Such was the success of his athletes who were competing in the T20 category with Owen winning the paralympic 1500m and Ben the world championships, that the BMC News in December 2023 published the following article. Steven has been a BMC member since the 1980’s and attended several AGM weekends and conferences before he became a coach and has encouraged his athletes with the qualifications to join the club.
Laura Adam (nee Wight) was born on 28/02/1965. She became a fine international athlete on track, cross country and road, competing for Stevenage & North Herts, University of Nebraska and Parkside (Harrow) Athletic Club.
Laura Adam leading Karen MacLeod, Christine Haskett and Sandra Branney. Laura went on to win the Scottish 3000m title from Karen and Sandra.
The Herald newspaper posted an invaluable article about Laura Adam and Vikki McPherson on 19th March 1994. Almost certainly, this was written by expert athletics journalist Doug Gillon.
“NINE months ago, Laura Adam’s promising athletics career seemed over. After having finished runner-up for the AAA of England 10,000 metres title, behind fellow-Scot Vikki McPherson, she suffered a serious liver virus and anaemia.
”It was a bit like hepatitis,” said Adam. ”I felt absolutely drained, and it wiped out my whole summer. I could not train or race at all. I never thought I would get through it, and came close to packing the sport in.”
But she battled back from what was her second career-threatening illness with the same determination she had displayed in conquering the first. Before she made her UK senior debut in 1988, it had taken a year to diagnose a folic acid deficiency, which meant her blood was carrying insufficient oxygen and she was constantly exhausted. But, a week today, Adam will line up alongside McPherson, the only two Scots in Britain’s team for the World Cross-Country Championships in Budapest. Not one Scottish male has made the party.
Both women hope it will be a stepping stone to a Scottish vest at the Commonwealth Games later this year, while Adam, a long-serving internationalist — but mostly on the periphery — hopes that it will consolidate her return from illness and herald the beginning of a more established role in the sport.
A skelf-thin 5ft 4in., Adam’s fragile physique belies an iron will. She has represented Scotland several times, but her first representative vest was in England’s colours, in cross-country, aged 16. Her only Scottish track title to date was at Crownpoint, in 1989, when she won the 3000m — the distance which she hopes to run in the Victoria Games this year. Adam, formerly Laura Wight, won a UK junior vest at 800m — her only British track international — although in a four-year US collegiate career, at the University of Nebraska, she captained both the track and cross-country teams, and won bronze in the NCAA 3000m.
”Both my folks are from Edinburgh, which is where I was born,” said the 29-year-old graduate. ”But we moved south when I was four. All the family loyalties are to Scotland. That’s why I switched, after my first international, when I realised that it was possible to do so.”
Adam’s first senior British appearance was at the 1988 World Cross-Country Championships in New Zealand, when she was called on at 24 hours notice to replace Zola Budd after the South African finally fled back to the country of her birth. She has been to the world event five times in the past seven years, one of these absences being to give birth to her daughter, Nicole, now aged three. A year ago, she travelled as reserve to Amorebieta in Spain, but did not compete, while in 1992, in Boston, though a reserve, she did run.
”It’s nice to be in the team on merit this time,” she said. ”Especially as I thought, after last year, that I might not run again. Nicole could do with a sibling. That was a temptation as well, but things are on hold now that I’m running well.”
This winter Adam has enjoyed perhaps the best season of her career. She was third in the English women’s national championships last weekend, helping her club, Parkside, win the team title, and she finished second in the world trial behind Paula Radcliffe. There was a fourth place in the European Clubs championships, and top-10 finishes at World Cross races in Seville, Brussels, and Belfast.
Adam lives in Zurich, commuting around the circuit. ”Last year I spent three months at my folks’ home, in Stevenage. They helped look after Nicole, but it was hopeless for family life. This winter I have stayed at home. It is more expensive, and training is much harder, but at least I see my husband, Marc. ”There are no endurance runners at the local club, and all the others train indoors, which means I have to do all my work outside, alone. ”It is very cold, rainy, and windy. There isn’t much snow, oddly enough. In fact, winter is not too unlike Scotland. ”I find it very difficult to fit in training. I’m a teacher, but don’t work. People say it should be easy for me. But Nicole is really demanding, and I have to wait till Marc comes home from work, so that I can train.”
Next weekend will be Vikki McPherson’s third successive appearance in Britain’s world team. A former World Student Games silver medallist, she helped the UK win team gold, and could repeat that this year. She made her Great Britain track debut in the World championships at 10,000m in Stuttgart last year, having placed fourth in the World Student Games track 10,000m, and has just been voted women’s team captain of the Walter Scott Commonwealth preparation squad which meets this weekend at Inverclyde. Adam’s track performances do not yet merit inclusion in the squad. McPherson, an accountant, will pick the brains of Adam, an accountant’s wife, when they are team-mates next weekend. But the Swiss housewife’s briefing may add up to bad news for City of
Glasgow’s double Scottish cross-country champion. Adam’s husband ran the steeplechase for Canada at the World championships in Helsinki 11 years ago. Now, he is a high-flying accountant, but balancing athletics and a career put his racing into the red. ”He could not keep both up,” said Adam. ”Work was too demanding.”
McPherson’s employers, Arthur Andersen, have eased off on her workload. ”No overtime at the moment, for which I am really grateful,” she said.
Two nights before the trial she worked until 11pm — and snatched last place in the team by just one second. But most of McPherson’s international appearances have improved a couple of places on last winter, and she is lying eighth in the WorldCross rankings — the world-wide grand prix for the sport.
Both have set a top-30 finish as the realistic objective in Budapest. But within the next few days, the pair should also be named in the UK’s six-strong team for the World Ekiden road relay championships, in Athens on April 17.”
Doug’s really excellent article deserves several follow-up comments.
*Laura Wight’s first appearance in the Scotstats archive is in 1983, when her 800m time was 2.07.8, (ranked 7th in Scotland). She was also listed each year for 1500m, 3000m (and, in 1986, 5000m).
*Laura Adam was married in 1988. That year she improved her 800m personal best to 2.11.7; and in 1989 set a “best ever” mark at 1500m (4.17.66). Her 1990 5000m “lifetime best” was 16.05.6 (first in the Scottish rankings). Two more fastest ever times were: 3000m (9.02.47 at Hengelo, Netherlands) which was second in the 1994 Scottish rankings; and 10,000m (34.00.12) second in 1993.
*Laura Adam actually raced for Great Britain four times in the Senior Women’s World Cross Country Championships: 1988 Auckland, New Zealand; 1990 Aix Les Bains, France (when she was 47th and second Briton); 1992 Boston, USA; and 1994 Budapest, Hungary (where she finished 45th and first Briton). As was mentioned in the article, she was a non-running reserve in 1993.
*Track championships: as well as the 1989 3000m title, in 1994 she won the Scottish 1500m title. GB championship medals: third in the UK 3000m in 1989 and 1992; second in the AAA 10,000m 1993.
*English Women’s Cross-Country Championships: Laura helped Parkside (Harrow) Athletic Club to win the team title in 1989 at Jarrow (when she was third individual); 1990 at Rickmansworth (2nd individual); 1992 at Cheltenham (5th); 1993 at Luton (7th); and 1994 at Blackburn (when she secured an individual bronze medal behind Paula Radcliffe). Superb consistency.
*Other British vests: 1989 World University Games in Duisberg, Germany (when she finished 8th in the 3000m); 1992 Yokohama, Japan, International Women’s Ekiden Relay; 1992 Funchai, Portugal World Road Relay Championships.
*Two Scottish Athletics appearances: 1989 versus Northern Ireland and Ireland (2nd in 1500m); 1994 Commonwealth Games at Victoria, Canada (8th in 3000m).
*Seven Scottish Cross Country international appearances between 1983 and 1994: Dublin 1983; Cardiff 1988; Margate 1989; World Cross Trials, Glasgow, 1990 (4th and first Scot); Basingstoke UK Championships 1992 (5th); Mallusk 1994 (7th and first Scot); British Championships, Alnwick, 1994 (2nd, first Scot).
*While in Europe, Laura Adam raced all over Britain, plus New Zealand, Germany, France, Japan, USA, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Hungary, Netherlands and Canada. She seems to have retired from international competition in December 1994. Shortly afterwards, she moved to St Louis, USA and, until leaving the sport aged 35 in May 2000, raced on the road in so many different American states, usually over 5k to 10k, placing well, winning five times and earning over ten thousand dollars in prize money during her career.
