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Brian Scobie winning at Westerlands, Glasgow, in early 60’s 

Brian Scobie (born on 16th May 1944) was a very good runner who represented  Maryhill Harriers and then ran for Glasgow University AC in the 1960’s, before becoming a very highly regarded and much respected coach in the 1980’s, 90’s and into the 21st century.   Brian ran while at school and his father was also interested in athletics.   Living in Milngavie, he was eligible for the Dunbartonshire team in the Inter-Counties Youth Sports which was an annual athletics contest between the young athletes from local government authorities and was not a school or club based competition – athletes from schools, clubs, youth clubs, youth organisations, and whatever else were eligible so long as they had demonstrated ability.   Brian was only eleven months younger than Lachie Stewart from the Vale of Leven (also eligible for Dunbartonshire) and their paths crossed frequently in these sports.   With age groups in two year bands, they were in direct opposition every second year.   They competed together several times in that context.   Like many another, Brian describes himself as a ‘would-be footballer’ who ran a bit in the summer but did no formal training.   He did have a paper round however on six days a week with a circuit of about 6 miles.   Sometimes he cycled the route, sometimes he ran but from second to sixth years at secondary he was covering, one way or another, 30 miles in total.

In summer 1961-62 – the year before he went up to University – he was training with Queen’s Park FC Youth team at Hampden where they were not allowed even a sight of a ball until they had done 12 laps of the old cinder track.   Then there was a series of sprint sets – eg from one corner flag to the other, then from the tunnel to the corner flag, then from the edge of the eighteen yard box to the corner flag.   This, together with the school PE teacher he had, meant he won the County 440 yards and then finish second in the Scottish Schools 880 yards.   At that point he joined Maryhill  Harriers and started training with Tom Williamson’s group.     He gained a reputation as a good competitor who could frequently win tactical races.    Jim McLatchie the very good miler and middle distance runner from Ayrshire, moved to Milngavie and immediately the two started doing a lot of their training together, regularly training with the girls of Glasgow Western LAC under Tom Williamson’s guidance in the west of Glasgow.   If we take a look at his time with GUAC it is quite impressive.   He did not make the schools international mainly because, despite a good racing record, his times were not as fast as some others.   He had run in many highland games meetings and became a good tactical runner but tactical success doesn’t always mean fast times.   The performances of others such as Kenny Oliver and Davie Hendry in Dublin also rightly counted with the selectors of course.   He ran in a floodlit international; at Ibrox in September with such as Hugh Barrow in the Scottish team in a race won by England’s Morris Jefferson.

Brian first ran for Glasgow University in winter 1962-63.   Previously a summer runner, he had no experience of cross-country before joining the Hares & Hounds.  His initiation to the arts of cross-country running came when he ran the team trial, then went with the club to Belfast the following week where he was a very good third on the Saturday (27th) and then they went on to Dublin on Monday 30th where he was second to team-mate Cameron Shepherd, beaten by 12 seconds but four seconds ahead of Shillington of Trinity College. The first real domestic race with them was the Edinburgh to Glasgow relay in November 1962.   He ran on the eighth stage and held third place – holding off Chic Forbes (VPAAC) and Les Meneely (Shettleston Harriers) to win a bronze medal.   His next run in a winter classic was in the Nigel Barge Road Race on 5th January, 1963, when he finished 36th and third counter in a GU team that finished fourth and just out of the medals.     A week later in a match against Edinburgh University at Garscadden in Glasgow, he was fifth and third counter in a Glasgow team that won 26 – 52.  On 19th January he was sixth counter for the university in the Midlands District championship when he was 29th for the second placed Glasgow squad.   In action for the fourth consecutive week, he was in the winning team in a match in Glasgow against Aberdeen AAC, Aberdeen University, University, St Andrews and Dundee Hawkhill finishing eighth and fourth scoring runner for the University.   In a race featuring Calum Laing, Alastair Wood, Steve Taylor and Allan Faulds, eighth was not a bad run and the official history of GU AC comments that it was a confirmation of his return to form.   These races were the lead-in to the Scottish University championships on 2nd February when he was tenth, third counter in the team which finished second to Edinburgh.   In the National cross-country championships for Glasgow University on 23rd February, 1963, he finished twenty second for the team that won the bronze medals with 119 points behind Edinburgh University (49 pts) and Edinburgh Southern Harriers (91 Pts).

Brian ran over the summer and on 20th April finished first in the 880 yards in a match with Edinburgh University finishing in 1:59.5, assisting the Glasgow team to an 88 – 45 victory.   Although he undoubtedly raced al that summer, he was too young and too inexperienced to take on the many ‘big beasts’ competing in the country’s middle distance events – an area where Scotland was particularly strong at that time with runners like Lachie Stewart, Ian McCafferty, Graeme Grant, Dick Hodelet, Duncan Middleton, Fergus Murray and many more.

Season 1963 – 64 was a better one for him.  Running for the Hares & Hounds over the following winter, Scobie ran in the team trials on 19th October, 1963, and finished fifth behind such strong runners as Allan Faulds, Dick Hartley, Calum Laing and Jim Bogan with Dick Hodelet sixth.  A cutting from a University paper said that “the reprobate Scobie finished fifth as expected in 41:05.”    Not a regular in the first team, he ran in the Edinburgh to Glasgow in November 1963 on the short third stage and pulled the team from seventh to sixth.  Followed by Dick Hodelet who picked up another two places, the University scribes felt that they had both run very well.   On 23rd November at Kings Buildings, Edinburgh, in a match against Aberdeen University, Edinburgh University, St Andrews University and Edinburgh Southern Harriers, Scobie finished eighth – second Glasgow Scoring runner for the team which finished second to Edinburgh University.   On 7th December, he was second in a match against St Andrews to be second counter in 37:20 for the winning University team.   Into the New Year and Scobie was third in 38:08 to be second scorer in the winning team against Edinburgh U H&H over a six and three quarter mile trail.  A week later on 18th January  in the Midland District Championships he was twelfth and second scorer for the fifth placed team.  On 25th January it was back to Aberdeen to meet Aberdeen University, Aberdeen AAC, St Andrews University and Dundee Hawkhill over 6 miles of road and country where Brian finished third individual and second Glasgow man in the winning team.   On 1st February in the Scottish Universities Championships Glasgow won the team race with Brian Scobie in sixth place after seven miles of road and country.   Later in February he ran in the Junior National and finished twenty third in the Glasgow squad that was eighth.   At the club AGM on 27th April, 1964, Cameron Shepherd the club captain made his report in which he commented on the fine running of Calum Laing, Allan Faulds, Brian Scobie and Terry Kerwin and followed this up by saying that Brian Scobie had had an exceptional season and the Club was very disappointed that he had not been awarded the Blue for which he had been nominated.   It was however awarded the following year.

There are of course team contests on the track in the form of relays and Brian, a good team player, was in the winning teams for the 4  x  440 yards championship in 1963 (3:19.3) and 1964 (3:19.1) and ran the half mile leg of the winning team in the Mile Medley Relay in 1964 (3:36.6).

As the winter work would have led him to a high level of fitness, Brian began the summer season on 2nd May in a match between Glasgow University, St Andrews University and Queen’s University, Belfast, at Westerlands.   Running in the Mile he was second to Glasgow team mate J Wilson who won in 4:24.8.   A week later in the University’s confined championships he was third in the Mile, won by Dick Hodelet in 4:33.8 with Ray Baillie second, and second in the Three Miles, won by Calum Laing in 15:34.7.   As in 1963, the very high standard of competition in his favoured distances was so high that he did not appear in any of the other championships that year – not District, British Universities nor SAAA.   Nevertheless by the end of the season he was ranked 14th in Scotland over 880y with a best time of 1:55.6.

The first winter classic is the Edinburgh to Glasgow relay and in season 1964-65 Brian Scobie ran on the first stage and finished seventh.  The rest of team failed to hold this place and the team was fifteenth.   In the District Championships,  Scobie finished twenty second and the University team was fifth, and again the official history comments on the individual performances of Scobie and Shepherd.   Both were selected to run in the race against the UAU , and Scobie along with Barclay Kennedy and Ray Baillie was selected to run for Scottish Universities against a Scottish Cross-Country team.   He was, with four others, awarded First Team Colours and the report goes on to say “The outstanding member of the Hares and Hounds   over the season had undoubtedly been Brian Scobie; this was recognised by his winning of the Esslemont and McCulloch Trophies and the award of a Blue.”   He had been captain that winter and in his report he commented on the drop in standard of team performances following the graduation of several first team members.   Citing Barclay Kennedy as an example he said “that no-one could claim that Barclay was built as a cross country runner, and yet he had reached the standard of a Scottish Universities’ Select.”   He stepped down as captain at that meeting at the end of the winter season.

After this excellent winter, he started the next summer concentrating on what many felt was his best distance, the half mile.   On 24th April, 1965  Brian Scobie was part of a Glasgow team that defeated Aberdeen University in Glasgow.   He won the 880 yards to get the season off to a good start and the ‘Glasgow Herald’ reported:  “Bill Ewing of Aberdeen was well contained in the 880 yards by BWM Scobie (Glasgow University) who gives every indication of being an even better runner than he was last year.   Scobie had the race in control from the start and led Ewing over the finishing line by about five yards.”      On 1st May in Belfast against Queen’s, Belfast, and St Andrew’s, Scobie was again out in the half mile.  It was a windy day, witness this on the 880 yards, “After allowing lesser mortals in the 880 yards to act as hares, BWM Scobie (Glasgow) broke away with half a lap to go and won in 2:01.2, a time that on any other day but Saturday he would readily have scorned.”   Only one week later was the Glasgow University AC club championship and it was again a day of strong winds, so strong that the officials allowed the 100m competitors to run with the wind rather than against it.   Pity there wasn’t the same opportunity for the half milers – but Brian Scobie won the title anyway in 1:58.9 and the Mile in 4:38.1.   On the last Saturday in May, Scobie was third in the West District 880 yards behind Graeme Grant and Mike McLean – not a disgrace to be behind these two fine runners.     By the end of the season he had a best of 1:54.6 which ranked him sixteenth in Scotland.

I have spoken to several of his contemporaries at University who have all – without exception – said that he did not achieve anything like his potential as an athlete before graduating.

London Marathon, 1986: Brian Scobie A96

Brian moved to Leeds as an assistant lecturer in English in Leeds University in 1969 and stayed there until 2001 – a period of 32 years.   It was over this period that he developed his coaching skills and worked with many athletes of genuine quality – notably in the 1980’s when his squad of endurance athletes, particularly marathon runners, was arguably the best in Britain.   Athletes in the squad included

*  Veronique Marot, who was twice British record-holder, winner London Marathon, 2nd New York Marathon, three times winner of Houston Marathon (’86, ’89 and ’91)

*   Angie Pain Hulley, two Commonwealth Games for England (6th and 3rd), A European Championship competitor, a World Championships runner and an Olympian

*   Sheila Catford,  Scottish Internationalist, winner of the Glasgow Marathon and Commonwealth Games competitor.

*   Sarah Rowell, World Student Games marathon winner, second in London Marathon, third in the Columbus Marathon in Ohio and 14th in the Olympic marathon in Los Angeles

*   Jill Clarke, world student marathon winner and 2:39:42 was fastest GB marathon debut until Paula Radford in 2002.

Julie Holland, currently number 24 on the UK all-time list for 10000m with 32:47:48

*   Sandra Arthurton, an outstanding cross-country runner, multi international appearances.

* Peter Whitehead who finished fourth in the World Marathon Championship (interesting article at www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/other-sport/athletics/merseysides-100-olympians-no-60-3345933 )

* John Sherban – Commonwealth Games athlete

There are many more and those cited have all done much, much more that can be noted in this profile of their coach, Brian Scobie.   At this point he himself made a come-back to competitive athletics but at a much further distance than in his GUAC days – marathon running no less.   His first run at the distance was in the inaugural London Marathon in 1981 with some of his club mates in a time just outside 2:36.   He ran marathons very well indeed.  He ran London in 2:24 and 2:23 with his very best being 2:21:50 in London in 1984.     In 1986 the Scottish ranking lists had him at the age of 42 with marks of 30:52.8 for 10000m, and 2:24:14 for the marathon.    But at a time when the ‘marathon boom’ was in full swing and times were all, Brian was still a competitive runner and had two notable marathon victories under his belt.   Both were in the Horsforth Marathon.   The first victory was ion the second race in the series in 1982 in 2:29:09  from a field of 488 starters.  Two years later he won in 2:27:06.   The time in ’82 was a record by 3 seconds but the 1984 victory took more than two minutes from his own record.   That record still stands.  The 80’s was a good decade for him and after the two Horsforth victories he won the Commonwealth Games vets 25 K in 1986, the Scottish veterans cross-country in both ’86 and ’87 and then later in ’87 won the masters category in Houston in 2:30:59.   No small achievement – the Houston Marathon started in 1972 and by 1987 there were thousands running every year with the winner in ’87 being South Africa’s Derrick May in 2:11:51.

It is of interest to note that at this point in his career he was back working with his old Glasgow University athletics team mate Craig Sharp.   Of this relationship Brian says:   “Craig Sharp was President when I was running for Glasgow University. In 1965 I won the trophy that he had presented a year earlier. My subsequent re-connection with him was when he was heading the newly-created British Olympic Medical Centre, in Uxbridge. In the late 1980s we had a number of professional contacts in relation to my efforts to prepare Veronique for the Worlds and Olympics 1990-1992. Craig was very knowledgeable and very accessible and helpful at every point, friendly and assiduous. Through him I had a mobile lab-van trackside in Leeds at one point, doing lactate field-tests. (Try that nowadays!) So Craig was a big and positive influence for me from the 1960s to the 1990s.”

Brian Scobie, the coach.

Into the twenty first century and Brian Scobie is still working as hard as ever – that his work is successful is seen by some of the positions held:

From March 2003 to 2009 he was a Senior Performance Coach for UK Athletics before taking a post as Sprints Coach at Leeds Met University, a post which he held for a year.   He then became an Area Coach Mentor, Endurance, for England Athletics  in May 2011, a position which he still holds.   What does it entail?   “Mentor to Endurance Coaches in Yorkshire and Humber on behalf of the Athletics governing body in England; he has taken the post on a part-time consultancy basis.   He is required to manage the England Athletics Area Endurance Coach Development Centre which is based at Leeds Metropolitan University.  It involves organising and structuring all forms of coach education and speaking at venues across this huge part of the north of England. If we look at Linked In, his talents include Blind Sport Development, Paralympic athletics, Sprint Speed Coach, Marathon Coach, Endurance Coach.   He has written on all aspects of coaching, several available on the web – eg www.sportscoachuk.org/sites/default/files/CE-Does-Disability-Make-Difference.pdf on the coaching of athletes with a disability.

In the context of working with athletes with a disability he works with Tanni-Grey Thomson and has been described as ‘her boss’ in her new job of identifying talent among those with a disability.   He has also worked as Head Coach of the UK Athletics Paralympic Team.     The involvement with Blind and paralympic sport should maybe be looked at and I asked Brian about it:

“As a result of getting fully engaged in the British Blind Sport project that John Anderson had invited me to be involved in from about 1982, I took a team to the 1984 paralympic event.   I was co-managing with John Bailey who was unfortunately stretchered off the plane in New York with a suspected heart attack.   So I had to manage and coach that very strong team at the event in Long Island.   The event management was poor in many ways and I found myself battling heavily n technical meetings, etc, and having to raise issues for non-English speakers.   As a result, I made friends but also some enemies.   In the end it led to my involvement in the development and growth of blind sports in general within the governing body, IBSA.   By the Atlanta Games I was the Technical Director, responsible for about 16 sports across five continents.   In the early years of this involvement I also managed and coached Visually Impaired athletics but relinquished much of that role due to conflicts of interest.   I was offered a post within UKA to establish the British team for the 2000 paralympics but was reluctant to quit my University post.”

And it didn’t stop there.   Brian worked for a time as a sports development consultant.   Many of the contracts he was involved with were funded by the Spanish organisation for the blind which traded under the acronym of ONCE, which translates as Spanish Blind Association.   He undertook a number of projects with them and their partners in promoting disability sports.   This not only took him to Africa and countries in Eastern Europe but led to his designing a programme for the UK to which he was later appointed as head.   He was also involved with the IAAF and delivered a programme for developing countries at the World Championships in Lille.

Brian is still coaching club athletes, and he coaches athletes from a wide variety of clubs.   The Power of 10 website credits him with 15 athletes from 9 clubs, covering distances from 100m to marathon, both men and women and ranging in age from Under 20 to M40 veterans.   Let no one think he is now coaching at a lower level than heretofore: he always coached athletes of all abilities, bringing many through the ranks to international standard, and in 2013 one of his athletes, David Devine who runs the 800m, 1500m and 5000m in the T12 category, was included on UK athletics world class performance funding programme for 2013.   If you are interested in how he trains his athletes and in the advice he gives to coaches, you can access a slide presentation at

www.slideplayer.com/slide/1679711/

It starts with the picture of the student Scobie winning a race at Westerland shown above and ends with a slide of him running in a marathon pack with Veronique Marot in the mid-80s, but it’s the content that matters.

His is a story of a lifetime’s involvement in the sport going from his days as a schoolboy in Milngavie, just outside Glasgow right up to the present day: and a commitment all the way through to excellence, encouraging the athletes he works with – able bodied and disabled, club standard and international class – to’ be all they can be.’

Eddie, second from right, with some of his runners and Springburn club mates:

John Fleming says of this photograph with many of Eddie’s best athletes included:

Ian Murray is behind the shield then it is me (wearing our Scottish Schools’ tracksuits) then Willie Paterson, Tommy Patterson with Harry Gorman behind them. Eddie’s son , Gordon is in front of Tommy and then between Tommy and Eddie is James Martin (Harry’s brother in law). Eddie’s 2nd son,Graeme, is next (in stripes)- Graeme sadly died. The final athlete is Johnny Buntain.  I think this was taken in 1974 outside Huntershill.. 
It was taken on a regular training night but for some reason the picture was missing National Gold team medalists:- Adie Callan, Graham Crawford Jim Lawson, Joe McLean, Donald McLeod, Robert Craig as well as seniors Eddie Knox and Iain Young. The lad between Graeme Williamson and Bill Ramage is Derek Connacher, who was 9th individual in the Scottish Schools Middles Race (more than 300 runners) and because he was the 5th Lenzie counter he didn’t get a team medal ! 

*

Eddie was an excellent runner who ran for Scotland on the track and over the country.   His  range was wide – from 880 yards to six miles and steeplechase on the track, road racing including the Edinburgh to Glasgow relay and cross-country.   When his running days were over, he did not walk away – he stayed to coach generation after generation of young athletes and arguably did more for Springburn than he had done as a runner.   And that had been considerable.  The sheer numbers of trophies won was staggering.   For instance between 1962 and 1981 his Under 15 teams won medals in 16 national championships out of 19 – each team had of course four to count which meant at least five runners per race, so 80 individual medals at national level for the boys to take home.   Of course he had Under 17 and Under 20 teams under his care at the same time – the numbers not as great as the Under 15’s because at 15 many have to spend more time on their school work or are starting to earn their living in the workplace and the numbers inevitably fall for reasons unconnected with athletics or coaches.   The numbers were large but, another surprising fact, they almost all came from the same area of Kirkintilloch and Lenzie.   Arthur Lydiard said that you can find champions anywhere – Eddie found his almost all in the same small area.   We really need to find out more about him and his methods as far as we can.  

The Springburn team at Bute Highland Games Medley Race: Eddie on the right.

Eddie’e career as an amateur athlete was a relatively short one.   After coming through the ranks as a Youth and a Junior, his senior career lasted just three years – but it was meteoric.   On the track he had best times of  9:06 for Two miles, 14:05 for Three Miles and 9:27 for the 3000m steeplechase.     He won the SAAA Three Miles in 1960 and in the same year he was sixth in the National and was selected for the Scottish team for the International Championship.    As a Youth he had been fourth and sixteenth in the National and as a Junior in 1957 he was eighteenth.   As a Senior it was 6th/36th/15th.    In the Edinburgh to Glasgow, his first run was in 1957 when he was on Stage Seven and moved the club from eight to fifth with second quickest time of the day.   We know he ran the same stage the following year but no details are available about his performance.   In 1959 he was sixth on Stage One and in 1960 – his own personal annus mirabilis – he took over in fifth place on Stage Two after Tom O’Reilly had run well on Stage One, and moved through to second with the third fastest time of the day.   His last run in the E-G was in 1961, again on Stage Two when he took over on Stage Two in eighteenth and held that position – by the time Tom came to run on the last stage the club had climbed to fourteenth and that was where he kept it.   He ran as a pro after that for a while but crept back into amateur athletics soon after.    That’s when the coaching started.

We can begin by looking at the record.   He started coaching in the mid 60’s and we take the years from 1963 to 1986.  At National Championships level his teams won a total of 35 sets of medals, of which 12 were gold championship medals.   In the individual championships, his runners won 29 medals, of which 14 were gold.   The best year was arguably 1973/’74 when Springburn Harriers won the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 20 team championships.   The results were of course even better in the Midland Districts (until 1975) and Western Districts (from 1976) where the opposition was less numerous but contained all the strongest clubs such as Victoria Park, Shettleston and Cambuslang.   In fact when the West District started their Young Athletes relays (under 13, under 15 and under 17 running in that order, Springburn won for the first six years in succession until Clydesdale Harriers took the title in 1981/82.    There were also many titles won on the track in all the age groups as well as in the Scottish Schools championships.   Graduates from the Eddie Sinclair Academy of Excellence, had their been such a thing, included Eddie Knox, Duncan Middleton, Graham Williamson and Steven Begen.   We could go on quoting similar statistics but the point is made.   One more point has to be made however: many coaches who have success with boys teams, fail to deliver senior athletes at the end of the process.   Eddie’s record is better than that – the four above were all senior internationalists, three of them won British Championships and one won gold, silver and bronze at world cross-country championships.   If the team/individual medals in the national cross-country championships are looked at we see that there were 5 team and 9 individual medals won at U20 level compared with 8 team and 2 individual at U13.   There were more U20 individual golds than at U13 or U15.   

It was really a quite remarkable record, made the more so by two more facts –

• that he worked on his own – there was no team of supporting coaches following his guidelines.   
• that his athletes came from the relatively small communities of Kirkintilloch and Lenzie with a few from Bishopbriggs.

Graham Crawford

First-class athlete and member of Springburn Harriers Graham Crawford, who was coached by Harry Gorman at the club and says that he learned a lot from Harry, has been a member of the club for a long time, says of Eddie:

“I have strong memories of the man from club nights and races and I’d sum him up in one word- passion.

“Eddie spoke with conviction. He was like an old style tough football manager who could get his team totally fired up. When he talked you listened. He held the stage. When Eddie roared at you in the final stages of a race you always somehow dug deeper, no matter how tired you imagined you were at that point.

As I’ve grown older I’ve found myself thinking more and more that if he had been my coach I’d have run over broken glass for him. I go to races these days to support the sons of a friend and I find that I remind myself of Eddie, chasing the lads around different parts of the course roaring them on. I get completely caught up in the moment, willing them to get everything out of themselves. That was Eddie, he just wanted you (demanded, expected?) to go to your very limit, ask every question of yourself. Why run if you don’t do that? That would have been his bare boned philosophy.

Eddie trained his athletes like most serious runners of that era, no fancy methods just straightforward hard work with a healthy mix of good sustained runs, often with a burn up at the end, and plenty of intense, quality and high rep track work. No – or little – gym work as far as I know.

He had a reputation for training teenagers very hard. It produced strong contenders and champions, and brought accusations in certain quarters that lesser runners were used as cannon fodder for Graham Williamson, ultimately to their detriment. I remember the same being said about Naylor and Nat Muir at Shettleston.

It was also said that during a period of doldrums for Springburn, nobody really turned up except Eddie, Jack Crawford and Williamson. And ask me to name the three most significant people in the club in my lifetime, and I suppose I may have the longest ongoing continuing connection, and it would have to be those three for their constancy, work and impact.

What Eddie did with Williamson was immense. Eddie asked everything of Graham and Graham had the makeup to respond to those demands. The teenage Williamson trained extremely hard under Eddie, with a heavy emphasis on frequent quality training.

Graham was a hard as nails, a ‘leave nothing behind’ racer because that is how Eddie trained him all through his teens. I’ll leave others to argue over the merits of that but I find it very hard to be critical of Eddie. I know stories, and I know he had his flaws and failings (as I acknowledge my own), but to me, his positives – his passion, commitment, drive, and motivational qualities – overrode everything else. He was a force of nature who had very strong views, a cutting tongue and a strong sense of humour.”

[Graham is quick to point out that “anything I have said about my regard for Eddie takes nothing away from the marvellous support and encouragement I got later from Harry Gorman when he coached me for a number of years. Harry gave me a lot.“]

Eddie Knox

Eddie Knox was Eddie Sinclair’s first international champion: in his first run in the ICCU World Championships he finished fifth, then next time, in 1967, he struck gold.   Colin Shields, in his history of the SCCU, says: “Eddie Knox followed Ian McCafferty as Junior international champion in an exciting race.   He was in the leading group throughout and edged his was into the lead 400 yards from the line, holding on for a two second victory over a Belgian.”  

   In the early/mid 60’s Eddie had a quartet of Eddie Knox. Duncan Middleton, Harry Gorman and Ian Young.  Knox won the International Cross-Country Championship, Middleton was one of the best 880 yards runners in the United Kingdom, Gorman was a very good middle distance runner  who was unfortunate not to get a SAAA title and after leaving school, Ian Young was a member of the really great Edinburgh University team.    Knox confirmed all that Graham Crawford said above about Eddie’s passion and determination but added that ‘you didn’t question his sessions’, you did what he said to the letter or you moved out of the squad.  He was quick to add, however, that Eddie did a lot for him personally.  However this first group that he worked with all achieved wonderful things in their career and one of them, Harry Gorman, went on to coach new generations of Springburn Harriers to success himself.  

 

From Eddie Knox, the first of his international runners to the man who was probably his last: Steven Begen.   Steven says

Steven Begen winning the Junior National

Was there any single thing that marked out Eddie’s runners from the rest of the scene, that accounted for the tremendous success of his runners?   Yes, there was, and it reflected the coach’s values in a very practical way.   Eddie’s runners always gave 100% effort.   They never eased up. This was, to me, most easily seen in the Under 17 age group  probably because I was coaching some runners in that age group at the time.   Races for Under 17’s generally started with a bit of a rush and went pretty hard for the first third of the distance, then eased up for the middle third before starting to race properly again for the last third of the race.   The Springburn youngsters just didn’t run that way: there was no steadying up in the middle of the race, there was no wee ‘sleep’ anywhere after the gun went.   They started hard and kept going hard all the way to the finish.   Others learned from that and soon everyone was trying to get their athletes to go from gun to tape.   But  they had a job on their hands. 

