Category: Uncategorized

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.

Tsegezab spent just over three years in Scotland. He was not part of the World Cross country team but came to Scotland via France over the channel!   He lived in Shettleston.

He was a great guy and I still see him/talk to him on a regular basis – he calls Elaine and myself Aunt and Uncle. He moved to Leeds around 2011 and now lives in Birmingham driving a taxi. He has a brother and other family members there. He only runs to keep fit now. I think his best run was 63min run in Great Scottish Run 2009 – this got him into the top 20 in the world that year! No altitude training just training around the East End of Glasgow.

National X

3^nd 08-09

2^rd    09-10

Teams 1^st 08-09

             2^nd 09-10

National XC relays

08-09 2^nd team

09-10 1^st team

National 4km X

3^rd 09-10

Team

1^st 08-09

1^st 09-10

Cross Country Grand Prix 3^rd 09-10

West District XC

2^nd 08-09

Teams 1^st 08 &09

Road  National championships

10km

3^rd 08

1^st 09 &10

Teams 1^st 08,09 & 10

½ marathon

1^st 09 &10

Teams 1^st 09 & 10

6 Stage

1^st team 09 & 10

12 Stage AAA  3^rd team 2010

6 Stage AAA 2^nd team 2010

Scottish Track championships

5000m 2^nd 2008

             1^st 2009 & 10

10,000m 2^nd 2008

               1^st 2009 

Female Athletes & Weynay Ghebreilassie

The female athletes have not made such a big impact as the men.    Amlest Tewelde is the wife of Amanuel Hagos and they have 3 children all members of the club.     She still runs and is always hopeful about getting back running once her children grow up.    She does some coaching at the club.

Kokob Mehart only spent about 5 months in Scotland before moving to Bristol to be with family members    She is now married and has 5 children.

Chici Guly only ran for a few months after coming to Scotland. She lives at Glasgow Cross and is a hairdresser.

Performances below

Amlest Tewelde

National Track championships

2^nd 5000m 2008

Kokob Mehart

National Junior Track Championships

800m U/20 2^nd 2008

Chici Guly

2^nd LAAA XC championships 2009

9^th West District XC 2009

Wayney Ghebreselassie

Wayney Ghebresilasie is the latest athlete from Eritrea who now has a UK passport and cleared to run for Scotland/UK. He ran the Olympics in London in the Steeplechasc (8.28.98) and was first across the line at London Marathon  from the non -elite start. We are hoping he will get a place at the Commonwealth Games next year.

We also had Amlest’s brother Abraham Tewelde and Negasi Desta, both international Eritrean athletes who have run for us. Lots more from Eritrea – we have close links to the large community in Glasgow.

Scots have always welcomed others to these shores and this has been as true of athletics as it is of the country generally.   Ireland’s John Joe Barry set a world record at Helenvale Track; others like Chris Robison have represented Scotland on the country and in Commonwealth Games.   Many others have just run steadily for years in the country and all have added to the athletics scene and contributed to its heritage.   It is however probably fair to say that none have equalled the immediate impact and continuing effect that the Eritrean runners who joined Shettleston in 2008 have had.   

It was a good day for Scottish Cross-Country running when the World Cross-Country Championships were awarded to Edinburgh for 2008.   Having a world championship on your doorstep is a major event for any sport.   It was however a better day for some of the Eritrean team, for Scottish athletics and for Shettleston Harriers in that order.   

• For the runners it led to a totally different lifestyle than they had experienced to that point,
• for Scottish athletics it led to a higher level of competition for the domestic athletes and
• for Shettleston Harriers it heralded a return to the days of winning trophies and championships that had slipped somewhat in recent years.   The names Hagos, Tewelde. Mengisteab and Woldemichael were to appear with regularity on the results sheets.   

Of the three groups, none worked harder than Shettleston Harriers with their intense community involvement to assist the refugees and it can only be said that they deserved anything that they gained in terms of athletic team success thereafter.

John MacKay has written about the events in and from 2008 for us and you can read about them here . 

He has also listed the championship medal tallies for each of the runners and you can inspect them by clicking on their names below

Tsegai Tewelde   Amanuel Hagos    Tewolde Mengisteab     Tsegezab Woldemichael   Wayhey Ghebresilassie  The Women

If you want to read more after that then there is an excellent article from 2008 by Doug Gillon at 

Granted asylum: the Eritrean athletes ready to run for Scotland | HeraldScotland     and one from 2013 at 

Exclusive: Shettleston Harriers’ Eritrean athletes abandoned by scottishathletics | HeraldScotland

another entertaining one in the Scotsman of December 2008 at 

Fearing for their lives, six Eritrean athletes absconded while in Scotland – and found a new home with a Glasgow running club | The Scotsman

 Tsegai Tewelde went on to run for Britain in the Olympics and you can read about him in the online Independent at

Tsegai Tewelde’s journey from Eritrean landmine victim to UK marathon man (inews.co.uk)

..

