Category: Uncategorized

Lynsey SHARP (11.07.90) Edinburgh Southern Harriers, Edinburgh

Championship Record:

European 2012 800 (1st),

Olympics 2012 800 (sf), European 2014 800 (2nd), World 2015 800  (sf), World Indoors 2016 800 (ht), Olympics 2016 800 (6th), World 2017 800 (8th), European 2018 800  (6th), World 2019 800 (ht); Commonwealth 2014 800 (2nd), Commonwealth 2018 800 (ht), 4×400 (6th).

Great Britain: 1st 800 2012, 2014, 2015, 2nd 800 2016, 2019, 3rd 800 2017; 2nd 800 Indoors 2016.

Scottish: 2nd 800 2008, 3rd 400 2007, 2010; 2^nd 400 Indoors 2007;

Scottish Junior 800m Indoor gold medals: under-15 in 2003; under-17 in 2006; and under-20 in 2007 and 2008. She also won under-15 300m gold in 2005. In the Scottish Schools Indoors, she won the under-16 800m title in 2004; over-16 800m in 2006.

Daughter of Cameron Sharp and Carol Lightfoot/Sharp; sister of Carly Sharp.

Personal Best: 800m: 1.57.61 (2016)

First in the annual Scottish top ten ranking lists for 800m in: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016. 2017.

Voted ‘Athlete of the Year’ in the annual Scottish Athletics awards in 2011 and 2012.

Six Scottish Senior International Track appearances:

2007 223 v Ireland and Wales Mixed Medley Relay 1st 3:45.45. Scotland won the match.

2011 238 Loughborough (v England, Wales and three other teams) 800m 1st 2:06.26

2012 241 Loughborough 4x400m 1st 3:34.24

2014 248 Commonwealth Games 800m 2nd 2:01.34

2015 251 Loughborough 4x400m 2^nd 3:38.01

2018 257 Commonwealth Games 800m 4^th heat 3 2:01.33

4x400m 6^th 3:29.18

Scottish Short Course Cross-Country Championships:

In 2011, Edinburgh AC (with Lynsey Sharp) won team silver medals.

Scottish Cross-Country Relay Championships:

In 2007, Edinburgh Southern Harriers (with Lynsey Sharp) won team gold medals in the Young Athletes Female (under-17) age group.

East District Cross-Country Relays:

In 2006, ESH (with Lynsey) won team gold medals in the ‘Young Females’ category.

Lynsey Sharp’s Power of 10 profile makes excellent reading:

“Lynsey in 2012 was the first Briton to win the European 800m title since Lillian Board, forty-three years years earlier.

She has run below 2 minutes for the distance on 35 occasions.

Won six National titles – three British senior, one English under-23 and two English under-15.”

Note how many championships she has competed in, as a young athlete as well as a senior!

Lynsey’s Wikipedia Page is also very informative, especially about her pre-Senior athletics achievements.

STEPH TWELL is a successful professional athlete who continues to race worldwide. A normal Scottish Distance Running History profile would be inadequate. However, here is a brief outline from a Scottish perspective.

Stephanie TWELL (17.08.89) Aldershot Farnham & District

In Scottish lists 2009-2019

Championship Record: World 2009 1500 (ht), European 2010 1500 (7th), World 2015 5000 (12th), World Indoors 2016 3000 (6th); European 2016 5000 (3rd); Olympics 2016 5000 (ht), European Indoors 2017 3000 (5th), World 2017 5000 (ht), European 2018 5000 (10th), World 2019 10,000 (15th); Commonwealth 2010 1500 (3rd), 5000 (4th); Commonwealth 2014 5000 (14th), Commonwealth 2018 1500 (7th), 5000 (14th).

Great Britain: 1st 5000 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018; 1st 10,000 2019; 2nd 1500 2009, 2nd 10,000 2017; 1^st 3000 Indoors 2016, 2nd 3000 Indoors 2017.

Scottish: 1st 1500 2013.

In the annual top ten Scottish rankings, Steph Twell was first in the: 1500m (2009, 2010, 2012); 3000m (2010, 2016); 5000m (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016); 10,000m (2019); Marathon (2018, 2019). Her 2019 time of 2.26.40 was a new Scottish Record.

Steph Twell ran for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018, racing 1500m and 5000m.

On the road, she raced twice for Scotland (in the 2014 Leeds 10k, which she won, leading Scotland to victory over England and Norway; and in the 2018 Commonwealth Half Marathon Championship, when she finished seventh [first Scot] in 72.32).

Steph ran for Scotland twice over cross-country: in 2016 at Edinburgh, in a 4x1k Mixed Relay, Scotland (including Steph Twell and Laura Muir) won, defeating GB & NI, Ireland and Scotland B. Steph also ran in a similar event at Edinburgh in 2018. She has run cross-country at Edinburgh several times; and competed in other Scottish events such as the 2014 Lenzie Jog 9k, where Steph won and her future husband finished a close second!

Running for Kilbarchan AC, Steph Twell won the 2019 Scottish Senior National Cross-Country title.

Steph’s Wikipedia page is detailed and fascinating! So is her Power of 10 list.

Andrew Douglas is a very versatile runner who excels in more than one discipline.    There used to be a fashion fro runners to try to be a top all-round endurance runner.   There was not the degree of specialisation that is felt to be needed now but by any reckoning, he is a superb example of the all-round distance runner.   Colin Youngson has written this profile of him.  

Andrew DOUGLAS (19.12.86) Caithness, Inverclyde AC

One Scottish road International vest: 2010 Dunfermline Half Marathon. Andrew Douglas finished third (first Scot – in 67.06).

Two Scottish Cross-Country International vests: 2016 at Falkirk. Home Countries International v England and Wales. Andrew Douglas won the race, with the Scottish team finishing second to England. 2018 at Nottingham. Home Countries International. Andrew finished third (first Scot).

Senior National Cross Country Championships:

Andrew finished second in 2012 and 2016; and third in 2018.

Scottish Cross Country Relay Championships:

Inverclyde AC (with Andrew) won gold in 2011, 2012 and 2018; silver in 2015; and bronze in 2014, 2016 and 2020.

Inter-District Cross-Country Championships:

Andrew Douglas won the title in 2016; and finished second in 2012; and third in 2020.

West District Cross-Country Championships:

Andrew Douglas won gold in 2012; silver in 2018 and 2019; and bronze in 2013.

Scottish Six-Stage Road Relay Championships:

Inverclyde AC (with Andrew) finished third in 2010 and 2016.