Eddie, second from the left with some of his runners in the early 60’s – Ian Young is fourth from the left 

Ian Young was one of his best athletes in the 1960’s who went on to become one of the Edinburgh University team that is generally recognised as being the best University distance running squad ever.   Ian has this to say about training with Eddie.

 “I joined Springburn Harriers as a 15 year old in 1960 because I was beating fellow pupils at Lenzie Academy in cross country and track and wanted to progress.  There was no athletics club in Kirkintilloch at that time and local boys tended to go to Springburn as their nearest athletic club.  At that time. Springburn had 2 significant figures in Scottish athletics in Tommy O’Reilly, 2-time Scottish 3000 metres Steeplechase champion and National Record Holder and Eddie Sinclair, Scottish 3 Mile champion in 1960.  The club also had a wider spread of athletes in those days with sprinters, notably John Young, a 10 sec 100 yards performer and field eventers like David Cairns, Scottish champion high jumper and GB internationalist behind Crawford Fairbrother.

 

I have no great memory of when Eddie specifically started coaching me, but he trained every day and because we lived fairly close to one another in Kirkintilloch, I tended to go to his house in Eastside after school and we would go out for a run from there.  In the summer we would do interval training, firstly at St Augustine’s School in Possilpark where Springburn Harriers met in the summer months and later at Huntershill when the local authority took over land which the Harriers owned and laid out a track with changing facilities.  Eddie tended to work us on 220 or 440 yard repetitions with a jogged recovery in between as per the Franz Stampfl regime.  Such success as I had, winner of many Dunbartonshire schools half-mile and mile races, culminating in the Scottish Schools mile championship in 1963 was as a result of his coaching these sessions, stop watch in hand and keeping his own meticulous notes of progress or lack of it, throughout the season.

 

It was during the winter season of cross-country and road races that Eddie came into his own.  He had a number of measured road runs around Bishopbriggs and Auchinairn which he led out, initially as a group run but then at an appointed spot as a ‘may the best man win’ race to the finishing point, then a jog back to the club house.

He had a favourite route in Kirkintilloch of 5 miles called the ‘Milton – Auchenreoch’ starting and finishing at the corner of Milton Road and Kilsyth Road, ironically outside the cottage where Johnny Stirling, the renowned Victoria Park and Hugh Barrow coach lived.  This was used mainly to check progress and improvement amongst his runners.  He would start us off at staged interval, all handicapped according to current performance so that the weaker runners could have a chance of beating the backmarkers who were always champing at the bit to get off in pursuit.

 

Another favourite training ground of Eddies was a hill called ‘Skimmers Brae’ at Birdston farm near Kirkintilloch.  This could be ploughed field or heavy grassland depending on season and he judged individual fitness by whether or not you could run from bottom to top without stopping.  This trial was only slightly less of a hardship than the Sunday training runs from Eddies house which involved 10-12 miles on the foot of the Campsie Hills.  Outwith the stamina building and speed building training methods which Eddie used, he also adopted a number of practices from the methods used by the professional or ‘pedestrian’ athletes of th time who were banned from amateur athletics, but where the town of Kirkintilloch had a good few exponents, including latterly, Eddie himself.

 

He used to have me train with lead sheet cut like an insole inside my trainers to strengthen my legs and make me feel like I was ‘flying’ when I took them out to race.  He would have us do 50 -100 yard sprints along the canal bank wearing lead insoles or carrying a 5lb dumbbell in each hand (my father’s foundry was useful for making these) to build up the ability to put in a sudden break in a race to demoralise the opposition.  Other tactics which he taught his runners were to make your break during road or cross country races as you neared the top of a hill, no matter how you were feeling, because you would demoralise the opposition and be gaining ground by racing down the other side while they were struggling to the top and then saw the gap you had opened up!  Another simple instruction was to run close to a wall if there was one bordering the route in a road race because you got a psychological lift from the feeling of speed that that gave you.  Again, recognising that his training built strength rather than speed, Eddie always encouraged us to break in the 3rd lap of a mile race or the second last lap in 2 or 3 mile races and make it a long run for home to kill off the ‘speed merchants’.

 

Eddie was passionate about the sport and gave his time and knowledge unstintingly to those who would take it on board and work to improve.  He did not limit himself to one age group, tending to use the same methods for all ages but limiting the distances run in training or repetitions or speeds on the track depending on age group, so in this way he could be coaching runners at different stages.  No one wanted a rollicking from Eddie which came if he felt you were not putting in the work or trying hard enough.  Much has been said about Eddie’s methods ‘burning out’ young athletes at an early age or causing them to have injuries which ended their running careers.  I tend to view such examples as guys that had achieved what they wanted to do then moved on to other things or physically had got to the point at which they were not going to develop further and gave up with at least some notable achievements behind them which they would not have had without Eddie’s support, encouragement and training methods. 

 

Eddie’s skill was in enthusing and bringing on young athletes to develop their talents.  When we reached senior level, for example when I went off to Edinburgh University, we tended to know what we needed to do to run at a high level and had the maturity to know what had to be done to maintain this – hence the significant number of Springburn Harriers who went on to achieve honours as seniors because of the knowledge which Eddie had generously imparted to every one of his protégées, not least of which was the inherent belief that, on the day, you could beat anyone.  A generous person and a great motivator.”

Eddie Sinclair’s contribution to coaching, to Springburn Harriers and to Scottish athletics deserves to be better remembered than it is.

..

 

As we said, Iain knew when to stop: too many athletes and coaches would be ‘lost’ if they left the sport.   Indeed there are courses for the ‘de-training’ of athletes when they retire and the same could be true of coaches.   Iain is proof that there is a good life to be had after athletics.   But what he did  in the sport and for the sport has not been forgotten and below some of the people who worked for him and with him look back at Iain as a coach as well as a friend.

Val Smith winning the WAAA Junior 100m in 1973

I first joined Maryhill Ladies Athletic Club as as twelve year old in 1972. Coached by Ian Robertson (Rab), the next year I gained success in winning most domestic titles for my age group, culminating in the British Junior 100 metres title at Kirby in 1973.

Training was always enjoyable and varied – club sessions at Scotstoun on Monday and Wednesday nights, all day sessions at Bellahouston on a Sunday, starting with weight training, then a track session, finishing with hill runs-both uphill for strength and stamina and downhill for leg speed and acceleration.   Winter training included Friday nights in the gym at Westbourne, with circuit training and gym work, followed by hill runs on the pavements outside!   The club regularly had a day out to Prestwick, where I remember running along the beach dragging a tyre behind my back for resistance training, and also running up hill dunes.   Co-ordination drills, hopping, bounding up sets of stairs were also common in training, along with running with weighted jackets.

Training was meticulously planned by Iain well in advance, and we all kept training diaries which were regularly discussed.

Iain was highly intelligent and extremely knowledgeable about the latest training techniques, and was very innovative for his time.

I remember competing at Cosford in the British Indoor Championships 60 metres in 1975, where I was using a one-handed start, pioneered by my namesake, the Olympic 100 metre Champion, Valery Borzov. I won my heat, and there was a rumour afterwards that I may be disqualified, as the officials were not sure if this start was legal, as they had not seen it used before in this country.   Luckily I was allowed to progress, and I won a silver medal!   Eventually the one-handed start became quite popular, before the current IAAF ruling of a down start with both hands in contact with the track!

It was not long before Iain was coaching a very talented squad of athletes.  He turned up at training one night wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with the words ‘Rab’s Rockets’ printed on the back, so from then on, the squad was known as Rab’s Rockets!

His commitment and contribution to his athletes was second to none, and he was always well respected by his peers. He encouraged the best from his athletes, and was an extremely dynamic and motivational coach.   It was an absolute privilege to be coached by him.

Angela Bridgeman Baxter

 I first joined Rab’s training group when I was about 13  years old. I came to Glasgow AC when Western AC joined with the women who trained with Maryhill and we all started training at Scotstoun. Up until that point athletics was a fun hobby for me and I didn’t know another level existed really. I am not sure how it happened but I ended up in Rab’s group and soon realized that this was serious business and that he was a very knowledgeable coach. We did drills and technique runs and he explained how to do them and more importantly why. He kept detailed records and had a yearly periodized plan and he was very interested in the whole person. He was meticulous and organized. He had us monitor all of our vitals like sleep/food we ate and daily pulse rate while recommending vitamins for us to take.  I coached for several years and this knowledge and approach served me well.

     Val Smith and others were the older athletes in the group were all successful and I soon found out why. We trained very hard. Rab had a no nonsense approach at the club although we did have fun.  He would also meet us on other days once we reached the level where we needed to train more which came with more sacrifice of his time. There was no elitism in that anyone who came to the group was welcomed. Most did not stay long as the hard training weeded people out. I believe he came from a soccer background which a lot of the coaches did. He would always come with a sheet of notepaper with the session on it and there was many butterflies in the stomach as we waited to hear what we would be running that night. He rarely told us ahead of time what we would be doing. Then as we tired he would urge us to “get the finger out”(laughs) His dedication to the sport and his athletes was amazing. When we would go to meetings he would mostly be found in the press box announcing! He travelled to Brisbane in 1982 to support the Scottish team and myself and Sandra Whittaker who were competing. He arranged for us to run around Celtic park before a big game so we could get used to big crowds before going to Brisbane! He thought of it all. I probably did not have the intense competitive drive that matched his expertise and coaching and I was somewhat injury prone which limited my progression.

I have read the bios of some of the other Scottish coaches on this site and I think Iain  walks alongside all of the great ones- Frank Dick, John Anderson and others. He was more than a “just a coach” he was a mentor and good friend. I basically grew up under his influence. I learned many lessons from him that have helped me be successful in my life.

..Iain, front right, with City of Glasgow AC group at Grangemouth

Like all coaches at the time, no matter how good or how much involved in athletics, Iain had a day job and had to work hard at it.   Nevertheless his time spent track side was considerable and it did not diminish as his responsibilities to coach education or his international duties increased.   Very few, if any, coaches in the 21st century realise how much time and effort was put in by their predecessors.   Some of the very best Russian coaches on a visit to the country were astonished at how much a Senior coach in the 1980’s was supposed to know and that they were all holding down ‘day-jobs’.     Iain’s load was much more than most coaches even then had to carry but it is worthwhile looking at just how much quality work he crammed in.

First on the Athletics Coaching front (remember he only started coaching in 1970):-

1973 – ’76: Scottish Schoolgirls Residential Course at Dunfermline College of Education.

1974:  As a delegate to the UK Sprints Conference: Iain was the Group Leader in a group researching into “increased leg speed” which involved the introductory talk and then leading the discussion involving some of the country’s very best sprints coaches.

Then at the International Coaching Convention in Edinburgh:-

1973: ‘Coaching the young girl athlete’;

1974: ‘Teaching and learning the skills of sprinting’;

1976/’82/’83: Group Seminar leader and Chairman of discussion on all Group feedbacks;

 1986: ‘Development of a Sprinter’. This paper was picked up by and published in ‘Track Technique’ the official technical journal of the Athletic Congress (TAC) of the USA, in the Fall 1987 issue.

On National Coaching:-

1983: At the National Athletic Coaches and National Event Coaches Conference at Crystal Palace, his presentation was on ‘The Work, Duties and Complexities of National Coaching’.

On Sponsorship:-

1988: He presented a paper entitled ‘A Case Study – Lessons for others’ dealing with club sponsorship.   This was at the Glasgow Sports Council’s Forum day at the Kelvin Hall .   (It was the result of his work with Glasgow AC where he had been instrumental in gaining sponsorship of £24,000 over three years from the McLaren Group.  This was not the only sponsorship activity undertaken by Iain – for instance, the photograph below was taken after a successful trip to the WAAA’s championship where as a result of his activities the group could fly to London, stay in the tower at the venue, have a night after the championships were over before flying back home.)

On International Events:-

1990:  He was the Director and Co-ordinator of the Third Workshop of  the European Coaches Association which was held in the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow in association with the European Indoor Championships.

As an organiser:-

1984 – ’93: Iain was a member of the Executive Organising Committee of the Glasgow Marathon, which became the Great Scottish Run,

Also for the same period of 11 years he was the Chairman of the Technical Committee and Primary Finish Controller of the Marathon/Great Scottish Run

1993 – ’98: Member of the Glasgow Marathon Board.

1988 – Manager of the Glasgow team to the Nuremberg Marathon, which won the team prize.   

1986 – ’98: Chairman of the Kelvin Hall Sports Arena Trust

1986 – 2007: Chairman of the Kelvin Hall Sports Education Trust (1986 – ’98), and after stepping down as Chairman of the Trust, he remained as a Trustee until 2007.

 Some other activities which impacted on athletics (and other sports).   

In 1993 Iain went to work at the Scottish Sports Council, which later rebranded to sportscotland, where his role as Director of Finance and Support Services gave him the opportunity to further impact across the broad spectrum of sport.

1993 – 2009: as director and Company Secretary of the Scottsh Sports Council Trust Company he contributed to the operations of the three National Sports Centres – Glenmore Lodge, Inverclyde and Cumbrae. 

1998 – 2009:  As Director of Finance and Support Services at sportscotland he was involved in creating and responsible for setting up the company structure for the Scottish Institute of Sport and acting as Company Secretary to the S.I.S. 

1993 – 2009:  Iain was Trustee and Treasurer of the Scottish Physical Recreation Fund which awarded grant assistance to sports participants, clubs and bodies.

1995 – 2009:  As Director of Finance and Support Services he was involved in the structuring of a new division, with separated accounting functions, when sportscotland was appointed the distributor of the Lottery Sports Fund in Scotland to the benefit of all sports bodies, facility providers and participants.

 2002:  Involved with the creation of the Scottish Sport Hall of Fame and at the inaugural induction ceremony Iain was liaison and host for the family of Eric Liddell, and for Allan Wells and Ian Stewart looking after them on the day of the ceremony.

Much of that might not have happened though.   We came close to losing his services on at least two occasions.   First of all, he applied in 1979-’80 for the post of Director of Coaching for New South Wales. He had family in Australia – his sister was living in the country.   He was interviewed in London for the post by the Executive Director of the New South Wales AAA.  Iain did not get the job but there was a follow up.   He was going to Australia in late 1980 and was asked to go and see the Executive Director again.   It was explained that the person who had been appointed had the same qualifications as Iain but he was Australian working in the country in education so had something to fall back on if the job didn’t go as planned.   However there was an immediate job for Iain – the Armed Forces Championships were being held the following day in Sydney.  Could Iain help?   He could and did and at the meeting he was Chief Track Judge on a searing hot day (he reckons that it was so hot that his leather belt absorbed so much sweat that he could have wrung it out at the end of the afternoon!)   The starter at that meeting had been appointed the chief starter for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Brisbane’s QE11 Stadium in 1982. Iain drank in all the information he could about the starter and his command timings and the challenges athletes faced in the Australian conditions.   He then travelled with his sister to see the facilities in Brisbane and photographed the stadium, the warm up track, alternative preparation areas, the living accommodation, the training facilities and as much detail as he could.   It all came in very useful in the lead-in to the Games, briefing this own and the Scottish Squad on what to expect and therefore prepare for before even leaving Scotland and for the team to use during the Games themselves.   The QE II Stadium is pictured below.  

The second time was in 1981 when Iain was interviewed for the post of BAAB Coach for the North of England West of the Pennines.   He was chosen to fill the post but after he had carefully weighed up the situation, he decided not to take up the offer.

It was a happy ending but his services could have been lost to Scottish athletics altogether.   

After 20+ years of coaching, Iain retired from the sport and is now living in Kirkcaldy.   He says retired – but he still acts as a consultant to  other coaches and gives advice when he is asked for it.   Coaches come from a variety of backgrounds – some are ex-athletes, some start as a parent who is dragged along by a child and ends up supervising then coaching, and some come from other sports.    Iain is in the latter category.

He started after being a good standard amateur football player.   He had been at school with Brian Scobie and they both played for the school team.   Brian found his way into athletics but Iain was mainly a footballer.   Like other young players of a good standard, there were times that he was playing three games at the weekend – for the school,  for the scouts, for a local amateur team and so on.   He joined the local Killermont Amateur Football Club for whom he played in most positions over the years.   When the team coach moved away to another club, Iain started taking training sessions, and became a player coach.   The high spot was probably when the team won the West of Scotland Amateur League Division One championship in 1963-64.   He was interested in coaching but was coming into it as a player with no real knowledge of training other than from his own experiences.   

In 1963 two Scottish football team managers, Jock Stein of Dunfermline and Willie Waddell of Kilmarnock, went to see how the great Helenio Herrera of Inter Milan went about training his squads.   Ahead of their time, they would probably be ahead of their time were they to do so today.   They came back and talked about what they had learned.   Iain was interested in their findings.   Herrera looked at training, saw how different players reacted to the same training, and understood them as individuals.   Iain took on board the lessons about working with individuals as well as groups and teams and this affected how he worked with the football players he was training.

But he then wanted to take things a bit further and this led him into athletics.   How did he get into athletics?   He had friends participating in the sport, he had done some sprinting at school and he had also been friends at school with Brian Scobie who went on to do great things in athletics.  So the contacts were there.  At that time, with the publicity being given to the upcoming 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh with all the pre-Games hype, he decided to give up football and took up athletics.   Friends encouraged him to  join Maryhill Ladies AC where he met Jimmy Campbell and started out with a few athletes and started on the coaching ladder.

If we stay with the facts we see that his coaching career started like many others but then as his abilities and attitude were recognised, progressed further and maybe faster than most.   At the time there were three grades of coach – Assistant Club Coach, Club Coach and Senior Coach.   He came into coaching in 1970 and in 1974 he took his Senior Coach examination and qualified with the highest mark ever awarded by Great Britain Chief Coach Bill Marlow.   

 It was a rapid rise through the various stages.   At that early point in his career he was already working with people in the club who were running in international fixtures.   There were not many internationals at that time but through the mid 70’s he was asked by Frank Dick to go with some Scottish teams to small international fixtures in Norway and other countries.   He was also working on the educational side of athletics with Frank and that also helped him to progress his coaching skills.    

The Coaching structure in Scotland at the time was a simple but effective pyramid system with the National coach at the top and Group Coaches for the event groups (sprints, endurance, throws and jumps) below and answerable to him.   Each group coach had Event Coaches for whom they were responsible.   Iain became Group Coach for the Sprints in 1981 and Staff Coach for all sprint events.   He held these posts until 1987.   There was a considerable responsibility in both these posts.

His worth was quickly recognised and from 1982 – 84 he was the UK National Event Coach for both Men and Women 400m and the 4 x 400m relay.   This was followed immediately by appointment as UK National Event Coach for Women’s 100m and 200m from 1984 to 1990.   It had been a meteoric rise and was rewarded when at the  National Coaches Conference in 1990 he was awarded the status of Master Coach.   

 With the GB Men’s and Women’s Sprint Squad: Iain is standing beside Linford Christie and in front of John Regis.

Having looked at the outline of his career as a coach, we should maybe look at his philosophy of coaching and what made him so successful.   

The coaching structure that he operated within, as outlined above, has changed irrevocably now but he has no doubts about its efficacy.   In his opinion, one of its main virtues was that good coaches came together and worked together.   They spoke to each other as coaches and learned from each other.   They read about their events, they attended courses and conventions and brought the information back.  It was a way of bringing all the knowledge together, assessing it and sharing it.    Iain is adamant that you have to listen to people all the way through, you don’t have to agree with them but you have to listen to them and the structure was good at ensuring a two way flow of information.   

The information exchange with everybody at all levels he sees as vital but who were the main influences on him?    Undoubtedly some seeds were sown by what he read of Helenio Herrera (above) and his thoughts on the sports person as an individual.    Given how early in Iain’s coaching career Herrera came along, we can have a quick look at what Wikipedia has to say about him.   It says:

“Herrera pioneered the use of psychological motivating skills – his pep-talk phrases are still quoted today, e.g. “he who doesn’t give it all, gives nothing”, and “Class + Preparation + Intelligence + Athleticism = Championships”. These slogans were often plastered on billboards around the ground and chanted by players during training sessions.

He also enforced a strict discipline code, for the first time forbidding players to drink or smoke and controlling their diet – once at Inter he suspended a player after telling the press “we came to play in Rome” instead of “we came to win in Rome”.   

It was about working with individuals – each individual reacts differently to the same training – and to do with motivation.   If you look at some of the comments on   this page   you will see how much of a motivator Iain was when working with Glasgow AC some decades later.

 When he joined up with Maryhill Ladies AC there was the influence of the livewire Jimmy Campbell – a wonderful coach with a lifetime of involvement in sport (football as well as athletics) and experience of working with athletes at all levels.   As a mentor, Jimmy (on the right above) was in the very top class.   A Scottish and British international coach he was always on the go, always keen to help other coaches – and always interested in the individual athlete or coach to whom he was talking or with whom he was working.   

When Iain was working through in Edinburgh he travelled through to Glasgow three and four times a week – but he also did some work with George Sinclair and his athletes – another source of information and ideas.   Add in Bill Walker at Meadowbank too.   But from the mid 70’s he was influenced by National Coach Frank Dick (above) whom he thinks was outstanding at bringing to Scotland what was happening in the whole world of athletics.   Iain found himself thrown into situations by Frank that challenged him and assisted him to develop even further.   When one of his athletes (Val Smith) won the WAAA’s Junior 100m, Iain was invited to make a presentation at the International Coaches Convention presenting immediately after David Hemery – pretty daunting as a young coach, facing an audience of hundreds of experienced coaches in a packed hall who had just heard from an Olympic champion.     

Then there was the trip to Bad Blankenberg in East Germany in 1989 as a member of the UK delegation to the XV Congress of the European Athletic Coaches Association in the middle of the cold war.   Even the journey to get there was educational in many ways – through the infamous Checkpoint Charlie, travelling thereafter in a coach with blacked out windows and so on.   Travelling with the top coaches, sharing information, techniques and knowledge was a tremendous experience for Iain and the information which he gained was shared with others back home in Scotland because he was not selfish with the knowledge.    Frank had him involved in coach education from early on and he was a regular speaker at the SAAA/SWAAA courses at Inverclyde.  

When  we look at the many successes Iain had with many athletes at international, Commonwealth, European, World Championships and Olympic Games, we really want to see how he went about his work, what his guiding principals were in practical terms..   

The attention to the individual athlete is always in any conversation with Iain about coaching.   He also says that it is not always the international standard athlete who is the highlight for the coach at any given time.   You succeed best when you help each individual performer to maximise what they can achieve with their own ability whatever their level.   Certainly those who have seen him coaching at club level know that the range of talents with which he worked was wide – he was not a coach who only operated in the upper echelons of athletics.   

As far as dealing with athletes is concerned, it is vital that the athlete understands what the session is seeking, what the session is teaching and/or what the activity is working to achieve.  The coach can see the movement patterns but only the athlete can sense/feel the kinaesthetic cues ie the feelings/sensations in their neuromuscular system.  Learning to ‘feel’ the movement patterns and report appropriately is where the athlete helps the coach.  This effective interaction is vital in getting technique precise, for that athlete, allowing the athlete to ‘feel’ the performance, and continually seek to replicate optimal sensation to underpin optimal performance outcomes. The old adage ‘if you can’t do it right slowly you won’t do it right at speed’ should advise the journey to optimal technique supporting optimal performance.

Coaches have athletes come to them at varying stages of their career and when you have been as successful a coach as Iain, sprinters of a high standard come looking for  whatever will give them a bit extra, lift them up to a higher level of competition.   In that case, the coach fulfils a different function.   He becomes an advisor or a consultant.   After all, he says, the coach does not necessarily know what it is like to step on to the track, in front of 1000’s of spectators at an Olympic Games – the athlete learns.   The coach wants the athlete to fulfil his ambition and they work together to do that.   Of course, that depends on the coach having the knowledge in the first place.   

That Iain had the skill and pedigree to assist any athlete in the country is shown in many ways but probably best by Sandra Whittaker’s career.    An extract from her own account of training with Iain (seen in its entirety at the link above) reads

“When I joined Glasgow Athletic Club I was fortunate enough to be placed in the sprints training group which Iain Robertson coached.   Within the first year Iain had quickly recognised my potential and approached my parents to ask if they could bring me to training more than once a week as he said he felt he could really make something of me.  After discussion, my parents committed to taking me out to Scotstoun three times a week and Bellahouston one day a week.  This was the start of great things to come.”    “Our training programmes were very challenging, but with Iain’s support and encouragement we got through them, sometimes on our knees by the end of a session.”

Early recognition, get the parents not just on-side but prepared to help in an active fashion, and being able to make the athlete work hard.   From these beginnings Sandra went on to perform at the very highest level.   Maybe her best performances were

(a)  in the World Championships in Helsinki in 1983 when she was eliminated in her Heat of the 200m by just one one-thousandth of a second in a talent packed race with Merlene Ottey, Florence Griffith, Angela Bailey and Marisa Masullo in front of her.   It was four to qualify regardless of times and she ran faster than 12 (twelve) of the 16 who qualified for the semi-finals.     It should also be noted that Sandra’s quarter-final was run into a -0.3 m/s headwind while the other three races benefited from wind assistance that was never less than +1.0 m/s.

and 

(b) in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984.   She was third in her Heat in 23.22, fifth in the quarter final in 22.98 and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.   Runners in front of her were Bacoul (France) in 22.57, Brisco Hooks (USA and the ultimate winner) in 22.78, Bailey (Canada) and Davis (Bahamas) both in 22.97.    Another ferocious Heat, less than 2 tenths behind second and only 1 one hundredth behind third and fourth.   Faster than 7 of the sixteen who qualified for the semi-final. she was most unfortunate.   

She had been very carefully prepared, racing against the very best in the world there was no one better prepared physically and she certainly did not ‘blow it’ mentally.   It says a lot for her and for Iain’s preparation.   

It was a time of course when athletes from many countries were involved in drug abuse and the athletes from the Soviet bloc countries were particularly understood to be experimenting with various substances and combinations of substances.   When Sandra twice missed out on progressing by the narrowest of margins one has to wonder.   Iain is quite philosophical about it and none of his athletes were using anything illegal.   There was one regret though.    The Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986 saw Sandra come away with a bronze medal in the 200m behind Angela Issajenko of Canada and Kathy Cook of England.    After the Ben Johnson doping scandal and the Canadian Dubin inquiry in Canada, Issajenko confessed under oath to doping offences and gave chapter and verse on what she had been taking and when.   The period encompassed the ’86 Games.   Iain wrote to the governing body requesting that  the result of the Women’s 200m be looked at again in view of what had been admitted at the Dubin investigation but nothing was done about it.   In view of the fact that several such cases have resulted in athletes places in championship races being upgraded after doping offences were discovered, there is a clear case for the situation to be reviewed.  

None of this of course takes away from the remarkable coaching career of a remarkable man – or of the wonderful running of his athletes who all worked hard for him as well as for themselves.

Back to Iain Robertson

Iain with his wife, Linda, in March 1996

Sandra Whittaker

Iain’s best ever squad was probably that of the early/mid 1980’s where the remembered names are Sandra Whittaker and Angela Bridgeman.