Tewolde with Chris Thomson at Great Edinburgh Run

Tewoldeberham Mengisteab Championship Record 2008 -present (Scotland)

Represented Scotland at 10km / 1/2 marathon /Cross country

Cross Country record

National Cross- Country Championships

Individual 3^rd 2013 -14

Team Medals

2008-09 1^st

2009-10 2^nd

2010-11 2^nd

2014-15 2^nd

2015-16 2^nd

National Short Course Championships

Individual 

2008-09 2^nd

2009-10 2^nd

2010-11 3^rd

2013-14 3^rd

2014-15 3^rd

2015-16 2^nd

Team Medals

2008 -09 1st

2009 -10 1st

2010 -11 1st

2012 -13 2nd

2015 -16 3rd

2017 -18 3^rd

 National 4 stage relay

Team medals

2008-09 2nd

2009-10 1^st

2010-11 2^nd

2011-12 2^nd

2013-14 2^nd

2015-16 2^nd

Scottish Cross Country Grand Prix Record

Winner in 2008-09 and 2013-14

Second 2009-10

Third 2014-15

West District Cross Country Championships

First 2008-09, 2012-13, 2013-14

Second 2009-10

Third 2015-16

Team First 2008-09, 09-10, 10-11, 15-16

           Second 2013-14, 14-15

West District Relay Championships

1^st team 2008-09, 11, 13, 15, 16

2^nd team 2010, 14

Scottish Road Championships 2008-present

5km

2^nd 2011

1^st 2014

3^rd   2015

Team Medals 2011 (1^st) 2014 (3^rd)

10km

2^nd 2008, 09, 10, 11, 14, 15

Team First 2008, 09, 10, 11

          Second 2013, 14

10miles

1^st 2012, 16

2^nd 2011, 14, 15

Team

First 2011, 12, 14, 16.

Second 2015

½ Marathon

2^nd 2009, 14, 16

3^rd 2015

Team

1^st 2009, 14, 15, 16

2^nd 2018

Six Stage Relay

Team

1^st 2009, 10, 11

2^nd 2012

Scottish Road Grand prix

2009 (2)

2010 (3)

2011 (1)

2016 (2)

Scottish National Track championships

5000m – 1^st 2011

              3^rd 2008

10,000m 3^rd 2009

12 Stage AAA and 6 Stage AAA road relays bronze and silver

Amanuel is in the middle in the blue top

Amanuel Hagos championship record

Amanuel contracted TB and missed a few years returning in 2017 – Lives in East End of Glasgow

National Cross Championships

Team 1^st 2008-09

National Relay

Teams 1^st 2009-10

             2^nd 08-09 & 10-11

Masters Team 3^rd 2018-19

10km

1^st 2008

3^rd 2009

Team 1^st 08 & 09

           3^rd 2017

6 stage relay

1^st team 2009

12 Stage AAA -3^rd team 2010

6 Stage AAA 2^nd team 2010

Track

10,000m 1^st 2008

               3^rd 2009

Tsegai and Tewolde after Tom Scott Road Race

Picked for European ½ Marathon Championships 2016 – fell ill at championships and admitted to hospital in Amsterdam

Competed at Olympic 2016 (DNF) Marathon Brazil

Competed at World Half Marathon Championships DNF 2018 Spain

IAAF Junior 1500m 5^th as a 16 year old (3.42.10) China

Competed  for Scotland over 10km

National Cross Country

2^nd Junior 2008-09

Senior team 2^nd 2011-12

National Relay

Team 1^st 2009-10

 2^nd 2015-16

Short Course 4km

1^st 2008-09

Team 1^st 2009-10 & 2008-09

3^rd 2010-11

Cross Country Grand Prix 2^nd 2008-09

West District – 2009-10 1^st Senior

1st  Junior 08-09 & 09-10

Senior team 1^st 08 & 09

WD Relay

2009 1^st team

5km Road

Team 1^st 2011

1^st 2011

Team 1^st 2011

10km

2009-10 3^rd

Team 1^st 2010

10 mile

1^st 2011

Team 1^st 2011

½ marathon

2^nd 2015, 17 &18

Team 1^st 2015, 16 &17

Marathon

2^nd 2016   – Note also 2^nd in UK Championships

Part of 2^nd team in UK championships 2019 

Road Grand Prix 2^nd 2010

                          Joint first 2017

Track Championships

2^nd 5000m 2009

12 Stage AAA 3^rd team 2010

6 Stage AAA 2^nd team 2010

.

