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Helen trailing Barbara Tait

 

Helen Cherry was an excellent endurance runner from the late 1950’s and early 1960’s who was never properly recognised after she stopped competing.   Winner of medals in British as well as Scottish championships and cross-country internationalist and medallist she and her Edinburgh counterpart Barbara Tait dominated the Mile in Scottish women’s athletics from the late 50’s to mid 60’s.   Unfortunately Helen retired at the relatively early age of 23 when she married Ian Donald who was himself a very talented athlete from Shettleston Harriers.   She went to all the cross-country races and always turned up at road races or hill running events where she was competing.   They were a very popular couple on all circuits.  

Helen was a pupil at Bellahouston Academy when she was taken along to Bellahouston Harriers track at Stanalane in Glasgow by her school friend Mary Symon and tried various events over the summer.   Her introduction to middle distance running came when Dale Greig, who was a member of the club at the time invited her to run with her from the Pollokshaws Baths.    This was the start to Helen’s endurance career but she was always a versatile athlete as we will see later.    There was no sign of her in any of the SWAAA or SWCCU championships in 1956 – unless you looked at the Intermediate 100 yards and long jump where the 16 year old Helen was entered.   At that point the excellent young Barbara Tait and the slightly older Aileen Drummond of Maryhill were winning all the Mile races and picking up the medals over the country.   In the West trials, Aileen won the Mile and the 880 yards, in the East Barbara Tait won; in the Inter-area Drummond won the Mile and in the SWAAA Championships Tait won from Drummond.   Between 1959 and 1963 the three women dominated the Mile in Scottish women’s athletics.   Helen first appeared competitively in the winter ’56-’57 cross-country season.   

In the first cross-country championships of 1957 on 16th March, Morag O’Hare (Maryhill) won in 12:50 with B Rodgers (Shotts) second in 12:57, 40 yards down, and Helen Cherry in 13:12,  80 yards further back.   The report by Dale Greig in ‘The Scots Athlete’ read,The Scottish Women’s Cross-Country Championship was held on March 16th on a rather picturesque setting at Craigie Estate in Ayr.   From an entry of 25, only 16 started, the smallest field for many years.   Right from the start a small group including O’Hare, Boyes, Fulton, Rodger and Webster broke away from the field and although there was some inter-changing of positions during the first half, Morag O’Hare who had dictated the pace from the start, moved away strongly to gain her first national title and bring her home in first position yet again.   There was a keen tussle for second place with Betty Rodger just holding off Helen Cherry (Bellahouston) who had moved up in the latter stages in a very close finish.   This suggests that there may have been some error in the time recordings.   The first six to finish were selected to represent Scotland at the International with England at Musselburgh on March 30th.   Mrs Williamson was elected team manager.   Details:   1.   M O’Hare   12:50;   2.   B Rodger   12:57;   3.   H Cherry   13:12;   4.   D Fulton (Springburn)   13:13;   5.   D Greig (Bellahouston)   13:17;   6.   M Campbell (Maryhill)   13:22.    Reserve – J Thursby (Ayr).   Team Race:   Maryhill Harriers (M O’Hare 1, M Campbell 6, K Boyes 11.)  18 points;   2.   Ayr   33 points.”  

Came the day of the international and the result was unfortunately a clean sweep for England with the first six places going south of the border.   The Scottish positions were – 7th D Fulton (13:10), 8th M O’Hare (13:26), 9th B Rodger , 10th H Cherry (13:41), 11th D Greig (14:02, 12th M Campbell (14:15).   Then it was into the summer season and the first notable fixture was on 4th May at Scotstoun in the West District trials where 17 year old Helen won the Mile in 5:54.   Exactly a week later in the East v West fixture she was second behind Barbara Tait of the East.   Less than a month later, on 8th June at Pitreavie, in the SWAAA Championships Helen was again second to Barbara Tait over the Mile – Barbara’s time was 5:18.3.   Unfortunately many of the popular Highland Games of the time (eg Gourock and Strathallan) only had two events for women – the 100 yards and the 220 yards, so there was not a lot happening on that front and the poor reporting of women’s athletics in the Press did nothing to alter that situation.   Two examples – in most women’s inter-club or local fixtures, only the first across the line was given and even in the SWAAA Championships when the first four were recorded only the winning time was noted.   When the men travelled to the AAA’s Championships their places and performances were were all given on the Monday and in most years the entire event was reported on – for women only the notable performances were commented on.   After listing the six or eight who were travelling to the fixture, the single or even double paragraph report, would maybe only comment on doubles by English women or mention a Scots woman who had won a medal.   Hardly even handed reporting. 

 

Race Invitation; Programme

On 8th March 1958, Isobel Mooney of Jordanhill TC wom the SWCCU Championships from Dale Greig who was only one second ahead of Helen Cherry.    Again the first six were selected for the international but there was no report of the event in the Glasgow Herald although there was an extended article on the men’s event.   The local paper contained the following article at the start of the season.   “Helen who is 16 years old was educated at Bellahouston Academy where she was a swimming instructress.   She also played for the girls hockey team and took part in track racing.   She joined the Bellahouston Harriers club when she left school last year.   Her first big competition was at Ayr in March when she gained third place in the Scottish cross-country championship.   The international followed and she was chosen for the Scottish team.   Last week she travelled to Westerlands to compete in a one mile event, being a few seconds behind Scottish champion Miss Tait who was out to make a record.   Helen goes forward to meet the champion again in the mile event at Meadowbank in June.   It takes a lot of training to be a good runner and Helen spends two nights a week at the club’s track.   She also practises on a Saturday afternoon when she is not away at a competition.”

 

The first race of any consequence in the summer was the West Trials for the match against the East and Helen was in action twice.   Second in the 880 yards to Isobel Mooney she won the Mile in 5:45 from Dale Greig.   A week later the headline in the Glasgow Herald was ‘West Win At Jordanhill.’   Helen and Dale had done their bit by being first and second in the Mile with Helen eleven seconds faster than the week before.   The lack of races must have been frustrating for the middle distance runners – individual university championships, inter university championships and even the Scottish University championships only had races up to440 yards, and in one case up to220 yards.   The highland gatherings and local sports meetings were also sparing in their races at longer distances – there were women’s 880 yards handicap events at Ardeer, Strathallan and a few more but they were the exceptions rather than the rule.   Came the SWAAA Championships and Helen was in the Mile where she finished behind Barbara Tait (5:33.2) and in front of Dale Greig.   It was reported in the Glasgow Herald as follows: The highlight of the Scottish Women’s Championships at Meadowbank on Saturday was the mile event when Barbara Tait (Edinburgh Harriers) regained her title with a fine tactical race.   Lying second to Helen Cherry (Bellahouston Harriers) for three laps, she put in a sprint, 15 yards to go, forged ahead and broke the tape two yards in front of the Bellahouston girl.”   Later in the year in the Round The Bridges Race at Musselburgh it was a different story.   “The women’s one and a quarter miles race was well supported.   Miss H Cherry, the Bellahouston Harriers club champion, led from the start and won in a satisfactory time of 6:08.   Miss B Tait, the Scottish Mile Champion, and Miss D Greig, the Scottish cross-country champion were second and fourth.”   And that seemed to be it for the summer season.

Summer 1959 would be a good one for Helen although she did not feature in the National Cross-Country Championships of 1959.   On 16th May in the West District Championships, Helen Cherry was first in the Mile in 5:35.3 with Dale Greig in second.   Unfortunately in the East v West the Herald headline read, ‘Comfortable Win By East Women.’   Helen was led in by Barbara Tait in 5:21.0 – a new native record that beat her own time in the East Championships by 3.6 seconds.   The result was similar in the SWAAA Championships on 13th June where the Mile was won by Barbara in 5:18.3 with Helen second and Dale third.   The report said that Barbara was going to compete in the WAAA Championships in England but the report of that meeting in the Glasgow Herald gave only the winners and their performances.   Nowadays they might do that but then add in the Scottish athletes with a note of their performances.   By the end of season 1959, Helen was ranked second in both 880 yards and Mile with times of 2:22.2 and 5:24.7.   Not in the first three at the National Cross-Country Championships in 1960, Helen started the summer with a victory in the Mile at the West District Championships at Scotstoun on 6th May with a time of 5:46.7 over R O’Hare of Maryhill.   This was the fourth successive year that she had won this event.   She missed the West v East match on 21st May and was not placed in the SWAAA Championships.   At the end of summer 1960 she was number three in Scotland but with a time 24 seconds slower than 1959 – 5:48.7.  