Laura Adam, an extremely good Scottish athlete, should look back on her athletic adventures, a record that most top Scottish men would covet, with justified pride.
Robert McWatt (21) in SAAA 5000m
Robert was a very good runner with a positive attitude to the sport which showed in his competitive record. A credit to Clydesdale Harriers and to the sport he replied to a question and answer session which is reported below.
We knew he ran for the club but did he represent any other club after emigration? The answer is that after he emigrated to Canada he joined Edmonton Road Runners and ran for them for many years. He commented “Competing in Jasper to Banff which is probably the most awesome relay in the world. Then competing in the Gold rush trail Skagway Alaska to Whitehorse Yukon relay, won my leg but our team was 2nd, I really wanted to win as they gave medals for first gold pan with small gold nugget.”
Living in the football-mad West of Scotland, the question of how he got into the sport in the first place came up. “As far as I can remember, in the early days friends and me joined a lot of clubs to try them out, BB’s etc. One was the harriers and I was a rotten young runner, but was curious about it. I love football and that was my sport – then I ran for the schools and won lots of races, then preferred this over football. I met Dougie McDonald at a schools race and then he asked me to come run in the harriers .or some team with him – I was about 16 and that was me back in thanks to Dougie Mac.”
Knowing how good a competitor he was, we asked what his best times were and when he said “ I’m not really sure I worried too much about this, and I can’t even remember to be honest.” it was not really a surprise. He reckoned that he really got other benefits from the sport – “meeting some great people, training with these people and chatting, 2 hours would go by fast. It really comes down respecting the slowest to the fastest runner, we all have a journey and story to tell, its not all about winning the race, I remember more about the people that the medals
Having joined the club and come into the wider sport he needed help to progress and credited several influences.
They all combined to bring me friendship, good friends, lifestyle, health, travel, fitness.
If he wasn’t a clock watcher and personal best hunter, what were his best races? .
George Carlin, Jim Shields, Robert, Bobby Shields
If they were the high spots, were there any ‘low spots’? What did he think was his worst performance?
That was going the wrong way in Western District Relay Championship. He still remembers that and the doubt when he turned at the wrong flag – It was just bad luck but it drove him on to be better – “big Pat Younger was a good sounding board that day for me.”
When he was asked what goals he had that were never achieved, he replied that
“Last time home I asked Dougie Mac what he would have done different – he said train harder and win more – I said train less and run longer in my life – I coached provincial soccer here in Canada for about 10 years – my goal was the kids to be playing all their life. and loving the sport, I remember watching another coach’s boy, John somebody, crying after losing races. Pretty sad state to get kids in.”
How long was his running career after he left Scotland? “I ran my last race here in Canada when I was 30. My first daughter, Thalia, was just bor. I ran the 10km, won it and hung up competitive racing. But always trained for fitness.”
Commenting on what he gained from sport he said quite simply a base for life “going through hard management meetings I would draw on how I could run longer than these 2 hour tough question meetings, turned into a lifeskill the running”.
Ending the interview with a return to running and training he reckoned that he was running about 80 – 100 miles per week, sometimes three times a day from Monday to Thursday.
Robert leading Alistair Douglas in the finishing straight at Scotstoun in the Dunbartonshire Championships 1500m
Having said that he was a good competitor the picture above shows him and his good friend Alistair Douglas of Victoria Park AAC battling it out up the finishing straight at the Glasgow University ground in Glasgow. The picture below shows him in an invitation 1500m race on return from a holiday in the Highlands, on the day of his return against some of the best in the west of Scotland. The field is being led by Scottish cross-country internationalist Alex Gilmour, in second place is Ron McDonald of Clyde Valley, a sub-4 minute miler and Scottish and British internationalist, tucked in is George Braidwood of Bellahouston, another international track and cross country runner, 96 is Billy Nelson, a good club runner, inside him is Hugh Forgie of Law, another track internationalist, behind him are Jim Golder of Ayr and Stewart Easton of Falkirk, both internationalists, ? , and Robert at the back. He battled through this field of quality runners to finish third. A remarkable run. 
It was a time when the standard nationally was high but he more than held his own as the following results from District and National Championships shows.
| Year | Age Group | District | National | Year | District | National |
| 1975/76 | Youth | – | 8th | 1979/80 | 29th | – |
| 1976/77 | Junior | 28th | 28th | 1980/81 | 30th | 72nd |
| 1977/78 | Junior | – | 6th ** | 1981/82 | 37th | – |
| 1978/79 | Junior | 21st | 6th | 1982/83 | 31st | – |
** International selection. The Scottish age groups did not coincide with the International ones; two of the runners ahead of Robert were too old to qualify; the following year, although placed 6th again he himself was too old for selection.
Robert also ran in the prestigious eight stage Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay six times with his best run being in 1982 when he was seventh on the first stage. The picture below shows him leading with Tommy Wiseman of Victoria Park with Olympian Don Macgregor just behind.
Individually he ran in open races, championships, open graded meetings, club events – all sorts of events and consequently his race was wide – from 800m to the two-day Glasgow to Fort William runs and relays.
.Above we see him back at Westerlands racing World Student Games champion and European & Commonwealth Game athlete Graham Williamson with Victoria Park’s Ian Smith in third.
On the track he took on everybody, no matter their status – in the photograph at the top of the page, he is running in the SAAA 5000m championships against many international runners such as Allister Hutton, Lindsey Robertson, Doug Frame and team mate Phil Dolan.
Robert, Brian McAusland, Phil Dolan
Within the club he took part in all club events with enthusiasm and won medals and trophies for both track and cross-country. Note the following:
That all indicates that 1982/83 was a very good year to be Robert McWatt! But his contribution to the club was much bigger than his competitive ability. One of his former team mates said that the club lost a lot when it lost Robert. He took his turn on the committee, played his part in organisational tasks and even came up with ideas to cement the club together. Take a look at the programme below.
One of his most surprising – and successful – events was a Burns Supper held along the hallowed lines in 1982. To the best of my knowledge the club had never had such a function, the tickets sold very quickly and the night was pronounced a great success. the tickets sold very quickly and the night was pronounced a great success. Ou will note from the list of speakers the name of Jack Fearn. He was the PE teacher at Robert’s old school who was a good friend of Clydesdale Harriers: Robert persuaded him to come along. Robert could talk anyone into anything.
He was also a good Committee Member, attending meetings regularly, taking part in discussions and taking a full part in proceedings. eg in 1978 he was club Vice-Captain with Phil Dolan as Captain. When the club was organizing the Young Athletes Presentation, Robert and his friend Douglas McDonald took responsibility for the buying of the awards for the occasion. He also set up a club magazine, solicited contributions and printed it out. He helped select teams, he printed out fixture lists, pretty well invented the club magazine, solicited contributions printed it out, sold it and kept it going regularly – it was not an irregular sheet published when he could be bothered. It contained news, comment on races and on issues that had come up at committee, puzzles, articles on coaching, on upcoming events and on occasion was illustrated. It was a very interesting publication and enjoyed by club members.
When the club took part in the Glasgow to Fort William relay he was an integral member. There was no actual race – it was more of a challenge. There were teams of eight, split into two squads of four. Each runner had to do four stages. One squad covered the mainly road sections and the other did the hillier, mountainous sections. It took a lot of organisation and recce runs. Vanloads would go out on a Sunday and do several stages in teams of two so that by the time the race came along, everybody knew every stage. Robert was one of the runners and a member of the team which set a record for the run.
Some of the record setting Glasgow to Fort William team: Charlie McIntosh, Pat Younger, Jim Shields, Stevie Darling, Phil Dolan, Bobby Rosborough and Robert McWatt
There was also within the club a group of hill-walking and climbing enthusiasts and Robert joined up with them. They travelled all over the Highlands in all kinds of weather. He struck up a particular friendship with “The Harrier’s Harrier”, Pat Younger. Pat was great outdoorsman being a runner, a climber who with his friends climbed in Scotland, England and in Europe, a fisherman, a sailor with his own boat and a really outgoing disposition. Pat educated Robert in the ways of the highlands and inculcated a love of the outdoors life. The result was that Robert also became a lover of the Scottish hills and a good mountain climber in his own right.
The hill climbers were an integral part of the club – Pat, his great friend Frank Kielty, Allan Sharp, Gerry Hearnes and others often raced on the Saturday and went straight off to the hills immediately after the race without going home first!