The 2008 World Cross Country Championships which took place in Edinburgh in 2008 will be remembered for a long time but it also had an impact on endurance running in Scotland for a lot longer. Little did they know when a group of Shettleston Harriers coaches and young athletes were collecting autographs from a group of Eritrean athletes after their race the impact they would have. The club still has the mud splattered number they gave them with the names signed who would bring the glory days back to the club.

If you look at the results of the World Cross Country six of the Eritrean team remained in Scotland and two others later claimed asylum in other countries. It is often asked why they came to Shettleston Harriers. After the race in Edinburgh the Eritrean coaches were very angry with the athletes and made it clear they would be punished for not performing to the standard expected. It is Interesting to note Amanuel Hagos and Tewolde Mengisteab finished in front of all the UK runners and losing funding was not the punishment on offer. Eritrea is one of the worst countries in the world for human rights and what was on offer to the athletes was military conscription with no time limit!

The journey to Edinburgh had been very difficult with a week stop over in Egypt until visas were obtained, missing the last flight to Edinburgh from London and sleeping in the airport overnight. Not the best preparation for a race. One week after the race, Bill Scally got a phone call from a local refugee worker asking if we would help with some athletes.   There had been no press coverage of any athletes claiming asylum after the race in Edinburgh and Bill was not expecting who turned up.

Six athletes were brought to the track all decked out in their national tracksuits – Amanuel Hagos, Tewolde Mengisteab, Tsegai Tewelde, and three females Amlest Tewelde, Chici Guly and Kokob Mehart. All they had were the clothes they stood in. At first the club was unsure what to do but if anyone knows anything about Shettleston Harriers, they have a deep-rooted social responsibility stretching back over 100 years.  The East End of Glasgow is one of the poorest areas in Scotland but the people are fantastic.  The first priority was to help them with clothing and when they finally got accommodation the club helped to furnish their homes.  To start with they all lived in the YMCA at the Red Row flats in Glasgow but after a few months were given individual flats as immigration rules did not allow for them to stay together.

The first runner to compete was not one of the original six – Tsegezab Woldemichael had been a friend of Amanuel Hagos in Eritrea and when he heard his friends were in Scotland he travelled north to join them.   Tsegezab had made the very dangerous journey overland through Sudan, Libya, Italy, France and across the channel to get to the UK where he was granted Asylum.

The Tom Scott race in late April 2008 was the first appearance of any of the runners although they all came through to watch. They were amazed at the number of races in Scotland, as back in Eritrea there were only three races available to them – local championships, regional championships and the National championships – if you were good enough after the National championships you were taken to a training camp and in a sense became a full-time runner. This opened the chance of international travel and an escape route out of the country. Tsegezab won the Tom Scott 10 Miles by almost half a minute  in 50:20 and started off the major impact this group of athletes would have on Scottish endurance running over the next few years.   They competed for their club, their city, their district, their new country and one of them went on to compete at UK level at the European and Olympic games.

With the trophy for the individual winner of the Tom Scott 10 Miles in April 2008

Their first season in Scotland was always going to be interesting.   It was first of all a totally new environment with weather totally different to anything they’d experienced before; second, training conditions and facilities are always a key matter for runners and even the best provision can present problems to those unused to them but most of all there is life away from the sport.   The business of living in a totally new environment, with the added difficulties of even providing the basics of a roof over their heads, getting food on the table, making relationships with a new population were more important to them than running.   However they were helped a lot – the involvement of Shettleston Harriers and their new friends there helped guide them through the key moments of making the transition.   So how did they fare?

Their first racing season turned out to be a successful one for them and for the club.  The District Championships were held at Irvine on 6th December 2008 and the results were impressive, to say the very least.   

Their first National Championship appearance was at Falkirk on 21st September 2009 when their performances were as follows

In the relays, the men ran equally impressively.

With all four of the men mentioned above, the club won the six-stage road relay, and individually they supplied first, second and third in the National 10K Road Championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010.   It was a remarkable first season altogether in which they ran successfully in many races all over the country.    The individual competition records can be seen by clicking the links below.