*   Sandra‘s  career is summed up by statistician Arnold Black who says:  “she ran sub-23.65 seconds (legally) for 200 metres on 21 occasions.    So far (up to October 2016), 12 Scots in total (including Sandra) have run legal sub-23.65 on 58 occasions.   Or to put another way, Sandra bettered 23.65 on 21 occasions – in the 29 years since, sub-23.65 second runs have been achieved by Scottish athletes on 22 occasions.”

Statistically her progress over 200m between 1979 at the age of 16 to Olympic year in 1984 was relentless.   She went from 25.7 seconds in 1979,  to 25.02 in 1980,  to 23.7 in 1981,  to 23.24 in 1982,   to 23.13 in 1983,  and  22.98 in 1984.   No sudden jumps followed by stasis:  regular annual incremental improvement.   Over 100m the record was similar: 12.5 in 1979,  to 12.2 in 1980,  to 12.05 in 1981,  11.81 in  1982, 11.63 in 1983  and 11.6 in Olympic year.     Again we have year-on-year improvement.

Competitively, she won the SWAAA 100m in 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1987; the 200 in 1982, 1984 and 1987.    Although there were no GB titles there were medals – second in the UK 200m in 1986 and 1987, third in the UK 100m in 1986.    In the Commonwealth Games in 1986  she was fifth in the 100m, third in the 200m and a member of the 4 x 400m relay team that was fourth; in 1982 where she reached the semi-final of the 200m and was in the relay team that finished third.   She also represented GB in the European Games in 1986 where she reached the final of the 100m and also 200m.

The really big one was the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 where she reached round two of the 200m and the world championships in 1983 where she reached the quarter-finals of the same event.    In the quarter finals she was faced with the eventual winner, Valerie Briscoe-Hooks.   By the end of the race she was one hundredth of a second behind third and fourth who were both clocked at 22.97 and she was eliminated.   There were no places for fastest losers at these Games – the other two British women were slower than Sandra but qualified for the semis.    In Edinburgh in 1986 she was third behind Angela Issajenko of Canada and Kathy Cook of GB.   Issajenko subsequently admitted to using drugs and testified to the Dubin Inquiry where she gave detailed evidence of her drug regime.   Two very hard decisions for coach and athlete to take.    Many coaches might have walked away from the sport at that point but Iain stayed.

*   Angela‘s progress over the same period also showed regular annual improvement.  At 400m, her specialist event, it was 56.5 in ’79, then 54.01, 53.83, 53.03 then a jump up in ’84 to 54.35.    Her progress at 100 (12.5/12.2/11.8/11.7/11.7) and 200m (25.2/23.9/23.7/23.5/23.58) follow the same pattern.

Angela  is a very interesting athlete who was first ranked as a Junior (Under 15) in 1978 for the 100m (15th with 12.9w) and 200m (15th, 27.0w), by 1981 she was number five in the senior 100 rankings, number two in the 200m lists with two of the top six times, and number three in the 400m with eight of the top 20 performances.   The standard was high – the top two in the 400m were Linsey McDonald and Anne Clarkson, and only Sandra was higher in the 200m.    She also had a share of the second fastest 4 x 100m relay and had an eighth place in the long jump.   Quite remarkable for a first year senior.

Glasgow’s Sportsperson of the Year in 1981 when studying bio-chemistry at the University,  in 1982 she won the 100m and 200m at the British Universities Championships.   Approached by David Hemery at her home in Drumchapel with an offer of a sports scholarship to Boston University, she turned it down since she felt that she was too young.   In 1984 she accepted a scholarship to Brigham Young University where she had a successful sports career between 1984 and 1986.   She was an All American indoors in 1986 and set a College record of 23.47 seconds for 200m on 10th May, 1986′ which stood until 2010.

All-Time Rankings (as at November 2016):   Both women are highly ranked in the latest (November 2016) all time ranking lists for Scotland 30 years after they ran the times specified.   At 100m, Sandra is ranked second 10th with 11.5, one tenth behind Helen Golden, and Angela is 18th with 11.77 seconds; at 200m, Sandra is top with 22.98 with Helen second on 23.14, and Angela is eighth with 23.47 seconds; Angela is fourth in the 300m with 37.33 and in the 400 Angela is twelfth with 52.99 seconds.   These are all legal times, wind assisted, downhill, etc are listed separately.

A coincidence that two girls from the same training group are ranked so highly with times so close?   I don’t think so.

Angela Bridgeman (right) in an international at Meadowbank

*   Melanie Neef, one of Scotland’s best ever 400m runners, trained with Iain for several successful years at the start of her career in the early 90’s as a short sprinter (eg British Universities 200m champion in 1991).

The figures have been laboured a bit but any one athlete’s progress is just that – one athlete’s progress.   There are many ‘one-athlete’ coaches, and often enough one top class athlete makes a coach’s reputation.   When you get it happening with several athletes working with the same coach over 20 years or so, you know that the coach is at the very least in touch with both the event and his charges.   Rab was that and more.   Further, many athletes have a sudden big jump in their performance level in one year and then progress no further.   Iain’s athletes tended to improve incrementally year on year with seldom a step back unless  by injury.

Another measure of success is the esteem of his peers and the level of athletics that the coach reaches.   Frank Dick tells us that Iain worked with British squads at least twice:   indoors v Russia/USSR and also at European Indoors in Madrid.    He was also a key staff member at Point Lima College, San Diego when GB Athletics held its first pre-Olympic Holding Camp in 1984  which was actually a first for any GB Sport!

Whatever your measure of a coach’s calibre and the quality of his work you choose, Iain met the standard and even exceeded it.

*  Meticulous and detailed in his planning, he has been described as a perfectionist who  paid attention to the planning of the season, to the detail of individual sessions and to the entirety of competitive demands that the athletes could expect to meet.  Everything was planned out to the smallest detail.   Val Smith says that he worked in four year cycles, not just yearly ones.

* Time spent trackside was important to Iain: at one time when he was working in Edinburgh, he made the 90 miles round trip to Glasgow three times a week to work with his girls at Scotstoun or Bellahouston tracks.   An hour each way in the car for each session.    As a contrast, one international coach is quoted as saying “If you see your athlete once a week, that’s good; if you see them twice a week, that’s better; if you see them three times a week you’re not coaching them, you’re nursing them.”   I don’t think it’s a philosophy Iain would have accepted.

*   Sessions and content:   The girls usually trained at Scotstoun on Mondays and Wednesdays; at Westbourne School gym on Fridays in winter and at Bellahouston Park on Sundays.  Angela tells us that he would come to training with a sheet of paper in his hand and the session written on it.  The Sunday sessions could, and usually did, involve weight training then running on the track (then the only all-weather running track in Scotland)  and/or hill running and/or hopping on the steps up to the monument.

*   His attention to detail was legendary: before the Brisbane Games in 1982 he obtained a tape of the Australian starter.    Then   he arranged a race for the women at half time in a big match with the starter’s commands.   Not just a big match but a European Cup game: the Celtic v Ajax tie on 15 September 1982 which had a reported crowd of 57,000 (European Cup, First Round, First Leg which finished 2-2).    There had been such events for men in the 1950’s and 1960’s with races held at half time at Rangers v Celtic at New Year and at Scottish Cup Finals in April.   It was maybe no coincidence that David Hay’s daughter was a member of the club at the time.  The Press  said that Iain had persuaded Jock Stein to put the race on, but whatever the mechanics, the race went on only because the coach decided that the girls needed to the experience of running before big crowds.

*   Nor was he afraid to try new ideas.   For instance, when Val Smith ran at Cosford in 1975, the big name in sprinting was her near-namesake Valeriy Borzov who was experimenting with three point starts.   He encouraged her to experiment with the method and she finished second in the event.

* He travelled all over the country with  his athletes including to all the UK League venues as well as to the championship meetings at London and Cosford.    The gym at Westbourne School was very useful but more was needed for winter training, and Iain tried hard to get an indoor running track in Glasgow with the assistance of Councillor Connie Methven.

Of course this level of input and support does not come without a cost.   Like all coaches at the time, he had to cover almost all of his own costs.  This was pointed up in a paragraph by Doug Gillon when Sandra qualified for the Olympics.   He wrote in June 1984:  “Ian Robertson, the UK 400 metres staff coach from Bearsden who is Sandra’s mentor, is now looking for a sponsor to help him get to Los Angeles as well.   Robertson calculates that he will have spent £8000 in the past two years helping Sandra and his other proteges in Portugal, Holland, Finland, Australia and the USA.”     And we are talking here about a British Staff Coach, not a Scottish one, accompanying an athlete that he was coaching to a major Games where his assistance to other members of the team would have been invaluable.

Great as his contribution to coaching  was, there was more to Iain than that.  A member of the Glasgow AC Committee he was chief coach for a number of years and worked as team manager too, travelling to all the UK League venues with the girls.

Alastair Shaw comments:

“Like me he got easily bored actually attending athletics meetings and took on tasks rather than sit about watching. Not only that but once he had the measure of a task he often took on extra duties at many meetings, mostly to satisfy his desire to be stretched. This I remember occasions when he was both stadium manager and announcer at fairly big events where two incumbents would have been the norm.”

 He was also well known for having a ‘fantastic sense of humour’ and made sure that in amongst all the serious stuff everyone enjoyed what they were doing.   He also played the clarinet: often on bus trips south he would take it with him and play it with a couple of others who took their instruments as well.    Described as “a very good team manager – he would have made a good football team manager for the quality of the team talks he gave before events.   Very inspirational”    

Evelyn Smith, Val’s mother, became a top ranked administrator and also became club president and vice-president of the UK women’s league.   Iain accompanied her to most league committee meetings and she even hosted the monthly club coaching committee meetings.   She puts this all down to Iain’s influence.

He worked as an accountant at Tarmac in Pollokshields in Glasgow and then at Cobban & Lironi, a Glasgow firm of architects. He left them to work for sportscotland and, being married with family responsibilities, he just did not have the time to continue.   Given the time he spent on coaching and on his athletes that is understandable.

*

Leslie Roy discovered an article in the Glasgow ‘Evening Times dated 22nd February, 1983 which, under a headline of “ROBERTSON’S RHYTHM OF LIFE: I’m devoted to athletics says Britain’s unsung hero”, reads:

“Iain Robertson is a member of the Syd Lawrence Appreciation Society.   So, if anyone is in the mood to maintain the exhilarating momentum in British athletics, it has to be the Glasgow computer operations manager.   Football was the main young enjoyment for Iain who now confesses, “all my time outside business interests is devoted to athletics.”   

He broke his leg and elbow playing for Killermont Amateurs, and although he started coaching with the club, ” I had an urge for athletics.”   The former Bearsden Academy student went back to the sport “where I’d been a sprinter of sorts” and joined the coaching staff of Maryhill Ladies AC in 1979.   It was the year of the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games and now Iain prepares for the greatest festival of all – the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

As the British Board events coach for the 400 metres, he is one of those men who take the fanfare-seekers through their all important rehearsals.   “I try to do a professional job in an amateur sport,” says the man who gathered most of his knowledge from working with Frank Dick (now Britain’s director of coaching) and Glasgow’s able Jimmy Campbell – “my motivating forces.”   

Iain became Maryhill’s chief coach nine years ago and continued his role after the club became Glasgow AC.   At last season’s Scottish Championships he pulled off a memorable hat trick of successes when Sandra Whittaker (100m and 2oom) and Angela Bridgman (400m) collected national titles.   And his expertise came in useful for Scotland at Brisbane’s Commonwealth Games.   It was two years ago when Iain realised that athletics had taken over the rhythm and the swing of his life.   He missed a Syd Lawrence concert in Lochgelly to lead a coaching session.   Now he’s entitled to blow his own trumpet.”

Coach, committee man, team manager, official and administrator, Iain Robertson contributed mightily to Scottish athletics.   But the last word should go to his athletes.

Val: “His commitment and contribution to his athletes was second to none.   He encouraged the best from his athletes, and was an extremely dynamic and motivational coach.   It was an absolute privilege to be coached by him.”

Angela:   “He was more than a “just a coach” he was a mentor and good friend. I basically grew up under his influence. I learned many lessons from him that have helped me be successful in my life.”

Sandra:

“Natural ability is a factor, but Rab’s training.   I was so fortunate to be in his group.   He was into all the intricacies, and I was so lucky to be in his group.   His expertise took me to the top” 

For the complete comments, go  here

When we caught up with Iain and spoke to him he was very direct and honest about his approach to coaching and training and to read what he had to say just go to The Iain Robertson Interview and for an overview of all the other athletics (and sporting) involvement have a wee look at The Iain Robertson File  .

After Club Championships at Scotstoun:

L to R: Yvonne Anderson, Sandra Whittaker, Iain, Catriona Gardiner (intermediate champion) and Angela Bridgeman (Senior Champion) 

I had been a member of the British Milers Club for about a year when I first met Derek.    He had taken over as Scottish Secretary but resigned after a couple of races that he had organised did not take off.   I was his successor but it was several years before I managed to get the club working as it should.   Derek was a member of the British Milers club until his death on 27th May 2014 and wore the club badge on his tracksuit alongside his BAAB Senior Coach badge.   He wrote many, many articles on the subject of coaching: I read them in Athletics Weekly, Scotland’s Runner (pretty well for the duration  of its existence – from 1986 to 1993), Athletics Coach (published for many years by the AAA’s as the oifficial coaching magazine with a large circulation), the BMC News in its various forms, and many others.   The articles could be academic when dealing with the physiologyof the events he was discussing or intensely practical, such as when he spoke of working with very young athletes and using various kinds of ‘tig’.   There were some aspects of his coaching that he kept private and I was surprised several years ago when he wrote a letter to Athletics Weekly complaining that other coaches had stolen some of his sessions.   Surprised because he was always forthcoming when we spoke and because coaches share information readily.

Derek was always easy to get on with – he was always the same as far as I was concerned.   Of his range of coaching knowledge there could be no doubt.   He was a good coach and he knew he was a good coach.   But the difference with him was that his knowledge came from reading and experience.   I never, ever, saw him at a coaching conference or gathering.  When I asked him – not once but several times – to come and speak to BMC coaches at annual meetings in the 1980’s he always gave the same reply, that he preferred to stay in Kilbarchan or Linwood working with his own athletes.    He was devoted to them and spent a lot of time with them individually.   But maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves a bit.

Like almost all coaches, Derek was not a full-time coach – he had to earn a living as well.   he had a degree in Divinity and he wrote the occasional letter to the ‘Glasgow Herald’ on topics connected with religion.   He wrote for the local newspaper, the Gazette, and was interested in and an authority on local history.   Indeed he was also a member of the Johnstone History Society.   Latterly he was a park ranger and this fitted in well with his love of nature on which subject he also had an encyclopaedic knowledge.   Nor did he compartmentalise his various areas of interest – for instance he often wrote about the need for runners to get away from the artificial restrictions of track running and had a wonderful article in”Scotland’s Runner” about the Australian coach Percy Cerutty: possibly one of the best I’ve read on the man.

 

He spoke of his coaching on the Kilbarchan AAC website and I reproduce much of it below since it is a good, fairly detailed account of his career and practices.

Coaching Background:- I began coaching in my early 30s and was at one time the youngest senior sprints coach in Scotland and also the youngest coach to hold the senior awards in sprints and middle-distance simultaneously. Since then, I have coached on a regular basis i.e. several days per week on an uninterrupted basis for nearly 40 years. I have extensive experience of coaching male and female athletes of all ages and abilities from nine to 70. Up until recently, I coached senior athletes at international level in sprints, hurdles, steeplechase, middle-and long-distance, cross-country, half-marathon and marathon. From now onwards (in the meantime, at least), I plan to concentrate my coaching efforts on the long distance seniors group (men and women), including 2014 Commonwealth Games aspirants Hayley Haining and Gemma Rankin. I pride myself on the fact that my group includes club and elite standard athletes, all of whom get MY close personal attention.

Further Information:-  I have coached athletes to Olympic, World, European, Commonwealth Games and UK elite standard level. The Olympic level athlete was Hayley Haining who achieved the Olympic standard marathon qualifying time TWICE in 2007-2008 but was controversially not selelcted for the Beijing Olympics. However, representing GB & NI, Hayley won a bronze medal in the team event (along with Paula Radcliffe and Liz Yelling) at the World marathon championships in Helsinki, Finland, in 2006. She also represented GB & NI at the World half-marathon championships in Edmonton, Canada, in 2006.I have coached two Commonwealth Games athletes (Hayley Haining in the 2006 marathon at Melbourne, Australia, and Claire Gibson in the 800  metres at Delhi, India, in 2010).I was also triathlete Kerry Lang’s 10K coach for the Commonwealth Games triathlon in Melbourne, 2006. I have coached three senior Great Britian and Northern Ireland full internationals (Hayley Haining – marathon/half-marathon; Robert Quinn – track, cross-country, roads and hills).

I have also coached three UK age group champions (Ross Toole – indoor 3000 metres; Andrew Gibson – indoor 1500 metres; and William Docherty – 1500 metres steeplechase. Coaching experience outwith Kilbarchan AAC includes advising England international marathon runner Kim Fawke and Joe Gough (Kilkenny, Ireland) who won several European 800 and 1500 indoor and outdoor titles at veterans championships and a silver medal at one world championship.

On the basis of my work with Hayley Haining and Claire Gibson, I won the prestigious Scottish Athletics Performance Coach of the Year Award in 2005 and 2009.

I have also written hundreds (literally!!) of coaching articles in leading athletics journals for many years, including Athletics Weekly, Athletics in Scotland, Running Fitness, The Coach, Scotland’s Runner and other publications.

And that is his own account of his career as a coach.    Like all really good coaches he was approachable and any athlete, whether in his own club or not, could go to him for advice and get individual, tailored advice based on what he had told Derek and what Derek had seen when the athlete was running.     

Derek was totally unique.   Only 71 when he died, I feel every sympathy for his family and for his athletes and friends at the club.   The ‘Herald’ obituary appeared on 31st July, 2014, and can be found at http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/obituaries/derek-parker.24904241

Alex was for most of my time as a coach the Big Daddy of Scottish endurance coaching.    We first crossed swords as runners in the late 50’s in the Clydebank to Helensburgh 16 mile road race  for which I was not well prepared.   A pal of mine said why not do the Balloch to Clydebank this year and then the Helensburgh?     I agreed, we both ran the Balloch and then when I turned up for the Helensburgh, he was nowhere to be seen.  I ran anyway.    On the run in to Helensburgh from Cardross everyone I passed dropped out and eventually within finishing distance I dropped out as well.   When I looked back at the results a few years later, who had been last in the race?   A gent called Alex Naylor.    Our paths crossed a lot – and I mean A LOT – over the next thirty or forty years.   He was i/c Scottish squad sessions when I took runners along, we met at BMC weekends, when I organised training days at Huntershill he was an ever present and then in 1986 he invited me to become Scottish Staff Coach for 5000/10000 metres and the friendship has continued in various other guises right up to date.   This is not a biography, it is not even in chronological order, it is quite simply (as Alex often says) about a man who has done a lot for his club and for the sport.   The best overview of his career was the tribute paid after he died by Graham Smith of Victoria Park which is reproduced here in full.

Born in the East End in   Bridgeton he qualified to be an optician, initially as   a manager of Lizars and finally as a shop owner in   Tollcross Road, Glasgow & Church Walk in Denny ,   Naylor’s Opticians.

Alex Naylor was a revered name   in coaching circles throughout the UK, being held in   great esteem by all his peers. His first involvement   with athletics began in 1953 when he joined Glasgow   YMCA as an athlete, before joining Shettleston   Harriers in 1957. Never likely to be an athlete of   International standing, Alex’s love and dedication for   the sport over a period of 58 years was never   diminished. He strived to be the best at whatever he   did, and on a coaching aspect, he certainly achieved   that receiving an MBE in the 2007 New Year’s Honours   list for services to athletics.

Alex’s accolades were many,   being awarded the Honorary title Master Coach for   Middle distance, from UK Athletics, and from Scottish   athletics just some of his awards and titles are   listed below:   Scottish Amateur Athletics   Association Coaching administrator for 20 years   Coaching lecturer receiving an award for 30 years of   service Chairman of Scottish Joint Coaching   Committee Interim National Coach Honorary Life   Member of SAAA Senior coach for Scottish Schools   residential camps for 10 years.  Invited Coach to   Irish Schools Summer camps for 2 years Team coach   to many British and Scottish Teams Won Betty   Clapperton Trophy for services to coaching on two   occasions Was given a Life Time award by Scottish   Athletics in 2002 Secretary of West District   Committee for 4 years Won Tom Stillie Trophy for   services to athletics in 1985 Founder member of   first Scottish Young Athletes League in the 1960s   Scottish Secretary of British Milers Club for 3   years. 

Alex was one the few early   coaches who were inclusive and he coached various   athletes outwith Shettleston Harriers in his training   groups, including several international athletes and   club athletes from Victoria Park City of Glasgow.   Including one of our Life Members Los Angeles   Olympian, Lynne MacDougall who ran (4.05.96)1500m &   (2:01.1) 800m in 1984 at the age of 19,  Dave   McMeekin (1:46.8) and Susan Scott, for a short period   as a youngster when she moved to Glasgow from Ayr   Seaforth.  She went on to become an Olympian in   Beijing and Scottish record holder (1:59.02) 800m.

Possibly his major individual   coaching success. amongst his many achievements, was   coaching Nat Muir who set a Scottish record at 5000m   13:17.9 in Oslo in 1980, which still stands today. Nat   also won 8 Scottish Senior Cross Country Titles under   Alex’s guidance, he could only manage 3rd place in   1982 after being hit by a trolley bus during a New   Year’s Eve race in Madrid and had hardly any training   prior to the National XC. In 2003 Alex also coached   Allan Stuart to a World Record at 400m for athletes   with learning difficulties and Olympic silver medal at   the Sydney 2000, LD Paralympic Games.

In his capacity as a coaching   lecturer he must have influenced the lives of   thousands of athletes and coaches both directly and   indirectly, through Schools residential camps, and the   coaching weekends at Largs. He once told me that “If   you want to become a good coach, you have to remember   it’s a commitment for life”, it certainly was for him.      On a personal note, I had known Alex for more   than 30 years initially as a member of one of his   coaching groups, and then as a coach tutor when I came   into coaching in the mid 80’s. He became my mentor and   friend travelling with him to many B.M.C. conferences,   seminars and training camps, introducing me to his   peer group of Peter Coe, Harry Wilson, Frank Horwill    et al. some of the greatest endurance coaches of   Britain’s “Golden Era”, they all thought of Alex as a   friend, such was his standing in the coaching   community.

Everyone will remember his    “Naylorisms”, there are hundreds of examples that   everyone here can recall like “I have seen milk turn   faster” “Don`t lie there on the track, my athletes   will get blood on their spikes” and “I don’t know what   you are whinging about, I can’t feel any pain”, but   they were delivered with comedic timing, so the   acerbic wit was never deemed offensive.  In   later years, Alex’s health declined, but he still   managed down to coach at Crownpoint Track on a Tuesday   and Thursday night. I used to pick him up from his   flat in Cumbernauld, and woe betide me if I was more   than 5 minutes late arriving, though he could stroll   down 15 minutes late and ask if I had been waiting   long. I remember one journey, I had just collected my   car from the garage after a service, and as we were   driving I heard this “loud ticking “noise in the car,   I proceeded switching off the radio, the heaters, air   con etc. to no avail. I started off by saying to Alex,   what I was going to tell that garage the next morning,   that they hadn’t checked the car thoroughly and hadn’t   completed the job. When we arrived at the track, I   lifted the bonnet, checked all around the car, but   every time I went inside I still heard the ticking   even with the car stopped. I helped Alex out of the   car, and then he produced an old clockwork stopwatch   from his pocket, and said “Is this the ticking sound   you mean” both of us burst out laughing, he had me   going for the full journey from Cumbernauld to   Crownpoint track.

When my wife and I used to   visit him in the care home he could still have us   laughing and reflective on our journey home after his   tales and one liners, “There you are you see”.   Everyone who knew, or met Alex could tell a story, he   was a true legend in his life time, a great man, a   great coach and a good friend.  He will be sadly   missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.    

From Alex’s Order of Service – a philosophy he   lived by. If you think you are beaten –   you are , If you think you dare not – you don’t If   you like to win but you think you can’t, It’s   almost certainly you won’t. If you think you’ll   lose – you’ve lost; For out of the world we find – Success begins with a fellows will,  It’s all in the   state of mind. If you think you’re outclassed – you   are; You’ve got to think high to rise; You’ve   got to be sure of yourself Before you can win a   prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the   strongest or fastest man; But soon or late the man   who wins Is the man who thinks he can.

And that’s where Graham’s tribute ends – a wonderful tribute written with affection and respect which also summarises Alex’s career beautifully.    My own involvement with him follows.

He started serious coaching before I did – I became a coach in 1961 and combined it with running on the track, over the country and on the road while Alex concentrated on the coaching side of athletics.   It wasn’t too long before the results of his athletes and his interest in furthering his knowledge had him  one of the Scottish Staff Coaches and he went on to become Group for Endurance events and to hold various posts in British athletics – the one where I learned a bit from him was when he was GB Coach to Junior Steeplechase.    The number of top internationals that he had was legion with Nat Muir and Alistair Currie probably the top two.   Everyone in Scottish Athletics has an Alex story or two in their locker.   For example, watching a slow middle distance race, it was “I could stand faster!”   (Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number One) On one occasion I went in to a sports meeting at Crown Point on the way to visit some relatives in Barrhead and was wearing a natty navy blue sports jacket.   “Where are you going, senilis?” He asked, “To a funeral for someone you don’t like?”   One of the big laughs was at the BMC Conference in Liverpool when Frank Horwill had given a talk on testing – Balke test, Kosmin tests, etc – and the meeting was then thrown open for fifteen minute lecturettes.   Alex got up and using the Kosmin test formula and inserting the appropriate figures proved that according to Mr Kosmin a man with no legs could run two minutes for the 800.   Nobody laughed more than Frank Horwill.

At times I was sonny and at others senilis.   Before anyone else was working with athletes from outside his own club, Alex was famous for coaching “the body of the kirk”.   In other words, all who will may enter.    The patter was good and the training was effective.   One of his sayings was that what people get for nothing, they value at nothing and one of his examples was the circuit training he used to do at Bellahouston Sports Centre.   It was on a Wednesday night and he had the whole big Hall.   Athletes paid a fee of about 5/- and there were literally dozens of athletes being put through their paces with hard but good circuits.   They came from all over the Central Belt to do them.   They were so effective that the SAAA decided to subsidise them and the athletes didn’t have to pay.   Attendances dropped like a stone!

He can also tell a good story against himself.   There was the one where he had Alistair Currie training I think at the Marinecraft in Dumbarton weights room.   He kept telling Alistair that he wasn’t doing a particular exercise properly and demonstrating to the guy how to do it.   After about four or five demos with Alistair still not getting it, the wee guy training away in the corner said to Alex “I don’t know what you are wanting him to do but he is copying what you are doing exactly!”