1961 seemed to represent a switch for Helen in that after a winter with no cross-country races reported, she targeted the shorter, faster 880 yards.   On 6th May in the West District Championships the Glasgow Herald report read, “Miss H Cherry (Bellahouston) succeeded Miss Reilly as holder of the half-mile title with a time of 2:26.2, almost four seconds faster than last year’s winning time.”   Helen did not run in the Mile which was won by Dale Greig in 5:46.4.   Into the East v West Match on 20th May where she won the 880 yards in 2:26.7 and was also a member of the winning Mile Medley Relay team of H Cherry, M Carmichael, M Brown and I Bond who ran in that order. Helen also turned out in the Renfrewshire Championships which she won in 2:22.4.   In the SWAAA Championships on 10th June, Helen won the 880 yards in 2:22.1 from S Lofts (Anglo Scottish Club) and Pam Brown who had already won the 440 yards and Doreen Fulton who had won the Mile also competed in the half mile .   “Both Fulton and Brown tried later for victory in the half-mile – but neither could match the devastating running of 24 year old Helen Cherry of Bellahouston.   Helen finished like a sprinter in 2:22.1 well ahead of her nearest rival, Sheila Lofts.   Pat Brown had to be satisfied with third place.   Helen, who is an accounting machine operator ran in the half-mile because she was fed up taking second place in the mile for three years in succession to Barbara Tait.   The change was worth while.”    Apart from getting her age wrong, the irony in the report is that this time round, Barbara Tait was third in the mile.  Her versatility was also mentioned earlier and on 1st July she travelled all the way to Kinlochleven Highland Games where she had entered 100y, 220y, 880y, mile, high jump and long jump!   She only managed to compete in three – she won the 880 yards and the mile and was  second in the long jump.   To complete the day, Ian Donald won the Mamore Hill Race.    In the annual rankings at the end of the summer, Helen was third in the 880 yards with a season’s best of 2:19.5.   Ahead of her were two Anglos – Sheena Lofts of Aldershot (2:17.7) and Margaret Easson of Birchfield who led with 2:17.2.     

In summer 1962 Helen started off as she meant to continue with a second victory in the West District 880 yards when she recorded 2:26.5 and then missed the West v East.   Helen won the Mile in the SWAAA Championships at Pitreavie after finishing second in the 880 yards.   The mile was won in a native record of 5:08.4 which was 9.9 seconds faster than the previous time set by Barbara Tait four years earlier.   She just took the bull by the horns and ran away from the field with laps of 71.5 seconds, 2:30, 3:49.1 and a finishing time of 5:08.4.   The report simply said, “Miss H Cherry  misjudged her running in the half-mile and gained only second place to Miss S Lofts (Anglo-Scottish), who is 19, but she comfortably won the mile.   Miss B Tait, the record holder, was outpaced and finished fifth.”    Coverage of women’s athletics is a source of constant annoyance to me!   In the 50’s there was hardly any serious coverage in the National dailies and what there was in the 60’s was incredibly biased against the distance runners.   The jumpers and sprinters were likely to get several column inches at a time, more often than not with a picture attached, while the longer distances were covered with a comment.   Look at the sentences above – Helen had only broken the four year old Scottish record by almost exactly 10 seconds and yet two races were reported on in one sentence.      The best was yet to come.   On 7th July at the White City, in London, at the WAAA Championships Helen finished third.   You would not have noticed in Scotland – the report in the Glasgow Herald gave the meeting five short paragraphs and not one Scots woman was mentioned .    Maeve Kyle, Dorothy Hyman and Barbara Moore all had coverage but they were two English and one Irish women!   Helen had been third in 5:02.5, the fastest time run by  a Scot that year, behind  J Beretta (Australia) and Madeleine Ibbotson (England).  There were some reports however, one highlighting an injustice done to her by officialdom.   The first report read:  “HELEN CHERRY PROVES QUEEN OF SCOTS.   Helen Cherry of Bellahouston Harriers, 21 year old Scottish mile champion, was top performer of the seven-strong Scottish team competing in the Women’s AAA Championships at White City, London.   She finished third in the mile in 5:02.5.   Although way behind winner Joan Beretta of Australia, who returned 4:57, fastest in the world this year, it was a plucky run by Miss Cherry who was lying fourth at the bell.   She very nearly caught Madeleine Ibbotson who finished second.”   The second report read: “HELEN’S WONDER RUN CAN’T BE RECOGNISED.   Heroine of the day was small, dark-haired Helen Cherry of Bellahouston Harriers, Scotland’s Mile Champion and half-mile runner up.   The Ibrox girl brought the London Scots to their feet as she raced her way to third place in the mile behind England’s Mary Ibbotson and Australia’s J Beretta.   It was announced that the race had been won in the fastest time in the world this year.   Beretta’s time was a magnificent 4:57 – 12 seconds short of Dian (Leather) Charles’s official world best.   England’s Ibbotson clocked 5:00.4 and Helen 5:02.5.   Helen Cherry had scythed 14 seconds off the Scottish record but since  it was raced on a ‘foreign’ track it will not be taken as a national record.”.   The season of 880 yards racing seemed to have paid off with one gold and one silver at the Scottish and one bronze at the British.   In the end of the year rankings, Helen was fourth in the 880 yards with 2:17.2 and first in the Mile in 5:02.5.   I asked statistician Arnold Black what the real standing of Helen’s record time was and he replied that the 5:02.5 hadn’t been officially recognised but they had listed the record of 5:08.4 jointly with Helen (1963) and Georgena Craig (1966).   Then in 1969 they only listed metric records.   Unofficially, Helen’s time leasted until 14th June 1969 when Margaret McSherry ran 4:56.3 at Leicester.

1963 produced another WAAA’s medal at the White City after she had won the SWAAA Mile and this time the Glasgow Herald did report on the meeting and actually said, after reporting that it had been held in appalling conditions, “Miss HM Cherry was Scotland’s best performer.   The Bellahouston Harriers girl took third place in the Mile with a time of 5:15.5.”   Another report read Helen Cherry was Scotland’s heroine in the mud in the British Women’s Athletic Championships at London’s White City.   The Bellahouston Harrier finished third in the Mile in 5:17.5 to win Scotland’s only medal.   Courageous Helen led the field for more than halfway – but the strength-sapping track took its toll and eventually she was passed by the winner Pam Davies (Selsonia) and Madeleine Ibbotson (Longwood).”  So she had been timed at 5:17.5 behind Pam Davies (5:10.8) and Madeleine Ibbotson (5:14.0).   The weather clearly influenced everyone – Ibbotson had run 5:00.4 the previous year.   Nevertheless, Helen was the only Scots medallist but most coverage was given to the sprinters and long jumpers with of course the obligatory photo of a long jumper!  Helen had already won the West District Mile and the SWAAA Mile.   At the end of the year the statistics read 880 yards, third with 2:20, Mile first with 5:08.4 plus the medals of course.

The Mile at White City, 1963!   57 (J Williams) and 67 (SA Westlake) finished without their shoes.

What happened next?   What happened next was that Helen married Ian Donald of Shettleston Harriers and moved to Old Kilpatrick.   Willie Diverty reported in Athletics Weekly under the heading WEDDING BELLS: “Ian Donald, the well-known Shettleston Harrier, has married Helen Cherry (Bellahouston Harriers), the SWAAA mile champion and record holder who was third in this year’s mile at the WAAA Championships.”

Helen and Ian

Her serious running career just stopped there although she did do several races thereafter.    How good could she have been?   She had won the two previous SWAAA Mile titles and medalled in the WAAA in the same two years.   She was clearly the best in the country at the time.   Let’s look at the statistics in tabular form – first the competitive record.

Hugh leading Gaston Roelants at the White City

Hugh Barrow, himself a top class miler in the 1950’s and 60’s, has brought together a collection of photographs and memorabilia on the event from many sources including his own collection, from the internet and from other magazines and cuttings.   It is maybe appropriate to have many of these on the same single page.   Since many of the top men in the 50’s were Australian and New Zealanders, including such as Elliott, Landy, Lincoln, Snell and Davies, there is maybe a preponderance of antipodeans?   And rightly so!   

Two promising young men

Remember cigarette cars?   Bubble Gum Cards? Sweetie Cards?

 

Do you remember cigarette cards?   Sweetie cards??