The women of the group only really ran for the first few months, winning races and placing in National championships. Kokob Mehart moved to Bristol and now has five sons, Chiic Guly lives in Glasgow and is a hairdresser and Amlest is the wife of Amanuel Hagos. Their three children are all members of Shettleston Harriers.

Tewolde Mengisteab has been the most successful in terms of Scottish performances winning 67 National medals on an individual basis or as part of a team. He also has won numerous other races at district level and open races. He was always prepared to help his club when required. Amanuel Hagos had the misfortune to catch TB from an Eastern European worker when he worked in McGhee bakery in Glasgow. This stopped him running for a few years but returned to help the Shettleston Masters team win a medal in the National Cross country relays.

Tsegezab Woldemichel moved to Birmingham to be with family in 2011 but still has close links to the club. In 2009 he ran 63.00 in the Glasgow ½ marathon which placed in the top 20 in the world that year. He also had a very successful time during his stay in Scotland again always turning out for his club when asked.

The most talented of the runners was Tsegai Tewelde but was also the most troubled. As a young boy he witnessed his friend being killed by a land mine and he was seriously injured. He bore the scars of these injuries and had shrapnel removed in a Glasgow hospital. As a 16-year-old he ran 3.42 and placed 5^th in the World Junior 15000m championships in China.

Tsegai had a slow start to his running in Glasgow but again he won national medals over a variety of distances. His big breakthrough was the Glasgow ½ Marathon in 2015 prior to the Olympics in 2016.

UK athletics contacted the Club and with the help of Doug Gillon (Glasgow Herald) the process of him getting cleared by the IAAF to run for the UK started. Cherry Alexander (UK athletics) worked miracles and by March 2016 he was cleared – he was supported by the club to prepare for London and we knew he was in great shape as he lined up.   His instructions were  to follow Callum Hawkins as we knew Callum would run a sensible race.  African runners often don’t run like that and he started very fast and as we watched on TV the last few miles were very painful. He ran a 2.12 .23 marathon at his first attempt and was selected for Rio.

This should have been the start of something special for him but unfortunately it did not turn out like that. He suffered from depression and a series of injuries curtailed his progress.   He dropped out of the Olympic marathon and the World ½ marathon championships with injuries he had picked up prior to the races.   Picked for the European ½ marathon championships in 2016 he was unable to run after being admitted to hospital in Amsterdam.   He started to have seizures associated with the land mine injury. His last major race was the London Marathon in 2019 where he ran 2.17. He has now stopped running and works as a care worker in Cambridge. A talent which was never fulfilled.

We often ask the athletes do they regret staying in Scotland. They answer in two ways – we are free and now we have new family. They are proud of their association with the club and have made great friends in the athletic family of Scotland – the Hagos family have a Scottish Gran and Scottish Aunt and uncles.

Life has not always been easy for them and being a refugee brings many problems. Most of them are now British Citizens and hold down jobs.  Tewolde got married after waiting 6 years for his wife to join him Glasgow.  They all are very grateful to the help and support given to them at all levels by Scotland.

The story of the connection does not finish there.  As Weynay Ghebrelassie moved to Glasgow to be with his friend Tewolde – another world class athlete who ran in the London Olympics over the steeplechase.  He is currently in training to run the London marathon with the hope he will make the Scottish Commonwealth Games team in Birmingham.    

The first thing any athlete did after using his ‘get into the ground free’ ticket was to get their programme. Almost every meeting programme had its own regular cover – at Strathallan, it had with a picture of a hammer thrower in action in the bottom half, at Cowal it was a  water colour hammer thrower with the hills in the back ground, then there were the numerous variations with a piper on the front – red and black, red and green, etc.   Edinburgh had it’s own piper as was shown on the previous page.   The contents were more or less bulky depending on (a) the number of events; and (b) the number of adverts contained within.   The Edinburgh programme was like one of the slim volumes sold at extortionate prices in up-market bookshops.   If you look at the page numbers of the programme here, you will note that there were  gaps in the numbering – these gaps were where the entries for Highland Dancing , Wrestling , Massed Bands , The Official Opening Programme  and Blank Tables for scoring were.   Edinburgh Highland Games was one of the biggest and best and a great deal of that had to do with Willie Carmichael –   we have a profile of Willie that you can access by clicking on his name.   He’s the man pictured at the top.    

The programme, kindly supplied for us by Graham McDonald of Pitreavie AC, has some results penciled in to a greater depth than the first three and are useful in that respect and the complete results to third place are on the previous page.

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