Robert with Dougie and Frank Kielty in front.
Back at the beginning, when asked about his best times, Robert said that he didn’t remember any of them. We might be able to help him a bit with them. The Scottish Association of Track Statisticians puts out annual ranking lists from which we have taken the following information:
In 1977, as a Junior(Under 20) he was ranked seventh in the country for 5000m with a time of 15:32.0, ninth for 2000m steeplechase with 6:39:19 having finished second in the West District Junior 1500m and third in the Scottish Junior 5000m. And in 1982 he was ranked 73rd for the marathon with his time of 2:31 run in Aberdeen – ahead of many international runners such as Willie Day of Falkirk, Andy Brown of Clyde Valley and within striking distance of Colin Martin and Bill Stoddart.
When I asked Paul Ross who was a talented young athlete with the group what he remembered in particular about Robert he said: “I will always remember how close he and Pat were. He bridged the gap between the older and younger guys at the club perfectly well, which made it easier for me to fit in also.” That encapsulates a lot of what Robert did for the club: one of those who welded it together.
Joe Small running third in this picture at the finish of the Nigel Barge Road Race
Scottish distance running in the 70’s 80’s and early 90’s was on a real high and road racing was experiencing the ‘running boom’. If you look at the Scottish athletics who’s who on this site it will be clear that there were many competing who were regarded as club runners but whose performances in, for example, the marathon and the various stages of the Edinburgh to Glasgow relay, would have won honours in previous generations. One of these was Joe Small and we can begin to examine his athletics career by looking at his answers to the questionnaire.
Name: Joe Small
Club/s: Monkland Harriers, Clyde Valley AAC, Cambuslang Harriers
Date of Birth: 28/12/54
Occupation: Retired Curtain Wall Designer
How did you get into the sport initially: Started at secondary school, running in local cross country races then joined Monkland Harriers.
Personal Bests: 3000m 8.46, 5000m 15.14, 3000m S/C 9.58, Marathon 2.25.43
Has any individual or group had a marked effect on either your attitude to the sport or your performances? The guys at St. Pat’s & Monkland Harriers in Coatbridge – Ronnie MacDonald, Jim Brown, Paul Bannon, Eddie Devlin, Willie Drysdale, Andy Arbuckle, Tom Callaghan etc. – a long list!
What exactly did you get out of the sport? Sense of achievement, cameraderie with clubmates, competing all over the country.
What do you consider your best ever performance? Not a single race, but a month,
April 25th, 1981; Clydebank-Helensburgh: 3rd, Edinburgh-North.Berwick: 4th, Lanarkshire 10: 3rd, Strathkelvin 12: 4th, Airdrie 13: 2nd. Didn’t repeat that again!
And your worst? Running in 3rd team for Cambuslang in District X/C relay – struggling, being passed by guys I didn’t know, back hurting – my last ever race.
What goals did you have that were never achieved? A fast marathon. Never really recorded the times that I felt training & shorter races indicated I should have been able to achieve.
What has running brought you that you would not have wanted to miss? General sense of fitness, meeting lots of different people & seeing places I would probably not otherwise have visited.
Can you give some details of your training? Typical week:
Sunday: Long steady run, 10-15 miles.
Monday: 8-10 miles steady
Tuesday: Fast 10 miler, usually with guys at club.
Wednesday: Faster work, track 10 x 400, or fartlek session
Thursday: 6 miles at club.
Friday: Easy 5 miles, or 3 if racing next day.
Saturday: Race or steady run, 8-10 miles.
The answers above are interesting. If we start at the end we see that although he was running well at a time when many, if not most, road racers were doing 100 mpw (or as near that figure as their body would let them) he was doing a much lower total: somewhere between about 45 and 60 miles a week. For a man running marathon, Joe’s long run was only 15 miles. In fairness, he does also say that in the build up to the marathon he it would be 70-75 mpw with a long run of about 20 miles. But on the other hand, the quality was high – given the quality of men in the club, a fast 10 on a Tuesday would be maybe racing pace for many. For a man who never ran a fast marathon, his best three years were 1979, 1980 and 1981 with times of 2:30:01, 2:25:57 and 2:25:43. His best time would have won all but one of the SAAA marathon championships between 1946 and 1962. That he was a good runner is not in doubt. The results of his ‘good month’ mentioned above show that in some detail and are worth looking at.
| RACE | DISTANCE | FIRST | SECOND | THIRD | COMMENTS |
| Clydebank – Helensburgh | 16 Miles | T Wiseman 1:26:09 | * *E Cameron 1:26:17 | J Small 1:26:45 | |
| Edinburgh – North Berwick | 21.8 Miles | + 1st **D Macgregor
2nd *R Stone 1:52:53 |
3. E Cameron 1:54:06 | 4. J Small 1:55:36 | Macgregor Olympian |
| Lanarkshire | 10 Miles | *D Frame 52:30 | *D Gunstone 52:58 | J Small 53:00 | |
| Strathkelvin | 12 Miles | **T Mitchell 65:16 | **A Macfarlane 66:13 | A Coutts 66:31 | 4. J Small 66:58 |
| Airdrie | 13 Miles | *A Keith 63:38 | J Small 63:57 | H Gorman 65:58 |
Joe Small ran in the race twice – the first time was in 1978 and he says – This was my first attempt at a long race. Having decided to try the marathon and only having raced 12 to 15 miles, I thought that the 21.8 miles would be a good stepping stone. Starting from Meadowbank Stadium I sat in the leading pack gradually moving up as others fell off the pace. The group held fairly tightly together as there was a fairly strong headwind until around the ten mile mark when it was whittled down to three – myself, Davie Wyper and Jim Russell. I pushed the pace from there and Jim was quickly dropped leaving me to do all the work as Davie sat in. I tried everything to get clear – speeding up, slowing down, even inviting him to go in front but he didn’t take up the offer! We came into North Berwick, still together and previous knowledge (he’d won the race two years before) allowed him to sprint clear. I hadn’t a clue where the finish was! Dave beat me by 6 seconds with 2:01:50 but I was quite pleased with my first effort at the distance. A couple of years later, in better conditions, I had a really fast run – 1:55 – to finish fifth I think.
Let’s have a look at Joe’s performances in the classic winter events – the district and national championships as well as the classic Edinburgh to Glasgow relay race. Take the November event, E – G, as the first of these held every winter.
Like all good road runners, and all good club men, Joe did his work in the toughest road relay in the country – the classic eight stage Edinburgh to Glasgow relay. He ran in ten of them, for two clubs (Monkland and Clyde Valley), covered stages 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at various times and was part of teams that won the race (1980) and had three third places (1974, 1975, and 1983). His team mates in the 1980 winning team were Ronnie McDonald, Neil Agnew, Ian Gilmour, Jim Brown, John Graham, Eddie Devlin and Peter Fox. Selection was tough in most of the Clyde Valley years and just making the team was a feat in itself. Joe, like Eddie Devlin, was a key part of these teams and the Browns, McDonalds, Gilmours and Grahams would not have won as many team medals without them. The same is true of the county, district and national cross-country championships. The National six-stage road relay did not appear on the fixture list until season 1978/79 and Clyde Valley only took part in the first three. Joe ran on the first stage in the inaugural event finishing fifth of 44 runners, only 20 seconds behind the leader and putting his team well in contention. They finished second that day. The following year he was third fastest on the opening stage for the Clyde Valley team that finished second. The year after that (1981) he ran on the second stage for the team that finished fifth. Again running well, beating several men who on paper should have been ahead of him and helping win medals for his team mates.
The Midland Championships are next of the big championships on the calendar and Joe first appeared there as a senior boy in 1970 when he finished 34th but as a non-scorer in the Monklands team that finished sixth. He went on to run as a Youth (ie under 17) twice with a best position of seventh in 1972. He then ran in the combined Junior/Senior championship where he was almost always a counting runner in the six man team for Monkland and then for Clyde Valley from 1975. Joe continued to progress as he went through the age groups and started to train with the big boys – and the big boys in Monkland and Clyde Valley were very big indeed. Jim Brown and Ronnie McDonald were from the Monkland days, and if we add in Brian McSloy, John Graham, Ian Gilmour and Peter Fox then you have runners that could take on the very best at any distance from 1500m to marathon. The same is true of the National Championships; Clyde Valley teams won many races as teams of individuals or as relay teams whether it was at County, District or National level. It is equally true that the big boys would not have won anywhere near as many races, trophies or medals without Joe, or Eddie or Neil. He was in the winning team at the National championship in 1973 as a Junior Man and in 1980 with a Clyde Valley team, second in 1982 and third in 1981 also with Clyde Valley.