Scottish Half Marathon Championships:

Andrew finished third in 2010.

DO READ THE ANDY DOUGLAS POWER OF 10 PAGE to understand how varied his running career has been.

Just click on his name above.

“WHY I TOOK TO THE HILLS – ANDY DOUGLAS

11/4/2019

Andy Douglas is currently one of Britain’s most successful mountain runners, consistently performing well at the European and World Mountain running championships since 2014 (placing 6th at the Worlds 2015).

But, prior to competing on the hills, Andy was one of Scotland’s top road/cross country runners.

Here, in a special Q and A for scottishathletics, Andy chats about transferring his focus to the hills.

Andy was speaking to Angela Mudge

How successful were you on the road/XC/track?

From earning my first Scotland vest when the Home Countries International Road Series took place back in 2010, I have represented Scotland on a number of occasions on the Road and XC.

Probably my best results in a Scotland vest were winning the Frank Duffy 10-mile race in Dublin in 2010 and 2014; and in XC winning the Home Countries International in Falkirk in 2016.

Why did you decide to try mountain/hill running?

From around 2012 my ultimate goal was to qualify for the marathon in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014.

During the qualification period, I kept sustaining multiple injuries that left me frustrated and unable to make the improvements in race performances that would give me a realistic chance of achieving my target.

After the marathon in London (which was the last opportunity to post a qualifying standard) I decided that I needed to try something completely different in order to rediscover my passion for the sport.

Having grown up in a very rural setting in the far north of Scotland, I felt like it was a natural transition to get back to the hills and wide-open spaces so that’s when I decided to target mountain and hill racing.

How has your training changed? Do you include specific sessions for hill work?

My coach (Sophie Dunnett) and I work together in adapting my training slightly to prepare me for specific types of mountain racing.

I still maintain key 5k/10k type flat sessions all year round, however in the Spring we start to introduce longer hill reps which can total almost an hour long in duration (even longer sometimes!) so that my legs get used to longer, sustained climbing and descending.

Sophie can get pretty creative with some of the hill reps sessions she gives me, and I can guarantee that they will stretch my limits of endurance!

What new skills has mountain running given you?

I think there’s been a number of benefits both physically and mentally that mountain running has given me.

Physically, I’ve improved my core strength more so than training just solely for the roads did for me, and I probably have a bit more strength endurance from the uphill aspect.

I do believe my attitude in racing has improved as well and perhaps I have become more resilient than I used to be, because in mountain running you realise how much strain your body is capable of going through and I like to think that I can transfer that now to road racing and xc.

Many runners new to the sport struggle with the descents. Do you have any words of advice?

It’s definitely something that is key to being a successful mountain runner and needs to be practised.

When I compare myself to others, descending on more technical ground is definitely not my forte! It is something that I’ll continue to work on, and my advice to others is to incorporate fast descents into your hill reps. Always try though to strike a balance whereby you don’t put yourself at serious risk of injury.

How has hill running affected your overall performances on road and cross country?

I would say so far it has complemented each other well. On the road, I set my current half marathon PB in 2016, two years after beginning to race on the hills; and at the end of last year I came within four seconds of my 10k PB at Ribble Valley.

It tends to take a couple months after the mountain running season has finished for me to build the speed back up in the legs for road and xc, but injury-permitting, I find I can get into my peak road/xc shape by the start of the new year.

Were you successful in your first season or did it take a few years to get it right?

Much to my surprise I made the GB Mountain Running Team at the first time of asking for both the European and World Mountain Running Champs back in 2014, and won my first British Mountain Running title that very same year.

Much credit needs to go to my coach Sophie who made sure I was well prepared for both trial races, and I got a lot of great advice from Robbie Simpson when I was on the team so it made the transition pretty seamless.

Any words of advice for athletes wishing to give hill or mountain running a go?
As with anything in competitive sport, preparation is key. So, if you’re new to this kind of endurance running, speak to your coach or someone you know who has raced on the hills and start incorporating hill reps into your training.

Try and target something low-key to race in at first so you can enjoy the experience. There are many hill races across Scotland that are on throughout the year and you’ll discover a really friendly and approachable community within Scottish hill running.”

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

Scottish Athletics statistician, Arnold Black, wrote the following:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – DARREN GAUSON
“Darren is seen here, winning the 2004 Scottish title from Derek Watson and Mark Pollard, retained his title with victory the following year. He went to Butler University in USA and has stayed in the USA ever since, developing a good reputation in coaching, currently a head coach at Bradley Univ. His career bests were 1:49.80 at 800, 3:42.16 at 1500, 4:01.12 mile, 8:13.40 3000, 14:19.53 5000.”

Darren GAUSON (22.03.82) City of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Belgrave, Butler University (USA)

In Scottish lists 2002-2011

Championship Record:

Scottish: 1st 1500m 2004, 2005, 3rd 1500m 2010

Ran for Scotland in the 2005 Loughborough match v England, Wales and three other teams. He finished fourth in the 1500m (3.49.49).

As a Junior (under-23), ran for Scotland in the Celtic Nations XC in 2004. He finished 6^th (third Scot) and Scotland lost to Ireland but beat Wales and NI.

In the Senior Scottish Short Course Cross-Country, City of Edinburgh finished 3^rd in 2004 (with Darren 8^th); won team gold in 2005 (with Darren 4^th); and team silver in 2006 (Darren individual bronze).

In the Scottish Senior Cross-Country Relay, City of Edinburgh won silver in 2006, with both Gauson brothers featuring.

In the Scottish Six-Stage Road Relay, City of Edinburgh (with Darren) won gold in 2006.

In the Senior East District Cross-Country, Darren secured individual bronze in 2005, when City of Edinburgh finished second team, losing to Central AC on countback.

While at Butler University between 2007 and 2011, Darren raced frequently and widely: Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Oregon, Ohio, Arizona, Georgia, Tennessee etc, plus Belgium.

BUT WHAT ABOUT DARREN’S YOUNGER BROTHER?

Kristopher G. GAUSON (29.01.88) City of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Belgrave, Butler University (USA), Musselburgh, Inverclyde

PBs: 800m – 1.48.64; 1500m – 3.39.08; One Mile – 3.59.74 Indoors; 3000m – 8.01.40 Indoors.

Ranked first in 800m (2009); and 1500m (2006, 2011).

In Scottish lists 2003-2017

Championship Record: 

Scottish: 1st 800m 2011; 1^st equal (with Ross Toole) 1500m 2006; 1st 1500m 2013.