Although perhaps best known as a coach, he was a very capable administrator and was President of the SAAA in 1978 having previously been Secretary of the West District.   He has also been a member of the British Amateur Athletic Board and he once said that although you were elected for three years you really only had one year where you could do anything.   The first year you were playing yourself in, the second year you had to get the work done because in the third year you were on the way out.   There are coaches whose athletes always look thoroughly miserable but Alex was never one of those.  I remember at the big BMC Conference we had at Jordanhill, we all stayed in on the Saturday night and for a big chunk of it there was a big group of young runners sitting round his table from which gales of laughter were coming at regular intervals.   Speaking of the BMC – he was a regular attender at meetings of the Club and when the meeting was held in Liverpool he gave Frank McGowan a lift down from Glasgow and Frank talks of Alex with a row of cigars on the dashboard before him and lighting one from the stub of the old one all the way down.   After the BMC had agreed to have their final Grand Prix at Scotstoun I had a committee of six or seven to take care of various aspects of the organisation and Alex was one of the key members of such a group.   He was also a Grade 1 Track and Field official and has refereed many important fixtures and was one of the first men that I approached when I was convener of the Decathlon in the 70’s.

He was some guy and I’ll finish for now – more to come – with the time in 1986 when I had been appointed Staff Coach for 5000/10000 and Willie Sharp had the same job for steeplechase.    I had done a paper on the development of the events and Alex invited us up to his flat in Cumbernauld to discuss it.   Once we had done that he turned to Willie who was at that time unmarried and asked him how he washed his shirts!   Alex apparently washed one a day and hung it up over the bath.   There was a row of shirts there and the wet one went at the back and next day he wore the one from the front!   When the bedsheets came into the discussion I switched off!

When I did the second weekend of the Senior Coach course in 1978. the Friday night session was an introduction and issuing of timetables, etc for the weekend.  The first session on Saturday was just covering all the bases and setting up what was to come.   At the morning break, one of the attendees (a throws coach) went round the other coaches asking if they had learned anything new yet getting the obvious reply of “No, not yet.”   Returning after coffee we were all gobsmacked when this chap stood up, interrupted Gordon Cain who was about to speak with a complaint from everyone there that they were learning nothing.   Word got out to Alex who was in the building and at the end of Gordon’s very good presentation, in came Alex in his Great Britain track suit.  He went straight to the rostrum and said straight out in a kind of aggressive manner that there had been some complaints.   Was anyone there wanting to make the complaint and he, in his capacity as President of the SAAA would return his money and he could go home immediately.   Silence.   Alex repeated the question and after more silence, he turned to the chap responsible and asked him if he wanted his money back.   He could go there and then.  Of course he didn’t.    There was no further question of a rebellion that or any other weekend.   Alex had dealt with it immediately and appropriately.

Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number two:    “To cut a short story longer ……………………” Alex tells the story of one of his athletes, who often had to leave the track during sessions for a pit stop,  turning to him when the athletes were lining up for the first rep, “Alex do I need the toilet?” Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Three:   “Sonny, you breathe through every orifice in your body”

Then there is the one about one of his younger runners who used to get up, take the dog for a walk, have breakfast and go to school.   One day he was halfway round the walk when he discovered he had forgotten the dog!

Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Four:   “Percolate your way over to the start.”

One of the biggest jobs that he undertook was coach to the Scottish cross country team and governing body.   He held this post for over twenty years and gave it pretty well all he had.    His scheme of Progressively Phased Incentives for the development of athletes from young boys right through to the senior ranks never seemed to me to be properly implemented as it should have been.  It was a first class piece of work which could still be followed almost to the letter and lead to a better standard all round for Scottish cross country running.

Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Five:  “That was a kind of hand knitted effort!” Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Six: About a guy who attended every meeting but never spoke a word: “He’s like an apology for somebody who couldn’t come.” Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Seven: “Digitus Extractus!” Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Eight: “Stop lying on the track, I don’t want people to get blood on their spikes.” Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Nine: “You’re running like you have starch in your pants!” Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Ten: “Many are cauld but few are frozen.”

Sayings of Chairman Alex, Number Eleven: I was on my way to visit some friends and dropped in to Crown Point to see a bit of an Open Graded on the way.   Alex looked at my neat jacket and pressed trousers and sai “You look like you’re going to a funeral for somebody you don’t like!”

… and of course he invented, I think, the word diabasterous …..

Numbers Seven and Eight above came from postings on the unofficial Scottish Athletics website.   Coach, administrator, official, runner – he was all of those and one of the good guys.   When I attended my first meeting of the West District General Committee, I was making my list of those present when Colin Shields sitting beside me asked what the crosses and ticks were.   He claims I said “I’m sorting out the goodies and the baddies!”   It’s more likely that I was sorting out the runners’ men from the committee men – and Alex was always a runner’s man!

There was a very good article in the very first edition of PB (Scottishathletics quarterly magazine) by John Anderson about Alex and it is reproduced below along with some thoughts from Frank Dick.

“Alex Naylor and I first became friends when, as a teacher in Dennistoun and Shettleston, I sent some of my pupils to join him at Shettleston Harriers.   His work with them and others under his tutelage there reinforced his excellence both as a coach and as a human being.   His enthusiasm and larger than life personality produced many successful endurance runners.   On my appointment as Scottish National Athletics Coach, having been National Coach in England for a couple of years one of my first moves was to contact Alex, and his sidekick Eddie Taylor, to bring me up to date with what was happening in the Scottish coaching scene.   It followed that whenever I ran a course for coaches or athletes, Alex would be there expressing his views strongly but with his ever-present sense of humour.   In particular the highlight of the coaching courses were the annual Scottish Schoolboys and Schoolgirls courses held at Easter at Largs.   Alex was always first to volunteer his services and was a great success with his athletes both on and off the track.   Alex Naylor was a very special kind of individual who was passionate about Shettleston Harriers and about his own role in coaching athletes.   He was a one-off and though willing to express his views strongly did so with a light touch that was respected and valued by his peers.   His impact on athletes he coached and indeed athletes he simply came in contact with left an impression they would carry with them for many years.   Alex Naylor was a very special kind of person who you felt enriched for having known.   His contribution to Scottish Athletics was immense.   Thank you, Alex!”

 

“Alex Naylor personified the harrier culture that is the soul of endurance athletics in Scotland – on track and off track.   He lived and breathed this large sector of our sport.   Truly he was a man for all seasons and weathers.   His characteristic generosity in selflessly affording time, energy and resource to his athletes and coaches making their way through the art and science of running enriched the cultures of coaching and of athletics.    My personal debt to him was his special way of questioning conventional wisdom and of creating a tension between challenge and support – often cloaked in a bit of mischief.”

Henry in the 1985 Tom Scott race.

A RUNNING COMMENTARY.

HENRY MUCHAMORE

( Club Athlete,Coach and Journalist.)

( Reflections on Life and Athletics from 1938 to2020)

 CHAPTERS:

Prologue: Reaching the start line:

• A birthday bike for the Olympics 1948 London,
• Run Rabbit Run 1950
• Winning Ways 1952 (Helsinki)
• Belonging to a club QPH.1954- Rome)
• Running after the kids 1964-1968 (Olympics Tokyo /Mexico)
• Rugby for Fun and Fitness 1972 -1976 Olympics (Munich/Montreal
• Denholme Straw Race, London Marathon 1980 (Moscow Olympics)
• Haddington ELP, 1984 to 2012( Olympics LA; Seoul;Barcelona;Atlanta)
• Too many miles on the clock 2000-(Olympics: Sydney; Athens;Beijing)
• Arthur to the rescue 1990
• Coaching Young and Old 1986 -2020 Olympics Rio 2016 ? Tokyo2020
• Following the Games
• Time to hang up the Whistle, and Watch! 2020.
• Epilogue: How far to the Finish Line?
• SCOTLAND AT THE GAMES 1986 to 2018:

Commonwealth Games: ; 1986;1990;1994; 2002;2006; 2010;2014; 2018;

Olympic Games: Sydney 2000;Athens 2004;Beijing 2008; London 2012.Rio 2016

 European Games: Gothenberg Sweden 

Paralympic Games 1992 Barcelona: Sydney 2000; 

1.

PROLOGUE: Reaching the start line 1938

I was born in St Mary’s Hospital Marylebone, just out of hearing for London’s Bow Bells, on Wednesday 10^th August 1938. Life had been tough. There were rumblings of WW2 in the near future.

The British Empire Games were held in Sydney Australia that year. It was Scotland’s lowest ever medal tally, not a single gold medal in all sports and only one athletic medal, a silver, for David Young in the Discus. There was room for improvement all round.

 In September 1939 I had a baby sister, September 2nd. WW2 started the day after! Our sojourn in London was brief. Along with my sister and mother we travelled to my Grandparent’s farm in Angus, Scotland, where we stayed for 3 years. We returned to North West London for the last 18 months of the war. My father was working on the Merlin engines for the new Spitfire planes. I started school at Princess Fredericka Church of England Primary School in September 1944 when I was 6 years old. Primary school was memorable only for the boring Church services we all had to attend. Joining the Boy Scout Cubs at the local Methodist Church certainly was not, and I found I had skills that I could develop. I gained my badges and stars and qualified as a ‘Leaping Wolf’ to join the 8^th Willesden Boy Scouts at the age of 11. Complete with uniform, brimmed hat and stave, I started on my Scouting journey; as the Scout song says:  ‘Now as I start upon my chosen way, to be the best, the best that I can be.’

 

CHAPTER 1. 

A BIRTHDAY BIKE FOR THE 1948 LONDON OLYMPICS.

Looking through the photographs taken around 1945 to 1950 it is clear that my sister Muriel (Marie) and I were often photographed at my father’s photo graphic club called Hammersmith Hampshire House Photographic Society, quite a mouthful. We would go there by car or on the bus and sometimes with ‘Uncle Mac’ a friend of Dad’s who was a plain clothes policeman but very interested in photography and lived  very near the King Edwards Park. The evidence shows that we were used as models and told to pose for the cameras and lights. Some looking interested at models of trains, some posed in various costumes. It took us out, and we often were given small cash tokens for modelling.

My father did his own developing in the small toilet and bathroom which he had fitted out with a home-made enlarger and developing trays. On a Saturday you had to go to the loo by 7pm, or wait for at least two hours until he had finished. Sometimes, I would go to help and was fascinated to work in the amber light, and see the pictures emerge from the developer. It took time and patience.

 As I approached the 10^th August 1948, my 10^th birthday, and It wasn’t the London Olympics that were my priority, but the thought of having my own bike! I had dreamt about being able to ride a bike, but it had been a rule that I was not allowed one until I was ten years old, and I never questioned this.  It was a black single gear bike and the moment I got on I could balance.

I was off in a flash to meet up with my friend Roy Westbrooke, who had had a bike for some time. I think, if truth be remembered, I had had several trial goes on his bike that my mother never knew about. After a few days practice, we took off to cycle all the way to the old air force base at Northolt near Hanger Lane. It was the best part of 10 miles and involved crossing the busy North Circular Road. Time flies when you are young and enjoying yourself. When we started back for home the light was starting to fail. Roy had just one head lamp, I had none, but there was a cycle path. We were stopped by a policeman, who accepted our story and directed us to stay on the cycle pathway. We were met by anxious parents, but glad we were safe. My father bought me an additional present. No, not a ticket for the Olympics, but a set of lights for my bike!

By the end of 1945 WW2 was over and Britain was getting back on its feet. There was still some rationing but sport was getting back in the picture. The war had seen the cancelation of the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games, and 1948 was to be the year of the postponed 1944 London Olympic Games. Now to be held at Wembley Stadium, less than 10 miles from our front door.

I am sure that there must have been considerable publicity for this event and I would love to say I had a vivid recall, especially about the track and field events, involving Fanny Blankers-Koen’s four gold medals (100m Hurdles. 100m and 200m plus anchor relay leg in 4 x 100m. The Dutch ‘Flying Fanny’ she was described as, by one newspaper.  Plus the grimacing face of the Czech distance runner Emil Zatopek, winning gold and silver in the 10,000 and 5000 metres. Both were to become heroes for me as I grew older.

The ‘Austerity Olympics’ was the title of Jane Hampton’s record of the 1948 Olympics. She records a number of incidents in her book. One is the role of a young medical student, Roger Bannister who made a mad dash, not on the track, but to find a Union flag for the Great Britain team to carry into the stadium as the host nation. Another is the identity of the ‘handsome’ unknown athlete, clad in white who carried the torch into the stadium and lit the Olympic flame. Chosen in preference to the British world mile record holder, Sydney Wooderson, who was small, dark haired, and bespectacled, A tall fair haired, 22-year-old Cambridge medical student, from Surbiton, John Mark!

CHAPTER 2  RUN RABBIT RUN. 1950 (British Empire Games-NZ. European Champs.Belgium.)

In the May of 1950, I had a short spell in the Central Middlesex Hospital; with what was described as a ‘Grumbling Appendix’, but it came to nothing, and I was discharged fit and well.

 In the summer of 1950, I was full of excitement and anticipation about going to my first Scout camp in Wales. Donnie Owen, a neighbour’s son, was enlisted to help me acquire the kit I would need, most of which would come from the recently opened Army & Navy Shop along the road, which specialised in surplus army stock. It was certainly not a rucksack, but a traditional ‘pack up your troubles’ kit bag, the sleeping bag was new as was my billy can, tin plates and camp cutlery set. We were due to leave a week before my 12^th birthday, so an added bonus was to have my birthday at the camp. Parents and siblings all gathered at Paddington Station, along with 24 Boy Scouts, several Senior Scouts, a Rover Scout and ‘Boss’ Spring our intrepid Scout Master.

We were not going to have a carriage with seats, but this was the night mail train to Merthyr Tydfil. This meant that the trek cart carrying all the tents and other camping gear, could be loaded straight onto one of the rear wagons. Most of the juniors were perched on top of the mail bags, which proved fairly comfortable, and must have reduced transport costs. I am fairly certain that the senior scouts did have more comfortable transport. What happened if someone needed the toilet or felt sick, I don’t know. I do have a vague recollection that we had to change trains at Crewe and maybe that was our ‘comfort stop’ on a rather long journey.

3.

 On arrival at Builth Wells a large lorry had been hired and this took all our equipment and again I think we were perched on top of the kit bags and tents. So much for current day ‘risk assessments’ and seat belts!

We arrived at the camp site on the river Wye just outside Llandidrod Wells in the Brecon Beacons late morning, and the next few hours saw the magic of setting up camp. The large brown bell tents made a circle. The camp kitchen, plus the digging of the latrines, all had to be completed before we could unpack our kit bags.

After such a long journey and the excitement of setting up camp, our first meal was provided by the Seniors. Bangers and mash never tasted so good, along with a mug of cocoa, gave a warm glow inside and outside as we sat round the camp fire. Boss gave us one of his wonderful yarns; said the Scout Prayer. We sang ‘Now the Day is Over’ and crawled into our sleeping bags.

Needless to say that on the first night there were ‘larks’ played on some of us ‘tenderfoots’, who had various initiations to go through, such as finding various objects in your sleeping bag, or being made to run outside. It was boyish fun, and thankfully I complied with the ‘tortures’, such as the cold bucket shower, and was accepted, others had a tougher time such as being boot blacked on various parts of their body, or given a mud bath down by the river when we took our morning wash.

Each patrol had their duty days which meant rising at about 6.30am, getting the fire going and the breakfast prepared. I had the honour of taking ‘Boss’ his morning cup of tea, and was allowed into the inner sanctum of his tent which actually had a proper camp bed, a lamp and looked so much better than our large tent.

Breakfast over, the site had to be spick and span before any of the day’s adventures began, which included getting sufficient wood for the fire and water from the farm.

During that first week a day out was organised to the seaside, I can’t recall exactly where we went, but I vividly recall a trick that was played on me by two of the seniors.

There was a machine that was to give you a ‘Penny’ shock; which involved you holding the two handles after putting a penny in the machine. In itself the shock would have been mild, and you would quickly let go of the handles. I agreed to have ago. However, when I put my hands on the handles, two seniors each held my hands to the handles and put about three pence in the machine. They laughed at my reaction, as they were only holding one hand each, but I can recall the convulsion quite clearly. Of course, I never complained, it was just another joke, but years later I wondered if this incident had some repercussions for events that were to happen later in the camp.

The first week of the camp seemed to whiz by, and I recall having a great 12th birthday, which included a chocolate cake, and a game entitled ‘Catch a Rabbit’.

There were hundreds of rabbits in the nearby fields, and the novice scouts were given the

‘impossible’ task of trying to catch a rabbit. This game was to have a number of repercussions and consequences in my life. It was the realisation for me, that although I was not very good at ball games, I could run, and run I did, across the field carrying a small stick. It may also be that one poor rabbit was either injured or slow, because I not only caught it up, but delivered a hefty blow which killed it instantly.  Picking up my trophy I came back triumphant. Much to ‘Boss’s surprise, presented him with the dead rabbit. He took one look, and told me it was no good to cook, as it had a broken gall bladder, and would have to be thrown away.

4.

The second repercussion to this event was that I had over exerted myself, and that evening complained to my Patrol Leader that I had a sore stomach. He was convinced it was just the consequence of my exertion, or maybe some camp food. The consequence was that I had severe diarrhoea for two days. The leaders then thought I had been stealing the laxative chocolate from the grub tent store. The pain grew worse, and finally after three days ‘Boss’ decided that medical help was needed from a doctor. One look at me convinced the Welsh Doctor that I needed to be admitted to hospital urgently. An old village ambulance took me over the rough field and road to the cottage hospital at Builth Wells. Acute appendicitis was diagnosed I was operated on that night.

My mother and father were notified initially by telegram and made a telephone call to the hospital. It was clear that my condition was serious, so my father set off in his black Riley Falcon saloon, registration number UF7749, to come over night to the campsite in Wales where he met up with Boss and came to see me in hospital.

 Next day the situation deteriorated, and that night I hallucinated in the bed, and had what I later learnt was as an ‘out of body experience’. Whereby, I was on the ceiling of the hospital ward looking down on myself and calling out ‘I’m going to heaven to have a bath’ I obviously woke the other patients! The night nurse came with haste, to find my hands gripping the side of the bed and refusing to let go. I was given some sedation, because the next thing I knew was being taken back into the theatre to have a second operation for peritonitis, as the burst appendix had spread.

In all I spent six weeks in the hospital at Builth Wells. I remember my mother coming with my baby brother, Aubrey, who was now just six months old. Gradually I was allowed up, and visited the Surgeon and his family, to whom I will be ever grateful, as I realised later how near I was to dying.

 In modern day scouting, a risk assessment would be done, especially if a child had recently undergone a hospital admission. Maybe the fun electric shock, and the rabbit chase all contributed. Maybe ‘Boss’ should have taken action sooner than he did to call for medical advice. The reality is that another 70 plus years have gone by, and I am still able to record the tale.

My father did the long trip down to Builth Wells again in early September, along with his policeman friend who we called Uncle Mac, and drove me home. I remember feeling sick on the way and asking to sit in the front of the car. I recieved a warm welcome from my brothers and sisters, as well as the scouts in my patrol, but I did not return to my new school for another couple of weeks.

My father subsequently became Assistant Scout Master for the next 9 years up to his death in 1959.

What was happening at the major athletic Games during that period?:

1950 saw the resumption of the British Empire Games held in Auckland New Zealand with Scotland winning gold in the Hammer with Duncan Clark. Alan Patterson won silver in the High Jump as did Andrew Forbes in the 6 mile event.

At the 4^th European Athletic Championships in 1950 in Brussels, Britain won 17 medals 8 gold medals including Brian Shenton (200mt) Dereck Pugh (400mt) John Parlett (800mt) Scot Alan Patterson (HJ); Jack Holden won the Marathon after finishing 36^th 2 years earlier at the London Olympics. Plus the men’s 4 x 400mt relay. GB’s women won the 4 x 100mt relay and Sheila Lerwell the High Jump. Emil Zatopek won both the 5k and 10k races and Fanny Blankers-Koen won the 100mt; 200mts and the 80mts Hurdles

Forty year later in 1990 I attended the Commonwealth Games in Auckland New Zealand.

5.

CHAPTER 3.

WINNING WAYS (Olympic Games 1952-HELSINKI)

With the tender loving care of my mother and the family around me,I quickly regained my strength. Dr Essex our family GP signed me off as fit to go back to school, but NO exercise until after New Year 1951. This also was to have an influence on future events. Having ‘failed’ my 11 plus exam, I learnt that I was to be in the A stream at Pound Lane County Secondary School, and although I was about a month late in starting, I enjoyed being back with both old and new friends.

Mr Palmer was the name of my form master, a kindly man who had been in the Air Force during the war, and seemed genuinely interested in his pupils. I had to start learning French. it was also compulsory for all students to do one lesson of PE (Physical Education) a day. Our PE Master was a Mr George Addy, another ex-military man from the Guards. His curt commands left you in no doubt that his ‘orders’ were to be obeyed without question.

Needless to say, I presented him with a problem, that I could not do PE until after Christmas on the Doctors orders. ‘Well that maybe so’ he said ‘but you are not sitting here watching everyone else during the lesson.’ My instructions were that I should WALK around the playground at my own pace until the 40 minute lesson was complete. This I did every day, and each day I went a bit further. How many laps could I do in 40 minutes? Towards the end of the Christmas term I even tried a little jog! By the time I returned to school in January 1951, I was ready willing and able to join the PE class.

What was really good was that I was getting stronger and fitter, and starting to enjoy school. I really enjoyed Maths and English. Miss Cosgrove was our English teacher and she would have us involved in poetry and plays. I recall being given the part of the Owl to recite in Graham Green’s The Owl and the Pussycat- Sheila Francis was the Pussycat. It was great fun and led on to my doing a lot of drama at school.

I played the part of Fagin in Oliver Twist and frightened Bill Shiran who was Oliver when I hovered over him with a carving knife when he woke to see me counting my precious jewels.

I recited a speech of Shylock from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice at the Willesden Schools Drama festival starting with ‘Senior Antonio… and ending with. …and if you wrong us shall we not revenge!’ Msr Mannete from the Tale of Two Cities was another famous role with the lines ‘One hundred and five North Tower’ in answer to question ‘what is your name’.  All helped to build up my self-confidence.

In June 1951, less than a year after my operation, I was chosen to run in both the 880yds and 440 yds events at the Willesden Scout Sports (The Half and Quarter mile). Photographs of the event show me in rather baggy shorts a T shirt and a pair of Woolworth’s plimsolls. I had finished second in the half mile to a boy from the 28^th. My father had arrived at the stadium just as I finished, and told me that in my next race, the quarter mile, I was to wait until he waved his handkerchief, at which point I had to shorten my stride and sprint like the wind – it was my first WIN. The following winter in January 1952, at the Willesden Scouts Cross Country Championships at Eastcote at the age of 13 and a half I won, running over 2miles, and beating boys 2 years older than me, and leading the 8^th team to victory. I was to win that event five times.

6.

Looking back at old school reports, I note the following: I was 27^th in the class at the end of 1951 following my late start, and was 7^th in 1954 just before I left. My general subjects of interest were Maths and English, plus Geography and History. Not so good were art and science. I had special mention for my drama and P.E especially athletics and boxing. I was both house captain for Nelson House and Boys Athletic Team Captain. I was twice winner of the Willesden schools half mile championship in 1953 and 1954, resulting in my competing in the Middlesex Schools Championship at the White City Stadium in 1953, where I tripped when in the lead, just 50 yards from the finish line. In 1954, I finished fourth, but it was not held at White City that year.

My boxing career at school consisted of just 3 fights. In 1953 and 1954 I was eliminated in the first round of the Willesden Schools Championships. In 1953 by a boy called Cream, and in 1954 by a boy called Mutch. However, just before I left school in 1954, I competed at an inter schools event between a School from Stepney, East London and Pound Lane. I managed to beat the reigning East London Champion, a boy called Kemp, over three rounds. No one was more surprised than me. I was watched by Mr Jenkins the milkman I worked for, and he gave me ten shillings after the fight. However, my badly damaged nose made me decide to take the doctor’s advice and give up boxing and concentrate on my running.

In February l952 I sat and failed my Technical College exams. The most memorable thing about them was that when we finished, we were all summoned to hear the news that King George VI had died. Along with many thousands I went with our scout group to pay our respects and queued until 2am to see his coffin lying in state at Westminster Abbey. I will never forget it, as the guards were just changing, as one of the four guardsmen turned on his heels he caught his spur and it fell off onto the dais. I arrived back home at 4 am, but still got up at 6am to do my milk round, before going to school at 8.30am.

Most days I would cycle to school, and go to the running track two or three times a week to train, with Ted Hodgeman our coach. along with Martin Hine. and other athletes from Willesden. From time to time I would train at Paddington. On a regular basis they would have inter club athletic matches with clubs such as Thames Valley Harriers, and Shaftesbury Harriers. Sometimes, these events would include a cycling event, as a concrete cycle track surrounded the cinder track.

During winter months we would travel to Eastcote where the annual Willesden Scouts Cross Country Championships were held.

During my whole school life, once I was fit, I helped Mr A.J Jenkins, who owned a local dairy shop, delivering milk seven days a week, for three years. Apart from having time of to go to Scout Camps my only ‘day off’ was on Boxing Day, we delivered milk from two hand carts. I would get these from the shed at 6am, and have them loaded with the crates by 6.30am. ‘Mr Jenks’ as I called him, would make a cup of tea, and we would set off at 6.45am. I would deliver on one side. and he on the other. We would get back by 7.45am. I would then re-load the big cart before I went home, had my breakfast, and cycled to school. ‘Mr Jenks’ would do a second round after I had gone to school.

On Saturday and Sunday I would help to collect the money. Tips helped, but my weekly wage was just ONE POUND or twenty old shillings. However, back then milk was 6d a pint that’s equal to 2.5 new pence.

7.

On several days when the ice was bad, there were accidents. I still have the scars on both my wrists where I fell with bottles in my hand. I had my own form of weight training. I could lift three crates of 20 pint bottles, onto the cart.

 Just before I left school in July 1954, Mr Jenks asked me to help him with a mid week round. This was unusual. It was the first Wednesday in June. In those days it was known as Derby Day. Thousands would go to Epsom Downs to watch the world’s most famous horse race. It meant skipping school, or ‘hopping the wag’ as we called it. However, I agreed on two conditions. One: that I could go with him, and also he would give me my wages to have a bet. He did both.  On arrival once we had parked the car, we found ourselves a spot on the heath, near to the stands, opposite the one furlong to go post. The Bookies had their stalls. It was time for the first race. Prince Monalooloo was walking round in his African head dress shouting ‘I gotta a Hos!!’ ‘Jenks’ had a bet and won! We celebrated by buying a bowl of jellied eels. I did not get carried away by the razzamatazz, but waited for the big race. A young 18 year old jockey had hit the racing world. He was Lester Piggott, He was rather tall for a jockey, but could ride like the wind. Other famous jockeys of that era included Gordon Richards and Eph Smith.