Joe Small on the extreme left running in the Lanarkshire Championships
Joe was undeniably a very good athlete as far as road and cross-country running was concerned, although he did run on the track and was even ranked in Scotland as a steeplechaser but, by and large, his track best times as noted above are not as impressive as the other chievements already noted. When we asked him about it he replied, “Regarding track, I would say that I was a road runner first, cross country second with track a distant third. The steeplechasing followed on from school, couldn’t compete with the guys on the flat so tried the hurdles instead. After finishing 3rd in the Scottish Schools 2000m I tried a couple 3000m’s before packing it in.” There is however inter-club competition on the track as well as over the country or on the road. One of the things the endurance athlete did during the summer was compete in track team races – usually four to run but only three to score- and there were many of these across the land. Lanarkshire had its fair share of these with the nearest to Joe being at Shotts, Airdrie and Coatbridge. The tracks varied in distance and in degree of upkeep allocated to the track surface. A good clubman, Joe competed in them for the team. His comments of the highland games circuit? “Favourite event would probably be Cowal, as a club we’d usually get an invite to the 3000m team race (with all expenses paid!), so travel down, run the race then spend the expenses on beer! I was never a fan of handicap races at highland games, I always thought you should compete on level terms, if you couldn’t keep up so be it, so tended to do 3000 team races.” I think everybody liked Cowal. The journey to Dunoon was enjoyable, the crowd was massive, it was the last Saturday before the football season started which helped, and it had the added attraction of the March of a Thousand Pipers at the end as they appeared between the houses high up at the corner of the arena and marched down and into the arena – band after band after band with the different kilts on display. The track was not as good as some but it was 440 yards which was unusual. Joe’s final comment was,” No national or even district results to speak of on the track, just a lack of speed really, although I did run in the Home Countries Schools International (2000m s/chase)”
That then is Joe’s career as a distance runner of some ability, a man who would have been welcome in any club in the land for his ability and and his team spirit.
Enjoying Cowal: Joe, Ian Moncur and Neil Agnew
The reports on the race were becoming hard to find with the sports editor of the ‘Glasgow Herald’ preferring to print results of high profile and international races rather than the bread-and-butter domestic scene. Some of the results in 1966 were of interest to this page – eg Mike Ryan of St Modan’s was now living in New Zealand and won the Fukuoka Marathon on the last Saturday in November, many of the runners from past Clydesdale Harriers races were performing well with Alistair Johnston having the fastest time ever on the fifth stage of the Edinburgh to Glasgow, the Scottish team to take on the British army included Ian McCafferty, Alex Brown, Jim Brennan, John Linaker and Eddie Knox. However, given the sparse coverage of the race over the decade we will cover what we can and fill in the gaps subsequently. The picture below is of Jim Brennan and Pat Maclagan – both of whom ran well in the race – running in the Midlands
The 1970 race was held on 28th November over the recognised course and the report in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ read: “Laurie Reilly (Victoria Park) who has already established a reputation as a top-grade performer set a record time of 13 min 28 sec on Saturday at Clydebank in the two and a half mile graded race for youths. This was one second better than the six year old record held by Eddie Knox (Springburn). Reilly was content to remain with the leaders until 800 metres from the finish. Then he decided to step up the pace and ran out the winner from Laurie Spence (Wellpark) and Paul Bannon (Shettleston). Jim Lawson (Springburn) won the race for Senior Boys and winner of the race for Juniors was Nat Muir (Shettleston).”
There were of course three races for different age groups by now and the names in the various age groups bear scrutin with Laurie Spence of Glenpark (NOT Wellpark!) and Paul Bannon, a future Olympian, being runners-up in the Youth Race, Jim Lawson and Ian Murray of the formidable Springburn junior squad master minded by Eddie Sinclair and of course Nat Muir, one of our greatest ever cross-country and 5000m runners ever.
RESULTS
The races in 1971 were won by runners from outside the usual winning clubs of Springburn, Shettleston or Victoria Park. They came from Beith, Kilmarnock and Greenock. The report from above includes the results of another race being held on the same dat – a schools race at Coatbridge which was fishing in the same athletics pool. This unfortunately impacted on the Youth & Ballot Team Race Results as printed in the ‘Glasgow Herald’:-
The race had been organised by Clydesdale Harriers and supported by clubs from across the central belt since November 1946 and many, many top class young runners since then. When it had been started it was filling a gap in the fixtures across the country, by 1970 there were many races for the age group targeted in the beginning and many races that had been for senior men only, now included age group events. It carried on well into the 1980’s, it changed to a cross-country event. It had varying degrees of success, eg runners came from as far as Inverness – but its ‘glory days’ were in the first 20 years of its existence. It was a real classic but not one aimed at senior men.
The DAAA has had many very good athletes taking part in the championships, whether on the track, over the country or on the roads. Some of these competitors are pictured here. Not all are pictured in DAAA events but as far as possible they have been.
Colin Martin Winning the 5000m at the DAAA Track Championships at Scotstoun
Earlier in the same race: Bill Yate (Maryhill), Phil Dolan (Clydesdale) and Colin Martin (Dumbarton)
DAAA Championships at Scotstoun on a sunny day in the 1980’s, Denis Williams, Alistair Kinniburgh , Derek Halpin
Hugh Barrow (Victoria Park) Scottish and GB internationalist
GB sprinter Les Piggot, Garscube, wearing the club colours
George Rodger (Clydesdale 5) and Les Piggot (Garscube 1) in a handicap 100 at a highland games
GB sprinter and captain, GB record holder, W Menzies (Ming) Campbell, Garscube
Lachie Stewart of course – not further comment required!!!
Willie Gallagher, Vale of Leven
Four DAAA runners in the West District Championships at Westerlands: Lachie Stewart (VoLAAC 12), Colin Martin (Dumbarton third left), Brian McAusland (Clydesdale on the right) and Hughie McErlean (Vale of Leven, third right.
Graeme Grant, Dumbarton AAC, (Scottish and GB internationalist) leading in a half mile race at Westerlands.
Graeme Grant, Dumbarton AAC, running in the Edinburgh to Glasgow
George White to John Wright (both Clydesdale) in DAAA Relays, mid 50’s
Walter Lennie, Vale of Leven AAC – note the Vale badge on his singlet
Cyril O’Boyle (Clydesdale) leading Alex McDougall (Vale of Leven) in the Balloch to Clydebank: McDougall was an international cross country runner and represented Scotland in the Empire Games marathon while O’Boyle won many championships in Ireland.
Phil Dolan (Clydesdale) leading Allan Adams (Dumbarton) in the Balloch to Clydebank
Davie Kerr to Davie Martin (Both Garscube)
Alex Kidd and Arthur Wharton (both Garscube) running in the McAndrew Relay but both good competitors in DAAA events
Starting Line for the Balloch to Clydebank in 1952 when it was only four clubs competing: Clydesdale, Dumbartron, Garscube and Vale of Leven
Leaders in the Balloch to Clydebank 12 Miles Road Race in 1953
John Maclachlan (Clydesdale)
Jack Brown, Dumbarton AAC
Pat Moy to Bob Steele (Both Vale of Leven) in the Edinburgh to Glasgow
Trophy won by Hugh Barrow of Victoria Park for finishing third in 1960
The race continued to attract big fields for its second decade and the quality was high as the slashing of the records is shown in the table below.