Won under-17 1500m in 2004; under-20 1500m in 2006;

Ran for Scotland in the 2013 Loughborough match v England, Wales and three other teams. He finished 6^th in the 3000m (8.23.16)

As a Junior (under-17), ran for Scotland in the Celtic Nations XC in 2004. He finished fifth (third Scot) and Scotland won, in front of Wales and NI.

Won the under-20 Scottish Short Course Cross-Country title in 2007.

In the Scottish Cross-Country Relays: Young Athletes Male – City of Edinburgh (with Kris) secured bronze in 2003 and silver in 2004 and 2005. In the Senior Relay, the team won silver in 2006, with both Gauson brothers featuring.

Won the under-17 East District Cross-Country title in 2004, when City of Edinburgh won the team title. Kris was third in the under-20 East District XC in 2005.

While at Butler University between 2008 and 2012, as his Power of 10 list shows, Kris raced frequently and widely: in Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, California, Oregon etc, contesting cross-country and especially track. During 2013-2014, he competed in England, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Austria and also in the USA – Texas and California.

Darren and Kris – the Gauson Brothers – certainly enjoyed considerable success and an impressive variety of racing experiences!

Scottish Athletics statistician Arnold Black wrote:

“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – ELSPETH CURRAN

Elspeth Curran is a 4-times Scottish senior champion, twice winning the short course cross country title and twice winning on the road at 5k and 10 miles. On the track, she has won silver at 10,000m and bronze at 5000m, having been under-23 5000 metres champion in 2009. She has career bests of 4:27.0 (1500m), 9:30.12 (3000m), 16:17.54 (5000m), and 34:47.82 (10,000m).”

Elspeth CURRAN (27.07.89) Kilbarchan AAC

In Scottish lists from 2006-2019.

Championship Record: Scottish: 2nd 10,000m 2019; 3rd 5000m 2010.

Scottish Schools: Group A 2006 3000m gold.

7 Scottish Junior International XC/Road vests:

(Celtic Nations 2006-11; Home Countries 2008.)

2006 Dublin v Ireland, Wales, NI (under-20)

2007 Belfast: 5^th. Scotland won the team contest.

2008 Edinburgh.

2009 Cardiff. (Under-23).

2010 Antrim. Ist individual. Scotland beat Ireland and Ulster.

2011 Dublin. Ist Individual. Scotland beat Ireland and Ulster.

2008 Home Countries International at Edinburgh: Junior Women.  6^th; Scotland lost to England but beat Wales and Northern Ireland.

One Scottish Senior International Road vest: 2013 at Leeds 10km. 7^th in 34.30.

National Cross-Country Championships:

Under-17: Kilbarchan team bronze 2005 (5^th); gold in 2006 (4^th).

Under-20. Kilbarchan won team gold in 2007, with Elspeth 4^th; silver in 2009 (5^th).

Senior: 2011: Elspeth Curran individual silver, four seconds behind Freya Murray; team silver. 2014: team bronze.

Scottish XC Relay: Kilbarchan (with Elspeth Curran) team silver in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. Bronze in 2014 and 2019.

Scottish Short Course XC: Elspeth Curran won in 2010 and 2011; Kilbarchan won team bronze in 2008 and 2017; team silver in 2010, 2014 and 2019; gold in 2011 and 2013.

West District Cross-Country:

Elspeth Curran secured under-17 bronze in 2006, when Kilbarchan gained team gold.

She won the under-20 title in 2007 and individual bronze in 2008 – Kilbarchan won the team in both of those years.

Elspeth became Senior Champion in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2019. Individual silver in 2018. Kilbarchan won the team title in 2011; and had many victories in the West District XC Relays.

Scottish 5k Road Championships: Elspeth Curran won the title in 2013.

Scottish 10k Road Championships: she finished third in 2013.

Scottish 10 Miles Road Championships: Elspeth won the title in 2018.

Overall, although Elspeth Curran is nowhere near Masters age-groups yet, she continues to enjoy a long, successful career, featuring not only individual highlights but also proving herself a valuable One-Club contributor to the achievements of Kilbarchan AAC.

                                       Left to right: Alastair (Sammy) Walker, Andy Fair, Dave Cavers: Uphill-only Mile!

David CAVERS (born 4.09.63) Teviotdale Harriers, Border Harriers.

Personal Bests: 5000m: 14:45.8; 10,000m; 3000mSteeplechase 9:20.67; Marathon: 2:16:06.

Appearing in Scottish Athletics lists 1988-2002, Dave Cavers was a most remarkable cross-country runner, who also completed three very good marathons.  

He had ten victories in the East District Cross-Country League and had many contributions to Teviotdale’s best team performances.   He was East District Cross-Country champion six times between 1991 and 2000. Teviotdale won the team championship in 1991.

However, it is Dave Cavers’ record in the Senior National that is most amazing in its high quality and consistency.   Between 1989 and 2001 he was second, fourth twice, fifth twice, seventh, eighth twice, ninth, tenth twice, twelfth and fourteenth.   If only Scotland had not been excluded from competing as a separate nation in the IAAF World Cross-Country! 

Teviotdale Harriers (with David) won Senior National team medals: bronze in 1991, 1992; and silver in 1989. 

Dave’s silver medal in 1999 was won at Beach Park, Irvine, when he was defeated by Robert Quinn but finished in front of Tommy Murray, Phil Mowbray and Tom Hanlon.   When he was fourth in 2000, the three in front were also very high-quality GB Internationals – Quinn, Murray and Glen Stewart.    A remarkable performance.

David Cavers was top of the Scottish Marathon Rankings in 1997 (2.16.18) and 1998 (2.16.06).

Between 1995 and 2002, he ran 8 marathons. In 1997, he improved to an excellent 2.16.18 (28^th place) in April’s London Marathon. Consequently, he was selected to race for GB in October at the famous Kosice International Peace Marathon in Slovakia, where he finished fourth in 2.18.44 and won more than a thousand dollars. In March 1998, he produced a fine personal best Half Marathon time (5^th place – 64.46) at Reading. Then in April, at the Rotterdam Marathon, he finished 12th in a fine 2.16.06. Selection to race for Scotland in September’s Commonwealth Games Marathon at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, led to dropping out and disappointment: conditions were dreadfully hot and humid and too much for even a very tough guy like David Cavers, especially since he had been unlucky enough to contract a virus. (The race was won in 2.19.15 and the first three were Africans). However, by November 1998 he had recovered in time to win the Derwentwater ten miles road race in Kendal.   

Cross-Country: nine Scottish International appearances.   There have been men with a lesser record who have been appointed captain and it is a record that will never be equalled again.