Lester was riding an outsider called ‘Never Say Die’, it was 25 -1, but I backed it with five shillings each way (25p) that was half my wages!  It WON! I picked up over £6. This was more than my father earned in a week! I bought Mr Jenks a bowl of jellied eels for a shilling, and took the money home and gave it to my mother. But I had to keep quiet at school as to where I had been that day!

My mother used the money, together with her sixpenny weekly Provident Club, to buy my first suit to start work at A.W.Aylett and Company, Chartered Accountants in Victoria Street London on the Monday after I left School on the Friday.

I collected my last wage from Arthur Jenkin’s Dairy, along with some good ‘tips’ on the Saturday.

 I just had the Sunday as my ‘Gap Day’ between leaving school, and starting work!

1952 HELSINKI OLYMPICS:

My interest in athletics, as a sport, was becoming more serious, and Helsinki was the venue of the 1952 Olympics. For me, the outstanding athlete was the Czech distance runner Emil Zatopek. He won the 5000 mt in an Olympic record of 14m6.6s; The 10,000mt. in an Olympic record time of 27m17s.and the 26.2mile marathon in 2hrs 29m19.2s, a world record.

Britain’s Gold medal hope, Roger Bannister, came a frustrated 4^th in the final of the 1500mts.

Zatopek went on to do the ‘double’ of 5k and 10k at the 1954 European Championships in Brussells, and started to prepare for 1956, when the Olympics were to be held in Melbourne, Australia.

I bought a treasured book on Emil   Zatopek, with pictures of both his training and racing. In more recent times I have read of his true ‘endurance’ when he suffered under Communism for his political and personal beliefs. Also in 1954 the British Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver Canada. There was one particular Scottish athletic gold medal that will be remembered not for the winner, but the brave loser.

(* ‘Endurance’ Rick Broadbent; ‘Today we Die a Little’ Richard Askwith.)

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The British Empire and Commonwealth Games of 1954 in Vancouver, Canada, is always remembered for two rather spectacular events.

‘The Miracle Mile’ brought together the track heroes of the year. Roger Bannister of Britain, who in May became the first man to break the four minute mile barrier and John Landy of Australia who smashed the barrier by 2 seconds just one month later. Now the titans of the track would duel in the final of the mile. Bannister had won the European 1500 mt title in Berne, Switzerland  in 1952 after a tactical struggle which demonstrated his superior speed over the last 200metres of a race.

 From the gun Landy ran the only way he knew, all out. Bannister a master of pace judgement, was not tempted to go with Landy and at the start of the last lap Landy had a comfortable lead, it seemed impossible task, but step by step, Bannister’s enormous stride pulled Landy back. With 150 yards to go, on the crown of the final bend, Landy turned his head to see where Bannister was, and swoosh, Bannister went past and headed for the tape. There was nothing Landy could do. Bannister had won what many called the ‘Miracle Mile in which both men broke the magic four minute mile barrier.

The other memorable event of the Games, came at the very end, the final event, the 26.2 mile Marathon. It had been incredibly hot in Melbourne, and the Marathon was being run in the middle of the afternoon. It was planned to finish in front of the royal box where the Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was to greet the finishers. The long time leader, by some distance, was England and Great Britain’s world record holder, Jim Peters, the gold was his for sure, or so it seemed. The heat had taken its toll on all the athletes, including Peters. When he came into the Stadium, he only had 385 yards to run to the finish.  He was exhausted, and started to wobble and stumble. Officials knew they could not help. Visions of the 1908 Olympic marathon in London came to mind, when a tiny Italian named Dorando, was in a similar plight. Helping him to the finish, resulted in disqualification. Peter’s did not want the same to happen to him, so he staggered on, but it was in vain. A blue vested runner came into the stadium. Joe McGhee of Scotland, was first over the line. Jim Peters was picked up and given urgent first aid. He never ran another marathon. However, he was given a meritorious award by the Duke of Edinburgh for his brave run

The European Games of 1954 saw Great Britain win 2 other gold medals plus a silver and bronze. Thelma Hopkins won the high jump. Jean Desforges won the long jump. Chris Chataway took silver behind Vladimir Kuts in the 5k and Frank Sando the bronze behind Emil Zatopek in the 10k.

In the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff,Wales. Ian Black was Scotland’s hero, with a double in the swimming, but nothing to show for the athletics team medal wise. A young 19-year-old Scot, Mike Lindsay came 4^th in both shot and discus. He went on to pick up Scotland’s only athletic medals, both silver, in the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth Australia.

Perth, was the home town of golden boy, Herb Elliot,  who won the mile at the Australian championships in under 4 minutes and would go on to dominate middle distance running up to the 1964 Olympics, never having been beaten in a mile or 1500mt event in his career.

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.CHAPTER 4. BELONGING TO AN ATHLETIC CLUB Q.P.H. 1956-1960.

After winning my second Willesden Scouts Association Cross Country Championship in 1953 at Eastcote, the HQ of the Queens Park Harrier (QPH) athletic club, I was approached by the Club Secretary Frank Pettit, who asked me if I wanted to join the club,and train on a regular basis with other young athletes, at Paddington and Willesden athletic tracks. I asked my father, who agreed. Training sessions were on a Sunday morning, and Thursday evening at Willesden, plus Tuesdays at Paddington if I could make it.

To begin with Sunday was OK. However, in February 1954, I attended a Billy Graham Campaign meeting at Earl’s Court in London, and became very involved with the local church on Sundays.

About the same time, I had read a book entitled ‘A Man called Peter’ that included the story of Eric Liddell, the famous Scottish athlete and rugby international, who was selected for the 1924 Olympics in Paris. He was selected to run in the 100mts, for which he was one of the favourites. However, as the heats were to be run on a Sunday. He refused to run based on his religious beliefs, but went on to win the 400mts in a world record time. A story that in 1981, became a famous film ‘Chariots of Fire.’ Contrasting the life of a young Jew Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell.

For several years as a Youth and Junior athlete, I adopted this philosophy, and was influenced to consider training for the Congregational Church ministry. This included conducting Church Services at many churches in the Middlesex, and South of England as a Lay Preacher.

In consequence, with hind sight, I recognise, that whilst I trained regularly during the week and raced on Saturdays, I missed out on the longer club pack runs on a Sunday morning, and maybe missed much of the endurance work needed for my main events, which were the one mile and half mile.

As a youth I gradually reduced the QPH club Youth half mile record to 2m 6s and the Junior club record to 2m.02s when I finished 4^th in my heat of the London Championships, held at the famous White City Stadium at Shepherds Bush.  Although I twice did the double (Mile and Half mile) at the Willesden/Brent Championships as a Youth and Junior, getting a podium place in the Middlesex Championships was frustrating, with 4^th place being my best. The Junior record stood for several years until a neighbour’s young lad Mike Bunday broke the magic 2minute barrier. My best race over a mile came when I was 18 in 1956, when I ran 4m 29s at Chiswick Stadium.

Cross Country running was my favourite event. I continued my regular run for the Scouts championships, winning five times. It was for QPH that I had my best runs, with a second-place team medal in the 1956 Middlesex Club Championships, and a team winning medal in the ‘Bert Ives’ trophy. I was both QPH Club Youth and Junior Cross Country Champion from 1956 to 1960.

Perhaps the highlight of my time with QPH came when I was selected for the famous London to Brighton Road relay. It was only open to the top 20 clubs in the south of England.  QPH had won the right to be there with success in the Leyton to Southend Relay in 1956. I was selected to run the penultimate 11^th leg over 4.5miles. My father came to support me and took photos.

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 It was a memorable day. I was handed the baton to run the 4.25mile penultimate leg, from Elmar Salnajs, in 12^th place, and handed it over to our final leg runner, Tom Harwood, in 10^th place,who went on to finish 9^th. I ran the 4^th fastest time for the leg, and set a Junior record for the leg. QPH were awarded the ‘Meritorious Award medal’ for the club best performance outside the top 3 clubs.

However, although we competed in the event for the following 2 years in 1957 and 1958, we never reached the same standard, and, to my disgust in 1958, I ran the slowest leg! ‘The dust of defeat!!

In 1956 I reached my 18^th birthday. With it came the documents requiring me to serve my country for 2 years for National Service. I considered applying for dispensation, as I was hoping to go to College to train for the Christian Ministry. However, under the influence of our local Minister, I decided to apply as a conscientious objector.

This required my attendance at a formal Tribunal in London, to which I had to give evidence of my beliefs, and produce witnesses to testify on my behalf. The basis of my argument was that, I did NOT object to National Service for my country, but not for military service. The outcome was, that they accepted my case. I was ordered to undertake my National Service in farm work, food distribution, or hospital work. The first two were impossible; so with the Country under a threat from a Poliomyelitis epidemic, I was taken on as an Orderly/ Porter, (Dog’s body), at the local fever hospital, just 5 miles away from my home. The system was shift work of 8 hours (6am-2pm; 2pm-10pm; 10pm-6am). I did a bit of everything on the wards, assisting with various therapists, plus, looking after the mortuary! I landed the graveyard shift of relief night worker, which involved 2 night shifts each week plus 3 day shifts. Although this gave me more time for my studies, which included opportunities for some night time reading, it did nothing for my physical fitness, and training routines. Running had to take a back seat, at least for the moment.

I finished my National Service at Neasden Hospital in November 1958, just after my 20^th birthday. My GCE A level exams had not gone too well. I had to find a job. During my time at Neasden I had taken particular interest in helping the Physiotherapists rehabilitate people with polio. I sought a position at a rehabilitation centre near Woking in Surrey. The Rowley Bristow Hospital had a variety of patients with various injuries and illness that made them incapacitated. Many lay in plastercast jackets.  My main task was to attend to their basic needs, including ensuring they did not acquire bed sores. I had accommodation on site. I had bought myself a 50cc NSU motorbike, (advertised by Emil Zatopek). I came back to my home in NW London, 25 miles away, quite frequently on my days off. I managed to fit in the odd run round the common, but it was winter, and I spent long days on my feet, lifting heavy men.

 Winter turned to Spring in 1959. I came home for a few days at Easter and learnt that my father, despite having retired at 65, had taken on another job as a caretaker. He had bought a mini moped bike, similar to mine, but with the engine located at the rear, made it heavy for him to lift over the high doorstep, My mother was worried ,and wanted me to tell him to give it up. He was delighted to be mobile and had some extra money. On my return to Woking, he came down the stairs to see me off on Friday 10^th April . As I waved goodbye, I never realised that it was the last time I would see him alive. He had spent the weekend helping at the Scout’s Jumble sale, and mending my sister’s bike. On Sunday he had been involved with his photography and had gone to bed as usual. On Monday 13^th April, he had a severe coughing fit, which led to a heart attack and almost instant death. He had been a heavy smoker all his life, as many were in those days.

 I had been for an early morning run, and whilst showering, I heard banging on my door. I opened it, wrapped in a towel, to be told by an insensitive porter. ‘You are needed at home, your Dad’s died.’

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I returned instantly to home and joined my shocked mother and family. I spent the week organising the funeral along with our Scoutmaster Ernest ‘Boss’ Spring .He arranged for the Scouts to provide a Guard of Honour at his funeral the following  Friday.

My Father had been my biggest supporter to my running, and losing him dampened my enthusiasm for competitive athletics for while. In August 1959 I celebrated my 21^st birthday with some local friends, in the same room, albeit redecorated, as my father had died in.

 

OLYMPIC GAMES 1956 MELBOURNE and 1960 ROME. BRITISH EMPIRE GAMES 1954 & 1958

Russia was now starting to have a strong influence in athletics. Amongst their newest athletes was a soldier named Vladimir Kuts. His tactics, in both the 5k and 10k events, was to keep putting in surges, which upset the rhythm of other athletes, including Britain’s Gordon Pirie who finished 2^nd and Derek Ibbotson who was 3^rd in the 5000mts final. His tactics proved successful and he won both the 5k and 10k titles in Olympic record times. The USA took 13 gold medals, including all the sprints. An Irish athlete, Ron Delaney, was the surprise winner of the 1500mts leaving Britain’s hero Roger Banister, among the also rans. Britain did have a winner. Chris Brasher, he had been a pacemaker to Bannister in his epic 4 minute mile in Oxford in 1954. He won the tough 3k steeplechase but not without, initially, being disqualified. The British appeal was successful. John Disley took the bronze medal. He subsequently, went on to help Brasher set up the London Marathon in 1981

 Eight Olympic records were set on the track plus a world record by USA in the 400mt relay. Seven Olympic and one world record were set in the field events. The standard of athletics was rising dramatically. Was this through more structured and systematic trainng methods or other means?

The 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales is rather forgotten from an athletic point of view. There was not a single Scottish medallist on track and field. The nearest was a young 19 year old based in USA, Mike Lindsay a member of my London club QPH who finished 4^th in the Shot and Discus. Scotland did have success in swimming diving and boxing.

 The Willesden Chronicle, had a back page sports report mentioning my winning the QPH Junior Cross Country Championship. This appeared just beneath a headline report on local Neasden golden girl, Judy Grinham, who broke the world record for the Breast Stroke at the Games.

CHAPTER  5 UNIVERSITY GAMES 1960-62

After leaving school in July 1954, I attended regular training at King Edward’s Park in Willesden and Paddington Recreation track in Maida Vale. I did not start keeping any record of my training until I wrote a 10 week schedule for training in 1956, and a daily diary of training and racing in 1957. I still have the rather battered log book, which I maintained up to 1965.

As previously mentioned, coping with the shift work hours of my National Service, and the death of my father, disrupted any regular or serious training. I note from my diaries, that I seldom ran further than 10 miles in any endurance training, and most of the track work was intervals over various shorter distances. Most of the cross country races were 3-6 miles with the exceptions being the Southern Counties over 7.5 mile and the senior national 9 miles! However during this period, I won the club Junior cross country championships in 1959/60 season, and had my best season on the road culminating in the London to Brighton relay run for QPH.

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My concentration now was linked to my application to go to New College Theological training for the Congregational Church ministry. As well as my studies for New Testament Greek and Church History, I conducted services at local churches on Sundays and had to prepare for these as well as my work as an accounts manager for a local engineering firm. With the help of local tutors, I managed to gain entry to new Collage for the start of term in October 1960.

It was a totally new experience, I had had a car, a Riley Kestrel with pre select gears and although I had managed to save some money, I was reliant on a grant and a bursary from my church. The car had to go, but I did get back to doing some running on nearby Hampstead Heath with a couple of other students. In February 1961 I competed in the London Theological Colleges Cross Country Championships at Northwood Hills over 4.75miles. After leading for most of the way, I was overtaken at the finish by two runners from the Spurgeon’s Baptist seminary. One being an international 400mts athlete called Ted Sampson. My time was 26m55s.  My training on Hampstead Heath was more recreational, and my energies had to go into my studies. In the summer vacation of 1961 I worked in a large Psychiatric Hospital near Eastbourne, and had some enjoyable runs along the south coast, but again mainly for therapy as a contrast to the work I was doing.

My second year at College included taking on responsibility for a small church at Hook near Basingstoke. This involved travelling down every two weeks on my 75cc Scooter that I had bought. The college did have a squash court, and I enjoyed a regular game with fellow students.

1962 was a tough year. I was doing better with my studies and was enjoying my Pastoral work at the church. However, I started to question my belief in my vocation. I spoke with the Principal and he agreed that I should take a year out. It was difficult, and I took up doing some paid Youth Work. That led to my becoming a Residential Child care Officer in a Working Boys Hostel in Southhall, Middlesex. I found that this proved to be a more satisfying career. I was invited to return to New College after a year out but I decided to train as a Child Care Officer for the new London Borough of Hounslow. The time out also led to my taking up rugby for nearby Osterley Park Rugby Club, mainly for the Xtra B side.

ROME OLYMPICS 1960.

The Rome Olympics had many highlights. The events that stood out for me were the events that I was most interested in, albeit they were in metric measurements, the 800mts, 1500mts and 5k. My hero was, and still is, Herb Elliot from Perth Australia. He was the current world record holder of the mile 3m54.2s ran in Dublin. Elliot was never beaten over the 1500mt or the mile and won the 1500mt Olympic title with consummate ease, in a world record time. However, a fast-talking Coach from New Zealand, had a small squad of 3 athletes that would light up tracks throughout the world in the coming decade. Arthur Lydiard watched his favourite protege Murray Halberg win the 5000mts. Then, he told a hesitant Peter Snell, that he could win the 800mts by biding his time. So it proved, Snell snatched victory in the last few strides setting a new Olympic record. Arthur’s day wasn’t finished. The Rome Coliseum had seen gladiators fight. That evening they witnessed the first African gold medallist from Ethiopia, Abebe Bikila win the marathon running in bare feet, in an Olympic record time of 2hrs 15m16.2s. Taking the bronze medal that evening was Kiwi, Barry Magee, one of Arthur’s most dedicated athletes. I had the pleasure, in 1990 at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, to meet with Arthur Lydiard and some of his ‘Boys’ and published those interviews in the Scottish Veterans magazine. (See attached)

Britain’s only success in Rome was Don Thompson nicknamed ‘The Mouse’ who set an Olympic record of 4hrs 25m for the 50k walk.

CHAPTER 6 RUNNING AFTER THE KIDS 1964 -1970.

I first met my wife to be in 1959, when I was doing my National Service at Neasden Fever Hospital.    I was asked to take a Christian Fellowship Group at the hospital. She attended my 21^st birthday party with two other nurses. After my Dad died in April 1959, we became friends, but it did not last beyond the new year when her sister got married. I was able to help as taxi driver. In April 1960 her father was killed in a motor bike accident and this brought us together again for a short while, but I was going to College and she was off to Glasgow to do her midwifery training.

Over three years was to pass before we met again. The hand of fate took us to the Alter in 1964. I was taking up my post a Child Care Officer with Middlesex County Council. As well as my official title I also assumed a more practical one when we were blessed with the arrival of our son. Middlesex County Council was to be divided up and joined with the new London Boroughs. I was now working for the London Borough of Hounslow. I was offered the chance for formal Home Office 2 year training in Child Care which I under took in Ipswich from 1966 to 1968, by which time we had a ‘pigeon pair’ a son and daughter. The training involved several practical placements in residential and community based settings. The final of which was in the east end of London in Poplar. Although we had a small flat in Kilburn to return to, we managed to save enough for a deposit on a mortgage on a house in Wokingham. I had to travel each day to my area office in Chiswick.

During this time I had managed to keep fit by playing rugby for the Ipswich College and after we moved, I played for Reading Rugby Club. I also had the odd game of Squash to help me keep fit.

Two healthy youngsters kept me on my toes, as well as running groups for teenage boys who were in the care of the Local Authority. I recall taking them on a training course to North Wales, where they were offered climbing, sailing and various survival activities, some of which had me in fear of my life!

In 1970 I applied for a specialist post linked with the Juvenile Court, providing programmes for such youngsters. However, I was not successful. Having completed my two year return contract with LB Houslow. I was successful in applying for a post as Child and Family specialist worker in City of Norwich. This delighted my wife as this was the home town of her mother, who had supported us throughout our early years. We sold our house in Wokingham, and moved to Sprowston on the outskirts of the city in April 1970.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 1962;1966; OLYMPIC GAMES 1964;1968

Two men, not permanently resident in Scotland, were responsible for holding Scotland’s head up in athletics at the Commonwealth Games In 1962 in Perth, and in Jamaica in 1966. Mike Lindsay was born in Glasgow but was at School in Marylebone in London took two silver medals in the Shot and Discus just missing out gold by 3cm in the Discus. In Jamaica in 1966 it was Morpeth based, Jim Alder who achieved the 6 mile bronze and Marathon gold medal, overcoming extreme heat conditions.

14.

In Tokyo Olympics of 1964 the USA dominated the track in all but two events. Those were the 800mt and 1500mt double won by NZ’s Peter Snell. Billy Mills (USA) a Sioux Indian was the surprise winner of the 10k. Mary Bignal Rand set a world record in the Long Jump, clearing 22ft. for first time. Lynn Davies (GB) a Welshman surprised both favourites in the Long Jump. Abebe Bikila again won the marathon, this time wearing running shoes, in a world record time of 2hrs 12m11s. Ken Mathews of GB won the 20k walk.

CHAPTER 7  RUGBY FOR FUN AND FITNESS1970 -1978.

As you enter the outskirts of the City of Norwich, the sign says ‘Welcome to Norwich a Fine City’. And so it was. I settled in to the Norwich City Children’s Department, and felt warmly welcomed by all the staff. With the help of other professionals in Health, Education, Housing and Welfare Departments, we set up regular meetings with local officials, to monitor vulnerable children and families. I also set up joint training programmes, which covered these aspects, which was entitled in those days as ‘The battered baby syndrome’.

 As a family, my wife enjoyed being near her mother and the children had a loving grandma to spoil them from time to time. Such was the success, that I was asked to take on the function of Training Officer for the City. I developed staff development programmes in conjunction with the staff from Norfolk County and the Universities of East Anglia and Cambridge. However, Local Authority reorganisation was afoot. I had been there before, in 1964, it proved to my advantage.

In 1974 it was different. The County dominated the City and I faced the prospect of ‘Demotion’, in the sense that I would be subject to the Norfolk County structures. I chose to take a chance to look elsewhere, and was offered the post of Senior Training Officer with the new Calderdale Authority, which took over from the old West Riding of Yorkshire.

My wife was not happy with prospective upheaval, and neither were the children and in particular, my mother in law. Looking back I wonder whether I did the right thing.

Sport wise I played squash, and the occasional games of rugby. Plus the odd run on Mousehold Heath. I had lost a lot of fitness generally. After a delayed move north, we were close to the Yorkshire Moors, the Bronte country and the fells. I actually tried the odd fell race, but found it harder coming down than going up!! We bought a Welsh Springer Spaniel, and she gave me a lot of exercise, mostly walking. I also took up golf, and had the odd game with a colleague. We had a large garden, and keeping it in order, including growing vegetables, was also good exercise.

My wife was a qualified Health Visitor. On a course she attended in Huddersfield, she met up with Madeline Ibbotson the wife of Derek Ibbotson, former world mile record holder. I was in the crowd at the White City Stadium in July 1956 when he broke Landy’s mile record clocking 3m57.2s. My hand stopwatch recorded the same time and I did not reset it for months after!

My wife accepted an invitation for us to go to dinner with the Ibbotson’s at their home in Huddersfield. I took with me a copy of his brief autobiography including his time in the RAF.  I hoped he would sign it for me. The evening turned out very different from what I expected. He asked if he could keep the copy I had brought, as he did not have one of his own. What could I say but- ‘Of Course!’ It was mid 1980’s and ‘Ibbo’ as he was affectionately known, was rather portly, but an excellent squash player, and an agent for Puma sports shoes and clothing. Half way through the meal, he disappeared to watch a soccer match and returned in a very angry mood, as one of the players he had sponsored had blacked out the logo on his boots. Our dinner party was not the delight I had hoped for, but I admired his running when he was at its best in the 1950s.

 In 1978 I started to suffer from a strained back. I was overweight, and sought medical advice. I was told that I needed a special test, which involved putting dye into my spinal column, to identify the blockage. However, there was a long waiting list.

We chose to have a holiday in Scotland, and took a large flat near Oban. We visited most of the tourist spots. I played tennis with the children as well as going for walks. On our penultimate day, we visited Fort William, with the initial intention of climbing Ben Nevis, but it was a poor day, and there had been a lot of rain. My wife and the children were not keen on the idea, but I decided to try going on my own with Bella our spaniel. I set off with great intent, but quickly realised that I was not going to get to the top, so cut off at the lake, half way up. The rain came on, and we seemed to find the muddiest route back, but we made it, and I felt a ‘high’ that I had not had for ages.

On our return home, I found a letter from Bradford Royal Infirmary with an appointment for the spinal check operation. On telling he surgeon what I had done on holiday, he simply put down his pen, and told me he would not continue the investigation. I was to take up running again. His predication was that I would succeed or become permanently disabled in five years. I chose to go back to some running. My competitive athletic life lasted until 1993, after needing knee surgery.

It was about this time in 1979 that Chris Brasher, one of Bannister’s pacemakers, came back from participating in the New York Marathon, to announce that he was going to set up the London People’s Marathon in 1981. This became my incentive to train regularly. I met up with a member of Bingley Harriers, Gerry Spinks, an international veteran runner at the local sports centre, and subsequently, I joined Bingley Harriers, and ran in a couple of races. The first of which, was a One Mile UP HILL race in which I managed to run 5m 55s!

I also persuaded a neighbour Dave Allen, to run with me on the local roads and moors. Although I found a new lease of life in running, my work was frustrating. I had taken on the post of District manager for Halifax, at the request of the Director, but it was not satisfying me. I had for a long time yearned to go back to Scotland, my mother’s country and where I spent early days of my life.

 I applied for a post in the Scottish town of Musselburgh, East Lothian, which was part of Lothian Region. All the staff were qualified, and I was stepping into the shoes of a highly respected leader. My interview was in December and following a successful meeting with the local Director I was asked to start in January 1980. There was much to consider, not least my children’s schooling and my wife’s post as a district Nurse. Despite the drawbacks, I said yes, and life changed dramatically in 1980. Another upheaval for the family! Was I making the right move?

BRITISH EMPIRE AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES 1970; 1974;1978

OLYMPIC GAMES 1972,1976;1980:

The decade from 1971 to 1980 was, in many ways, the high point of British Athletics.             Edinburgh hosted the 1970 Commonwealth Games at the newly built Meadowbank Stadium, Scotland came away with a total of 8 medals. Four Gold, 2 silver and two bronze. Rosemary Wright won the women’s inaugural 800mts.  Rosemary Payne the women’s discus. Lachie Stewart had stirred the Brave Hearts on the opening day by winning the 10k. It was the 5k race that was the most thrilling, Australian World record holder Ron Clarke was very much the favourite. He was out sprinted on the last lap by two Scots and an African. Ian Stewart just held of his fellow countryman Ian McCafferty. They heard the stadium erupt. Jim Alder the hero from Jamaica, took silver in the marathon. William Sutherland took bronze in the 20k walk as did Moira Walls in the high jump.

In The Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1974 it was a very different story with just one silver medal for Rosemary Payne in the discus. At The Commonwealth Games 1978 in Edmonton Canada, it was the Scottish sprinters that raised the Scottish flag. Alan Wells won the 200mt and the silver medal in the 100mt. Then, together with Cameron Sharp, David Jenkins and Andrew Mc Master, won the 4 x 100mt relay. John Robson won bronze in the 1500mt, as did Bryan Burgess in the High Jump, and Chris Black in the Hammer.