| YEAR | WINNER | CLUB | TIME | COMMENT | YEAR | WINNER | CLUB | TIME | COMMENT |
| 1946 | W Young | VPAAC | 15:26 | 1956 | W Thomas | Irvine | Unknown | ||
| 1947 | H Fenion | Lochwinnoch | 15:22 | Record | 1957 | J Linaker | Pitreavie | 14:26.3 | |
| 1948 | G Adamson | West Kilbride | 14:57.5 | Record | 1958 | M Ryan | St Modan’s | 14:23 | Record |
| 1949 | R Steel | Vale of Leven | 15:13 | 1959 | W Fleming | St Modan’s | 14:26 | ||
| 1950 | J Findlay | Hamilton | 14:50 | Record | 1960 | G Brownlee | ESH | Unknown | |
| 1951 | R Wotherspoon | Glasgow YMCA | 14:57 | 1961 | H McHattie | St Modan’s | 14:24 | ||
| 1952 | I Tierney | Cambuslang | 14:42 | Record | 1962 | I McCafferty | Motherwell | 13:53 | |
| 1953 | GM Kerr | VPAAC | 14:34 | Record | 1963 | E Knox | Springburn | 13:51 | Record |
| 1954 | E Sinclair | Springburn | 14:27 | Record | 1964 | E Knox | Springburn | 13:29 | Record |
| 1955 | W Goodwin | Bellahouston | 14:24 | Record |
The table above shows the winners from the origins of the race through to 1963. It shows two things – the vast improvement in the standard of running in Scotland from the immediate post-war years to the early 1960’s. Times dropped from over 15 minutes in the first two races to inside 14 minutes in the last two above – over a minute and a half of a difference. It also indicates the quality of runner who came as part of learning their trade in the sport, Ryan and McCafferty were Olympians – as was Alex Breckenridge who never won the race but participated in it – and Fenion, Sinclair Linaker, Fleming and Knox were prominent Scottish internationalists. Others who ran but never won it included such as Dick Wedlock, Hugh Barrow, Alex Brown and Mike Bradley. It was the right race introduced at the right time for Scottish athletics.
Having said that we take up where we left off – 1956 saw another runner from the YMCA movement which was very strong and contributed a great deal to Scottish athletics at the time. Note that in the following report from the ‘Glasgow Herald’ that there were 70 starters. It read:
“Clydesdale Harriers youths open three miles at Clydebank resulted in a 40 yard win for W Thomas (Irvine YMCA), the South Western District youth champion. A McKay (Vale of Leven) was second and J Taylor (Victoria Park) third. Over 70 competed. The Ballot Team race resulted:- J Taylor (Victoria Park) 3, E Riddell 18, C Shields 21 – 42 points.”
Thomas was to finish second in the season’s national championships 3 seconds behind J Messer of Edinburgh Northern, McKay was fifth.
The race in 1957 was another very good one although the winning margin was a big one. John Linaker, who would become a British and Scottish internationalist and a Scottish record holder for the steeplechase, won in a time only two and half seconds outside Goodwin’s course record. Douglas Gifford of Garscube Harriers would become real force in University athletics as well as a Scottish international cross-country runner. Fraser McPherson of Victoria Park was third and brother of Ian McPherson. The popularity of the race was in evidence when 67 runners finished the course. And just look at the times of the runners finishing 3, 4, 5 and 6! Result:-
1. JH Linaker (Pitreavie) 14:26.5; 2. D Gifford (Garscube) 14:53; 3. F McPherson (Victoria Park )15:01; 4. R Gray (Ayr AC) 15:02; 5. J Murtagh (Bellahouston) 15:04; 6. H Summerhill (Shettleston) 15:06. Ballot team race:- 1 JH Linaker 1st, F McPherson 3rd, A Beattie (Dundee Hawkhill 10th – 14 points; H Summerhill 6th, J Friel (Vale of Leven) 7th, B McKnight (Motherwell) 9th – 22 points.”
1958 saw the first of a whole series of victories by members of the small St Modan’s AC. Mike Ryan (above) won from Rennie of Shettleston and Murtagh of Bellahouston. The ‘Glasgow Herald report follows.
1959 and another runner from St Modan’s won the race. This time it was W Fleming who was only 3 seconds outside Ryan’s record from the previous year. The results for that year read as follows.
“Clydesdale Harriers Youths Open Two and a Half Mile Road Race. 1. W Fleming (St Modan’s 14 min 26 sec; 2. J Finn (Monkland) 14 min 35 sec; 3. L Mitchell (Glenpark) 14 min 47 sec. Ballot Team Race: 1. W Fleming 1st, L Mitchell 3rd, R Rae 14th – 18 points; 2. . J Finn 2nd, I Haddow 4th, T Gallacher 22nd – 28 points.
Apart from Fleming and Ryan – what a double act they had for St Modan’s on all surfaces – Jim Finn was a quite outstanding young athlete from Coatbridge’s Monkland Harriers.
Mike Ryan and W Fleming running in the National cross-country championship as Youths.
1960’s result had been lost in the mists of time, ie it couldn’t be traced in the papers, national or local but Jim Wright and Hugh Barrow provided the information that George Brownlee of Edinburgh Southern Harriers won fromHamish McHattie of St Modan’s who was runner-up and Hugh Barrow of Victoria Park was third. Hugh’s trophy for the race is at the otp of the page.
McHattie went one better and won in 1961 (when he was mis-named in one Glasgow paper as “McTattie”) which was one second outside Mike Ryan’s record for the course. The report on the race read.
“Clydesdale’s open youths race was won by J McHattie (St Modan’s AC), last year’s runner-up, in the time of 14 min 24 sec, one second outside the course record for the course established by M Ryan of the same club three years ago. AP Brown (Motherwell YMCA) in 14 min 34 sec, and R Dow (Strathallan School) third in 14 min 37 sec. The positions in the League competition are:- 1. Victoria Park 70 points; 2. Hamilton Harriers 73; 3. Shettleston Harriers 81; 4. Springburn Harriers 83.”
The league referred to was a West of Scotland competition where points were allocated to clubs according to the places of their athletes in existing cross-country and road races. It was another attempt to develop the sport for the younger age groups.
1962 was big year for the race in terms of an assault on the record – there were no fewer than four runners faster than Ryan had been four years earlier. Comments on the runners after the report.
“Four runners were inside the record of 14 min 23 sec in Clydesdale Harriers youths open race at Clydebank. Results:- 1. I McCafferty (Motherwell YMCA) 13 min 53 sec; 2. J Simpson (Paisley Harriers) 14 min 18 sec; 3. J Brennan (Maryhill Harriers) 14 min 21 sec; 4. M Bradley (Paisley Harriers) 14 min 22 sec. Ballot Team Race – 1. D Tees (Springburn Harriers) 9th, Simpson 2nd, Bradley 4th 15 points; 2. I McPherson (Victoria Park) 6th, R Darroch (Motherwell YMCA), D Wedlock (Shettleston Harriers) 14th 32 points.
The names listed above contains at least six future internationalists with McCafferty an Olympian. Dick Wedlock who would win the SCCU senior championship, several Scottish vests and a good run in the Commonwealth Games 10000m in 1970 before being seriously injured in a tragic road accident. Jim Brennan of Maryhill was very good runner who also represented Scotland as a senior, Mike Bradley ran well for Paisley and then for Springburn as well as for Scotland. Every one of those above was a runner of talent.
Eddie Knox as a Youth running in the Kingsway Youth Relay
If the field and it four runners setting new times for the event was good in ’62, it was even better in 1963. The St Modan’s conveyor belt of talented Youths continued to roll and the record was breached again. The winner was Eddie Knox of Springburn.
“E Knox (Springburn Harriers) won Clydesdale Harriers open youths two and a half miles road race in the new record of 13 min 51 sec, 2 sec better than the time returned when I McCafferty (Motherwell) won the race last year. Other positions:- 2. W Eadie (St Modan’s) 14:04; 3. AD Middleton (Springburn) 14:05; 4. T Brown (St Modan’s) 14:09; 5. J Brennan (Maryhill) 14:12; C Martin (Dumbarton AC) 14:35. Ballot Team Race:- 1. T Brown 4th, M Bradley 7th, A Johnston (Victoria Park) 16th 27 points; 2. W Eadie 2nd, J Fleming (St Modan’s) 14th, T McEwan (Beith) 21st 37 points.
In 1964, Knox made it two races, two victories and two records. The barest of bare results were printed in the ‘Glasgow Herald’. “Clydesdale Harriers open two and a half miles road race was again won by E Knox (Springburn) and so convincingly that he succeeded in beating his own record set last year by 22 seconds, returning 13 min 29 sec. Results:- 1. E Knox (Springburn) 13:29; 2. C Martin (Dumbarton AC ) 14:38; 3. J Crawford (Springburn) 14:41. ”
Steven Rimmer (49) and Gordon Rimmer (50),
(Due to injuries and a fairly short racing career, Steven Rimmer has received less recognition than his twin Gordon. However, as this profile will prove, Steven was a very classy runner, a Scottish track international athlete who enjoyed great days representing the marvellous RAF team of that era.)