1990: Mallusk; then at Irvine the SCCU Centenary International 9^th (third Scot). England won but Scotland beat Wales, Ireland, Sweden and NI. Then again at Irvine (6^th and third Scot) when Scotland won, beating England, Wales and NI. Then at Durham (30^th and fourth Scot)

1991 Mallusk.

1992 at Basingstoke (41^st and fifth Scot). Scotland won, beating England and Wales.

1994 at Alnwick. The British Championships. David Cavers finished 25^th (second Scot).

1996 at Ashington. BAF Championships. David was 25^th (third Scot).

1997 at Luton (Reebok World Trials). David was 24^th (fourth Scot).

 *

Road: Four Scottish International appearances.

1994 at Dunfermline. Half Marathon (14^th and third Scot). England won from Ireland. Scotland beat Wales (on countback) with NI fifth.

1997 at Erewash, Wales, v England and Wales. Ten Miles. David was seventh (first Scot).

1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games Marathon. DNF.

2000 at Swansea. 10k. England won from Scotland with Wales third.

Scottish Cross-Country Relay Championships

A proud day for Teviotdale Harriers (and Dave Cavers, Keith Logan, Rob Hall and Alastair Walker) was when the club was victorious at Inverness in 1989.

East District XC Relays

Between 1986 and 1991, Teviotdale Harriers secured six successive silver medals in this championship.

                                                         E to G 1986: Dave Cavers (number 19).

Photo by Graham McIndoe

Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay

In 1986, Teviotdale Harriers (including Dave Cavers) finished 9^th and won the most meritorious performance medals. They improved to 8^th in 1987, a place they retained in 1988. Fifth in 1989 and 1990 was even better but third place medals in 1991 proved to be their peak in this superb event. Running that day were: Brian Emmerson, Alastair Walker, Keith Logan, D Barr, Andy Fair (fastest on Stage Five), Dave Cavers, Ian Elliot and Rob Hall. Sixth in 1992, 11th in 1993, 8^th in 1994 and 9^th in 1995 certainly demonstrated what a strong, consistent team they were.

Dave Cavers continued to run cross-country until 2008 before retiring after an outstanding running career.

Left to right: Keith Logan, Rob Hall, Dave Cavers, Alastair Walker, Brian Emmerson, Ian Elliot, Andy Fair, Brian Neilson. (Taken before the 1987 Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay.)

Jimmy Reid

The following article about the Kirkcaldy YMCA was contributed by Alex Wilson who had received it from Don Macgregor and it is an excellent insight to a world of running that has long gone although runners are runners whatever their generation!

“A local pensioner’s memories of the old days of Kirkcaldy YMCA (Fife Leader, February 28) sparked of more recollections among readers.  

Jimmy Reid, McIndoe Crescent, Kirkcaldy told us that he was a member of Kirkcaldy YMCA in 1929 and belonged to the Harriers club.   “The club was then in Kirk Wynd, when John Thom was secretary,” he said.   “The caretaker was known as ‘old Walter and if you wanted to know anything about the YM you just asked Walter and he knew the answer.   

We had a very good Harriers section in those days, with trainer Davy Butchart, Jack Syme and so on.   The Harriers I remember then were Dave Ross, Willie Gibb, Jock AdieAndrew Torrance, Andrew Thomson, Tom Dewar and Willie Duncan, and the president was Mr Sandilands of of Kirkcaldy Town Council. 

“I was a member of the team which won the Scottish YMCA Championships in 1931.and I still have the medal which I had made into a ring and have worn to this day”. 

 D Williamson (82), Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy, also remembers the old days at the YM.   “The first Boys Club – all ex-members of the Boys Brigade – started in a hall at the back of what was the Fifty Shilling Tailors (now a sports shop) opposite Whytescauseway,” Mr Williamson said.   “They later moved to a much larger premises in Carlyle Road.   The Thirties were great years for sporting activities in Kirkcaldy.   The four running clubs were Eastbank from Pathhead, the YM from Kirk Wynd, theBoys Club from Rose Street, and the Old Boys Club from Carlyle Road.   They formed a league and had three cross-country races every Winter, and the star runner was Alec Dow of the YM who ran several times for Scotland.   He pointed out that the clubs were also members of the Edinburgh and District Cross-Country League which had  six clubs from the Edinburgh District.   Three races were run every year, of which one was held in Kirkcaldy.   

The relay race from Perth to Kirkcaldy was a great event and around 14 clubs took part including Dundee Thistle, Hawkhill amd Glasgow with a few international runners taking part.   Barry’s Sports at Stark’s Park was the centre for the track athletes.   There were competitors from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Kirkcaldy for the open events and I won the open mile several times.”

“The Hospital Sports was a good annual event as well, and was held latterly in Beveridge Park.   There wre many good athletes in the town in the Thirties, and I often wonder how good they would have been if they had had the facilities they have today.   Training on grass in the Beveridge Park and racing on football pitches was hard going – but we all enjoyed it.

                                                                           Photo copyright Gordon Gillespie/Northsports (Celtic Cup race)

Nicola GAULD (28.03.82) Aberdeen, Edinburgh

In Scottish Athletics lists 1997-2017.

Championship Record: Scottish: 1st 1500m 2006 and 2007; 2nd 1500m 2008; 3rd 1500m 2010; 1st Indoor 1500m 2004.

Other Scottish Medals
2nd 10 miles road Scottish championship 2017

1st V35 5000m track Scottish championships 2017

3rd 10k road Scottish Championships Stirling 2012)

PBs: 800 – 2.05.11; 1500 – 4.11.80 (18^th on All-Time Scottish rankings); 3000 – 9.04.21 (14^th All-Time Scottish rankings); 5000 – 17.16.32; 5k road – 16.47; 10k road – 33.58 (26^th All-Time Scottish rankings, first 10k and won race outright.)

In the annual Scottish top ten rankings, she was 1^st in the 3000 (2006 and 2007); and second in the 1500 (2007 and 2008).

6 Scottish Track Internationals 1500/3000

2006 at Cardiff Indoors v Wales and Ireland 1500m 2^nd 4:26.20. Scotland won the team contest.

2006 at Loughborough v England and Wales 1500m 2^nd 4:20.06 (in front of Steph Twell).

2006 at Grangemouth v Ireland and Wales 4×1500 2^nd 17:34.58. Scotland won the team.

2007 at Loughborough v England and Wales 3000m 2^nd 9:09.69.

2007 at Grangemouth v Ireland and Wales 3000m 1^st 9:11.62. Scotland won the team.