Two more from the days when the top athletic stars came to Glasgow … lured by the likes of Bill Struth and Willie Maley

Now a look at stuff from the man himself, the maker of champions, Percy Wells Cerutty.   Start with some print items – first, who else but Herb! 

Now we sec a statement of his approach, then a poem, before reading the sentiments of Merv Lincoln who was the second best runner of the distance (behind Herb Elliott) in his era: at any other time in the history of the event he would have been top dog by a mile (!),   Note his comments here.  Now the statement.

… then the poem …

… Now Merv ..

Lincoln

It’s a merciless review of his own career and one which I can’t imagine many of the current top domestic milers taking of their own life athletic achievements. 

John Landy helps Ron Clark up after a fall during a race

Allan Watt was a very good runner with Shettleston Harriers and we have a picture of him with miling great Sydner Wooderson, that’s him in the uniform of the Pioneer Corps during the war, taken at Ibrox two days before the Rangers Sports of 1940 at which Wooderson set a new Scottish All-comers record of 4:11 in the mile.   A wonderful meeting: pity it’s gone.

 

Although McCafferty is a Scot, and although Paisley is in Scotland, this Paisley Park is in Ireland.

While we are on the subject of sportsmen of a recent era, easily within living memory, there is nothing that needs to be added to this cutting which takes the form of a letter to another Australian, John Landy by a witness to an incident on the track. 

This is how close Merv (on the left) got to Herb – maybe a bit hard on himself in his comments above …

Coach Percy Cerutty and athlete Herb Elliott have a cup of tea …

From New Zealand – he world 4 x 1 mile relay record team …

One of Perce’s books …

Now for John Landy with Roger Bannister after the excellent race in Vancouver in 1954

Landy again – this time as a schoolboy:

And another of the schoolboy Landy

Lining up ..

Outside the fast pack …

 

more to be added

 

Jack Wright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Willie Wright

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

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

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

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

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

Harold Wright

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

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

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

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

John Wright behind George Govan of Shettleston at Hamilton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Result:

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

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

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

Saturday: A race or an inter club run.

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

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

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

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

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

Friday:   He never ever trained on a Friday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1979

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

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

1980

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

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

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

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

Alastair Macfarlane, Colin Youngson and Don Macgregor

1981

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

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

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

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

1982

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

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

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

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

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

1983

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1984

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

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

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

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

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

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

1985

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1986

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glasgow Marathon

1987

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

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

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

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

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

1988

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

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

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

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

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

1989

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

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

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

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

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

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

1990

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

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

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

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

1991

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

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

SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL MARATHON MEN (1979 – 1990)

(Not including Commonwealth Games performances)

Allan Adams            1986 (2), 1989 = 3

Des Austin               1981 = 1

Rod Bell                    1988 = 1

Jim Brown                1982, 1985 = 2

Evan Cameron        1980, 1981, 1982, 1985 = 4

Mike Carroll              1985 (2) = 2

Dave Clark               1979 = 1

Fraser Clyne            1982 = 1

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

Tony Coyne             1985 = 1

Hammy Cox             1988 (2), 1989 = 3

Andy Daly                 1983 (2) = 2

Jim Dingwall            1980, 1984 = 2

John Duffy               1988 (2) = 1

Peter Fleming          1983 = 1

Graham Getty          1985 = 1

Sam Graves             1987, 1988 = 2

Rob Hall                    1987, 1989 = 2

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

Charlie Haskett       1984 = 1

Doug Hunter            1986 = 1

Paul Kenney            1985 = 1

Sandy Keith             1982 = 1

Graham Laing         1980, 1983 = 2

Keith Lyall                1986 = 1

Scott MacDonald    1985 = 1

Alastair Macfarlane1980, 1981 = 2

Donald Macgregor 1980, 1981, 1982,1984  = 4

Charlie McIntyre     1989, 1990 (2) = 3

Murray McNaught  1985, 1986 = 2

Colin Martin             1980, 1988, 1989 = 3

Graham Milne          1981 = 1

Terry Mitchell           1989 = 1

George Reynolds   1984 = 1

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

Lindsay Robertson 1982, 1983, 1984 = 3

Alan Robson           1989 = 1

Bobby Ronald         1987 = 1

Craig Ross               1982, 1983, 1985, 1987 = 4

Lawrie Spence        1984 = 1

Davie Watt                1987 = 1

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

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

INTERNATIONAL TEAM ROAD RACE: HALF MARATHON

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

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

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

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

First:  THE CLUB CONSTITUTION

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

RULES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

–

CROSS-COUNTRY REGULATIONS

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

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

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

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

Second:  THE CLUB ANNUAL AND MEMBERS TICKET

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eleven and twelve were the start of the constitution.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Andrew Hannah

Clydesdale Harriers 1885 –

SCOTTISH WOMEN WHO TOOK PART IN THE ICCU CHAMPIONSHIPS

Aileen Drummond (Lusk) – SAAA Mile Champion and cross-country champion  with

Diane Leather – AAA Mile Champion and cross-country champion

(More detailed results can be obtained from two excellent wikipedia sites: for the ICCU Championships; and the IAAF World Cross Country Championships).

Cross-country running is a traditional sport: a true test of endurance and resilience. Meeting such a difficult challenge certainly forms character! Although the population of Scotland is small compared to many other countries, including England, Scottish International cross-country runners have worked hard for selection and have done their best in big events. Naturally, some have more talent than others and, assuming they have trained properly and have strong race day nerves, probably finish higher up in the result list. However every person named in this article deserves considerable respect.

Between 1931 and 1938, the International Cross Country Union organised four unofficial Championships for Women. These took place in 1931 (England, France, Belgium); 1932 (England, France); 1935 (England, Scotland); and 1938 (England, France, Belgium). Four more unofficial Championships were held between 1954 and 1957: these were contests between England and Scotland. For each country, there were up to six women in the team. Unfortunately, in those five unofficial events between 1935 and 1957, no Scottish woman managed to defeat an English rival, although Aileen Drummond ran consistently well in three races; and Constance Johnson, Jean Tait, Catherine Boyes and Doreen Fulton also shone.    Anna Herman won the SAAA 440 three times.

Leading Scots in 1935 included: Constance Johnson (Maryhill H and London Olympiades), who won the Scottish XC title in 1933 and  5 SAAA titles: 440 in 1932; and 880 thrice; Mildred Storrar, who was Scottish Champion four times (1934-36 and 1938) and won the SAAA 880 thrice; and Jean Tait (Scottish Champion in 1937). The 1935 unofficial International match was held on the Old Golf Links in Morecombe, Lancashire. The distance covered was three km/1.9 miles.

The 1954 event took place in Birmingham, on the Bromford Bridge Racecourse; followed by 1955 on Ayr Racecourse; 1956 at Upminster, Essex; and 1957 on Musselburgh Racecourse. In 1954 4 km or 2.5 miles were covered; otherwise it was 3 km/1.9 miles

Scottish Champions between 1954 and 1957 included: Aileen Drummond (1954-1956) – Aileen won SAAA titles at 880 twice and One Mile thrice; and Morag O’Hare (1957). Dale Greig showed enduring fitness. She ran the International in 1957 and 1968; and won Scottish XC titles in 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1968. Dale was famous for setting the first World Best Marathon Time for a Woman in 1964. Mollie Ferguson became Scottish 880 yards champion in 1959 and, as Molly Wilmoth, regained the title in 1961 when she also won the 440.

Senior Women were officially included in the 1967-1972 ICCU Championships. From 1973 onwards, the IAAF World Cross Country Championships took over; although from 1988 Scots could only compete as part of teams from the United Kingdom. A Junior (under 20) event started in 1989; and a Short Course Championship was held from 1998 to 2005.

The 1967 ICCU Championship was in Barry, Wales. England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland took part. The Scottish team finished third. Margaret MacSherry of Cambridge Harriers had won the Scottish Intermediate (under 17) title and was first scoring Scot in the International, finishing 9^th out of 26 participants. Georgena Craig was 11^th, Leslie Watson 14^th and Margaret Purdon 16^th.

Margaret MacSherry (who became Margaret Coomber) was to be one of the most successful Scottish International athletes. She won the Senior National XC title in 1970 and 1972; and, in the ICCU/IAAF XC Championships, represented Scotland an amazing 14 times in succession between 1967 and1980. On the track she won the SAAA 1500m four times and ran for Scotland in the 1970, 1974 and 1978 Commonwealth Games; and for GB in the 1972 Olympics.