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Steven Rimmer
Club/s: Cambuslang, RAF, RAF Halton, RAF Cranwell, RAF Wittering, Newark AC.
(Steven wrote: My twin Brother Gordon was posted at RAF Halton the same time as me, although he stayed longer. I left around Mar/Apr 77 and went to RAF Cranwell then. Gordon eventually joined me at Cranwell too, a year or so later. Later, we were both at RAF Wittering and ran for Newark as well.)
Date of Birth: 09/08/1956
Occupation: RAF (Aircraft Technician). Now retired.
How did you get into the sport initially: I used to take part in school sports day and ran for the school once a year. Did cross country in the last year of my 3-year apprenticeship in 1976 although I never did any training as I also played football and rugby.
Personal Bests: 800m: 1.51.9; 1500m 3.46.4; 3000m 8.11; 5000m 14.11 approximately – I only ever did one, when I beat Callum Murray (who was RAF Champion in 1984) to win the 1983 RAF Inter-Station Finals.
Has any individual or group had a marked effect on either your attitude to the sport or your performances? My coach Alan Warner who was also the RAF Team Manager. I also admired Steve Ovett.
What exactly did you get out of the sport? My short spell in the RAF Team for Cross Country and Athletics from 1978 until Summer 1984, although (due to a lack of stretching) I was injured and never raced between Summer 1981 and Summer 1983. The banter and camaraderie in our RAF team was fantastic and these were the best years of my life. There were so many great international athletes in our squad, everyone was so down to earth and the strength in depth was amazing.
Can you describe your general attitude to the sport? Enjoyed every minute, was very competitive but had great respect for the guys who turned out every week even though they knew they would never have a chance of winning.
What do you consider your best-ever performance? That’s a difficult one. Maybe my breakthrough, finishing 3rd in the Scottish 1500m at Grangemouth 1979 or, two weeks before, finishing 2nd in the Inter-Services 1500m, just behind GB International Mal Edwards and ahead of British International Julian Goater. Or running in the French Military Champs as a guest along with some talented Tunisians, where I ran 3.48.9 in the heats and 3.46.4, which was my PB, in the final, when I was just pipped into second. On the country, finishing 3rd in the RAF Cross Country Champs two years in a row (1980/1981), behind Steve Jones (future Olympian and Marathon World Record breaker), Ray Crabb and Julian Goater but ahead of my Brother and our Captain John Wild. Or even pipped into second in the middle-distance race at Gateshead; or even the IAC International at Crystal Palace where I was the RAF 6th scorer, when our team won by 55 points. Details below:
Steve added “The Crystal Palace race took place in December 1980. After beating nearly all of the Scottish team: Jim Brown, John Graham, Ian Gilmour, Graham Laing, Lawrie Spence, Alastair Douglas and Ron MacDonald (as well as other Internationals like Nick Lees, Eamonn Coghlan, Jerry Kiernan, Grenville Tuck, Greg Hannon and Dennis Coates) I was later chosen to run cross-country for Scotland.”
And your worst? Finishing well down the field in the Inter-Services Cross Country at Halton. After the first of two laps I was just behind Jones and running together with Bro, Hackney Wild and Crabb. We were on to get a clean sweep for the first time ever, however I got a stitch in my side, which slowed me right down.
What goals did you have that were never achieved? I always wanted to improve on my PBs and break four minutes for the Mile.
What has running brought you that you would not have wanted to miss? The camaraderie and banter of the RAF Team Squad and, of course, representing Scotland, my country.
Can you give some details of your training? Summer was varied from 200s through 600s and fartlek. Winter 14 miles on Sunday, 5 miles steady lunchtime and fartlek again, from 200m up to 1 mile and back down, or 3 x 1 mile and a half or 3 x 1000m pretty quickly, as well as a hill session once a week.
Steve Jones tracking Steven Rimmer
MEN’S WHO’S WHO ENTRY
Steven Rimmer RAF, Cambuslang Harriers
Personal Bests: 800m: 1.51.9 1980; 1500m: 3.46.4 1980; 1 mile: 4.08.37 1980; 3000m: 8.11.4 1980; 5000m 14.11 1983.
Steve was third in the S.A.A.A. 1500m 1979. The twin brother of Gordon Rimmer
The track results above give an indication of Steve’s Scottish International quality but he was also a top-class cross-country and road runner who helped his Scottish club to silver and bronze medals and raced so well for the RAF.
Senior National Cross Country: 1980 at Irvine 18th (second counter for Cambuslang Harriers). The team received bronze medals – a first for the club .
Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay: Steven represented Cambuslang in 1977; 1978 (6th team); 1979 ( 5th).
In 1980 Cambuslang won team silver; with Gordon fastest on Stage 6; and Steven (having a marvellous run) fastest by almost a minute on Stage 8.
TRACK PROGRESSION
Steven RIMMER (9.08.56)
RAF, Cambuslang H
1979 800 1.54.5 25
1979 1500 3.48.2 6
1979 3000 8.16.8 11
1980 800 1.51.9 9
1980 1500 3.46.4 6
1980 3000 8.11.4 8
1980 1M 4.08.37 6
1983 5000m 14.11
1984 1500 3.49.88 18
Championship Record: SCOTTISH: 3rd 1500m 1979.
SCOTTISH TRACK INTERNATIONALS
Rimmer, Steven: three vests.
Born1956, RAF & Cambuslang Harriers
21st July 1979 SCOTLAND v WALES v GREECE at Cymbran. 1500m 5th 3:59.01. Steven beat Hugh Forgie, who had been one place ahead of him in that year’s Scottish Championship 1500m. In the match, Scotland were second to Greece.
11th May 1980 SCOTLAND v LUXEMBOURG v NORTHERN IRELAND at Meadowbank. 1500m 4th 3:50.7. Steven beat one runner from Northern Ireland and one from Luxembourg. Scotland won the match.
28th and 29th June 1980 SCOTLAND v DENMARK v IRELAND at Copenhagen 1500m 4th 3:52.9. Steven beat two Danish athletes. Scotland finished third in the match.
After filling in the questionnaire, Steven wrote the following.
My twin brother Gordon and myself joined the RAF as apprentices from the end of 1973 until the end of 1976, although Gordon did an extra year. I mainly played football and rugby for RAF Halton on Wednesday afternoons and only ran cross country races in my last year without ever doing any training whatsoever. Gordon had taken running seriously early on, had done structured training and made the RAF Squad so, after I was posted to RAF Cranwell at the beginning of 1977, I thought to myself if Gordon can make the RAF team why can’t I and decided to start training.
I had made the RAF Squad by the start of the new season in October 1977 but got injured before the RAF Champs in Feb 1978. After recovering from injury, I started doing speedwork and track training and managed 1.58.3 for 800m and 4.00.5 for 1500m. Gordon then joined me at RAF Cranwell and we did some quality training together for both track and country. It got very competitive, as you can imagine, but had a dramatic effect on my performances.
I joined Gordon running for Cambuslang Harriers as well as running for the RAF and our local club Newark. In 1979, Gordon and I ran together in the RAF Champs, finishing 7th and 8th, making the team for the Inter Services for the first time. This was a milestone: making the team with excellent runners like Steve Jones, Julian Goater, Roger Hackney, John Wild and Ray Crabb. On the track I ran one indoor 3000 metres race for RAF v Southern Counties in 8.27. Outdoors I was unbeaten at 800m. getting down to 1.54.5 and I reduced my 1500m PB to 3.48.2, finishing 3rd in the Scottish 1500m and 2nd in the Inter Services at 1500m.
Training with Gordon, we just seemed to get better and better and I got stronger, as well as improving my sprint finish compared to my natural speed. 1980 saw me getting 3rd in RAF Cross Country Champs behind Steve Jones and Ray Crabb and ahead of Gordon, John Wild, Mick Hurd and Roger Clark. That strength and speed got me 2nd in the IAC Middle distance race at Gateshead, ahead of Steve Emson with Graham Williamson back in 7th. On the track my PBs dropped to 1.51.9 for 800m and 3.46.4 for 1500m.
I continued that form into the 1981 Cross Country season, again finishing 3rd in the RAF Champs behind Jones and Goater, but ahead of Bro and John Wild. Unfortunately, severe back pain meant I was unable to run from March 81 for a couple of years. I was able to play football during that period as it was always after about a mile that my lower back muscles just tightened up so much it was impossible to run. I used to try and run every week but it was always the same.