2008 at Loughborough v England and Wales 1500m 3^rd 4:14.15.

1 Scottish Road International 2016 (Leeds 10k).

 Other Scottish Vests: 

 Flanders Cup International Belgium 2010

 Nivelles, Belgium 2006 

Ran for Scotland on road in Dublin Frank Duffy 10 miles 2017 

Competed at the 3000m in the Aviva London Grand Prix in 2008

East District: 800m gold 2003.

Scottish Inter-Regional Championships: Nicola Gauld 1500m gold 2010.

Scottish Closed Championships: 2008 Nicola Gauld 1500m gold, well clear of silver medallist Eilish McColgan.

Fraser Clyne wrote the following for the Aberdeen Evening Express on 9^th December 2017:

Metro Aberdeen’s women’s squad has been bolstered by Nicola Gauld’s decision to sign for the club after representing Aberdeen AAC for the past 25 years.

The 35-year-old Scotland track and road running international will be able to compete as a scorer in team competitions from the beginning of 2018 but can turn out for her new club with immediate effect once her transfer is confirmed by Scottish Athletics.

Gauld will, however, also retain membership of Aberdeen AAC as she doesn’t wish to break her ties with the club she grew up with.

She said: “I am focusing on road running, so I thought it would be better to be with Metro as there’s a lot more opportunities to run in team competitions with them.

“I don’t train with Aberdeen AAC nowadays, so it makes sense to move. It’s something I have been thinking about for quite a long time but never got round to doing anything about it until now.
“I will retain my connection with Aberdeen AAC because of my loyalty to the club as I have been a member since I was 10 and I don’t want to lose that link.”

Gauld has graduated through the ranks after taking up the sport while attending primary school in Westhill.

She said: “Anne Imrie, who had a daughter at my school, was a coach at Aberdeen AAC and she started offering athletics sessions at lunchtimes and after school.

“That’s how I got started and I enjoyed it. Anne asked if I wanted to go along to Aberdeen AAC and I ended up training with her group for the next five years until I was 15. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have known about the club.

“The first race I did was the Aberdeen Schools cross country over a one-mile course at Bridge of Don. I was in primary six and finished third.

“I did all the Grampian schools cross country races and on the track I tried the 800m and 1500m.I finished third at the East District 800m championships in the under-13 age group

.
“By the time I got to under-15 and under-17 level I had branched out and I was doing the 300m, 400m, high jump, long jump, triple jump, 300m hurdles and pentathlon.

“I think I was placed in about 10 different events in the under-17 Scottish rankings one year.”

“The first Scottish schools championship medal I won was silver in the high jump as an under-15, and my first Scottish schools vest was in an over-17’s 400m in 2000.

My first Scottish national championship medal was an under-17 long jump silver.”

Despite these successes in the sprints and jumps, Gauld moved back to middle distance running and gained her first Scotland call-up for the 1500m in an under-23 international in 2004.

A few years later, at the age of 25, she won her first international senior vest, again in the 1500m.
Gauld went on to win the Scottish 1500m track titles in 2006 and 2007, and it was the first of these victories which remains one of her career highlights

.
She said: “It was unexpected as I beat Hayley Ovens who had represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Australia earlier in the year. I also ran fairly close to my personal best time that day.”

Another highlight was winning the Celtic Cup 3,000m at Grangemouth in 2007 when she finished ahead of Ireland’s former world 5,000m champion Sonia O’Sullivan.

Gauld said: “That was a great experience as it was O’Sullivan’s retirement race. I also beat another Irish Olympic runner, Maria McCambridge.”

                                                                  Photo copyright Gordon Gillespie/Northsports (Celtic Cup race)

The Aberdeen woman was unlucky not to compete in the 2010 Commonwealth Games as injuries prevented her from achieving the high qualifying standard.

She said: “I was maybe unfortunate. I was in the Games Development Squad and even got measured up for the kit, but I didn’t go. I had achieved the standard required for the 2006 Games but for 2010 Games in Delhi, it was even higher.

“I have no regrets. I enjoyed running my personal best 1500m and 3,000m times and I thought there was more to come, but it didn’t work out that way.”

Gauld decided to switch to road running and has since enjoyed considerable success, winning two Scotland call-ups over the past two seasons.

She said: “I was delighted to run for Scotland on the roads, my first vest being for a 10-mile race in Dublin in 2016. It was the first time I had raced over that distance and it was my first vest for six years.

“Then last month I competed for Scotland in the Leeds Abbey Dash 10km, which I was also pleased about.”

Now Gauld is looking forward to opening a new chapter in her long athletics career by pulling on the black and gold colours of Metro Aberdeen.

Her debut will depend on when official clearance comes through, but it could be as early as next weekend.

She said: “I plan to run in the Lossiemouth 10-mile Turkey Trot next Sunday but other than that I’m just looking forward to some good competitions and being part of the team.” (Until the pandemic stopped races in early 2020, Nicola continued to race frequently on the roads with considerable success. In 2018, running for GB W35 Masters, she won team silver in the European Masters Non-Stadia 10k road race at Alicante, Spain.)

Evening Express, March 2017: Nicola Gauld set a new Metro Aberdeen Winter Proms 3km race series women’s record when taking top spot in the final round of the competition. The Aberdeen AAC runner posted a time of 9min 57secs in the sixth fixture to give her a cumulative total of 29:41 from her three best counting performances. It’s the fourth time she has won the series and her time sliced 17secs off the previous series record set by Jenny Bannerman (Inverness Harriers) last winter.

His Power of 10 list states that Ross Houston started racing 1500m in 1994 before he was 15. While under-17 in 1996, he ran well at 800m, 1500m and 3000m. In fact, for Dollar Academy, he won the Scottish Schools 1500m title three times (Group C 1994; Group B 1996; and Group A 1997).

Apart from 1500m in 3.59.5 (2003), his times did not improve much until 2008, when he completed many events, ranging from: cross-country (13^th in the Senior Scottish National Championships); 10,000m in 31.12.83 (fourth in the Scottish Championship); and the tough Dunfermline Half Marathon in 69.22 (second place). Ross won a Borders XC race; a two-miles Edinburgh Self-Transcendence race; the Black Rock 5; the Run Balmoral 10k; the RSPB Abernethy 10 miles; and the East Kilbride Half Marathon.

