secretary when, together with other current business, the Minutes of the Advising Board, and of the Business and other Sub-Committees, as well as the Treasurer’s Financial Statement to the end of the previous Month shall be read and considered.

XI.   That the Annual General Meeting be held early in September and called by notice in at least one weekly athletic paper and in one of the Glasgow evening newspapers not less than ten days before such meeting.   The Reports of the Secretary and Treasurer will be submitted , and the Office-Bearers and Committee (with Auditor to act in conjunction with one appointed by the Committee) appointed for the ensuing year.   Twenty five members shall form a quorum; a majority to decide.   The Chairman shall have the power to appeal to a Special General Meeting on any special business, at which there must be fifty Members, either personally or by proxy.

XII.   That a Special General Meeting may be called by the Committee, or by any ten Members, or (in the above special case) by the Chairman by giving notice to the Secretary, who shall call the meeting in the same manner as the A.G.M.

XIII.   That these Rules be annexed to the Forms of Election and inserted in the Club’s “Annual”, and that no alteration in, or addition to, the Rules be made except at the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special Meeting called for that purpose.    Ten days notice of such alteration to be given to the Secretary.   

–

CROSS-COUNTRY REGULATIONS

I.   That cross-country runs be held on Saturdays, from the 1st of October to the end of February, on such dates as the Committee shall fix.

II.   That the Club, when out for a run, shall be under the management of the Captain or Vice-Captain, or Senior Member of Committee present, who shall appoint a Pace-Maker and Whip for the control of each pack.

III.   That no one, when out for a run, shall be allowed to go ahead of the Pace-Maker, unless the run be a racing run, or the signal be given by the Pace-Maker for a race home.

IV.   That every member of the club is expected to wear the Club Uniform at the Club Runs, and to support the management for the time being.

Second:  THE CLUB ANNUAL AND MEMBERS TICKET

The various points in the Constitution can be looked at by going through an actual Annual.   These were impressive documents and very detailed, covering every aspect of the Club’s activities for the preceding year and with a list of fixtures for the coming season.   Many of them are available for further scrutiny at www.anentscottishrunning.com/clydesdale-harriers-1890-1900 .   These booklets, asyou can see from the example above, doubled as Membership cards or ‘Member’s Tickets’ and all members received the booklet on paying their Subscription at the start of the year.  We should start at the beginning.   When we open the cover of the Annual and Member’s Ticket for 1890/91 ran to 54 pages plus hard cardboard cover.

The inside front cover has the fixtures for the Headquarters sections.   The club headquarters sections totalled five in number covering the entire city.  There were runs every Saturday and the second column indicates that these were scattered from Greenock and Gourock in the south and west to Kirkintilloch in the north and east of Glasgow as well as near at home.   The thirdcolumn indicated meeting points and method of transport to these venues: four different stations as well as cars.   The fourth column has times for assembly, note that the train times were very precise – 2:26, 3:03, 2:48, etc.   No member had any excuse for not knowing where the meeting was or when to be at the assembl;y point.   I always scorned the word ‘meet’ as a description og an athletic event, reckoning it was an Americanism, but the comment at the foot of the page uses the word “Meet” in just that sense!

Pages three and four were full page advertisements for David Dick’s, Chemist and Clydesdale Harrier, products.   On the Kola preparation MF Thomson is quoted as saying “The drug is not only invigorating but also possessed of medicinal properties which are beneficial.”   Actually referring to it as a drug – how times change.

 Note the discount for club members at the foot of page four, this ties in with the reduced rail fares mentioned on the preceding pages.   The club was probably paid for the space and the athletes mentioned as endorsing the products may well have received payment of some sort.

Two moe pages of advertisements.   H and P McNeil were founder members of both Clydesdale Harriers and the Rangers FC .  Outfitters to Clydesdale Harriers – whenI joined theclub in the 1950’s club clothing was sold from Harris’s of Exchange Square in Glasgow.   They kept stocks of club uniforms in all sizes and we simply wandered in and bought them.   It saved anyone keeping a stock in their home and the shop kept a suitable number of vests as sold by them.   The other ones found it paid to advertise ‘Tripe Suppers’.   Might not go down too well nowadays.   Is there any reason why a club member could not be responsible for adverts for a club annual in the twenty first century

By pages seven and eight we were into the handbook proper.   Google the names of the patrons several MP’s – George Otto Trevelyan was twice Secretary of State for Scotland, Cameron Corbett was the first Lord Rowallan and so on.   Not run-of-the-mill politicians but even had they been, they would have been worth encouraging.   All athletics clubs need help from politicians at some point or other and even local councillors should be solicited.   In my time in the Harriers we had many local politicians (Malcolm Turner, Jimmy Malcolm, John Johnstone) and members of parliament (most recently was Tony Worthington)

Pages nine and ten were the start of the working committee.   Secretary DL Dick was the chemist who was advertising earlier in the annual.   The President was Sir Alexander McAusland Kennedy who was a really important player in the ship building industry north and south of the border – google him and you will be surprised at how big a profile the man had.   He chaired all the club’s importantanniversaries up to 1935 – the 50th.   Captain Charles Pennycook won the SAAA Mile title and was President of the SAAA later in his career.   Then there are the sb-committees – the advertising and business committee and the football committee (both Rangers and Celtic clubs were represented here by paid-up members of Clydesdale).