Then in 1983-1984 one day the pain had gone and I was able to start training again, albeit a stone over racing weight. I was at RAF Wittering and had a few good road runners to train with. Bro had also been posted to Wittering but was riddled with niggling injuries yet managed to join me in some quality speed sessions on the grass. I did a varied amount of running, winning quite a lot of races on the track, road and cross country. I managed 3.49 in my first 1500m for the RAF v Loughborough. I was seriously spiked by Roger Hackney in the RAF 800m so was not selected for Inter Services. I won the 5000m (in around 14.11) at the RAF Inter Station Champs at the end of the season, beating Callum Murray who later won the RAF 5000m.
I started the cross country season well, finishing 2nd in the RAF Strike Command behind Ray Crabb, although I should have won as I was 100m clear of him with a mile and a bit to go but went the wrong way, since a marshal was hiding behind a bush having a cigarette. Unfortunately, two weeks later in the RAF Champs, in which I was hoping to compete for a medal but at least make the top 8 and the Inter Services team, at the end of the first lap I felt a really niggling achilles pain which slowed me down and I considered dropping out but, as Wittering had the chance of a team medal, I picked up the speed and ran through the pain but only managed to finish 27th (that turned out to be my very last cross country race).
After some physio and rehab, I managed to get really fit and my speed back. I ran a few fast road races winning one in 24.31 and finishing 3rd in one in 23.21, plus I won a 10 miler in 51 min something. On the track I won a few races in 1.54 and 3.49 and geared myself up for the RAF, Inter Services and Scottish 1500m Champs all within 6 or so weeks of each other. Firstly, in the RAF, I finished just behind Roger Hackney in a sprint finish with Deon McNeilly an Irish International a further second behind in 3rd. Onto the Scottish where I made the final running 3.49 in the heats. In the final it was comfortable near the front at the bell, but with about 350m to go I felt my back muscles starting to tighten up again, which slowed my sprint finish down considerably and I finished mid-pack. I trained gently the following two weeks before the Inter Services but exactly the same thing happened again – comfortable at the bell, running alongside Hackney and Chris Robison (representing the Navy) then bang, with 300m to go the back tightened up and I couldn’t match their finishing speed.
Sadly, that was the last race of my very short athletics career. With hindsight, I wish I had started training earlier when Gordon did, and also wish that we had done some stretching exercises before or after training. Combined with pounding on the roads and very competitive training sessions with Bro, we raced far too often for clubs and RAF, midweek and weekends throughout the year. Nevertheless, I’m very proud of representing Scotland, the RAF and Combined Services and being part of the evolution of Cambuslang Harriers. Yet I regret missing what might have been without injuries.
After the war ended in 1945, Scottish athletics got gradually back into business with all the pre-war events returning to the programme. There was a gap though – there was not much in the way of races for the Under 17 age group. Known as the Youths age group it was not as well catered for as the Juniors (Under 20) or Seniors. Clydesdale Harriers had the idea of starting a race for the age group and holding it on an annual basis. After some deliberation, it would be an Individual and Ballot Team race. There would be no club team awards but instead entrants would be seeded into three groups and one from each drawn at random to make up a team. The notion was that many good Youths were in small clubs with no chance of winning a team prize; indeed there were many good and promising runners in the age category who would seldom win anything because there were two or three at the top of the tree denying them individual prizes and if they were in one of the lesser clubs then there would be no team award either. The Ballot Team solved this problem. The winner of the race received the John Morgan Trophy, above, which was presented by the club secretary at the time.
Eddie Sinclair (Springburn Harriers) winning the Youths race in 1954 from Billy Goodwin (Bellahouston)
The first race was held on November 5th, 1946 and it was a success from the word go. In the years to come almost all of the National Champions would turn out, and many of the best Scottish internationalists would run in it – from Eddie Sinclair to Ian McCafferty and runners who would gain distinction elsewhere – Alex Brecken ridge, George Kerr and more. Folk singer Joe Gordon, statistician Colin Shields and official Danny Wilmoth all represented their clubs.
Over 50 runners toed the starting line in the first race, and the first three finished within 7 seconds of each other. The winner, Wilfred Young of Victoria Park, would go on to win the Youths National at Hamilton in 1947. The page devoted to the race in the ‘Scots Athlete’ of December 1946 is reproduced below.
The second running of the event was on 8th November, 1947 and the results were as shown below. You will note several names of athletes who would be very well known – Harry Fenion would win Scottish titles in the Marathon and over the country, he would represent Scotland in Commonwealth Games and over the country; Alec McDougall of Vale of Leven would also be a marathon runner of note and represent Scotland in the Empire Games in Cardiff and Eddie Bannon of Shettleston would become one of Scotland’s all time great cross country runners. The Ballot team winners were a team made up of athletes from Plebeian Harriers, St Modan’s AAC and Auchmountain Harriers. 
The report in the ‘Scots Athlete’ of December 1947, by Harriers secretary John Morgan, read as follows.
“For the second annual Youths 2 1/2 miles Ballot Team Race, held on 8th November, 1947, a record entry of 74 was received. Despite the incessant rain, 66 runners faced the starter (Mr A Macmillan, club president). The runners came from a’ the airts – Stirling, Lochwinnoch, Greenock, Dumbarton, Milngavie, being some of the districts represented, as well as all the prominent Glasgow clubs – Shettleston, Garscube, Victoria Park, Plebeian, etc.
In the face of a strong blustery wind, the runners lined up at Whitecrook Street for the start. Right from the start it was obvious that this was going to be a hard fast race. Along Barns Street they swept in a tight-packed, fast moving mass, and were well on their way before they began to string out. With little more than a mile to go, word came to the officials and spectators braving the weather at the finishing post in Killers Lane that a Shettleston boy was running strongly in the lead.
The signal that the runners were now approaching started speculation as to who it might be. The first to appear was a very small-built lad clad in light blue singlet. This proved to be H Fenion of Lochwinnoch, followed closely by W Bownes of Auchmountain H, and A McDougall of Vale of Leven. The winner’s time, 15 minutes 22 seconds, was four seconds faster than the time of last year’s winner, W Young, Victoria Park AAC, who went on to win the Scottish Championship. Fenion is an amazing runner and, given proper care, and not over taxed, history can well be repeated.
The prizes were presented by Mr D B Brooke, Garscube Harriers. Davie, in a neat little speech, congratulated the winner on fine running, and exhorted all the runners present to support their clubs and to wear the club colours on all occasions.”
In 1948, the race was won by running sensation of the time – Gilbert Adamson of West Kilbride. Like Young in 1947 and Fenion a year later, he would go on to win the Youths National title in 1949. He won by ten and a half second from a runner who, with his brother Tom, would be one of the country’s finest – John Stevenson was top class track and road runner with a very fast finish, and thrid placed Robertson of Garscube was only eight seconds behind him. Other well kent names include Alec McDougall, Ewan Murray of Garscube who would be better known as a long time secretary of the SAAA, Ronnie McDonald of Maryhill one of our finest officials and administrators for decades and many other who would grace the sport.
The newspapers at that time devoted very little space to sport because of the post-war shortage of newsprint and most of that was football and other team games, the sport was fortunate to have the ‘Scots Athlete’ coverage.
Keeping to the November date, the 12th of the month in 1949 was the chosen Saturday for the fourth running of the race. The Glasgow Herald report was as follows. “Vale of Leven continue to produce fresh talent. They have found another potential champion in R Steel who won a grant three mile open Youths race at Clydebank beating a field of over 60 in 15 min 13 sec. He had a margin of 30 yards from J McNeil (Shettleston). Results: 1. R Steel (Vale of Leven) 15 min 13 sec; 2. J McNeil (Shettleston) 15 min 30 sec; 3. A Brown (Shettleston) . Ballot Team Race: 1. J McNeil (Shettleston), A Breckenridge (VPAAC – 5th), R Cowan (Bellahouston – 11th); 2. A Baird (Shettleston), J Keen (Shettleston), A Bauld (Maryhill).”
The runners were again top class in quality as well as deep in quantity. Bob Steel of the Vale would move to Edinburgh and many years later would be very good administrator for the Scottish national endurance squad, Jimmy McNeil would be a kenspeckle figure in his club colours right into his veteran years and Alex Breckenridge would be a Scottish mile record holder, multi championship winner and, after emigrating to the USA, an Olympic marathon runner. It had been another successful promotion.