Georgena Craig behind Madeleine Ibbotson

Georgena Craig (nee Buchanan), who ran for Maryhill LAC and Western, also enjoyed a fine athletic career. She took part in the 1966 and 1970 Commonwealth Games; won three successive SWAAA 880 yards titles from 1963 to 1965, and the One Mile event in 1964. In addition she was Senior National XC champion in 1963 and 1965.

Leslie Watson (Maryhill LAC and London Olympiades) was Senior National XC champion in 1966 and 1967. On the track she won the SAAA One Mile in 1966. However her lasting fame was as a marathon (and ultra distance) runner. Leslie was renowned as a graceful athlete who became one of the most prolific and successful of Scottish marathon and ultra distance runners with 68 career marathon wins in Scotland, England and abroad, as well as victories in the London to Brighton 54 miles race. She set World Best times at 50 km on road and track; as well as a British 100 km record.

The 1968 International was held in Tunis. England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland took part as well as the United States of America. 30 athletes participated and the Scottish team did well to finish third, beating Ireland and Wales.

Doreen King, who had been the 1961 SAAA One Mile champion, was first Scot in 12^th, with Margaret MacSherry 13^th and Scottish champion Dale Greig 14^th. Good packing! Leslie Watson was fourth counter in 16^th, Rosemary Stirling 17^th and Sheena Fitzmaurice 19^th.

Rosemary Stirling, who won three SAAA 800m titles, went on to represent Great Britain with distinction on the track; and, in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, ran for Scotland and won the gold medal in a particularly close 800 metres.

The 1969 International took place in Scotland, over a hilly 3km course at Dalmuir, Clydebank. 41 runners entered, from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, USA and Canada. Margaret MacSherry was first Scot (18^th), backed by Susan Foster (22), Sandra Kirk (25) and Sheena Fitzmaurice (29). The team finished fifth.

In 1970, the Scottish National at Lesmahagow featured a marvellous battle between Margaret MacSherry and 17 year old Christine Haskett of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers. They finished on the same time, with Margaret given first place.

This rivalry continued when the 1970 Women’s International was held on two continents! 21st March: at the FVW Country Club in Frederick, Maryland, USA, over a 4 km course, 34 took part, including runners from England (team winners), USA, Canada, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (plus two individuals from Australia). Doris Brown (USA) won. The Scottish team finished fifth. Margaret MacSherry ran an excellent race to be sixth, but was only four seconds in front of Christine Haskett (8^th). The other counters were Sheena Fitzmaurice (26^th) and Sandra Kirk (28^th). (22nd March: at Vichy, France, over a 3 km course, there was an alternative Championship. 23 took part and Paola Pigni (Italy) won. The Netherlands finished first team, followed by Italy, France, Poland and Belgium.)

Christine Haskett (later Christine Price) came from a famous Dundee running clan. She was Scottish National XC champion six times between 1971 and 1982 and won a final silver medal in 1987. Christine ran for Scotland in the ICCU championships three times; and the IAAF ten times. On the track she won multiple SAAA titles at: 1500m (4); 3000m (3); 5000m (1); and 10,000m (1). Christine Haskett ran for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games twice: in Edinburgh1970; and (as Christine Price) in Edinburgh 1986. In 1993 she ran once more for Scotland in Cardiff. The event was the annual Five Nations Veterans XC International and Christine Price emphasised that she had lost neither stamina nor competitive class when she won the W40 gold medal.

22 years earlier, in the 1971 Senior National, over her home course in Dundee, Christine won quite easily (from Margaret) and led Hawkhill to the team title.

The 1971 International was at San Sebastian and 60 athletes competed, including teams from the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Morocco and New Zealand. Finishing times indicate that the course was much shorter than 4.5 km / 2.8 miles. The Scottish team ended up 8^th from 10. Christine Haskett had a marvellous run and finished 6^th, only four seconds slower than the silver medallist. Margaret MacSherry finished 28^th; Sandra Sutherland 43^rd; and Ann Barrass 47^th.

Ann Barrass ran very well at 3000m on the track. In 1971 she finished third in the AAA 3000m; and improved to a silver medal in 1972. She was Scottish 3000m champion in 1972 and 1973. Sandra Sutherland’s best distance was 800m. She represented GB in the 1971 European Championships.

Margaret Coomber gained revenge in the 1972 Senior National, regaining the title from Christine Haskett and Ann Barrass. In the very last ICCU Championship (at Cambridge) Margaret ran brilliantly to finish in 5^th place from 44 competitors. With the Scottish Intermediate champion Mary Stewart 17^th, Christine Haskett 19^th and Ann Barrass 23^rd, the Scottish team produced a very good performance to secure bronze medals, behind England and the USA, but in front of four other teams, including Northern Ireland (taking part for the first time).

Mary Stewart was the sister of Scotland and GB stars Peter and Ian. She ran for Scotland between 1972 and 1976, before changing allegiance to England, since she lived in Birmingham. While Scottish, Mary won the SAAA 1500m title in 1973 and the AAA 1500m in 1975. She represented GB: in the 1974 and 1975 European Indoor 1500m races; and the 1976 Olympic 1500m. After switching, she won 1500m titles in the 1977 European Indoors and the 1978 Commonwealth Games.

Margaret Coomber (134) and Christine Price (408) in the English National

ALL SCOTS IN THE WOMEN’S ICCU CHAMPIONSHIPS

Barbara Anderson                Shettleston H (1)       1935   (10)

Ann Barrass                           Aldershot                    (2)       1971   (47), 1972 (23)

Catherine Boyes                   Maryhill H                   (1)       1955   (7)

Mary Campbell                                                          (2)       1956   (12), 1957 (12)

Helen Cherry                          Bellahouston H          (1)       1957   (10)

Georgena Craig                    Western                      (2)       1967   (11), 1969 (32)

Aileen Drummond                 Maryhill H                   (3)       1954 (7), 1955 (8), 1956 (7)

Agnes Elder                                                               (2)       1954 (9), 1955 (12)

Mollie Ferguson                    Springburn H             (3)       1954 (10), 1955 (10), 1956 (10)

Sheena Fitzmaurice             Aldershot                    (3)       1968 (19), 1969 (29), 1970 (26)

Margaret Fleming                 ESH                            (1)       1967   (20)

Susan Foster                         Aldershot                    (1)       1969   (22)

Doreen Fulton                        Springburn H             (3)       1955 (11), 1956 (9), 1957 (7)

Dale Greig                             Bella / Tannahill H     (2)       1957 (11), 1968 (14)

Brenda Grinney                     Thurrock                    (1)       1971   (48)

Christine Haskett                  Dundee Hawkhill H   (3)       1970 (8), 1971 (6), 1972 (19)

Anne Herman                        ESH                            (1)       1956   (8)

Constance Johnson              Maryhill H                  (1)       1935   (7)

Sheila Johnstone                                                      (1)       1954   (12)

Catherine Kelly                      (Maryhill H)            (1)       1967   (22)

Doreen King                          (Western)                  (1)       1968   (12)

Sandra Kirk                           (Bury)                        (2)       1969 (25), 1970 (28)

Margaret MacSherry (Coomber)     (Camb H)       (6)     1967 (9), 1968 (13), 1969 (18), 1970 (6), 1971 (28), 1972 (5).

Elizabeth McLeod                  unatt                            (1)     1955  (9)

Inglis Miller                             Wellpark                     (1)       1935   (11)

Betty Moffat                            Athenian AC              (1)       1954   (11)

Rose Murphy                         Bathgate                       (1)       1971   (52)

Morag O’Hare                       Maryhill H                    (1)       1957   (9)

Margaret Purdon                   Maryhill H                   (1)       1967   (16)

Betty Rodger                         Shotts                            (1)       1957   (8)

Mary Speedman                   Maryhill LAC               (1)       1972   (29)

Elizabeth Steedman                                                    (1)       1956   (11)

Mary Stewart                         Birchfield                    (1)       1972   (17)

Rosemary Stirling                 Wolverhampton         (2)       1968   (17), 1972 (27)

Mildred Storrar                      Dundee H H               (1)       1935   (9)

Sandra Sutherland                ESH                              (1)       1971   (43)

Jean Tait                                Clydesdale H               (1)       1935   (8)

Margaret Wadler                   Athenian AC               (1)       1954   (8)

Leslie Watson                       (Maryhill / LOAC)       (3)       1967 (14), 1968 (16), 1969 (34)

Hunter Watson on left with Adrian Jackson

Hunter Watson who has been a grand supporter to the sport since before his University days at Edinburgh in the 1950’s, gave the following information to Colin Youngson along with other documents.    We thought it would be appropriate to print it and link it to the Edinburgh AC page.