The whole sections and headquarters edifice was well knitted together – separate committees for each section had a rep from the general committee, and the general committee had reps from the sections present.   Every section always knew what was going on.   There were no secrets.

Eleven and twelve were the start of the constitution.

Page fourteen was the start of a big section  that listed the names and addresse.s of every single club member for the use of the officials and of each other.   Glasgow had five sections, each section had its area of influence delineated and the District Leader was noted with his address.

As well as the address, the annual listed the prizes won by each athlete and sorted them into first, second and third.   Of course most won nothing at all but it is an interesting feature.   Creating and maintaining such a list would have been a serious job of work: I doubt whether any club member of any club would take such a task on in the twenty first century.   Those who had gone abroad for business reasons had their new addres listed but were kept in the sections that they had been members of before emigration.   James Erskine of Gray Street was a founder member and father of Ralph and Thomas Erskine who both died in the 1914-18 War.

Several well-known names here too:   Peter McNeil whose firm was advertising at the startof the Annual and Alex Vallance, SAAA champion hurdler, Rangers FC player and brother of the better-known Tom.   DL Dick appears again – on p20

 Who’s on this one?   Robert Langlands for a start – the first Scotsman to run inide 2 minutes for the half mile.   John Mellish was the man who “allowed his name to go forward for President of Rangers” and a man who was very active sorting out the split between CH and the SAAA.

Tom Vallance, RA Vogt the record breaking cyclist, Andrew Hannah, and (balancing Vallance of Rangers, Maley of Celtic (who won 9 firsts and one second that year.

One of the biggest names ever in athletics here – on page 26 is Alf Downer who ran for several clubs in his career but won the triple treble – ie the 100, 220 and 440 at three consecutive SAAA championships.   Further down the same page is JR Gow – another SAAA champion hurdler and record holder as well as a Rangers FC player.

The Ayrshire Section was one of the first that the club set up and there was an annual athletics contest with Ayr United FC which some said was more important than the SAAA Championships.   Alex Finlay, the first NCCU champion, was from Ayr and John Blane, mile record holder and champion came from Kilmarnock.   Note Tom Maley’s address in Paisley.

Lots of well-known names here – A McA Kennedy; James Logan, an outstanding miler; Tom Vallance’s Helensburgh address too.

The Wright brothers – Jack who was Junior cross-country champion of Scotland and a noted half-miler with brother George, a very good sprinter – were the start of a lineage that went down through three or four generations in the club.

And the names and Sections continue – listing the names in this fashion and then handing the lists to each member must have given Clydesdale Harriers individual runners the feeling of being part of a big pioneering movement.   Confidence grow from numbers and being part of something big.

The information on the previous pages is summarised and laid out in a most impressive table on page 35 and the Annual Report(quite often also written into the Minute Book) accurately summarised the past year for the benefit of members and those others whom the committee saw fit to pass it on to (eg some sporting papers).  For us it provides a running commentary on the development of a club.

It’s a pretty comprehensive report by any standards – club section championships, club championship, Scottish and British national championships, track and field and internal club politics are all covered.   Note on p41 the comments about the club rooms in Dundas Street, Glasgow.   Verily a gentleman’s club and a step up from a club hut!

The criteria for club medals are clearly laid out on p43 and the gold ones for establishing records or winning SAAA championmships were sought after – the club minute books have the requests for these by such ‘stars’ as long jumper Hugh Barr noted as discussed and awarded.   The winners all submitted their claims for them.    Interesting too that Bovril was sold in Chemists as well as Grocers.

More paying advertisements-and the offer of discounts for members of the club indicates that it was woirth while for the firm and that encouraged more to join Clydesdale Harriers,.

Note the level of literacy required to read and understand the advertisement on p47!   The club always had a ‘club jeweller’ who provided all trophies, medals and badghes at good rates for the club.   Again – special terms to members of Clydesdale Harriers.

Bicycles on hire purchase!   Spikes for 3/11 – less than 20 pence in new money!

The inside back cover of the ‘Members Ticket.   The fixtures for the sections.   A meet a week and venues with times.   No member ever in doubt about where that week’s run was to take place.

Andrew Hannah

Clydesdale Harriers 1885 –