In 1950 the race was held on the second Saturday over the same road course. The ‘Herald’ report was brevity itself. YOUTH CHAMPION’S FINE RACE. J Findlay (Hamilton Harriers) the national youths champion, was the outstanding competitor in Clydesdale Harriers open youths two and a half mile race in Clydebank and won in 14 min 50 sec. He had however to produce his best to beat W McAslan (Bellahouston) who was 40 yards behind. T Swan (Shettleston) was third.”
The 1951 version of the race saw 59 entries and again the quality of the field was undeniable. The winner was Bob Wotherspoon, running for Glasgow YMCA but would soon be representing Shettleston Harriers from the excellent David Lapsley who won many titles in Ayrshire as well as in the South West District and who would be third in the national championship in the 1951/52 season. Note too that there was an actual tie for third place. Looking through the field there was Joe Gordon who would become a very well known folk singer,, a good athlete but not as good Joe Connolly of Bellahouston (only one place back) who would be Scottish champion on the track as well as over the country. Results from the ‘Scots Athlete’.
It was on 8th November in 1952 that the race was held with a relatively small field (by its own previous standards of 47 runners turned out in Whitecrook Street in Clydebank. Joe Connolly had moved up the field in his second year in the age group to finish in the same time as the winner but nevertheless was judged into second place. Note too Ian Harris – a future Scottish marathon champion and cross-country internationalist. Ian Cloudsley of Shettleston would be SCCY Junior champion in a couple of years time, Gordon Nelson of Bellahouston would serve his club well and Jim Irvine of the same club is still working in athletics in Bellahouston over 70 years later. Note too how close the runners were – six seconds covering the first three, and thirteen in the first minute, and the entire field finished in just a smidgen over three minutes.
Into 1953 and the race was held on 14th November over the usual trail. Unusually, it wasn’t covered by the ‘Scots Athlete’ but we do have the report and result from the ‘Glasgow Herald’ which read as below.
“GM Kerr (Victoria Park AAC) won Clydesdale Harriers open youths two and a half mile road race on Saturday in a new record time for the course of 14 min 34 sec. I Drever (Braidburn AC) who was second 20 yards behind, also beat the previous best time by clocking 14 min 42 sec. I Cloudsley (Shettleston Harriers) was third in 14 min 46 sec. The team contest resulted in a win for J Gibson, Paisley, 7th, J Howe, Wellpark, 11th and J Clark, Clydesdale, 15th – 33 points.”
Not a lot there but enough to tell us a bit about the continuing quality being attracted to the flat, fast course right at the start of the winter. George Kerr of Victoria Park was an athlete of real quality and it was a loss to Scottish endurance running when he moved to London and joined Belgrave. He did come up for the championships. Cloudsley won the National Under 17 title in 1954.
Eddie Sinclair of Springburn, pictured at the top of the page won the event in 1954 in a new course record in a field of 50 runners. Billy Goodwin was also inside Kerr’s time with John Wright in third place. Wright would have three runs in the National as a Junior finishing third in his first outing but winning the next two.
Billy Goodwin finishing in 1954
In 1955 the race was held on the third Saturday in the month. The winner was Billy Goodwin who not only won but took three seconds off Eddie Sinclair’s course record of the year before. There were many notable Youths among the 72 who faced the starter – note the runner who was halfway up the field in 32nd place: Colin Shields of Greenock Glenpark Harriers would be a club runner for many years (3 Ben Nevis races among his achievements) and one of Scotland’s best ever statisticians. Goodwin won the National U17 Championship in 1955 and 1956, and the National U20 race in 1959. Davie Simpson of Shotts in eighth place became an important member of the all-conquering Motherwell YMCA team in the early 1960’s and ran for Scotland in the International cross-country. Jim Spence of Greenock Glenpark in 22nd would become a good road runner (he won the Scottish Marathon Club champion) before going on to be a coach in his club and is maybe best known for the work he did bringing his brother Lawrie through the age groups. Danny Wilmoth of Springburn was 20th and would be a very good runner for Springburn before becoming known as one of the best and fairest officials in the land. J Hislop of the promoting club was fourth here but second in the National Championships in 1956. Results below from the ‘Scottish Athlete’.
(The following article is by Steve Trew. Well written and scarily realistic to old-stagers! Mind you, perhaps ‘The Athlete’ might have retired from running when his body definitely said no – and might have found other, less injury-prone ways to exercise instead.)
The Masters Runner
The Athlete was old now, very old. He had run and competed too long, much too long. He had competed as he had seen the decades switch, the sixties to the seventies to the eighties, the nineties and even the unhear-of noughties (noughties! What a crap word, he thought). Nobody knows accurately how long an athlete can go on successfully without doing permanent damage; the years to grow and improve, the years to hone the talent, the years to use the craft, and the years to exist on the skills and knowledge gained.
And then the years when the skills speedily and most ungracefully slip away.
You would have to follow him upon thousands and thousands of meandering miles and the thousands of training sessions to check him. To watch him grow fit and strong and race and win and then finally decline and lose and you wouldn’t know him from the other athletes running the thousands of miles and winning and losing.
Past Running
From the look of him, our particular athlete was past running. For many, many years now he had run around the same training circuits. The locals knew him. They had grown used to the gaunt figure silently shuffling the familiar paths. He came to jog past the once well-known, so well-known changing rooms but he didn’t try to associate with the younger athletes any more, he chose and preferred the lonely pavements.
Likely a chance remark overheard; the younger runners laughing; the odd silence when he had joined their company; a sudden stop in their conversation; they hadn’t kicked him out, had they? In any case, his memory of racing and races was dim and probably exaggerated. The youngsters had no longer come to him for advice, although his accumulated knowledge was vast. He had long since run through his repertoire of stories, and no longer found listeners for the nostalgic tales of the good old days before tartan tracks, screw-in spikes, mesh uppers, dual density converse heel camber and thousandths of a second on the stopwatches – the days when cinder-crunching noises and rubber plimsolls were normal; before the new technology and high priests of running. And the shoes now! Our particular runner didn’t even comprehend the words; “stabilizing elements”, “carbon plate”, “foam-driven return energy (what the hell was that?)”, “stacking”, “ZoomX”.
It was better then. You knew the seasons then. Track, road, cross-country, road relays but, like everything else, that had changed. Running had gone mad; the indoor season, European tours, ‘down under’ for the winter. Professional runners, getting paid for running? They would have laughed out loud back in the day……. Nothing was the same.
He was more than a little weary, of course, and certainly his body was used up by the years. His once so proud body that had betrayed him, his muscles honed to a fine perfection – a cliché, of course, but wasn’t his whole running life a cliché – now covered by tissue? Like greying skin, wrinkled and pathetic. A body that had once reacted instantly to every thought and command now lagged behind his brain and memory. The skin seemed too big for the body inside it, the lightness needed for competitive running had stayed as he had run away from the competitive years. How he’d reached this age without breaking down over the countless miles was a mystery. The hard surfaces had strangely left him injury free; a blessing or not? Age had left him visually ridiculous. He wore the lightweight clothing and shoes of an athlete on an old man’s body.
He had no injuries but he ached and ached. Old men always hurt somehow and somewhere. He shuffled along almost from side to side now, and talked to himself as old men do, and the burden of his age and his lost youth hung heavily. He had been good in his time, he knew that. He’d raced everywhere; the White City, Crystal Palace, Meadowbank,; tracks and courses and roads all over the Country – chasing competition, chasing trophies but also because he wanted and needed to race. Other athletes had looked at him enquiringly, had watched him stretch and warm-up, had jogged behind him as if by chance, perhaps waiting for a careless word to be thrown in their direction, for it is always this way. They had copied his clothing and admired his style. The sycophants had been around him always, younger athletes eager for his knowledge he had amply to give; always someone to carry his tracksuit, to fetch a drink, to want his wise experience.
But now he was very much alone, trapped by and within the years of his aging. The others were long gone. Friends, rivals. He was tolerated only, an athlete from a long-gone era. It was over. He was too slow to run with others. His body was sore. His feet ached. Soon, he knew, he would be gone. He was bored with training but somehow he needed it, needed it but would be glad to see the finish of it all.
The world –his world- had changed, was changing still. What did it matter what others said? What did it matter what he looked like on the outside? Inside he knew, and understood. Others didn’t. it didn’t matter. A runner forever.
Steve Trew
“Carpe that diem, guys. It’s gone before you know it.”