The Olympic Games of 1972 in Munich will be remembered for the terrorist attack on the Israeli team. However, there were many sporting highlights. In the pool Mark Spitz from the USA won 7 gold medals, and broke 7 world records. On the track, Valeri Borzov of Russia won both sprints. USA’s Dave Wottle came from last, with 200mts to go, in the 800, to win in what they called, the ‘Wottle Throttle’. Finland’s Lasse Viren fell in the 10k, but got up to win and also won the 5k. Kenyan, Kip Keino won the Steeplechase, and Ugandan John Akii-Bua won the 400m hurdles.

In 1976 in Montreal, Lasse Viren did the double double, in the 5k and 10k.  Sadly the African nations boycotted the Games over South Africa’s regimes. Britain’s highlight came in 33year old Mary Peter’s from Northern Ireland, winning the Pentathlon. Possibly the outstanding moment for most people, was the Rumanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10, never before achieved!

1980 saw the Olympic Games come to Moscow, but this time it was the USA that boycotted the Games. Scotland’s Alan Wells won the 100 mts, and was just beaten in the 200mts. The duel between Seb Coe and Steve Ovett, was the highlight of the middle distance events, with Coe the favourite for the 800mts, being beaten by Ovett, and then the reverse came in the 1500mts, with what was called ‘Coe’s Revenge’

CHAPTER 8 OXENHOPE STRAW RACE TO LONDON MARATHON 1981.

It took over a year for us to sell the Bungalow in Denholme. As the school year in Scotland was different from that in England, both of my children had only a 4 week summer break, rather than 6 weeks, before starting their new schools. It also meant I had to find lodgings. We were given temporary accommodation in August, on the banks of the River Tyne. This interim, provided me with an opportunity to continue my running. The Observer newspaper announced that they were backing Chris Brasher’s idea for a ‘People’s Mass marathon’, based on the New York model, to be held in the Spring of 1981. It would be the longest distance I had ever run 26.2miles!  I was travelling back to Yorkshire after work on a Friday, and returned on a Monday morning. Dave Allen and I continued our regular runs on the moors. I managed to get up to 10 -12 miles in about 60 to 90minutes. As summer came, I was able to explore the East Lothian coast line. After we moved into our temporary  flat in Haddington, I met up with a couple of locals who had also been successful in getting an application to run London. One was a Insurance salesman, another a window cleaner and a younger guy who owned a small café in the High Street, and had run the distance for charity. We started to meet regularly during the week, and on a Sunday morning, when we did our ‘Long’ runs of 18 to 20 miles, taking 2 and a half to 3hrs.

On my last week-end before moving to Haddington, Dave Allen and I joined up as a team to compete in the Oxenhope Straw race, over 3 miles, in which between us, we had to carry a 50k bale of straw, and drink a half pint of beer at each mile marker. It was very warm, but out of 150 starters we finished 9^th.

17.

My membership of Bingley harriers was short and sweet, but I had made links with several members including, Terry Lonergan a sub 2h 20min marathoner. He was a salesman for new running shoes and sportswear. I agreed to bring some to Scotland and would get 20pc on anything I sold. I did ok once I started to make contacts in East Lothian, but ended up buying several pairs for myself! At one stage I had about 20 pairs of shoes, including spikes and studs for road, track, and cross country courses. I tried various events, including fell and hill races, plus cross country and road races, as far afield as Manchester in the west, and Darlington in the north east, and a variety of events throughout Scotland. I met up with the SVHC (Scottish Veteran Harriers Club) when I took part in the World Veteran Road Championships in Glasgow in August 1980. I ran in the 10k event, and finished in 39m40s but ended up in hospital with heat exhaustion.

From January to December 1980, I had run 500 miles, an average of about 50miles a week. I had got my weight back down from over 12 stone to 10st 12lb, almost the same as when I was 21.  I was now 42 years old!  In October, I ran in the SVHC Half marathon and finished in 1hr 25m, with which I was pleased, as it meant that I could set my target for London in March 1981 at under 3hrs.

As I was not travelling back to Yorkshire once the bungalow was sold, I joined Edinburgh Southern Harriers (ESH) and competed for them in various cross-country events, together with my new training partners, John, Alistair, Murray and Joe. We had regular training sessions off road, at the Tyningham estate, home of the Duke, as well as the roads around Haddington.

 I also went to train at Meadowbank Stadium, on the tartan track which was used for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, and where they would host the 1986 Games. The facilities to train were great, on the track, as well as quiet country roads, forest glades, and sandy beaches.

By the end of December 1980 I had run over 1000 miles since I restarted running in October 1979. I spent Christmas 1980 with our extended family in Dorset, and trained every day over Christmas.

Over the next three months, I had eight races to prepare for London, over road and cross country, and apart from minor injuries to my leg ,I felt very fit, having clocked 61 minutes for a tough 10mile race over 2 laps, with a steep hill. The London Course was going to be twisty but flat. I also ran the Scottish East District CCC, and the Carnethy 5 hills race in February, so I felt the only thing that was going to catch me out would be the distance, so we set to, and planned a 2- mile run on a Sunday morning with John and Alistair. My last race before London, was to compete for the ESH Vets team in a 4 x 5.6mile relay. I ran the 4^th leg in 32 m 56s. I felt I was ready. Many of my solo training runs, especially in the country, or near the sea were with my faithful spaniel Bella. She just loved running.

LONDON MARATHON 29^TH MARCH 1981.

Looking back as I write in March 2020, the London Marathon was due to have started for the 40^th time, but due to the Corona virus (Covid 19) that has hit the world, it has been postponed until October. I had put in well over 1000 miles of training, but did not properly taper in the 2 weeks before. We travelled to London on the Friday, and I met up with Chris Brasher that evening. He asked me to organise a small group of runners to meet the favourites, Joyce Smith and Hugh Jones, for a publicity run over Westminster Bridge at 11 am on Saturday. We arrived, but none of the favourites, so we jogged over the bridge for the photographers. That photo was to appear on the front page of the Sunday Observer on the morning of the race March 29^th 1981!

18.

The weather was overcast with light rain, ideal for the 6000 plus starters from Greenwich. I pressed the button of my sport watch as we crossed the official start line and steadily got into a comfortable stride. We passed the Cutty Sark at 6 miles, and crossed London Bridge at 12 miles and ran round the Isle of Dogs at 18 miles then came back through the Tower of London at 20 miles with its covered cobble stones, along the Embankment, where the crowds grew thicker, ran down the Mall at 25 mile, finally we crossed in front of Buckingham Palace, to reach the finish line in Birdcage Walk. My two brothers Gordon and Aubrey had followed the race and taken several photos. As I came to the finish, I could see that the clock above the Gillette sponsored gantry, still showed 2 Hrs 5? minutes. I pressed my wrist stop watch, which showed 2hrs 56m46s, and I had finished 1062^nd place. I could see a runner in a red and white striped vest (QPH), and it turned out to be Neville Rees, one of my old QPH running buddies.

My three companions all ran well, and we celebrated that evening before returning to Edinburgh the following day. A new friend from the OU featured on BBCTV, in a distressed state. I was determined to try again and do better. Also to see if I could help organise a similar event in Edinburgh in 1982.

OLYMPIC GAMES;1984 LOS ANGELES 1988 SEOUL

In 1984 the Games went to LOS ANGELES, USA. Daley Thomson was the toast of the British team retaining his Decathlon title, with a world record performance. Seb Coe again took silver in the 800mt, but retained his 1500mt title. A young Steve Cram reached the final, but it was a backward step for Steve Ovett, who ended up in hospital.  Mike McLeod finished 4^th in the 10k, but was subsequently promoted to the bronze medal after a drug test on the third placed Russian.

In the women’s events USA’s Evelyn Ashford, was Queen of the sprints. Tessa Sanderson and Fatima Whitbread (GB) battled for gold and silver medals in the javelin, and Wendy Sly ran a well judged finish, to take silver in the 3k.   Phil Brown took the silver medal in the 50k Walk. Daley Thomson retained his Decathlon title, and with it set a new world record with 8847 points.

In !988 The Olympics came to Seoul the capital of South Korea. The sprint events for both men and women were the headlines, but for very different reasons. Americans Carl Lewis and Florence Griffiths Joyner (Flo Jo) were favourites for the 100mts.  However, in the men’s final, Canada’s Ben Johnson spoiled the show by taking gold in a world record time of 9.79s. Lewis was second, and Britain’s Linford Christie dipped for the bronze. Just two days later Johnson was disqualified for drugs being found in his system. In the women’s final, Flo Jo set her long standing OR of 10.54s.       

Both Lewis and Christie were promoted. Lewis was beaten again in the 200 by fellow countryman Joe Deloach, but the result stood this time. Christie anchored the GB squad to a silver medal in the 4×100 relay. Peter Elliot took the bronze in the 800m and silver in the 1500m. Mark Rowlands was 3^rd in the 3k SC. It was very brave run by Scotland’s Yvonne Murray in the 3k, that earned her the bronze medal, having made her bid 450 mts from the finish, but beaten by two drug suspects from Russia and Romania. Subsequently the Russian was proved a drug cheat, but Yvonne never received her deserved silver medal. Liz McColgan also had a fine race, taking the race from the front but again beaten by a Russian sprint on final lap.

Liz and Yvonne were two great Scottish female athletes of that era and earn their place in both the Scottish and UK Sporting Hall of Fame.  Fatima Whitbread again took silver in the Javelin.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

19.

The Commonwealth Games of 1982 in Brisbane. Scotland brought home 10 athletic medals, 3 gold one silver and 7 bronze. Both gold medals were won by Allan Wells in the 100 and 200mts Fellow sprinter Cameron Sharp took bronze in both races. Both men added a bronze medal in the sprint relay. Meg Ritchie won gold in the discus. Anne Clarkson won the silver medal in the 800mt. Chris Black won bronze in the Hammer as did Graham Eggleston in the Pole vault. Sixteen year old Lindsay McDonald anchored home the Scottish team in the 4 x 400 relay. Yvonne Murray had just turned 18 and finished 10^th in the final of the 1500mts.

Edinburgh was the venue for Scotland’s next chance to host the Games in 1986.

Being directly involved with a major World Games has been a great experience. I had a particular interest, as I was now writing a weekly athletic column for the local newspaper, East Lothian News. I had met a local Musselburgh athlete, by the name of Yvonne Murray, and had done a profile on her for Athletics Weekly. Hence, I not only had a job as an official on the warm up area and marathon, but was able to have access to the Press Tent. On the last day of the Games, none other than the notorious Rupert Murdoch bought me a glass of Guinness! With the words ‘So, you’re the local hack, are you?’

The 13^th celebration of the Commonwealth Games proved to be disappointing for athletic fans.  There was only one gold medal for Scotland at Meadowbank Stadium. Liz Lynch in the 10k. Tom McKean took silver in the 800mts, Geoff Parsons also silver in the high jump. Yvonne Murray was favourite for the 3k race, but was out sprinted by two Canadian girls, and ended with a bronze medal. Bronze medals were also won by Sandra Whittaker in the 200mts and the 4 x 100mts men’s relay squad. Winning just six athletics medals in front of your home crowd was very disappointing.

CHAPTER 9. HADINGTON E.L.P.1980 -2012.

The excitement of having successfully completed the London Marathon in under 3hrs, spurred me to make enquiries as to how an Edinburgh marathon could be organised by 1982. Needless to say, Glasgow was also keen to develop a mass marathon themselves. In the meantime, my training continued with ESH. I became more involved with the SVHC in bringing events to Haddington. The outcome was the setting up of a 5 mile road race during the Haddington Festival, on the first Saturday in June 1982. I organised a Half marathon on behalf of the SVHC in August. Both events proved successful.

By the Spring of 1982 I had started 4 more Marathons, in Newcastle in August where I missed the start but ran 20 miles in 2hrs 6m; Bolton 2 weeks later in extreme heat I clocked 3hrs 9m; Glasgow in October again only 20 miles in 2hrs 9m.

In the SVHC Championships at Bellahouston in March I dipped under 2hr 50 mins. Just six weeks  later, I returned to London and ran with George Brown in ESH club colours, as it was a  UK National Championship, this time breaking the 2h 45min barrier. I was now 45. In the space of just 14 months I had started 6 marathons, and completed 4 in gradually improved times. Looking back, I can see that I did too much.

The prospects of an Edinburgh Tartan Marathon on 5^th September 1982 were now very promising, and although I was involved initially in the promotion with Dave Farrer.

20.

 I was not fit enough to race. Instead I agreed to push a woman in a standard wheel chair around the course, starting at the very back of the 3000 starters. The outcome was we crossed the line in 3hrs 49 mins, overtaking 2000 runners, completely exhausted. We raised £500 for Sport for Disabled People. However, Five weeks later, I lined up again at the start of the Glasgow People’s Marathon on October 17th 1982. There were over 7000 starters. I finished in 103^rd place in 2hrs 45 mins. I had a few cross country races in November. My mileage dropped from over 250 miles per month to 165 at the end of the year and my diary notes that I had several visits to a physiotherapist.

I had an eight-month break from Marathons, then ran five in five months. Three under 3 hrs, and two under 2h 50m, including the BVAF Championship –The Flying Fox at Stone in Staffordshire.

My goal was to run under 2hrs 40m, if possible, at 6m mile pace. My target race was London 1984. However, a long-standing problem I had physically, was the subject of haemorrhoids!

My Training diary for the 3 months from October to December 1983 shows that I had ran over 600 miles in training, plus  8 races, including the World Veteran (IGAL) Road Championships in the heat of Perpignan France, where I finished the 10k in 35m44s. I was 1^st V45 Scot to finish, the following day the 25k (15,5 miles), where again I was 1^st V45 Scot in 1hr 35min.In both of these races I was running at my desired marathon pace of 6m mph. I had 4 XC races and a one mile TT in 5m17s.

I was admitted to Roodlands Hospital in Haddington from 5^th to 12^th December 1983 for the operation, but all did not go well. I had a haemorrhage, and had to have a blood transfusion.

Over Christmas, I had some very easy walks and jogs.  1^st January 1984 I went with the club to line up for the Morpeth to Newcastle New Year Race (14.5miles), and clocked 90m 42s, (6m 15s per mile), finishing 507^th from 3000 starters. I felt I was back on target for my London Marathon in May.     From January, I gradually increased my mileage to nearly 1200 miles in 4 months some weeks clocking the magic 100 miles in 7 days. I felt I was flying!  Or thought I was! From January 1^st to 29^th March 1984 I had 14 races, which included 2 marathons, as part of my preparation for the London Marathon on 13^th May 1984, which was my planned race to run 6 minute-miles (2h36m).

I had several cross country races including the Scottish Champs in February; The Balloch to Clydebank (12.5m). Two ten mile races, including the Edinburgh Uni, 10 and the Tom Scott 10m, plus an Open Graded 1500m clocking 4m48s. On 1^st April (All Fools Day)I I ran the SVHC Marathon, as a ‘Long’ training run in 2hr 56m.  In honour of my mother, whose birthday was 2^nd April, I had planned to run the Dundee Marathon for the British Heart Foundation. Also as a ‘Long Training Run’.

In the changing area at Caird Hall Dundee, I got chatting to Don Macgregor, the Scottish Olympian from Fyfe. I told him of my plans for London. His comment was  today the forecast is for a ‘sea haar’ which with light wind make it an ideal day for a marathon- you don’t know what London will be like.- Put your racing shoes on and give it a go!!’  Wearing the BHF vest and bonnet, I started nearer the front than I had planned and at the 5,10;15 and 20  mile marks I was running at just on 6mph; Just 10k (6.2 Miles) to go! I had heard a loud speaker announce that, Don Macgregor and Terry Mitchell were battling for lead. There was only one other Veteran runner ahead of me.

I put my head down and went.! It was tough, and slightly up hill. As I rounded the last corner I could see the timing clock was saying 2h 30m? As I got closer, it was ticking away at 2hr 39 mins. I crossed the line with arms aloft in 2hrs 39m31s.  I finished in 25^th place from nearly 2000 starters. Don had won in 2hrs 18m but I was 2^nd vet to finish and received the Vet’s award and a voucher.

21.

I returned home as high as a kite!! Surely I will achieve my goal in London!, I had also raised over £500 for the British Heart Foundation. Thanks Mum!!

 Instead of resting up completely, I started the Edinburgh to North Berwick 22mile race just a week later. With my HELP pal, Joe Forte, who was 20 years my junior, and aiming for sub 2h 30m in London. We ran 18 miles in under 2hrs, plus a 10k TT in 35 mins. I ran a total of over 80 miles in the 2 weeks before London. We stayed with my brother in Watford, and we had a 36 min run on the day before London. The outcome was that I ran well for 15 miles but into a head wind and in a warm sun. At 20 miles, I had lost over 3 minutes on my Dundee times, and by the finish over 7 minutes, resulting in a time of 2hrs 46m24s. I took 43 minutes for the last 10k compared with 38 minutes in Dundee. A big disappointment as Joe had run his sub 2h30. Don Macgregor’s prediction was right! A hard lesson to learn as an athlete and a coach. Listen to your body! Recovery is crucial !!

In 1988 I was to reach my 50^th birthday, and I had great intentions of doing well in my new Veteran or Masters Age group.

London in May 1984 was my 16^th start in a Marathon. Only in 2 marathons had I failed to finish, due to mix ups.  In 1984 I had 4 marathon plus 2 that used as training runs. In September in Glasgow and Edinburgh. I returned to Dundee in May 1985 not fully fit, and in bad weather I ran the marathon again, but this time I ran a very conservative 2h55m. I had a much more controlled year. In October I went to Dublin as an invited ‘Fast For Age’ veteran. I had the new shoes that I had won previously, but the night before the race I changed the insoles, as I knew there was a lot of concrete to run on.   I started on the elite start. My 5 mile splits were on target at 5 and 10 miles going through in 59m09s. It was the same for the next 5m, just 5 seconds over 90min for 15 miles. However, the concrete section between 15 and 20 miles took its toll and I lost 3 minutes. I could feel a blister on my right foot. I was determined not to limp but at 22 miles, I had to stop.  The blister was bleeding badly, and I took 5 minutes to try and repair the damage and carry on. I dropped to running at over 7 mph, finishing 2hr 53m, and having taken over 50 mins for the last 10k.

I took six months before starting my 4^th London marathon, which I finished in 2h 55m. I was involved in helping organise the 1986 Commonwealth People’s marathon in June. I had a steady run in the June heat, finishing in 2h 46 min. I had the pleasure of beating Ron Hill.

The Glasgow City Link Coaches Marathon was a disaster for me. I struggled for the 2^nd half and took nearly 3hr 30 mins!! I decided to have a  break from running Marathons.

 With my 50^th Birthday year ahead my aim was to compete in NEW YORK USA in November.

In April 1988, I ran the SVHC Championship, and ran a steady 3h09m and was 1^st in the V45 age group. In September, I was now 50, I ran in the NALGO ‘New York’ marathon at Whitley Bay, staying with my old QPH friend Martin Hine. I ran a comfortable 2h 52m, even paced, 1h 26m at half way. This really set me up for the NYCM. Flights were booked with HELP companions Jim Baird, running his first marathon, and 18 yo Steve Chalmers, who I had coached as a junior in the club.

We were met on arrival and hosted by anther QPH old boy Mike Dale, and his wife Mary in there New Jersey luxury home. Mike was deputy head of Jaguar cars. It was luxury, and we had a day touring the City prior to the race. I took part in the WHO Fun Run .and attended the famous Pasta Party in the evening, which was great, but I missed the last subway tube, and had to walk about 50 minutes to my back ‘pack’ digs on 42^nd Street. Excited and a little too full, I did not sleep well. By 6 am I was clad in my tartan vest and shorts, off to meet the transfer bus to the Verrazano Bridge.

22.

The start was over 2 hrs away. Jim and Steven were quite relaxed, as we were near to the start. When eventually, the gun went, there was a mad rush. Our plan was to run at 6m30s pace. This was thwarted by a group of French and Italian runners holding hands, and blocking the way. Jim and I took nearly 8 minutes for the first mile. Then we ran under 6mph for the 2^nd mile, to try and make up time by the end of the bridge. It was a great spectacle and experience, but the start had its effect on us. Crossing all five bridges was an added distraction. Although back on target time at 5 miles, each subsequent 5 mile split got slightly slower.  By the time 18 miles came up we were reaching Central Park. I was not feeling good and told Jim to run on, while I tried to find a spot to spend a ‘penny’. The spectators were great, and not keen to see me stop, but I had to. At 2h12m for 20 miles I still had a chance to get under 2h 55m, but the legs felt bad, I was running on empty! As I reached the final corner, I could see the clock approaching 3hrs. I just made it, in 2hrs 59m59s. Whereas, Jim clocked 2h 52m a time that would have put me in 2^nd place for the Masters V50 award. Steven ran well for an 18 yo about 3hrs 30mins.

On returning to Mike and his family, he gave us an incredible surprise, an individual flight in his twin seater Biplane. We saw all over NY State, a memorable trip, on what was to be my penultimate marathon.

1989 was to be a crucial year, with a planned trip to Australia and New Zealand for Christmas.

New Year was spent with my wife and her sister and brother in law. The bonus was to stay on for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland in January, and tour NZ South Island.

 CHAPTER 10 . ‘TOO MANY MILES ON THE CLOCK’ 1990 TO 1996.

Hindsight is a benefit most of us do not fully comprehend, until it’s too late to take advantage of.

 As I look back now on my training schedules and training diaries, I have come to realise several important facts. First I never applied the concept of the GROW model to myself as a young athlete. Partly, because training was not seen as crucial. as it is now to young athletes with high potential. I note that I did try out modified versions of Franz Stampfl and Percy Cerutty (Coaches to Bannister and Elliot) training programmes. I did not set realistic goals or options. Also education, work, national service and university all took priority. Ultimately, marriage and family were more important than fitness. Then at 40 years old, I had a second chance to do what I always wanted, with the added stimulus, of the first London Marathon arriving in 1981.  I had the chance of laying down a foundation of cardiovascular fitness, that was to be the base of my training and racing, I read several training and coaching programmes. The most influence coming from Manfred Steffny, the German Coach who helped top female athletes, and Veteran or Master runners over 40 years. I also came across Arthur Lydiard the New Zealand coach to Peter Snell, and Murray Halberg, and his books on distance running. Both of these men laid down the basis of my own training and racing plans. It also came at a time, when I needed to review my own fitness. My lifestyle was mostly sedentary. I was overweight, and starting to suffer from back problems, was an incentive to get fitter for life in general. My run in 1979, half way up and round Ben Nevis, with my spaniel Bella was the start. Regular runs with a local friend over the Yorkshire moors, and joining Bingley Harriers, to do some cross country running again, all helped get me back into the mood and commitment for competitive running.  A change of job in January 1980, brought me to East Lothian, where, after nine months of travelling and resettlement, I started to meet up with new running companions.

23.

The build up of training and racing between 1980 and 1981 are detailed earlier, but the period that followed from 1981 onward is worth reflecting on.

 From 1981 to 1989 I started 29 Marathons in England, Scotland, Ireland and USA. In five, I either failed to finish, or used the event as part of my training for a subsequent race. Of the 24 I finished, 18 were under 3hrs; 5 were under 2hrs 50min; and my best was under 2hr 40m.  I ran 16 marathons in 4 years between 1981 and 1984, and 6 between 1985 and 1989. I covered over 30,000 miles in training, including some cycling. when I could not run. Within 2 weeks of running my best marathon in Dundee in 1984,  for which I had run over 1000 miles in training in the 3 months (Jan to March).     I tried again in London, and fell short by 7 minutes. The basic reasons were twofold. I did not properly taper, and did not allow enough recovery time between the two. The outcome was to acquire hip and knee injuries that needed rest and treatment.

At the age of 50 in 1988, I tried again. with a carefully planned build up. (see pages 21/22).

 Looking back at my detailed training records I see that whilst I had enthusiasm, determination, and no small ability, as a veteran athlete in his 40’s. I did not follow my own advice to other athletes, ‘listen to your body’ and focus on my set goals!

In 1989, I had a full year at V50, I competed in 42 races over road, cross country, and on track.  I finished first V50 in 14, and 2^nd V 50 in 7.   Half of my placings in that age group category were in the top two.

 On December 7^th we set out for Australia and New Zealand, with my wife’s sister and brother in law. It was to be an adventure of a lifetime. After travelling together all over North Island, I left the family group to stay with an old friend, prior to the start of the Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

It was a time for deciding which road my future should take on my return to Scotland at the end of February.

CHAPTER 10. THE YEARS WHEN SPORT CHANGED ITS COLOUR 1990 TO 2020

The athletic world over the 30 years between 1990 and 2020 changed dramatically, with the introduction of individual athlete funding and sponsorship on a much bigger scale than ever before.

Over were the days spoken about by Gordon Pirie, in 1950, (Running Wild) plus others, with regard to  finding ‘money in your shoes’ and the ‘Shamateurism’ that was abundant in the sport. Particularly against those athletes who had been denied their place on the world stage of the Olympics, such as sprinter George McNeil.

I played a small part during my tenure as Secretary, and subsequently President, of the SVHC (Scottish Veteran Harriers Club). Along with two other stalwarts, Henry Morrison and Ian Steedman we tried to change the constitution of the club to allow former professional (‘Peds’) to compete in national and international events. Initially we had success, but at a subsequent AGM in 1991, after I had been President for just one year, the decision was reversed. I felt I had no choice but to resign, as did my two companions.

24.

SCOTLAND AT THE GAMES 1990 TO 2018

Two top women distance runners were the Scottish toast from Auckland in 1990. Liz McColgan (Lynch) won the 10k and took bronze behind Yvonne Murray’s silver in the 3k event. Geoff parsons took bronze in the high jump. Brian Whittle, David Strang, Tom McKean and Mark Davidson won silver in the 4 x 400 relay.

The Olympics in 1992 was in Barcelona and was also the first Paralympics to follow directly on. Linford Christie won the 100m in 9.96s and Sally Gunnell the 400m Hurdles. Liz McColgan won silver in the 10k, and Steve Backley Bronze in the javelin. Kriss Akabusi Bronze in 400h, as did the 4 x 400 Men’s squad.

I attended the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, as a BBC World Service reporter. I had the pleasure of meeting several other correspondents who were trying to raise the profile of the Paralympics. Australia was the only country giving daily reports. Britain was having a one hour round up, once a week. I did two reports on the Games, but the main interest was on the use of ‘DRUGS’! My personal highlight was meeting BBC Journalist, Helen Rollinson, who lent me her voice recorder for my second session, in which I emphasised the high standard of the athletes.  I found out on return to Scotland, that it was broadcast at 3am on a World Service sports programme.

Sadly Helen died of cancer, but her legacy is the Sports View Personality award for an athlete with a disability. My other recollection was having my new camera, with a zoom lens, stolen whilst dining in the Rambles after the opening ceremony.

At the Commonwealth Games In Victoria, Canada in 1994 Yvonne Murray completed her full set of medals. Having won bronze and silver previously, she won the 10k gold medal. Geoff Parsons took another bronze in the high jump.