In 2009 he ran consistently well, reducing his 10k best to 30.25; improving his half marathon time to 67.31 in both the Great Scottish Run and the New Balance English Half Marathon in Warrington. Ross’s first marathon produced 2.31.48 at London. He won the Easter Festival 5k in the Isle of Man; the Portobello Promathon 4; and the Loch Leven Half Marathon.

Gradual improvement continued for the next three years. Consistent training and a wide range of races resulted in well-deserved personal bests. In 2011, his 5k time improved significantly to 14.39; he finished second in the Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon (2.21.05) becoming Scottish Champion; was third in the Edinburgh Marathon; and won the 20 miles Edinburgh to North Berwick road race. He was seventh in the Home Countries International XC in Antrim, Northern Ireland.

In 2012, Ross Houston retained his Scottish Marathon title, when winning the Loch Ness event in 2.20.24. He was second (65.51) in an International Half Marathon in Lillebaelt, Denmark; and continued to race over every distance from 5k to marathon. Ross also became Scottish Half Marathon Champion at Glasgow.

2013 was a breakthrough year, producing marathon times of 2.19.22 (18^th in London, where he finished third in the British Championship) and 2.18.28 (25^th in Frankfurt).

On 27^th July, 2014, Ross ran for Scotland in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Marathon, finishing a good 16^th in 2.18.42.

In 2015, he was ninth in the Scottish National XC – a good performance, especially since he was now 35 years old. Then the surprising Ross Houston turned to Ultras! On 14^th March, he won a 33 miles trail race in Aberdeenshire. Selected for Scotland again, he ran brilliantly to win (by more than 17 minutes) the Anglo-Celtic Plate 100k International at Redwick, Wales in the excellent time of 6.43.35. (This ranks Ross third (behind Simon Pride and Don Ritchie) in the Scottish Road 100K All-Time List.)

SEE THE SCOTTISH ATHLETICS REPORT BELOW.

In 2016, further success was achieved when, on 27^th March in Perth, he won the Self-Transcendence 50k event (and Scottish title) in 2.56.37. (This time remains top of the Scottish Road 50K All-Time list, just two seconds in front of Don Ritchie’s fastest in Douglas, Isle of Man, 1985.)

Scottish Athletics reported: “In the 50K championship, which involved 21 laps of a 2.38k loop in the North Inches park in Perth on the banks of the River Tay, Ross Houston ran a superbly even-paced race to record a new Scottish 50km road record of 2.56.37. In an exciting last couple of laps, Houston really had to dig deep to finish only two seconds inside the old record set by the legendary Ritchie way back in 1985.

Houston’s time puts him fifth on the GB all all-time road 50K rankings. His time is also well inside the individual Qualifying time of 3.05 set down by British Athletics for the IAU world 50K championships, being held in Doha in November.”

Consequently, Ross was selected to represent Great Britain in the World 50k Championship at Doha, Qatar, where he finished seventh in 3.01.34. GB finished second team.

2017 was a quieter year: 12^th in the Scottish National XC; and winning the Yorkshire Marathon.

No racing in 2018. Very little in 2019, apart from winning the San Diego Resolution 10k Run on 13^th January.

In 2020, having turned 40, before Covid restrictions ruined the season after March, Ross Houston won three cross-country races: the Scottish East District League in Livingston; the Scottish Masters M40 title at Johnstone near Glasgow (one second in front of defending champion, his Central team-mate M45 Scott Brember); and (more easily) the British Masters M40 XC Championships at Corwen in Wales.

No doubt, Ross Houston’s fine running career will resume after Lockdowns cease. He is certainly a man to watch!

1997-2017 in Scottish lists

Ross D. HOUSTON (born 5^th December 1979) Central AC

Championship Record:

Commonwealth Games 2014 Marathon (16th).

Great Britain: 3rd Marathon 2013.

Scottish: 1st Marathon 2011, 2012, 2nd Marathon 2010.

Scottish International appearances:

Four: one road, one ultra, two XC (2011-2015)

2011 Antrim Cross-Country v England and Wales. 7^th (first Scot).

2012 Giffnock v England and Wales. 7^th (second Scot). Scotland won the Home Countries International team title.

2^nd May 2015: v England and Wales. Anglo-Celtic Plate 100km. 1^st 6.43.35. At Redwick, Wales.

Glasgow Commonwealth Games. 16^th in the Marathon (2.18.42).

Great Britain International: 2016 World 50k Championships. 7^th in 3.01.34. Team silver.

SENIOR NATIONAL XC CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Individual bronze in 2012; for Central, team silver in 2008, 2009; bronze in 2019; gold in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Between 2008 and 2017 (apart from not taking part in 2014) the consistent Ross Houston was twice in the top 10 and another 7 times in the top 18.

SHORT COURSE XC: Team silver in 2012; individual bronze and team gold in 2013.

SCOTTISH XC RELAY: Team gold in 2006, 2009; silver in 2010; bronze in 2011 and 2012.

SCOTTISH ROAD RELAY: Team gold in 2008, 2012, 2013; silver in 2010, 2011, 2015.

EAST DISTRICT XC:

3^rd Junior in 1997-98; 2000 third and team gold.

Senior: Ross contributed to several team golds.

SCOTTISH 5K ROAD: Individual gold and team gold in 2012; individual bronze and team silver in 2014.

SCOTTISH 10K ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS: individual gold in 2011, silver in 2013, bronze in 2012. Team gold in 2012, silver in 2011.

SCOTTISH 10 MILES ROAD: Individual silver in 2012.

SCOTTISH HALF MARATHON: Champion in 2012; bronze in 2011.

SCOTTISH MARATHON: Champion in 2011 and 2012.

SCOTTISH 50K: Individual gold in 2016.

                                    Winner – Ross Houston celebrates a remarkable ultra-marathon debut in Wales

ANGLO CELTIC PLATE 100KM inc. BRITISH ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Redwick, Wales; Saturday 2 May 2015

Scottish Athletics reported: 

Welsh Athletics hosted the 2015 UK 100km Championship and Anglo Celtic Plate – and Scotland’s Ross Houston delivered a superb debut in international ultra-running.

It was a good day, too, for the Scotland women’s team of Rosie Bell, Charlotte Black and Keziah Higgins as they took the team golds.

The event was last held on the same two-mile course three years ago in scorching conditions.  This year it was perfect for distance running with cool temperatures and some light rain as 18 runners took to the start line in what proved to be a day of personal bests.

The event was a journey into the unknown for Scotland’s Houston (Central AC). The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games marathon representative, with a PB of 2:18:28, was stepping up to 100km for the first time.