Hunter Watson was a distinguished Edinburgh University athlete who became for many years the respected General Secretary of Aberdeen AAC. He was a sports historian and a medallist in the Scottish Championships: second in the 1956 One Mile and third in the 1960 880 yards. Previously in 1954 he became the East Districts Youth Cross Country Champion and later on that year finished second in the Scottish National Youth XC. Even at 40 years of age he remained a fast 800m/1500m runner and won Veteran titles.

“Personal background

   In 1953, the year in which I went to Edinburgh University, I joined an Edinburgh club called Edinburgh Eastern Harriers. That club was remarkably similar to the pre-war Shire Harriers in Aberdeen. For example, Edinburgh Eastern was a small club catering only for senior men. Also it had a clubhouse of which it had exclusive use. That consisted of a fairly dilapidated terraced house in the Dumbiedykes area of Edinburgh. It was in that building that we had our General and committee meetings (I was elected to the club committee in 1956). The building was a convenient base for going runs in Holyrood Park though that did not happen often. Our winter programme consisted of interclub runs from various venues and competitions consisting of confined club competitions for club trophies, Eastern District League meetings, the Edinburgh to Glasgow road relay, the Eastern District relays and the National Cross Country Championships.

   By 1959 things had developed somewhat in that cross country events had begun to include events for youths and senior boys, though the establishment of summer leagues with events for younger athletes lay in the future. Although a committee member and although I had been responsible for introducing a few younger athletes to the club, it had not occurred to me to suggest that special events should be provided for younger athletes. I hardly had an adequate excuse for not putting forward that proposal because I was well aware that there were championship events for youths, having won the Eastern District Championship event and finished second in the National Championship event in season 1953 -54.

   Although it did not occur to me that there should be events for younger age groups in the Eastern District Cross Country League, I was one of those of the opinion that Edinburgh Eastern Harriers should amalgamate with one or more of the other Harrier clubs in Edinburgh. I did not particularly push this proposal but there had been no need for me to do so since others were of the same opinion: senior committee members of three of the Edinburgh Harrier clubs had been discussing the possibility of amalgamation.

     On 27 March, 1961, in the fine clubhouse of Edinburgh Northern Harriers in Greenside Place, Edinburgh, there was a joint general meeting of members of the following clubs:

Edinburgh Harriers                           (Founded 1885)

Edinburgh Northern Harriers           (Founded 1889)

Edinburgh Eastern Harriers             (Founded 1922)

   A proposal to “amalgamate all resources, financial and otherwise, … in a new club to be called the EDINBURGH ATHLETIC CLUB …” was unanimously agreed by those present.

     A committee for the new club was elected. I was elected unopposed as the cross country captain of that new club which catered for youngsters but which still seemed to lack a ladies section. It is noticeable that in the early membership cards of Edinburgh Athletic Club, it is stated that the club is affiliated to the S.A.A.A. and the N.C.C.U. but that it is not stated that it is affiliated to the corresponding women’s organisations.

     In August 1965 I came to Aberdeen to take up a post of a lecturer in mathematics at the Aberdeen College of Education. Soon thereafter I joined Aberdeen AAC.

     At the AGM of Aberdeen AAC, which was held in the YMCA building in Union Street on 14 October 1966, I was elected to the club committee. At the AGM which was held the following year on 6 October 1967 in the same venue, I was again elected to the committee. However, as the year progressed I became disenchanted with the way in which committee business was conducted and, as a consequence, I resigned from the committee.

     By 1974 my elder son, Billy, was showing an interest in athletics. That led to me organising a few events for youngsters at Linksfield Stadium where the club trained. On two occasions I also, without club support, took youngsters to compete in events at some distance from Aberdeen. Their performances were such that it seemed obvious that much could be gained by establishing a Young Athletes Section within Aberdeen AAC. The club secretary gave me the go ahead provided that this section could be self-financing. On that basis I took the necessary steps to establish a Young Athletes Section. Parents were willing to assist me as were two senior members of the club.

   On behalf of Aberdeen AAC, I applied to join the Scottish Young Athletes League. My application was accepted and, to the surprise of some clubs in the League, Aberdeen AAC won the North East Section and finished third in the League Final.

   At a well-attended AGM, which was held in Harlaw Academy on 17 October 1975, I was elected club secretary. I served as in that position for twenty years but stepped down shortly before my sixtieth birthday at the 1995 AGM. I had gained great satisfaction as a consequence of carrying out my secretarial duties, not least because during that period Aberdeen AAC had become by far Scotland’s largest club. I am delighted that the club has continued to flourish since I stepped down as secretary.

p.s. The cross country regulations of the Aberdeen YMCA Harriers (founded 1912) stipulated that a Pace-maker and a Whip shall be appointed for the control of each pack and, further “That no one, when out for a run, shall be allowed to go ahead of the Pace-maker, unless the run be a racing one, or the signal be given by the Pace-maker for a race home”. (When I joined Edinburgh Eastern Harriers in 1953 that club had no such regulation relating to cross country running. However, at the opening run of each season the various Edinburgh Harrier clubs once met together at the Portobello Baths and the runners divided themselves into a fast and a slow pack, each under the control of a Pace-maker and a Whip. Each year towards the end of the run, members of the fast pack were lined up on the promenade at Portobello and then raced the final half mile or so to the baths where we enjoyed a pleasant swim. The fields over which we ran then are now built up. The same, obviously, is true of many of the fields in which cross country events once took place in Aberdeen. As for the use of Pace-makers and Whips, I doubt whether this would now be appropriate for confined club runs but believe that there could still be a place for them in inter-club runs. It is my opinion that not every inter-club event need be of a competitive nature.)”

Many interesting observations on athletics generally as well as on the particular topics of Edinburgh AC and Aberdeen AAC from Hunter whom we thank for the information.

ABERDEEN AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB: THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS – 1952 to 1972

(The main sources for this profile include the following. “We Have To Catch The Ferry”, a book of personal reminiscences by Steve Taylor – the Ferry referred to was the one across the Forth to Edinburgh.  An article about AAAC by W. Hunter Watson, which was published in ‘The Evening Express’ on the 28^th of March 1987; and another one which he wrote in 2015.  The archives of the Scottish Association of Track Statisticians and the Scottish Road Running and Cross Country Commission. The Centenary History of the SCCU by Colin Shields.)

Hunter Watson was a distinguished Edinburgh University athlete who became for many years the respected General Secretary of AAAC. He was a sports historian and a medallist in the Scottish Championships: second in the 1956 One Mile and third in the 1960 880 yards.   Follow the link to find out more about Hunter’s career.

Here is the start of his article, which was entitled ‘Club with a rich tradition’. “Although officially founded in 1952, Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club has its origins in the mists of time. Many of the trophies, notably the Angus Cup and the King Trophy, either belonged to Aberdeen’s first club, the Aberdeenshire Harriers, or were presented by former members of that club.

Founded in 1888, only three years after Clydesdale Harriers became the first of Scotland’s harrier clubs, the ‘Shire Harriers stamped their memory on North-East sport through minutes of meetings which make interesting reading. On Tuesday January 21^st, 1930, for instance, it was noted: “The chairman closed the meeting owing to rowdyism.” It transpires that the treasurer had refused to make money available for the purchase of an oil stove for the clubhouse at Wellington Bridge.

Aberdeen AAC’s early years were also linked with another of the city’s early clubs, the YMCA Harriers. And it was probably one of the YMCA members, former Scottish high jump international Jimmy Adams, who did more than anyone to establish Aberdeen AAC.” (Between 1921 and 1923, he won one bronze and two silver medals in the Scottish championships. Jimmy claimed that in the course of over 100 competitions within the UK, including two internationals, he never failed to make the top three.)

“Prior to World War Two, there were six open clubs in the city – the Shire, YMCA Harriers (founded 1912), Shamrock and Thistle for men, the Bon-Accord and Aberdeen Ladies for women. Only the Shire survived the war years.

That, in turn, led to Jimmy Adams contributing an article to the ‘Green Final’ of October 11^th, 1947, in which he suggested “A way out of the slump in athletics in the North-East.” The same article came up with the idea that Linksfield Stadium should be utilised for more than football. The Shire Harriers had tried and failed to gain access to Linksfield on several occasions.