The 1996 Olympics were in Atlanta USA. The highlight for me was Michael Johnson (USA) 200mt world record, and 400mt Olympic record double. GB athletes won no gold medals.  They picked up 4 silvers with Roger Black 400m; Jonathan Edwards Triple Jump; Steve Backley Javelin and the 4 x 400m Men’s squad, Denise Lewis took bronze in the Heptathlon.

In Sydney the 2000 Olympics was an impressive show for the millennium. GB had a total of 6 medals. Two gold: with Jonathan Edwards, Triple Jump and Denise Lewis in the Pentathlon. Steve Backley was thwarted again for top spot in the javelin. Colin Campbell was runner up in the 200m, and Katherine Merry and Kelly Holmes took bronze medals in the 400mt and 800mts respectively.

I attended the 2000 Paralympics on a Press Media pass with the Bulgarian Newspaper ‘Sofia Echo’, as I followed the fortunes of five Bulgarian Disabled athletes during my time as a VSO worker. Four were weight lifters and one woman was a shot putter. After the opening ceremony, I was called to the Press Conference the following day to be told that three of the weightlifters had failed initial drug tests and were banned. The single female shot putter did win gold in her classification. It proved to be a front page headline, but not one in which I was pleased to write. A major review of the selection process was my recommendation on my return to the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

The Commonwealth Games in 1998 in Kuala Lumpar and the 2002 Games in Manchester had small pickings for Scotland. Allison Curbishley was the only medallist in KL with a silver in the 400mts. In Manchester 2002, Lee McConnell that took silver in the 400 mt and Jamie Quarrie bronze in the Decathlon.

25.

I was very lucky being given tickets by my son, for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. It was the site of the original modern Games  in 1896. GB won a total of three golds!  Two for Kelly Holmes, in the 800mts and the 1500mts. It was fantastic to have been a witness. The bonus was the GB Sprint relay squad managing to hold off the crack USA squad for gold. That really made it a memorable experience. The saddest moments were in both the Marathons. The interference with the Brazilian runner near the finish of the men’s marathon. Thankfully he held on for bronze. For GB’s Paula Radcliffe, it was a stomach upset at 35 km that saw her brave effort for an Olympic title come to grief.

In 2006, together with my sister, I went on a tour of USA, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. This Included attending the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. It was an enjoyable and exciting experience, However, not so memorable as far as the Scottish athletics team were concerned. Chris Baillie won silver in the 110 H. and Lee McConnell the bronze in the 400mH.

In 2010 the Commonwealth Games went to Delhi. I was nominated to take part in the Closing Ceremony and went along to the first dress rehearsal in Glasgow. However, the restrictions meant that I would not see any other part of the Games, plus the fact that the health risks were too high.     I pulled out and watched at home, but still have the sponsor’s bag as a souvenir. The outcome for Scotland in Delhi was the same as Melbourne, just a silver and bronze. This time it was Eilidh Child in the 400H and Steph Twell in the 1500mts.

The Commonwealth Games came to Glasgow in 2014. This was the chance for Scotland to shine in track and field, as they did in 1970.  The result was No Athletic gold medals. Two silver. Another for Eilidh Child in the 400H and also for Lynsey Sharp in the 800mt.  Mark Dry won bronze in the Hammer.  It was the Swimmers that really shone with 3 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals. Reporting for the local East Lothian News, the highlights were for Prestonpans Boxer, Josh Taylor, taking gold. Alex (Tattie) Marshall, from Tranent, picked up 2 Gold medals in the Bowls.

I was able to attend my sixth Commonwealth Games in 2018 with a Press Pass for the East Lothian Courier on the Gold Coast of Australia. I linked up with my son, who also had a media pass for his radio show for Mental Health (Beyond Blue). He had booked accommodation and transport which made it very enjoyable. However, I had some dizzy spells and was glad of his support. On my return to Scotland, I was tested and brain scanned, and subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.   A shock to the system! Now I’m managed by medication. It will certainly limit any future long distance travels.

The Games proved poor pickings in track and field for Scotland. Jake Wightman won bronze in the 1500mts as did Robbie Simpson in the Marathon. A terrible ordeal was experienced by Callum Hawkins, who collapsed from exhaustion with not far to go in the Marathon. Eilidh Doyle won silver in the 400H, and local East Lothian girl from Dunbar, Maria Lyle, won silver in the T 35 100mts

  Mark Dry took bronze in the Hammer but was subsequently disqualified for a drug infringement. It was the Cyclists, Swimmers and Bowlers that were Scotland’s heroes. Scotland had their highest total of 44 medals away from home with 9 gold, 13 Silver and 22 Bronze.

Bejing, China with its ‘Birdsnest Stadium’ was the spectacular venue for the 2008 Olympics. Christine Ohuruogu won the 400mt with a fantastic finish, and Natasha Danvers won silver in the 400mH. Kelly Sotherton took bronze in the Heptathlon. Both men and women’s 4 x 400 mts squads took bronze medals.

26.

London hosted the 2012 Olympics. With tickets for home supporters a premium, it was my son in Australia who procured 2 tIckets for the last two days of the athletics. The price was £500 per seat!     It was a spectacle not to be forgotten.  Seeing Usain Bolt run the final leg for Jamaica in the sprint relay. Mo Farah won the 5k race, just a week after he had won the 10k on ‘Super Saturday’. That same evening Greg Rutherford won the long Jump, and Jessica Ennis won gold in the Pentathlon.    Christina Ohuruogu won silver in the 400mts, and Robbie Grabarz won bronze in the high jump.

Rio was the venue for the 2016 Olympics.  Four bronze medals was GB’s total in track and field, with Sophie Hitchen in the hammer. Greg Rutherford Long Jump, and both the Men’s 4 x100 and 4 x 400 relay squads.

European Athletic Championships 1934 to 2019: (Outdoors)

The European Athletics Championships started in 1934 in Turin Italy The medal table shows that over the years, the countries that dominated the Games were, the Soviet Union / Russia 331 gold; Germany East and West combined 559 gold. and Great Britain 304 gold. There have been some outstanding performances over the years, but with the USA not included, it will always be at the Olympics and IAAF World Championships that provides the ultimate testing ground.

 Details from 1934 are limited but in 1938 the event was split into two venues, with the men in Paris in early August, and the women in Vienna in mid August. Highlights for Great Britain, were Sydney Wooderson winning the 1500mt, and a silver medal for the 4 x 400mt squad. The flying Fins took 3 golds in 5k,10k and 3k Steeplechase.  In Vienna, Fanny Blankers-Koen (Holland) won 4 gold medals and 2 silver!!

The WW2 affected sport including athletics. It was in 1946 that the next European Games was staged in Oslo. GB won 7 medals. Two gold, John Archer won 100m. Sydney Wooderson won the 5k. Scotsman, Alan Patterson won silver in the High Jump. The Men’s 4 x 400 mt team also won silver. Henri Forbes won silver in 50k Walk, The Flying Fins Heino and Perala took gold and silver in the 10,000m race. Squire Yarrow improved his marathon time by 9 minutes from Paris to 2h39m40s; but could only finish 7^th in Oslo.

1950 Brussels. GB won a total of 17 medals, 8 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze. Gold included Brian Shenton 100m; Derek Pugh 200m; John Parlett 800m;Men 4 x 400m Women 4 x 100m. Roger Bannister was 3^rd in 800m.  as was Bill Nankevile  in the 1500mts. Peter Hildreth was 3^rd in 110H, and Harry Whittle also 3^rd in in 400H.    Jack Holden won the marathon and Alan Patterson the High Jump. Maureen Gardner won silver in 100mt Hd. half a second behind Fanny B K. Sheila Lerwill and Dorothy Tyler-Odam won gold and silver in High Jump. June Faulds took Bronze in 100mt as did Dorothy Hall in 200mts. Bertha Crowther was 2^nd in the Pentathlon.

In 1954 the venue was Berne Switzerland. GB had another good haul of medals.  14 in total, 3 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze. In men’s events, a gold medal was won by Roger Bannister 1500m; Chris Chataway was beaten by Vladimir Kuts (USSR) in 5k but beat Zatopek. He was to have his revenge over Kuts at the White City Stadium London. George Ellis took bronze in both sprints. Frank Sando won bronze in 10k behind Zatopek. Jack Parker was 2^nd in the 110H. as were the GB men’s sprint relay squad. Jeff Elliot took bronze in the pole vault. The women had success in both high and long jump with Thelma Hopkins and Jean Deforges. Diane Leather had broken the 5minute mile barrier in May, was 2^nd in the 800mts (the longest permitted distance for women). Bronze medals were won by Anne Pashley 100mts; Shirley Hampton 200mts and Pam Seaborne 80mH.

27.

In 1958 in Stockholm.  GB were 3^rd in the medal table with 17 medals 7gold 5 silver and 5 bronze.   Gold medals were won by John Wrighton 400mt; Mike Rawson 800mt; Brian Hewson 1500mt; Stan Vickery 50kW; Arthur Rowe SP; Heather Young 100m; and Men 4 x 400 relay* (Ted Samson 1^st leg was the guy who beat me in the 1961 Theological Colleges XCC). Silver medals were won by David Segal 200mt; John Salisbury 400mts; Diane Leather 800mts; Men’s 4x 400m and women 4 x 100m. Bronze went to Peter Radford 100mt; Gordon Pirie 5k Molly Hiscox 400mts; Dorothy Shirley H Jump.

1962 Belgrade GB won 13 medal 5 gold;3 silver and 3 bronze. Fibreglass poles were introduced for the first time in the pole vault. Britain’s gold medallists were Robbie Brightwell 400mt; Bruce Tulloh 5k; Brian Kilby, Marathon; Ken Mathews, 20k W and Dorothy Hyman 100mt, also silver in 200mt. Joy Grieveson won silver in 400m as did the GB men’s 4 x 400 team. Roy Fowler won bronze in 10k, as did Don Thompson 50k walk, and the Men’s 4 x 100mt (Jones’s squad).

In Budapest 1966 there were only 2 gold medals Lynn (The Leap) Davies, with championship record o7.98mts and Jim Hogan (Ireland) in the Marathon with 2hrs 20m04s.* (Igor Ter Ovanesyan had broken the 8mt LJ barrier in 1962 with 8.19mts but with a 3.2mt tail wind.).

In 1969 there was a change of structure, with a two year Championship between 1969 and 1971. It reverted to a 4 year cycle in 1974 in Rome. The start of an European Indoor event began in 1970.

Athens was the venue for the 1969 outdoor championships in April. GB won a total of 17 medals, 6 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze. John Whetton 1500; Ian Stewart 5k; Ron Hill Marathon; Paul Nihill 20kW, and Lillian Board 800mt; The GB Women’s squad won the inaugural 4 x 400mt relay were gold medallists. Mike Tagg 10k; David Hemery 110H; John Sherwood 400H. won silver medals.  Bronze medals were won by Alan Pascoe 110H; Andrew Todd 400H and Jim Alder in the Marathon. Anita Neil !00m and Val Peat 200mt won bronze individually and also in the sprint relay.

Helsinki was venue for 1971 Games. GB won 10 medals but just 1 gold with David Jenkins 400m with Championship best of 45.45s. Trevor Wright beat Ron Hill for silver and bronze in the marathon and Paul Nihill was runner up in the 20kW. Pat Lowe and Rosemary Stirling took silver and bronze in the 800mts.

1974 in Rome was the return to the four year cycle of the championships. GB won 11 medals 4 gold 3 silver and 4 bronze; Brendan Foster 5k; Alan Pascoe 400H ; Ian Thompson Marathon and the 4 x 400m men  took gold.  Tony Simmons 10k; Steve Ovett 800m; and David Jenkins 400mt were runners up. Joyce Smith 3k won bronze. *In 1981 she was first woman in the London Marathon.

1978 in Prague there was only one gold medal. Steve Ovett  ran a championship best of 3m 35.59s for the 1500, followed by silver in the 800mt, holding off Seb Coe, but both being beaten by the East German, Olaf Beyer. Dave Moorcroft took bronze in the 1500mt. Daley Thompson won silver in the decathlon as did Tessa Sanderson in the javelin and the Men’s sprint relay squad.

1982 the Games were back in Athens where GB took 9 medals. 3 gold. Steve Cram in 1500mt, Daley Thomson Decathlon and Keith Connor in the Triple Jump. Seb Coe was runner up in the 800mt, as were Cameron Sharp 200mt and Kathy Smallwood 200mt. The Men’s 4x 400 and women 4x 100 took silver, and Dave Moorcroft won bronze in the 5k

 28Stuttgart 1986 was a memorable year for the British Team with 15 medals, 8 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze. Gold medals were won by Linford Christie 100m; Roger Black,400, Seb Coe 800m; Steve Cram 1500; and Jack Buckner 5k; Daley Thompson retained his decathlon title and Fatima Whitbread won Javelin. The bonus was the Men’s 4 x 400 relay squad. Silver medals went to, Seb Coe 1500mt and Tom McKean 800mt; Steve Cram’s bronze in the 800mt made up a full set.. The Men’s sprint relay team took bronze as did Judy Simpson in the heptathlon. Yvonne Murray took bronze in the 3k.

1990 in Split- Yugoslavia  before it was broken up, resulted in a famous video of British Athletics entitled ‘GOLD RUSH’.  Britain won 18 medals 9 gold;5 silver and 4 bronze. It was a memorable week. East Germany  won 34 medals 12 gold;12 silver and 10 bronze. Linford Christie retained his title in the 100mt with John Regis 3^rd. The table was turned in the 200mt, with Regis taking gold ahead of Christie third; Roger Black won the 400m and Tom McKean (Bellshill Bullet) won the 800 with David Sharp silver. Colin Jackson despite an injured knee held off Tony Jarrett in the 110H. Gary Staines 5k and Mark Rowlands SC both took silver medals. Kriss Akabusi won the 400H and Steve Backley the javelin. Yvonne Murray demonstrated the art of surprise attack, when she started her sprint 500 mts from the finish, and held on to win. The men’s relay squads took gold in 4 x 400 and silver 4 x 100m. Both women’s relay teams took bronze medals. The men’s 1500mts turned out a bit of a disaster. Peter Elliot was pushed over in his heat but reinstated along with Steve Cram in the final but despite being favourites finished 5^th and 6^th in the final.

1994 HELSINKI Was the venue.  GB collected 13 medals, 6 gold 5 silver and 2 bromze. Linford Christie took his 3^rd 100mt title, and Colin Jackson retained his 110H title, closely followed by Tony Jarret again. Duane Ladejo beat Roger Black in the 400mt. The women’s team captain Sally Gunnell, won gold in the 400mHurdles. Steve Backley retained his Javelin title, and the 4 x 400m relay squad also repeated their triumph in Split. Yvonne Murray made it a full house of European medals with silver in the 3k. Kelly Holmes took silver in the 1500mt. Silver also went to Steve Smith in the high jump.

BUDAPEST 1998. Great Britain collected 16 medals, equalling their Split tally of 9 golds plus 4 silver and 3 bronze. Darren Campbell won the 100m beating Dwain Chambers. Douglas Walker won gold in the 200mt, making a clean sweep for GB, with Doug Turner and Julian Golding filling the other podium places. Iwan Thomas won the 400m with Mark Richardson taking bronze. 

Colin Jackson won his third 110H title in grand style. Gold also went to Steve Backley for the 3^rd consecutive championship, followed by Mick Hill. Jonathan Edwards won the Triple jump and Denise Lewis the Heptathlon. Dalton Grant took silver in the High Jump and both the men’s relay teams took gold. The women 4 x 400 took bronze. *: Sonia O’Sullivan, representing Ireland won both the newly introduced 5k and also 10k titles,

2002 MUNICH. GB won 12 medals 5 gold 2 silver and 5 bronze. (Russia 24 and Germany 19)  Highlight performances have to go to both Colin Jackson for his 4^th 110h win and to Steve Backley for his 4^th Javelin title. Paula Radcliffe won the 10k just outside the 30m time barrier and Ashia Hanson won the triple jump. Jade Johnson took silver in the Long jump, Silver also went to Darren Campbell in the 100mt. Bronze medals were won by Mark Devonish 200mt; Daniel Caines 400mt Jonathan Edwards TJ; Lee McConnell 400mt and Kelly Holmes 800mt. GB Men retained their 4 x 400 relay title.

29.

2006 GOTHENBERG SWEDEN Was the venue. Along with two fellow athletic enthusiasts, I attended the whole week. Although GB won 11 medals in total, only one was gold, 5 were silver, and 5 bronze. Sitting behind the Carolina Kluft supporters group provided sufficient alternative interest to the track and field performances! The men’s sprint relay squad won the only gold medal, but not without internal strife between Duane Chambers and Malcolm Campbell over who was cleanest, drug-wise.

Silver medals went to Mo Farah in the 5k with a final mile in 4minutes but beaten by a Spaniard. Nathan Douglas TJ; Greg Rutherford LJ and the 4 x 400 squad. Bronze medals went to Marlon Devonish 200m; Sam Ellis 800mt Andy Turner 110H; Rhys Williams 400H and Rebecca Lynne 800 mt  An enjoyable birthday week. but no comparison to the Athens Olympics in 2004.

2010 BARCELONA. Great Britain outscored both Russia and Germany in the total number of medals won, with a total of 20; 6 gold, 10 silver. and 4 bronze. Russia and Germany both took 17 medals.

Mo Farah was a double winner of both 5k and 10k events, supported by Andy Turner 110H; Dai Greene 400H and Phillips Odowu TJ. Silver medals were won by Mark Lewis Francis 100m; Christian Malcolm 200m; Michael Bingham 400m; Rhys Williams 400mH; Jenny Meadows 800m; Hatti Dean 3kSC; Chris Thompson 10k; Both Men and women 4 x 400 m relay squads; Bronze medals went to Martin Rooney 400m; Michael Rimmer 800m; Martyn Bernard HJ and Chris Tomlinson LJ.

It was also decided by the European Athletic Association to hold the Championships every two years from now on.

HELSINKI 2012. GB Total of 7 medals 4 gold 2 silver and 1 bronze.

Mo Farah retains his 5k title. Lynsey Sharp won gold in 800mt; Rhys Williams 400H, and Robbie Grabarz HJ.  Silver was won by Jo Pavey 10k, and Danny Talbot 200mt, with Goldie Sayer taking Javelin bronze.   

2014 ZURICH SWITZERLAND Produced a bumper crop of medals for Great Britain 23 in total; 12 gold 5 silver and 6 bronze, their best haul ever.

Gold medallists were: James Dasaolu 100m; Adam Gemili 200m; Martyn Rooney 400m; Mo Farah 5k and 10k; Greg Rutherford LJ; Jo Pavey 10kW; Tiffany Porter 100H; Eilidh Child 400H; Relays Men 4 x 100 and 4 x 400; Women 4 x 400m:

Silver medallists were: Men : Mark Hudson Smith 400m; William Sharman 110H; Andy Vernon 10k; Women Lynsey Sharp 800m; Jodie Williams 200m; Bronze medals went to: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey 100m; Chris O’Hare 1500m; Laura Weightman 1500m; Ashleigh Nelson 100m ; Andy Vernon 5k, and Women 4 x 400m relay.

Note: *Great Track results, but not a single throws medal and only 1 jump medal. Greg R in the LJ.

2016 AMSTERDAM. Great Britain won 16 medals; 5 gold; 3 silver and 8 bronze: The Russians were absent, following problems with their doping control procedures. Some were allowed to run as. ‘Neutral Athletes’. Poland and Germany were the nearest rivals with 12 gold and 11 silver medals. GB Golds were won by Martyn Rooney 400m; James Dasaolu 200m; Greg Rutherford LJ; Robbie Grabarz HJ, and Women 4 x 400m relay; Silver medals went to Jasmin Sawyer LJ; Women sprint relay. Bronze medals were won by Chris Baker HJ; Steph Twell 5k; Anyika Onuora 400m; Julian Reid TJ;  Elliot Giles 800m; Daniel Talbot 200m; Tiffany Porter 100H; Women 4 x 100 relay.

30.

2018 BERLIN: Again no Russian team as such, but AA  (Authorised Athlete)Drug Free Competitors. Great Britain won a total of 18 medals. 7 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze: There were a number of new British names on the team list. Gold medallist were Zharnel Hughes 100m, with 9.91s Championship record; Mathew Hudson Smith 400; Dina Asher Smith did the sprint double with 10,85s and 21,89s; Laura Muir 1500mt put Scotland back on the map. Relay Golds went to both men and women sprinters. Silver medals  went to Eilish McColgan, following in her mother’s footsteps in 5k ; Mitchell Blake 200m; Reece Prescod  100mt, and (KJT), Katherine Johnson Thompson Heptathlon; Men’s 4 x 400 relay. Bronze medals went to Jake Wightman 1500; Laura Weightman 1500W; Holly Bradshaw PV; Sharon Proctor LJ; Megan Beasley 400H; plus Women 4 x 400 relay squad, All eyes were set for 2020 in Paris in April for the European Champs, and in July, for the Olympics in

Tokyo. BUT along came the Corona Virus Covid 19 and put the WHOLE WORLD ON LOCK DOWN.   

 

MY PLAN WAS TO COMPARE SCOTTISH ATHLETIC PERFORMANCES OVER THE LAST 80 YEARS.

  THIS WILL TAKE AGES AND NOT SURE IF POSSIBLE IN SUCH DETAIL.

Although Mo Farah may have won more spectacular races over 5k and 10k at Olympic and World Championships I would argue that Liz McColgan’s 10k World Championship race in Tokyo 1991 was the bravest. The only other medals won by Scottish athletes were won by two Scottish women competing in 4 x 400mt relays, and a solitary Scotsman, who was part of the BG 1997 4 x 100mt relay bronze medal squad, Douglas Walker

SCOTLAND AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 1973 TO 2019.

For any athlete a medal at the Olympic Games is the zenith of one’s athletic career.

However, various disasters such as Munich, and the boycott of several nations for political reasons meant that not every medal has been won against the opposition that could be a challenge. From early in the 20th Century the IAAF wanted to have a separate World Athletics Championship. After an experimental games in 1980, it was in 1983 that a full Championship was set up in Helsinki. It was set up as a biannual event, so that it did not clash with the Olympic 4 year cycle. As well as track and field championships there are also cross country and road racing championships. All of which include Junior as well as senior events. I have concentrated on track and field. There have been 17 World Athletics Championships up to 2019 in Doha. The 2021 event will be cancelled due to the re-arranged Olympics.

The early years were dominated by Russia and Eastern Europe. Ever since 1991, the USA have been

the dominant force, winning a total of 381 medals, nearly double any of its rivals.  Great Britain ranked 6^th in the overall medal table with 104 medals up to 2019 in Doha. 30 were gold; 36 silver, and 38 bronze.

Scottish athletics have their female athletes to thank, as they have only won one gold individual medal. It was won in 1991 in Tokyo by Liz McColgan, in the 10,000mts. An incredible solo front running effort, described by Brendan Foster, as the most courageous run ever by a British athlete.

in Athens. The Scottish women were Lee McConnell in 2005 in Helsinki; 2007 in Berlin 2009 in Osaka  

and 2011 in Daegu. In 2013 Eilidh Child helped the BG  4 x 400 squad to silver in Moscow, and took

bronze in 2015 in Bejing and London in 2017.

A total of 10 medals by Scottish athletes; 1 gold individual and 1 silver and 8 bronze in relay events.

At the time of writing (April 2020) the world is locked down with the Corona Virus pandemic and the Olympics schedules for Tokyo in July have been postponed for a year. All sport is on a ‘back burner’.

 

CHAPTER 11 MEET ARTHUR LYDIARD MASTER COACH.

Copy in Article from SVHC Newsletter Christmas 1991.

Arthur Lydiard in his lecture at Meadowbank in 1991 stated that he had only coached 22 athletes individually. Five of whom reached Olympic medal or world record standard and a further dozen reached Commonwealth or NZ national championship level.

He claimed that none of his athletes sustained serious injury because he advocated the maxim ‘Train don’t Strain’. He based a large proportion of his basic training on building an endurance base for all his athletes, whether in middle distance or longer endurance events.

He had little support from the New Zealand Athletic Association at the start and certainly did not have access to medical and scientific support in an age that was purely ‘Amateur’ with little or no financial support.

Lydiard developed many of his ‘revolutionary’ ideas in Finland before being recognised in New Zealand.

Why mention this? Simply to say that what Lydiard offered to his ‘Boys’ was a belief and commitment in his coaching methods that had been tested on himself, such was his dedication. I met very recently an attendee at his Meadowbank Lecture in 1991, who proclaimed that it was the most inspiring 3hrs he had ever spent listening to or talking about athletics. He has recently set a world best time at 80 yo!!

I found my brief time with Arthur in New Zealand and in Scotland in 1990/91 very inspirational.

I wrote two articles in 1991 for Scotland’s Runner magazine called, ‘Arthur’s Black Magic’ following interviews with him and some of his boys at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. They included, Murray Halberg, Barry McGee, Bill Baillie,and Jeff Julian, plus John Davies in 1986, and Jack Foster when I was in Rotorua.

In 1991 I was awarded the Scottish Sports Council Award, and in 2012 .  I received three awards for Voluntary Service to Athletics from East Lothian Council, Scottish Athletics and the UKA award presented to me by Lynn Davies Olympic Gold medal long jump champion.

It has been a wonderful life and I am sure that there will still be something round the corner

 

CHAPTER 15 EPILOGUE –WHERE IS THE FINISH LINE?

My first marriage ended after 26 years in 1991. I went to live in the seaside village of Gullan. I was able to get back into some training on the sand and up the hills. It was here that I invited Arthur Lydiard to come and stay with me for a holiday. I introduced him to the local runners and took him on a tour of Scotland, where he met other club runners. He agreed to give a lecture on his life and training methods at Edinburgh Meadowbank Stadium. It was sold out. He spent 3 hours sharing his story.* (You Tube Video.) He returned to New Zealand with an open invitation for me to visit him again, which I did on two subsequent occasions, after he had had a stroke, which limited his movements, but not his talking!

It was in October of 1991 that I won my last individual race. The SVHC Club 10k track V50 Championship, in 35m.40s. It was great to be first over the line for a change. I gained selection to represent Scotland in the UK international Masters Cross Country Championship in November at Amphill in Glasgow. Just one week after my win, I went for a run on the Gullane dunes with a local pal, stepped in a rabbit hole, and twisted my left knee. I did not realise it at that moment, but it was to prove to be the beginning of the end of my competitive running career! I did not run as well in Ampthill. Over Christmas 1991, I had my first knee keyhole surgery. Mr McNicol, a renowned knee and hip surgeon, said these classic words to me.  ‘Mr Muchamore, your engine is fine, but I am afraid your chassis is starting to creak’. Despite further physio, and surgery in 2012, I needed two new knees. I was never able to reach my full potential as a Veteran/Master athlete again. In 1993 I remarried, and went to live in Roslin and then to Gorebridge. I ran intermittently over the local terrain and roads. I gradually regained some basic fitness. It took ten years to get both knees replaced.