He along with fellow Scottish men Andrew Murray and Grant MacDonald were up against a strong English contingent including 2:16:40 marathon man Phil Anthony, also making his 100km race debut, GB 100k international Craig Holgate and experienced trail and road ultra-runner Marcus Scotney.

After a brisk start, Ross settled into a consistent pace covering each lap with incredible consistency in 12.20. It was England’s Phil Anthony who took the race on after the first few laps and increased his pace to sub six-minute miles, opening a lead over Ross.

Through 60km Anthony, continued to lead Houston by 3 minutes, with Holgate and Scotney now over a lap behind.  Between 60km and 70km the race changed dramatically: with Houston sticking to his consistent pacing, he overhauled Anthony and by 75km had built a lead of 1.50. He was heading for a stunning 6 hours 40 minutes debut.

Anthony was visibly suffering and dropped out of the race just before 80km with a hip problem. A decision not taken lightly, but with long-term wellbeing in mind.

In the last 20km and in unknown territory Houston started to slow, but he dug very deep. This was a gutsy performance from a 100km novice and, holding it together in the final laps, he crossed the line in an amazing 6hr 43min 35secs to become UK and Scottish Champion.

                                                          Ross and the Anglo-Celtic Plate with Holgate and Scotney

Little did the Central AC athlete know that he had also become the 6^th fastest GB and 3^rd fastest Scottish male on the all-time Road lists.

The two athletes ahead of him are Simon Pride with 6:24:05 and Don Ritchie 6:28:11. Ritchie does, of course have a superior track mark of 6:10:20, which remains the absolute world best performance for 100km.

It was a brilliant debut and augurs well should he feel that ultras are to his liking.

Meanwhile, the battle behind ended with Holgate (ELY/England) in second place in 7.10.30 and Scotney (England) third. When Jon Sharkey (Bournemouth/England) crossed the line it secured the Anglo Celtic Plate team competition for England.

Scotland with Murray in 6^th (7.41.25) and MacDonald 11^th (8.17.33) were solid finishers to ensure second team and the silver medals.

Houston also achieved the individual qualifying mark set by British Athletics for the World 100km championships in Holland in September. Achieving that, along with winning the championships, he will get automatic selection should he decide he wants to run another one!

He said: ‘All the advice I received beforehand was that you had to be patient in the early stages of a 100k, in order to be strong in the last third.

‘I set off aiming to hold 6.30 miles, which I knew would feel very easy and, although I was leading after the first lap, when Phil came past me shortly afterwards, I just let him go and stuck to my plan. He was certainly struggling when I passed him around 75km.

‘The last 15 miles, I was struggling to hold down drinks, and it was certainly as much of a mental challenge running those last few laps, as a physical one.

‘The feeding support, feedback during the race, and encouragement I received from Craig (Craig Stewart, former Sal 100k champion) and Val (Val MacAulay, team manager) was tremendous and really helped, especially in those final laps.

‘I had no idea of 100k rankings before the race other than Steve Way’s times last year, but to be third best Scot and sixth best on the GB lists hasn’t really sunk in yet.’

Houston had prepared well, setting a course record in the 33-miles Dee 33 trail race in March, and putting 40 miles training runs into his schedule. It certainly paid off, and showed, as with Steve Way and Paul Martelletti last year, that it is certainly possible for competent marathon runners to take on the challenge of 100k or other shorter ultras without too much change in training.

QUESTIONNAIRE

NAME Ross Houston

CLUBs Central AC

DATE OF BIRTH 05/12/1979

OCCUPATION Professor

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT?

Since a very early age. I was always keen on running, but I recall starting to attend the athletics club when another class (cricket I think it was!) stopped. My early childhood was in Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, and I remember running a kids’ race linked to the Half Marathon there and doing pretty well. When a lunchtime cross country club started up in my first year of secondary school, I joined in and ran 2-3 times a week. I enjoyed seeing my fitness progress and times come down. I then realised I was reasonably talented when I ran the Dumfries and Galloway Schools cross country. I had no idea how I would get on, but I front ran the whole way and won by a margin. I moved up to Dollar, Clackmannanshire as a 12-year-old, and then joined Central Region (as it was then) shortly after. I first started training at Alloa, but then moved to Stirling where I joined an emerging group of youngsters who were the beginnings of the strong team that exists today. I had a few good breakthroughs, finishing in the top 10 of the Under 16 boys national cross in my first year. I think my first big race win was the Scottish Schools Under 15 boys 1500m. I continued to do pretty well throughout my teenage years, and then didn’t progress much during my time at Loughborough or Aberdeen Universities. Perhaps enjoying the social scene a little too much. In any case, I started running high mileage and training seriously again aged 27 or so, and progressed pretty quickly towards marathon from there.

HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP HAD A MARKED INFLUENCE ON YOUR ATTITUDE OR INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE?

We had a great group coming through the ranks in my teenage years. Several of them are still running – such as Al Anthony and Colin Logan, and of course Ally Hay who is a wee bit younger. So this group definitely had a big influence. The coach at the time was Jim Evans who had a big influence during my teenage years, and then laterally Derek Easton took on the coaching mantle around the turn of the century. However, during my later years when I started running competitively as an adult, I didn’t have a coach as such. Again, I had some good running mates, including Ross Milne and Al Anthony, and I did a lot of reading about training methods. I used to spend hours and hours reading books and internet forums researching the optimum approach to training. Then I mixed that with trial and error and found a training system that worked for me.

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU GET OUT OF THE SPORT?

It was a huge part of my life for several years, and still is. But I always considered my life to be a triangle of family – career – running. These days the family and career part have grown and the running part has shrunk. I don’t do quite so much mileage as during my peak. Perhaps I average 80 miles a week now, whereas it might have been over 100 back in the day. Nonetheless, I’m still reasonably competitive and the vet races have provided me with a new motivation. Although I must admit when I run with the seniors I am still basing my performance against them rather than the vets! At the moment, and during lockdown, running has been a godsend in terms of escaping from the house and has been absolutely essential for my health. I have started doing a bit more hill running, and I have set myself a challenge of running up the local hill (Castlelaw in the Pentlands) 52 times this year. I got the idea from a friend Chris O’Brien who did the same a couple of years ago for his local hill. I have found it gives me the impetus to get out in the hills, and it has been really refreshing to do so as a change of scene. So these days, while the competition isn’t such a big factor, the running is still an absolutely essential part of my life, and also my family’s life with my wife Claire also running a lot.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE OR PERFORMANCES?