A public meeting was held in 1952 with a view to forming a new club. There were reportedly eight former members of Aberdeen YMCA Harriers present. There are grounds for arguing that Aberdeen AAC is actually a successor to the Aberdeen YM Harriers Club: the first president of Aberdeen AAC, Jimmy Adams, had been a Vice President of the Aberdeen YM Harriers club; the first secretary of Aberdeen AAC, Robert Miles, had also been member of the Aberdeen YM Harriers club; the first constitution of Aberdeen AAC made reference to the “Y.M.C.A. Section”; Annual General Meetings of Aberdeen AAC were held in YMCA premises until at least 1966. (Colin Youngson adds: before WW2 on Saturday 16^th February 1935 my father, James Alexander Youngson, representing Aberdeen YMCA Harriers, won a North Eastern Harriers Junior 3 Miles race at Torry, Aberdeen and also led his team to victory in the contest for the Caledonian Cup. In 1980, aged 67, a member of AAAC, he ran the World Veterans Marathon in Glasgow and was second counter in the Scottish M65 Marathon team which won gold medals.)

Aberdeen AAC, with Jimmy Adams as its first president, obtained a permit to use Linksfield, especially the loose cinder track, and it became the club base. It has been ever since.” (In recent years it has become thoroughly modernised as Aberdeen Sports Village.)

The newly formed club managed to arrange at least one match in the summer of 1952, against RAF Dyce. (The team representing RAF Dyce consisted of young men who were based at the Dyce aerodrome while doing their National Service.) Aberdeen AAC won the match. The new club generated sufficient publicity to make people in and around Aberdeen aware of Aberdeen AAC, something that increased the probability that it would attract new members.

A very important fixture was the annual Athletic Sports Meeting at Pittodrie Park, as Aberdeen FC’s ground was then called. Aberdeen Corporation began to put on a major sports meeting each summer. Athletics Weekly printed the results of the meeting held in 1954. Hunter Watson wrote that his expenses were paid when he travelled from Edinburgh to compete in the meeting held in 1956.

Jimmy Adams had been actively involved in athletics in Aberdeen for over 30 years as an athlete and an administrator. He seems to have been an enthusiast and to have been highly regarded by the young people who had been attracted into athletics by the formation of the new club. One of those young people was Steve Taylor.

In the Introduction to his book, Steve Taylor paid a tribute to an unsung hero. Henry Mackinnon was the groundsman at Linksfield for many years, and gave unstinting co-operation and support, allowing athletes access to training facilities (and hot showers) outwith normal opening hours. Then Steve wrote the following. “By the late 1950s, the fledgling Aberdeen AAC had become established on the Scottish athletics scene. This, in no small way, was down to the selfless dedication of a nucleus of officials, most notably Jimmy Adams, who had been a high jumper of international standing in the 1920s. In 1923 he had been a member of the Scottish team competing in a triangular contest against England and Ireland in Stoke-on-Trent, which witnessed the great Eric Liddell create history, completing a unique treble in winning both sprints and the 440 yards in one afternoon. (That performance was perhaps more remarkable than is generally realised: according to Jimmy Adams, Eric Liddell ran those races in an outsize pair of borrowed spikes with cotton wool stuffed in the toes, since he had left his own spikes at the White City where he had been competing prior to the International at Stoke.)

Bill Angus, also a founder member of the Club, had been a highly rated middle distance runner while staying in America. He and Jimmy Adams worked along with the remarkable Donald brothers, (Colin, Roy and Kenny), who were fine athletes in their own right and found time, in addition to a busy farming life, to provide the backbone of the club for many years, in administrative tasks and as drivers of the Club’s only form of independent transport. Many of us fondly remember the green Ford Consul which ferried us to and from races for a number of years. On these long journeys home, the choice of entertainment was either Scottish Dance Music on the old Scottish Home Service, or a rendering of the latest Adam Faith song performed badly by Roy, the youngest member of the Donald family!

Around this time the male section of the Club was strengthened by the arrival of two Englishmen. Dennis Whiting was an outstanding club athlete from Maidstone AC, who went on to narrowly miss International recognition at cross country; and Peter Duffy from Ruislip-Northwood AAC, a Customs Officer with a great sense of humour, and a tough and successful club athlete. He was later to make his name as a hill runner, an activity which he continued into his seventies. His arrival resulted in a 100% increase in Club transport, in the form of a Mini Traveller, which at times was a tight squeeze, and which sometimes made the warm-up at the end of a long journey a relatively arduous and painful process! Additional local talent came along in Bobby Duncan, a recruit from school who already had an athletics pedigree. What he lacked in stature was more than compensated for in commitment and sheer application; one of the toughest athletes to wear the Aberdeen colours. Bobby was to become a key member of the team, both at cross country and on the track and a regular competitor in representative events for East District teams in the days of the Inter-District fixtures against the West and the South-West of Scotland.”

For Aberdeen AAC, it was the women who made an early impact in Scottish athletics. SWAAA Senior Champions (who also broke Scottish National records) included the following.

Pat Bellamy won the High Jump in 1955 and 1956.

Alice Robertson, after securing a bronze medal in the 1955 100 yards, ‘did the double’ by winning the 100 yards and 220 yards in 1956.

Gwen Summers won the Javelin in 1959 and 1960. In 1962 – as Gwen Watt – she regained this title, after missing 1961 since she had been giving birth on the very day of the championships! In 1964 she was second in this event. She also won the East District Javelin titles in 1959 and 1962. (Gwen’s versatility was evident in 1959 when she finished sixth in the Senior National cross country championships!)

Her club-mate Agnes Paterson became SWCCU Senior Champion in that 1959 Cross Country. A newspaper report emphasises what a surprise this was, since Agnes was only 17 years old at the time. Nevertheless her bold front –running tactics led to a 60-yard victory over Scottish internationals Barbara Tait and Dale Greig, who won the title in 1960 (and in 1964 set the first officially recognised World Best time for Women in the Marathon).

Sheena Crockett finished second in the 1960 Scottish One Mile Championship and won the 1961 East District 880 yards and One Mile titles.

In the East of Scotland Youth Cross Country Championship, Edinburgh University’s Hunter Watson won the title in 1954 and Aberdeen AAC runners did so in the next two years: George Wilson in 1955 and John Gray in 1956. Steve Taylor wrote: “The performance of George Wilson was all the more remarkable in that it was the first occasion in which the Club had competed at this level. John Gray was a huge talent who sadly left the athletics scene prematurely to become an enthusiastic golfer. In 1960 (and not, as the newspaper photo below insists, 1959) Aberdeen AAC won its first major team title, winning the East of Scotland Cross Country Relay Championship by the narrowest of margins, and inflicting the first home defeat for two years on the title holders, Edinburgh Southern Harriers. The team on that day, in the order of running was John Gray, Dennis Whiting, Bobby Duncan and Steve Taylor.”

In Track and Field, Steve Taylor finished third in the 1959 Scottish Mile Championship. He won the East District One Mile in 1960 and then improved to a silver medal in the Scottish Championship Mile. Steve also won the Inter-District Mile Championship. In 1961 he retained the East Mile and also won the 3 Miles before going on to victory in the Scottish Championship 3 Miles, outsprinting his soon-to-be club-mate Alastair Wood, who joined AAAC in January 1962. In 1962 Steve was first in not only the East 3 Miles but also the Scottish 3 Miles. In 1965 he was second in the Scottish 3 Miles, behind Lachie Stewart; and in 1966 secured silver again, setting a fast time of 13.47.8, not far behind Fergus Murray. Steve Taylor also won the Scottish Ten Miles Track title in 1970 and, almost as an afterthought, was a 2.19 Marathon runner.

John Waters finished third in the 1960 Scottish Championship Javelin and then went on to win the title in 1961. He was East champion in 1960 and 1961.

Several other AAAC men produced very good track performances. Alastair Wood, running for Aberdeen University, had won a bronze medal in the 1955 Scottish Mile. As a 3 Miler (running for Shettleston Harriers) he won the Scottish title in 1957 and 1959; and also became 6 Miles Champion four times in succession, from 1958 to 1961. Alastair set Scottish Native Records for 3 Miles (13 minutes 39.8 seconds in 1960) and 6 Miles (29m 10.2s in 1958 and 28m 42.8s in 1959).