The consultant who saw me in Bradford in 1979 was right! I managed to get 12 years competitive running and a further 10 social running, before I had to stop after surgery.

After my second marriage started to fall apart in 1998, my running was for ‘Therapy’.

 I applied to VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). I was accepted to work as a Social Work Consultant in a remote part of Northern Bulgaria. I lived near the local Roma community.   My running was very restricted, as the area was infested with mad dogs that chased you.       I ended up doing three tours of duty over a 3 year period 1999 to 2002. On my return, in August 2002, I ran in a 10k mass event in Edinburgh, aged 64, in 43m50s, over 8 minutes slower than in 1991. My very last race was in April 2003 in the Dunbar Boundary race.        My final 10k race was the Dunbar Boundary race in December 2003 with Bob Peacock and George Armstrong clocking over 50minutes. That was the final realisation that my time to run had RUN OUT!!

Not being able to run I turned back to coaching mainly the local youngsters in Haddington but thanks to a ‘Sport for All’ grant I was able to visit all the Schools in East Lothian with a ‘Run Jump Throw’ introduction to athletics programme. Alongside lobbying with the local East Lothian Council to have our own athletic track based at Meadowmill, Prestonpans.

The surgery on both my knees limited my mobility for a while but the completion of the athletic track was a privilege to be a part of the development. In September 2012 the track was officially opened.

Team East Lothian, TEL which I had promoted for several years as a concept in which all three of the East Lothian athletic clubs could develop became fully operational for junior athletes under the guidance of the new Athletic Development Officer Jamie Bowie.

 I retained a link with my own club HELP, and the juniors. In 2013 I had difficulties getting about. Also the club wanted to change its focus and concentrate on Ultra running rather than Cross Country or Road team races.

The name was changed to Haddington Running Club (HRC) and the Juniors set up their own structure linked to the new Team East Lothian development structure.

In 2016 I was approached by the ADO (Jamie Bowie) to provide some help in coaching a young 15 year old ex swimmer who had basic talent but had had eating problems. Over the next 4 years I coached this girl to the point where she represented Scotland at Home international events and subsequently representing GB in the Junior European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon where she was part of the winning team and finished a creditable 17^th. Lack of training partners for her led me to seek the help of another coach with a squad of young female athletes at Edinburgh University.

In December 2019 my health was not good having been diagnosed with the onset of Parkinson’s Disease. I was finding it difficult driving in the dark and attending events in the cold. Hence by circumstance and fortune decided to handover the coaching responsibility to John Lees, but would retain a mentoring role in supporting her athletic career. She has now gained a place at Edinburgh University for the coming year and fits in naturally to the University squad.

My long-term hope for the future is that there will be a strong male and female senior group of athletes in East Lothian that can compete successfully in Scottish District and National events.

              HENRY MUCHAMORE

UKA LEVEL 3-4 PERFORMANCE COACH 1985 to 2020.

 

WHEN TO HANG UP YOUR WHISTLE, AND WATCH.

A COACH’S STORY.

Draft outline:

1, Background in athletics.

2. Influences of other’s theories and ideas

3, Learning to Coach and Self coaching.(parental involvement.)

4.Self  Coaching whilst still an active athlete.

5. Coaching individual athletes as part of a coaching team.

6 Spotting talent and helping develop potential

7. Being realistic about what you can offer as a coach.
8. Keeping up with the pace in the practice and science of coaching.

9.. Recognising the time to hang up the whistle, and WATCH!.

10. Rewards and Awards.
11. My background to athletics started in a Welsh field chasing a rabbit. The outcome was a grumbling appendix that burst and much concern to my family in NW London. I spent 6 weeks in a hospital in Builth Wells. This meant that I started late at my Secondary School in North London where PE was compulsory everyday in 1^st year, overseen by a strict ex Sgt Major. As I was not allowed to run there was no alternative, he made me walk round and round the playground for the duration of the lesson. As my strength grew I started to jog and by the following summer I entered in the County Scout Sports to run the half and quarter mile. I finished 2^nd and 1^st respectively and received my first trophy, a cup my father had won at his work sports day.   The following winter aged 13 I won the County Scouts cross country race against boys 2 years older than myself.  I was ‘spotted’ by a QPH (Queens Park Harriers) official and invited to train at Paddington Recreation track. The rest is history as they say. Twice I ran at the White City Stadium, in 1953 and 1955, setting a Club record of 2m0.2 sec for the 880yds and finishing 4^th in both the Middlesex Schools and Youth Championships. A meritorious award medal for QPH in the London to Brighton Club relay with a course record for the 11^th Third place in the London Universities Cross Country Champs in 1961

 National Service as a ‘Conchie’, followed by University, led to a career in Social Work, marriage and the arrival of a family, saw an end to serious running until 1979. Unfit and overweight, I started to train for my first Marathon in 1981 in London and broke 3 hrs.  After 13 years, 29 marathons, 35000 miles of training and racing in various parts of the world. The results were, a PB Marathon of 2hrs 39m in Dundee in 1984 aged 45. A Scottish 10k track championship in 1991 aged 53 in 34m50s and two gold medals in the Scottish Veterans Championships over 1500 and 800m the same year.

• Influences of other people, their theories and ideas.

Running has been my basic incentive to take up coaching. Getting a daily ‘Fix’ of a run, walk or cycle was crucial and still is, now that I can’t run, with two replacement knees and a diagnosis at 80years old of Parkinson’s disease.

There have been many influences on my running career that relate to my own coaching practice. My PE teacher, Sgt George Addey, whose son was a GB Olympic cyclist, highlighted the importance of dedication. He had me playing soccer and boxing as well as running and made me School Athletic Captain, Ted Hodgeman, our Youth Coach, who met with  us on Sundays and Thursdays at the King Edwards Track in Willesden, where Thames Valley now train under Linford Christie. Franz Stampfll, who brought Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher along to our Pacemaker Youth Club in Kilburn in 1956. And took us out for a training run. Percy Ceruty, Coach to Herb Elliot, whose book ‘How to become a Champion’ I read several times and whose schedules I first tried to use for my own training. The athlete I admired most at that time was Emil Zatopek, Particularly for his runs in the London Olympics in 1948 and his 10k, 5k, Marathon, epic triple gold in Helsinki in 1956. Running in army boots in the mud was his secret, but not possible in NW London, except maybe at the Welsh Harp Reservoir near Neasden where Hugh Jones trained and who was also the County Scouts Champion in his day.

Over the past 40 years I have collected a considerable number of coaching manuals and athlete biographies and autobiographies. Many of them I have read in detail, others, more selectively.

Among the most read books, have been those by New Zealand’s Master Coach, Arthur Lydiard, who I had the pleasure and privilege to meet and interview at the Commonwealth Games held in Auckland in 1990. He invited me to his home and in turn I was able, with the help of Scottish Athletics, to sponsor his visit to Scotland in 1991. His Lecture at Meadowbank Stadium is still viewed regularly on You Tube. The basics of his theories have been updated and illustrated by Kevin Livingston in his book ‘Healthy Intelligent Training’.

A key factor in Coaching of all descriptions is to keep the mind open to new ideas and to asses them against your own basic model. A recent book I have dipped into has been Dave Martin and Peter Coe’s book on ‘Brain Training for Distance Runners’ highlighting that mental fitness has to match the physical fitness to reach maximum potential.

For myself, like Lydiard, I found it is best to test results out on myself, if possible. If that was not possible, then to test the theory against several experiences. One thing is certain in athletics, is that there is no ‘One Fix for ALL’. Every athlete is different.

3

Learning to Coach: Parental Coaching,

Running is the most natural thing we do after we learn to walk. Why do we need to learn how to run? The reality is that we are all different in size and shape. Athletes compete in a wide variety of events that require different strengths and skills. When I started coaching groups of young athletes for the ‘Run Jump Throw’ Programme in the early 1980’s, I only had the BAAB Introduction to Coaching manual to help me look at anything outside simple running techniques. I decided to undertake the Multi event Decathlon training programme in 1986. It has proved a very solid base over the years. It included having to set up a 2-day Decathlon for 6 athletes at Meadowbank, which is still remembered by some fellow coaches of that era.

Getting help to provide training opportunities for young athletes has always proved difficult especially recruiting other athletes, who are pre-occupied with their own training. Hence the most effective resource for coach helpers has been parents. This not only requires setting up some initial basic training but also getting police checks. (PVG) All of which takes time and management.  The difficulty is that if the child in question loses interest or wants to undertake some other sport, then the parent’s involvement and interest is lost. However, there is a hope that from the residue, that some recruits, thankfully, some remain and develop as coaches.

For an athlete to develop their full potential they need parental and family support. For some the parent becomes the key coach and this can be very successful as seen in Peter Coe, Liz McColgan, and Carol Sharp who have taken their off spring to Olympic standards. However, parents who offer such support at a club level need help and support from the local club coaches to help them progress.

4. Self Coaching whilst still an active athlete.

Senior athletes who progress beyond the basic stage of group learning and want to improve, turn to books or magazines that provide general outlines for training in various events. Possibly the most used resource in this modern age is the Computer which offers a wide range of expert opinions along with videos on You tube for exercises and techniques.

What then is the role of the individual coach in a one to one situation with an athlete? Much will depend on where the individual wants to progress to in their short, medium and long-term outcome. If general fitness and recreation is their individual goal, then the general training manuals and articles would suffice.

One of the greatest innovations over the last decade, in my view, has been the growth in the weekly 5k ‘Park Runs’ which offers an opportunity for all levels of athletes to measure their performances in a simple but quite sophisticated way, giving accurate details which show improvement in different categories in age and gender.

Athletes who wish to progress tend to join a local club and attend the regular training nights offered. If interested, they will take part in team events at various levels of competition up to club, district and national level. Such activities can be most beneficial by the sharing of training experiences with other athletes in the club and as a consequence developing their own ideas as how to improve. However, there comes a time for an individual athlete when they feel that they must seek the guidance, advice and experience of a qualified coach if they are to progress. Most Clubs have their identified and affiliated Coaches who have a registered qualification with their governing body or association. They will also have a specialisation in a specific discipline such as Sprint, Middle Distance, Endurance, Hurdles, Jumps or Throws. Some clubs have their athletes in groups based on ability in a discipline, others will have a more general approach and where a talent in a particular discipline is identified an individual coach is identified.

Arthur Lydiard

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Coaching individual athletes as part of a coaching team.

Arthur Lydiard in his lecture at Meadowbank in 1991 stated that he had only coached 22 athletes individually. Five of whom reached Olympic medal or world record standard and a further dozen reached Commonwealth or New Zealand national championship level. (Extracts from Henry’s interviews with Arthur are added after this article.)

He claimed that none of his athletes sustained serious injury because he advocated the maxim: ‘Train don’t Strain’. He based a large proportion of his basic training on building an endurance base for all his athletes whether in middle distance or longer endurance events

 He had little support from the New Zealand Athletic Association at the start and certainly did not have access to medical and scientific support in an age that was purely ‘Amateur’ with little or no financial support.

Lydiard developed many of his ‘revolutionary’ ideas in Finland before being recognised in New Zealand.

Why mention this? Simply to say that what Lydiard offered to his ‘Boys’ was a belief and commitment in his coaching methods that had been tested on himself, such was his dedication.

I met very recently an attendee at his Meadowbank Lecture in 1991, who proclaimed that it was the most inspiring 3hrs he had ever spent listening to or talking about athletics. He has recently set a world best time for 10k at 80 yo!!

My brief time with Arthur in New Zealand and in Scotland in 1990/91 was very inspirational. I wrote two articles in 1991 for Scotland’s Runner magazine called, ‘Arthur’s Black Magic’ following interviews with him and some of his ‘Boys’ at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. They included, Murray Halberg, Barry McGee, Bill Ballie, and Jeff Julian, plus John Davies in 1986, and Jack Foster when I was in Rotarua.

Most of my career in Coaching has been with Young athletes in Groups and in late 1980s with athletes with a disability.

I have coached/advised/ supported about a dozen individual athletes at various stages in their careers.

On one of the level 4 Coach training courses I attended, along with Tommy Boyle, was on becoming a Mentor to your athletes.

 The model used was one I have developed with prospective athletes I have coached individually, which is the GROW model;

G= GOALs short, medium and long term. Not just in athletics but more holistically to life.

R= REALISTIC.  Helping the athlete face reality for their Goals and how they are achieved.

O= OPTIONS.   What if Goals set can’t be achieved what are the Options that can replace,

W= WILL POWER:  What is the commitment level that is required to obtain the Goals set.

As an athlete’s potential develops it is important to utilise other professionals in the team approach, such as physiotherapy and gym specialist for core development aspects.

 

6. Spotting talent in individuals and helping to develop their potential.

The most memorable athlete I have been involved with, was a young teenager who went on to win a full set of European and Commonwealth Games medals from 1986 to 1994 and a bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Yvonne Murray was coached initially by Bill Gentleman at Musselburgh Grammar school and whose attention to detail was unique.

My role was to ‘chum’ her on some of her lunch time runs and take her over the Haddington golf course for cross country practice. Most importantly it was to be pair of ears to listen to her when she needed help. Those aspects of a Coach are crucial.

Perhaps the most frustrating athlete I have coached is a lady that had fantastic potential in distance running but missed out through over training after deciding she wanted to ‘self coach’ She qualified to compete for her native country in the World Championship Marathon after a magnificent run in London but missed out through injury. Her satisfaction has been her success in ‘Alternative Events’ such as Tough Mudders.

The most difficult aspect of coaching individuals is to see athletes with talent who do not apply themselves to the task or try various unrealistic options that lead to injuries.

On the positive side has been seeing potential develop. Either gradually over several years, or in another, seeing the danger of impatience and the risk of doing too much too soon.

One aspect of individual coaching is when you recognise that an athlete is not realistic about their goals and how you can help them come to terms with setting new achievable targets.

The most important factor in a Coach is, in my view, to be a MOTIVATOR. To find a way to help the individual, at whatever level, be the BEST that they ultimately can be.

Helping an athlete maximise their potential has to be seeing them ‘move on’. Back in the mid 1980’s Haddington (HELP) had several very good runners among their Senior men and the team qualified for the Edinburgh to Glasgow 12 stage relay by finishing 5^th in the National Cross-Country Championships. Despite some brave efforts by individuals there was never the pool of talent required to maintain the standard needed.

 Under Alan Robson, brother of Olympian John Robson, a sponsored elite club was set up in the late 1980’s: ‘Leslie Deans AC’ and later ‘Mizuno RC’ although there was considerable criticism from the establishment this club provided opportunities for athletes with potential to take part in high class events.

The club disbanded in the early 90’s but in my view offered opportunities that a local club could not offer.

 

7. Being realistic about yourself as a coach and what you can offer.

An important part of any Coach’s career is to recognise what it is you have to offer others.

A Coach has to be several things to an athlete whether individually or in a group.

Firstly, there has to be respect. That doesn’t mean fear. Some coaches try to be over familiar with their athletes and lose their basic authority. Others can become disciplinarians and athletes fear to question what they are being told. Personally, I have adopted a simple approach of explaining at the start of any session to a group or individual, what the plan and purpose is for the session, and what we hope to achieve. At the end of a session I have always tried to encourage feedback and questions. Essentially, a Coach must be a motivator and enabler. However, a Coach must be realistic about an individual’s potential and not build up false hopes or dreams. The Coach also has the role of confidant with the individual and recognises when things may not be going well elsewhere in their lives, at home, school or work all of which impacts on performance.  Essentially a Coach needs to acknowledge when it is time for other kind of help such as moving from a junior to senior group or to a more specialised coach in a particular discipline.  In particular, is the need to emphasise R&R (Rest and Recovery). Overtraining can often lead to injury or break down if not managed properly.

I have used the analogy of EDUCATION as a model for an athlete’s developmental progress. At primary school you learn the basics of reading and writing and need a Primary School teacher. At Secondary school you are developing the building blocks of your future education with exams and tests in different subjects, When you are at University you are applying what you have learnt to your future goal subject and need a Professor to help you achieve your best graduation level, It could be a PASS A SECOND or a FIRST. The outcome is what you have put in. So it is in Athletics and a Coach must not be afraid to help their protégé on to the next level of their development. Not to do so could stultify potential.

8. Keeping up with the pace of science and technology in Coaching.

After three and a half decades of coaching, the advance of science in sport in general has improved dramatically. The digital age has enabled both coach and athlete to improve performance. The performance video is now a slim, hand held device that has instant play back rather than the once cumbersome camera. The watch, that just recorded time, now shows heart beats, pace, distance plus recovery. Not only when you are awake, the digital watch can record your sleep patterns. The athlete and the coach can be directly linked and recorded, no longer requiring manual records. Schedules can be written, and modified even if they are in different countries, provided the apps and data are synchronised to do so.

In the gym new machinery can be adapted to your programme by your hand set.

If you have an injury or illness it can initially tell you what to do and how to do it,

Balanced dietary programmes can be set up to suit your energy output.

In fact, technology could take over the need for an individual or group coach. Just plug into the Wi-Fi connection, switch on the speaker. Let the music match the vocal output and the Coach is redundant!!

Feasible as this may be, I believe the role of the personal coach is still the main motivating factor for improving personal performance. Whether standing with watch in hand at the trackside or on a dark street or at a cross country venue.  Having someone, to call your name, telling you to ‘keep going.  Saying ‘Well done’, especially if it has resulted in a medal or personal best performance or even a comforting hand or hug when things have not gone well., That in my book is both the agony and the pleasure of being a Coach.

9. Recognising the right time to hang up the watch and whistle,.

Under UK Athletic regulations for Coaches, licences to Coach are reviewed and renewed every 3 years through the local governing body such as UK Athletics.

Coaches are required to demonstrate that they have done something to update or develop their personal coaching skill. It may be attending a training course or conference.  It may be related to their own club or event group,

Over the years I have tried to initiate seminars, or discussion groups. I have worked with events such as the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. Also I have written discussion papers or training sessions where local coaches can share ideas and sessions with their own athletes.

However, there comes a time when physically you cannot do what you used to do.

Age and health take their toll. The eyesight deteriorates. Maybe driving in the dark has its problems, and the cold nights at the track are not so enjoyable.

Why wait for an accident to happen or a mistake to be made or your judgement questioned?

The service given by Coaches all over the world is honoured and valued and like Arthur Lydiard, listened to by others. Lydiard at 84 years old, just hours before he died in December 2004, was addressing a group of coaches in Texas.

Putting down one’s recollections and thoughts can be a constructive way of continuing the experiences you have had for helping generations of athletes, young or not so young, to maximise their potential.

              The watch and whistle have had their day.

             The time will come to just sit back and ENJOY watching the events and comment on others.

10. Rewards and Awards.

Looking back over the last 40 years, particularly since ‘returning’ to athletics in general and running specifically I have to ask myself ‘what have I gained and what have I lost out on?’

Certainly, on the positive side I regained my health. On a holiday to Oban in 1979 when we lived in West Yorkshire I suffered from chronic back pain and was overweight. I took a run/jog/walk with my Springer spaniel around the loch of Ben Nevis and came back covered in mud but a feeling of joy and fun that led to my training for the first London marathon in 1981. It led to meeting so many people, not least members of the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club and I became the Secretary for 9 years and President in 1990. At that stage Veteran athletes were not recognised by the SAAA (Scottish Amateur Athletic Association) or the SCCU (Scottish Cross Country Union). Together with stalwarts like Henry Morrison and the late Ian Steedman we campaigned for Age Group Athletes over 40 to be included in Championships and also the inclusion of female athletes over 35 to become members of the SVHC. 

However, when we fought for the inclusion of former ‘professional’ athletes such as George McNeil (winner of the New Year Sprint and Stawell Gift sprint) it proved a step too far for some of the traditionalist and I resigned from my Presidency of SVHC on principle.

To have seen World Athletics advance in the last 40 years has mixed ‘rewards’. Certainly, Athletics has now become a career path for both athletes and administrators.

As an example, Seb Coe has ‘progressed’ from double gold medallist in 1980 and 1984 to President of IAAF now called World Athletic Council. The Olympic Games and World Championships now provide the incentive for athletes to excel in their event, but sadly many take the risk of cheating through drugs or corruption in administration.

Having the opportunity, through the East Lothian Press to attend six Commonwealth Games plus 2 Olympics, 2 Paralymics and one European Championship is reward in itself.

Personally, I have never won a cash prize for winning an event or received a fee for coaching able-bodied athletes. My work with people with a learning or physical disability was financed by East Lothian Council and Enjoy Leisure. The coaching I have done for young athletes and individuals I received travel expenses for coaching but not attending events.

When I was appointed Course Director for the Gsi Edinburgh Marathon in 2006/7 I received a fee for my professional and administrative services.

Following operations on both knees prior to the formal setting up of Team East Lothian

I decided not to apply for either the Athletic Development Officer or Endurance Coach posts.

Prior to this, with the help of East Lothian Council I made a successful application for a ‘Sport for All Award’ which enabled me to visit every Primary and Secondary School in East Lothian with a short ‘Introduction to Athletics’ programme which saw Young Athlete Clubs develop in Dunbar, Haddington and Musselburgh. These Clubs have now provided the ‘source’ base for the now successful Team East Lothian Athletic Club based at Meadowmill Sports Centre in Prestonpans and opened in 2012 after a 20 year battle to get the funding through East Lothian Council and Scottish Sports Council and Scottish Athletics PL.

Although many clubs now have the funds to pay their qualified coaches, perhaps there should be a standardised way of remunerated athletic coaches whether they are club based or offering their services in a personal or private capacity. A subject for both National and International bodies to consider.

In 1991 I was awarded the Scottish Sports Council Award and, in 2012, I received three awards for Voluntary Service to Athletics from East Lothian Council, Scottish Athletics and the UKA award presented to me by Lynn Davies Olympic Gold medal long jump champion.

It has been a wonderful life and I am sure that there will still be something round the corner.

My long-term hope for the future is that there will be a strong male and female senior group of athletes in East Lothian that can compete successfully at Scottish District and National Levels.

HENRY MUCHAMORE

UKA LEVEL 3-4 PERFORMANCE COACH 1985 to 2020.

 

EXTRACTS FROM HENRY MUCHAMORE’S ARTICLES ABOUT INTERVIEWING THE WORLD-FAMOUS ATHLETICS COACH ARTHUR LYDIARD

A problem faced by many club athletes, including veterans, is over-committing themselves in terms of races.

Lydiard is quite emphatic that the basic conditioning that is undertaken by an athlete in the eight to twelve weeks build-up period has to be at what he calls “a steady state pace”. This is a pace that you can sustain comfortably without getting into oxygen debt – but is not what many interpret as Long Slow Distance.

The formula is different for each athlete and Lydiard warns that it is vital that athletes do not get themselves into a group where they go faster than their bodies tell them. This is why during the conditioning phase Lydiard is more concerned with ‘time on your feet’ than how many miles you have run. In the main, a glance at the kitchen clock is much better than wearing a stopwatch, which tends to make you pay more attention to time than how you are feeling.

What is more, during this conditioning period, Lydiard does NOT advocate mixing in speedwork, although he is very much in favour of what he calls ‘resistance work’ on hills or heavy terrain. However, heavy terrains, unlike more even surfaces, do not provide enough traction to allow increased understanding of pace judgement, which is so crucial to his training methods. Therefore, a lot of road training is necessary.

The conditioning period produces the base of the fitness pyramid – the broader the base, the higher the peak that can be attained. Next phase is speed training, including bounding and high knee exercises, even for marathon runners! Getting athletes to peak fitness on the most important race day is essentially what Lydiard’s methods are all about.

He feels that a highly tuned athlete can maintain their peak for at the most six weeks if they are lucky – and that current demands to take race for months in Grand Prix events will inevitably lead to racing tired and post-peak. Even club and veteran athletes, rather than racing too often, should set themselves realistic goals and targets to reach, followed by an important period of recovery and re-building.

Regular ‘Time Trials’ were another ingredient, but not necessarily flat out efforts. He claims that if the body does something often enough it will acclimatise to the task more efficiently. His criticism about athletes who rely on interval training is that they don’t really test the body under race conditions. Hence his time trials are geared to teach the athlete even pace running over a given distance. Weekly Time Trial targets can start off six weeks before the big race and, for example, the first one might be three minutes slower than PB time, and then be reduced by 30 seconds every week.

In September 1991, Arthur Lydiard visited Henry in Scotland. They toured the country, visiting Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fort William and Mallaig. Naturally, coaching was a frequent topic of conversation.

Arthur’s finest athletes all had very supple ankles (and Achilles tendons), as a result of hill work, some sand work and speed drill sessions. “You must become like a ballet dancer,” he constantly told people. Flexibility reduced the likelihood of injury.

Arthur knew Gordon Pirie well, since he had spent time in New Zealand. Arthur had great respect for Gordon but felt that he, along with a large number of other runners who tried the long-distance training techniques, got one important aspect wrong. Don’t mix it! Speed training and endurance training during the conditioning phase are counter-productive, he strongly argues. The way to build up the foundation of strong heart and leg muscles with an improved oxygen uptake level is NOT as some commentators think of Lydiard’s method being long slow distance – it is actually optimum steady state running, which is quite different.

Arthur visited Meadowbank Stadium and met the Athletics Coach Bill Walker, who did so much to help prepare for Arthur’s seminar. Watching the runners warm up, Arthur said that athletes should run as they walk, with low arm parallel to the body and shoulders relaxed, tall with buttocks underneath the trunk. “If athletes don’t concentrate on good posture in their warm up, they will not do it naturally when running.” He was impressed by one coach who had his youngsters doing their step runs. Step running, he felt, was an excellent exercise, both in warm up and training, and helped to build flexible and strong feet, ankles and tendons.

He quotes the Swedish coach that developed fartlek running: “If you would allow youngsters to run freely and not race until they were fully developed, you would have the makings of a future champion.” He feels that parents and over-enthusiastic coaches drain our true potential for top senior athletes by making youngsters over-race during their developmental period.

Lydiard also has some harsh words to say about processed food, most of which he believes has many of the essential trace elements for an athlete’s development removed, before we even put them in the cooking pot. Consequently, he believes that most serious athletes and every youngster should be supplementing their diet with some form of multi-vitamin, many of which are essential to help basic metabolism for absorbing high energy foods. Most youngsters, he believes, are needing additional calcium while they are growing. He was able to give examples of athletes who had to have the hair from the back of their necks analysed to establish exactly what essential trace elements were missing but, sadly, this facility was not available for most coaches of athletes.

At the press conference, receptions in Edinburgh and North Berwick and at the Saturday Seminar, everyone who met Arthur Lydiard became captivated by his charisma. Whether or not everyone agreed with all his views and concepts, what came through was enormous respect for a self-made man who knew his subject inside out.

(On YOUTUBE there are videos of ‘Arthur Lydiard Lecture Meadowbank Stadium Parts 1 and 2. Well worth a look and a listen!)

 

If you would like to put this into the context of Henry’s entire running career, we have a copy of his athletics autobiography which he has kindly let us reproduce  here.