I think it was the Frankfurt Marathon in 2013. I had my heart set on qualifying for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, and I had trained really hard. I was running regularly 140 miles a week, with long and fast tempo runs regularly. However, my form dipped going into the race, and I was not confident. Compounding that, I managed to fall in the first kilometre, injuring myself and getting trampled on, losing quite a lot of time. But I soon recovered and then realised I was having one of those races where I felt almost tireless. I put in a few fast miles to catch up with the group I should have been running with, and then tucked in. I made a move after halfway, but still had a bit to do to run the qualifying time. Thankfully, I managed to stay strong until the end and ran 2:18:33 which was inside the qualifying time of 2:19. So I think I was just in the form and state of mind that I was going to run the time whatever happened that day, and I was so happy to achieve it. It was also a reward for years of very high mileage training, and seeing it pay off, which is a great aspect about running. It really is a direct correlation between work and reward.

YOUR WORST?

I have had a few stinkers, particularly earlier in my career. Usually these can be explained in hindsight by being underprepared or overconfident. One race that has become a bit of a running joke was my first marathon. While it wasn’t a terrible run, I didn’t manage to run the sub 2:30 target I was aiming for, and really struggled the last few miles. This was tough, but it made me more determined to come back stronger, and the following year I ran 2:22.

WHAT UNFULFILLED AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE?

I am less ambitious than I was in terms of my running, but I do want to run a long-distance trail race at some stage. I don’t think I really reached my potential at ultrarunning. I ran a decent 50k and a decent 100k, but I didn’t feel either of them were particularly good runs. So if I can motivate myself for the mileage again, another ultra will be on the cards, perhaps a trail race.

OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES?

Virtually none. My spare time outside work and running is almost entirely family. I do enjoy going out for the occasional pint or two when the opportunity presents itself, but this is rare these days!

WHAT DOES RUNNING BRING YOU THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO MISS?

I think it’s a way of life and it has a lot to offer to your daily routine. I’ve read a few books about the reasons for running outdoors being so good for your health, both mentally and physically, and I think there is definitely something about being out there in the countryside, woods, and hills on a daily basis. Especially during Covid-19, it has become essential for my wellbeing. From the more competitive side, I think it is hugely satisfying to train for a target race, and see the training pay off. There is no hiding in running, you see a direct correlation between work put in and reward in terms of performance, and I think that’s very satisfying.

CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS OF YOUR TRAINING?

At the moment, I am training at perhaps 2/3 of what I used to, but the principles are generally the same. I aim to run twice a day, and relatively high mileage. At the moment that’s about 80 miles per week, but used to be a lot higher. I jog in the morning, and the evening runs are either another jog or a slightly faster run. I don’t do any formal speedwork, but I love a good progression run where I will finish fast at the end of a long run. This is the format of my Sunday run, which is often done with a group at Harrison Park in Edinburgh. While the start is always sedate, there have been some epic finishes getting down to near 5-minute-miles. Of course, this can’t be done too often, but I think progressive longer runs are about the best form of all-round training one can do as an endurance runner.

The headline above appeared in Glasgow’s ‘Evening Times’ earlier this week.   For several years now the Glasgow Warriors, who have been playing their rugby there for a decade or so have managed to persuade Glasgow  who look after the Stadium to make concession after concession to upgrade the venue as a rugby stadium.   That the Warriors have brought honour to the city by many of their performances is not in doubt, but it has not been without an effect on the local community, the user clubs or to the sport of athletics.   

When the new blue track was first installed, the representatives of the clubs that used the arena for whatever sport were invited along to be taken around the arena and have its varied improved facilities pointed out to them.   This was followed by monthly user group meetings where they all met to be informed of any proposed additions or alterations to the track, practice pitches or have any other relevant information passed on.   These were properly convened meetings, minutes taken and comments or proposals welcomed.   I don’t know if this group still exists, it was a useful way of keeping everyone in the loop.   Rugby was not one of the groups in the beginning.  

Meanwhile the rugby club was looking for a home in Glasgow and they lighted on Scotstoun.    Scotstoun had been used for athletics since the late 1890’s when it was used for cross country running (usually two loops with 100 yards sprints held inside the arena to entertain the public while the country runners were out of sight).   It had been the home of Victoria Park AAC since its foundation in 1930, it had held local and national schools championships and internationals, it had held real international meetings and the ‘blue track’ had itself witnessed Scottish Championships, British Milers Club Grand Prix meetings and invitation international meets with some of the very best in the world competing at televised events.   

Then came the Warriors: not one of the usual user groups, they wanted a home for the club.   No harm in that but they were typical of any modern sports club of ambition.   Where previously, relatively recently in fact, sports clubs had a good relationship with each other and did their best to accommodate each other, those days had ceased. 

  *  There were small things at first: eg there was a small group that trained there in 2010/2011 on a Saturday morning which used some of the equipment for warm up and mini circuit work and they used three boxes from the equipment cupboard for plyometrics.   Then one Saturday they were not in the store room: they were behind a tale with equipment marked for the use of the Warriors and unavailable.   These things are irritants but can be worked round.   

• Then the requests started to get bigger.   It was inevitable – the requirements of the developing Warriors club grew as they expanded.   Unfortunately they grew at the expense of other users of the venue.   
• a.  One of big blows to athletics came when the infield was altered from grass to plastic so that the rugby club would not have to call of a few games a season but it meant that there could be no more full or partial international matches there because there could be no throwing events within the arena in front of the stand.   b.  Then there were  also the difficulties posed by the erection of temporary stands for major competitions at either end of the ground which encroached on the running track, laid at great expense to the city rate payers but very welcome to the various groups that use the stadium.   These temporary stands meant that proper  training could not be carried out right at the most important part of the season- the switch from winter work to the competition season proper in June and July.
• c.The current request is that these stands stay in place for five years.   The net effect could be the end of athletics at Scotsman unless something is done about it.   There are several questions that could maybe be asked:

• first, what will the access to the track be for club athletes from several clubs, for tri-athletes, for casual users, etc be for that five year period?
• second, did Scottish athletics know of the proposal which would deprive the athletics community in Scotland of what had been one of its flagship arenas?   If they did, then did they make any representations at all to Glasgow pointing out the importance of the arena to the sport on a national level?   

BUT …   most important.   This will not be the last request from the Warriors.   The demands of any sport, the developments never cease and there will be further requests from Glasgow Warriors.   What will the response from Scottish athletics, from Victoria Park AAC or from any other yser group be?   Will they start up a continuing dialogue with the local authority for the duration of the five year period, will there be a united front from the other user organisations or will there be nothing done?   Athletics as a whole needs to be involved.