Alastair Wood joined Aberdeen AAC in Summer 1961 and, together with Steve Taylor, went on to inspire the next generation of Aberdeen athletes. Wood won Scottish Marathon titles in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968 and 1972. In the 1962 AAA Marathon he was a close second to that year’s European and Empire champion Brian Kilby. Subsequently, running for Great Britain, Alastair Wood was a valiant fourth in the European Marathon in Belgrade. Then he represented Scotland in the 1962 Empire Games Marathon in Perth, Australia. In 1966 he set a new European record of 2.13.45 in the Forres marathon. For some obscure reason, the latter time has never been accepted by the SAAA, but was ratified by the AAA in 1967, and is now recognised by the Association of Road Running Statisticians (www.arrs.net) as the world’s fastest time in 1966.

In 1967 Alastair was second in the AAA Marathon, clocking 2.16.21, only 13 seconds behind fellow Scot Jim Alder.

On a bitterly cold December day in 1969 at Pitreavie, Alastair Wood was paced for most of 30 miles by his friend Steve Taylor. Then Alastair went on to break the World Record for 40 Miles Track (3 hours 49 minutes 49 seconds). Steve had the satisfaction of sharing with Alastair Scottish Native and All Comers Records for 30 kilometres, 20 miles and Two Hours.

In 1972 Alastair Wood broke the record by over ten minutes in the prestigious London to Brighton race (52 and three-quarter miles in 5 hours 11 minutes two seconds). In Paris 1974, aged 41, Alastair became World Veteran Marathon Champion. He was a versatile athlete and a truly world-class marathon and ultra-marathon runner.

AN ABERDEEN ‘GREEN FINAL’ CARTOON OF THE OUTSPOKEN ALASTAIR WOOD

Mel Edwards was born in Aberdeen and went to the Grammar School and Aberdeen University. He was a talented athlete and trained extremely hard. 1964 was a marvellous year for him, since he won the Scottish Junior Cross-Country title, in front of (the soon to be famous) Ian McCafferty; ran for Scotland’s Senior team in the International Cross Country Championships; won the East District Track 3 Miles; and was third in the Scottish 3 Miles. In 1967 he won the East District Cross Country Championship, leading Aberdeen AAC to the team title; secured a silver medal in the Scottish Six Miles (28.27.0); and then won the Harlow (Essex) Marathon in a fine 2.18.25. Mel went on to be a very good hill runner (winning titles and breaking distance records), a tremendously motivating coach and a successful veteran athlete, winning the 1988 M45 Scottish Veterans XC title, when AAAC (Colin Youngson, Graham Milne, Mel Edwards and Roddy MacFarquhar) won the team award. (Mel’s son Myles Edwards, who also ran for AAAC) was the 2015 Scottish 1500m track champion, both indoors and outdoors.)

Bill Ewing was educated at Aberdeen University and showed great athletic promise by finishing third in the 1963 Scottish Championship One Mile. In 1966 he won the East District Steeplechase, a title he retained in 1967, when he also sprinted to victory in the Scottish Championships Steeplechase at Grangemouth. The runner-up that day was Gareth Bryan-Jones, a future Olympian. In total, Bill won 5 Scottish medals in the Steeplechase (gold, silver and three bronze). His personal best (faster than the Scottish Native Record) was 8.47.8, run in 1968. In 2017 this is still the AAAC club record! Bill represented Scotland in the 1965 International Cross and secured the 1966 East District cross country title. He went on to become a successful veteran runner.

In Cross Country, Aberdeen AAC had success during the 1960s. Steve Taylor, having finished 7^th in the 1960 Scottish National XC, during his first season as a senior, became the first AAC male athlete to gain International Cross Country selection. Steve was 4^th in the 1961 National and chosen for Scotland again.

Bob Duncan was third in the 1960 Scottish Junior XC.

Before he joined AAAC in Summer 1961, Alastair Wood had won the Scottish XC title in 1959, leading Shettleston to the first team award. Alastair had run for Scotland in the International in 1959, 1960 and 1961 (when he finished an outstanding 7^th). Wood and Taylor both made the Scottish team for the International in 1962. Alastair Wood gained further Scottish vests in 1963 and 1964.

Aberdeen AAC came close to winning the Scottish National XC team title on several occasions: finishing second in 1964 and 1965 and third in 1972. However the narrowest and most frustrating defeat was in 1968 at Hamilton Racecourse. Before the race, officials decided to disqualify one of Aberdeen AAC’s fastest runners, Ian Mackenzie, on the unconvincing grounds that he was mainly a Forres Harrier. This became a major reason why the club missed out on gold – by a single heart-breaking point.

Steve Taylor wrote: “the club had included the outstanding Birchfield Harrier, Peter Stewart (whose connection with the Club, it had to be said, was tenuous). Going into the later stages of the senior race, it appeared that Edinburgh University Hare & Hounds (a team which had won the two previous years), brilliantly led by Alistair Blamire in 2^nd place, would be comfortable winners, but a tremendous fight back by the Aberdeen runners saw the Championship go ‘right to the wire’. It was finally decided by Edinburgh’s Ian Hathorn overtaking Joe Clare virtually on the line. It is worth noting the placings of both teams in what was a classic encounter. EU – Alistair Blamire 2^nd, Gareth Bryan-Jones 10^th, Dave Logue 13^th, Ian Hathorn 19^th, Alex Wight 24^th, Jim Wight 25^th – 93 points. AAAC – Mel Edwards 9^th, Bill Ewing 14^th, Peter Stewart 16^th, Alastair Wood 17^th, Steve Taylor 18^th, Joe Clare 20^th – 94 points.”

(Aberdeen AAC was never to win the Senior National, although the Junior National Team title was won in 1976 by Fraser Clyne (6^th), Graham Laing (11^th), Danny Buchan 15^th and Steve Cassells (41^st). In the 1980s AAAC performed respectably to secure four team bronze medals in the Senior National, plus two individual third places for Fraser Clyne in 1983 and 1984.)

The North-East Cross Country League, featuring teams from Aberdeen and St Andrew Universities, Dundee and Perth, as well as AAAC, provided excellent race training for younger athletes as well as allowing established stars to show their class and challenge others to improve. AAAC usually won the team titles. Donald Ritchie and Colin Youngson were only two Aberdeen University runners who, in the late 1960s, eventually secured victories in League races. Both became valuable team members for AAAC.

There was an annual cross country fixture for the Carry Trophy (donated by the jewellers of that name). This was between teams (of nine runners) from Dundee and Aberdeen. In 1960, the first nine home were all either AAAC or AU athletes!

Steve Taylor mentions one unusual contest which added fitness and enjoyment to the sport. “Athletics Weekly” (AW) was the weekly magazine for Britain’s competitors. It sponsored a two man 10 mile track relay (which entailed each runner completing 40×220 yards with a minimum of rest. John Gray and Steve Taylor brought international recognition to AAAC by finishing 2^nd in the 1959 British rankings of this popular event at the time, beaten by only 15 seconds by the Portsmouth AC duo of Bruce Tulloh and Martin Hyman, both of whom became major players in British athletics. In later years, Steve paired with Bob Duncan or Alastair Wood to run even faster and maintain a high place in the British list.

Track and Field Club Championships have always been keenly contested. AAAC has an amazingly detailed list of best performances. This is updated in an impressive Yearbook. All Time Top 20s in Senior events include highly-ranked adjusted pre-metrication marks (i.e. before 1969) by Bill Ewing, Steve Taylor, Mel Edwards and Alastair Wood.

Track and Field leagues have always featured in the story of Aberdeen AAC. In the 1960s there was a North East Track and Field League, which the club usually won. In the 1970s the Scottish Men’s League was started in 1972, followed by the Scottish Young Athletes’ League (1975) and the Scottish Women’s League (1976). These, and their modern equivalents, have resulted in many individual and team successes for AAAC athletes. The club has frequently found a place as one of Scotland’s very best Track and Field teams.

Road Running was very important for Aberdeen athletes, especially in the 1960s and 1980s. A glance at the results of top Scottish events like the Tom Scott Memorial Ten Miles and the Two Bridges 36 Miles will prove that Aberdeen men won these races or were placed in the top three. Team wins were also recorded.

Alastair Wood’s Scottish Marathon wins have been mentioned. Donald Ritchie, later known as Don, was second to his mentor in the 1967 and 1968 Championships and in the 1970s and 1980s developed into the greatest ultra-distance runner of the 20^th Century. He won many of the most famous ultra events in Britain, Europe and America and set an amazing number of world records. His fascinating, detailed autobiography ‘The Stubborn Scotsman’ was published in 2017.

Both Don Ritchie and Mel Edwards became Members of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Athletics and Charity. This was especially appropriate for Meldrum Barclay Edwards, who referred to himself for some time thereafter as MBE squared!

The main event of the pre-Christmas Winter season was for many decades the Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay. (There was for a while the women’s equivalent, which AAAC won in 1985. Two members of that team, Lynda Bain and Janine Robertson, won Scottish Marathon titles, with Lynda representing Great Britain in Czechoslovakia in 1984 and breaking the Scottish marathon record in 1985, with a very good time of 2.33.38.)

In the traditional E to G, an Aberdeen AAC team first took part in 1960. ”Proof of the growing reputation of the Club in national terms was an invitation to compete in this prestigious event. Aberdeen AAC became the first team north of the Tay to be invited”…. Bobby Duncan had a solid run (10^th from the 20 teams) on the First Stage. Aberdeen slipped to 17^th but then Dennis Whiting and Peter Duffy moved the North-East club up to 12^th at the start of the crucial Sixth and longest leg of the race. By the handover at the start of Stage Seven, “Aberdeen had moved up to 6^th place, thanks to club captain Steve Taylor, who recorded one of the fastest times ever on the stage (and best of the day), only 24 seconds outside the record held by Scottish distance running legend Ian Binnie. Maintaining this position on the closing two stages, AAAC was awarded the medals for the most meritorious performance by newcomers and this ensured an invitation for the following year’s race.”

AAC finished 10^th in 1961; 9^th in 1962; and improved to 3^rd in 1963, strengthened by Alastair Wood and Mel Edwards, with Bobby Duncan setting the fastest time on the 8^th and final stage. “The team that performed so valiantly that day, in order of running, included Roy Donald, Mel Edwards, Peter Duffy, Steve Taylor, Dennis Whiting, Alastair Wood, Al Howie and Bobby Duncan. Their collective time for the 44 mile course was six minutes faster than the club’s previous best.”

In 1964 Aberdeen finished fourth, with Ian Mackenzie, who was often North District champion, making his debut with the fastest time on Stage Three. The 1965 E to G produced a sixth place, with Donald Ritchie running Stage Three. Then it was fourth in 1966, with Mel Edwards running the fastest on Stage Six. Amazingly, second-equal was the 1967 result, with Mel fastest (and handing over first) on Stage Two and new recruit Terry Baker fighting out an incredibly close duel with Shettleston’s Henry Summerhill, and setting the fastest time on Stage 8.

In 1968, strengthened by International athletes Peter Stewart and his brother Ian, Aberdeen finished second to the dominant Shettleston Harriers, despite Alastair Wood breaking the Second Stage record (and handing over first) and Bill Ewing setting the fastest time on the 8^th Stage. The AAAC running order was Ian Mackenzie, Alastair Wood, Peter Stewart, Joe Clare, Steve Taylor, Ian Stewart, Donald Ritchie and Bill Ewing.

That was the peak for the Aberdeen team of the 1960s, although they regained second place in 1972 (again behind Shettleston Harriers, in their final supreme season) and the race featured an incredible Second Stage record (which was never broken) by Ian Stewart. That team was: Graham Milne, Ian Stewart, Ian Mackenzie, Donald Ritchie, Steve Taylor, Alastair Wood, Rab Heron and Peter Duffy.

Participation went on, including 3^rd in 1973. After inevitable decline the 1979 team won most improved medals for 8^th place, with Denis Shepherd moving up two places while setting the fastest time on the last leg. In 1981 it was third again, the team strengthened mainly by improving young AAC athletes. Another third place was achieved in 1982.

Then, at long last, came the breakthrough! Aberdeen AAC finally won the E to G in 1983, after a close battle with Bellahouston Harriers. The team included Graham Milne, Graham Laing, Ian Mathieson, Craig Ross, Peter Wilson, Fraser Clyne, Mike Murray and Colin Youngson. Milne, Ross, Wilson and Youngson were Scottish International marathon men; Laing had finished seventh in the 1982 Commonwealth marathon; Mathieson was a hill-running International; Murray a talented middle distance athlete; and Clyne often a GB marathon International who ran for Scotland, finishing tenth, in the 1986 Commonwealth event . Their winning time that day (3 hours 35 minutes 30 seconds) was the second-fastest in the long history of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay.

In 1986 and 1988 Aberdeen won again, with other good athletes featuring: Chris Hall, Simon Axon, Jim Doig and Ray Cresswell in 1986; and Dave Duguid in 1988. So many of those runners had been influenced by Alastair Wood and Steve Taylor. In his History of the SCCU, Colin Shields rated Aberdeen AAC the most successful E to G team of the 1980s, with three wins and four third places during the decade.

This article was meant to be about only the first twenty years of AAAC. However the events which showed most clearly how strong the club had become (certainly the distance men) were attempts on the record for the John o’ Groats to Land’s End Ten Man Relay. These took place in 1972, 1973 and 1982.

In 1972, due to lack of experience of this most testing of challenges, there were doubts about the best route and best tactics. Eventually the record was missed by only half an hour, despite the team being very good, including Alastair Wood, Graham Milne, Steve Taylor, Sandy Keith (a future GB marathon international), Donald Ritchie, Colin Youngson, Peter Duffy, Rab (or Rob) Heron (a future 2.17 marathon man and successful ultra runner), Martin Walsh (a tough, cheerful Welsh former middle distance runner with a weaker leg due to a motor bike accident) and Alastair Neaves, a talented young runner.

Lessons were learned and with a slightly less impressive team, the record was broken by half an hour in 1973. Duffy, Neaves, Walsh, Wood, Heron, Taylor and Youngson took part again, as well as Innis Mitchell (an Aberdonian who had once won the Scottish Schools XC and won ‘Full Blues’ for both Strathclyde and Glasgow Universities), Joe Clare (a very strong runner who was a 2.18 marathoner) and young Derek Bisset (a promising middle distance athlete).

Then the young stars made a huge difference in 1982. The incredible Alastair Wood (aged 49) battled through once more, along with Milne, Youngson, Ritchie, Clyne, Laing, Mike Murray, John Robertson (a durable young runner), Peter Wilson and George Reynolds (who were both to become Scottish marathon champions). The record was slashed by one and three quarter hours. 850 miles were covered in 77 hours 26 minutes and 18 seconds. There was absolutely no doubt that Aberdeen AAC was among the very finest clubs in Britain.

1981. Back: Steve Cassells, Steve Williams, Steve Taylor, Colin Youngson, Dave Lang, Graham Laing , Donald Ritchie.

Front: Mike Murray, Alastair Neaves, Fraser Clyne, Peter Wilson, Graham Milne.

Important Training? Endless track repetitions (often masterminded by Hunter Watson) at Linksfield; Mel, Ally and a few hopefuls attempting 20, 30, 40 or even 60 times 220 yards on the firm grass of King’s College field; the Sunday runs (at least 15 miles) from Ally’s house, up steep King’s Gate, through Hazlehead, onto the Pony Track, right to Countesswells Forest then left down to the Cults Road and Fartlek back into Aberdeen again, knackered; in the 80s a vicious, devil-take-the-hindmost Wednesday night ‘10 miler’, often in the dark, along King Street, down to the Prom, Bridge of Don, up steep hills to Balgownie, through a housing estate, over the Don bridge at Mugiemoss, up another testing hill, then left and back along the pavement, down St Machar Drive and collapse at Linksfield. Clyne and Laing’s record eventually proved the distance was nine and a half!

Since then, Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club (one of the largest clubs in Scotland) has nurtured male and female Scottish International and Champion cross country, hill and road runners as well as Track or Field athletes in all age groups. Several have run for Britain or taken part in Major Games. Team victories have been too numerous to mention. In 2015 AAAC was named Scottish Athletics Club of the Year.

The continued success of Aberdeen AAC owes a huge amount to a succession of dedicated officials, coaches and the parents of young athletes. Hunter concluded his 1987 article thoughtfully. “”The fact that Aberdeen AAC is one of Scotland’s top clubs should not, however, be seen as anything other than a step in the right direction.

Aberdeen will have to work hard to maintain that position in a day and age of ambitious clubs and talented athletes. The challenge must be seen as one of the attractions of the future – to coaches and officials as well as athletes.

But Aberdeen AAC should never be judged only in terms of success. We do not exist only to beat other clubs. Our main aim must be to provide training facilities and competition for those interested in local athletics. It would be a sad day if we were to lose sight of that primary aim.”