Lawrie Reilly

Lawrie Reilly finishing second to David Glassborow in AAA’s Junior 1500m, 1970

Lawrie Reilly (7 August 54) was a very good athlete indeed, as was his older brother Joe, who is not as well known in Scotland as others of his generation who accomplished less.   Joe (8 July 1945) was ranked nationally on the track every year from 1964 to 1971, and ranked in One, Two, Three and Six Miles as well as in 1500m, 5000m, 10000m and 3000m steeplechase.   Third in the SAAA Six Miles championship in 1965 with a time of 29:09.2 which placed fifth on the year’s statistical rankings, Joe was very unlucky not to gain international recognition.

Lawrie is recalled by former team mates as slim, quiet and a bit reserved but very talented.   His performances would have been good in any era.   The family moved south to Liverpool in 1972 and both men ran for Liverpool Pembroke as well as retaining and using their Victoria Park membership.   Lawrie wn no fewer than six internationl cross country vests for Scotland and still holds three junior club records for the Liverpool Pembroke Club – these are for the 3000m (8:10:57), the 5000m (14:10.2) and the 10000m (30:29.8).    His range of talen was indeed wide – he is ranked at various times for 800m, 1500m, Mile, 3000m, 5000m and 10000m and well after his cross country international days were over, he ran 2:26:29 for the marathon in 1985.   

Joe Reilly in the national cross-country championships at Hamilton in 1967

Lawrie first appeared on the scene in season 1968/69 as a Senior Boy.   In the Midland District cross-country championships at  Bellahouston  in January 1969 he finished fifth individual in a team that finished fourth.   Then in the National at Hamilton when he was tenth the team responded to the higher level of competition by finishing first.     He showed even then what a good track runner he was when he topped the  rankings for 800m (2:09.7 at Scotstoun on 12th June) and 1500m (4:20.5 at Scotstoun on 12th June).   The 1500m time was when he won the Scottish School 1500m.   Many young athletes are successful because they are physically very mature – look at the starting line of any U13 or U15 800m race – and they disappear when there are increased training demands as they progress through the age groups.   Lawrie was not in the big, burly, physically strong category at any time.   

After a good summer, young Lawrie was still a Senior Boy and improved his Midland Championship run of the previous year when he finished second at Lenzie and led the team home to third place medals.    The next championship was the big one and he was second in the national to Mulvey of Shettleston.

That summer he again won the Scottish Schools 1500m title: on 20th June 1970 at Pitreavie, he was and exactly one week later in the  first in the 15-17 age group in 4:05, and exactly one week later he took part in the first ever combined men’s and women’s Junior and Youth track championships at Grangemouth where he won the 1500 metres in a time of 3:58.9 which also won the Bank of Scotland Trophy for the best performance in his age group.    He ended that summer with best times of 1500 in  3:57.6 which ranked him 26th in Scotland, 3000m in  8:36.2  (19th) and for 10000, a distance seldom run by Under 17’s,  31:19.8  (27th).   The 1500m time was when he finished second in the AAA’s 1500 at Kirkby on 1st August.   The 10000m time was run at Scotstoun on 31st July.   The times were not just good, they were verging on the precocious.

By winter 1970/71 he had stepped up to the Youths (U17) cross-country age group but it didn’t seem to slow his progress.  If anything it accelerated the process.   In the District Championships at Stirling he won the Youths race by 18 seconds from Gillespie of Springburn with Mulvey of Shetleston third.   Victoria Park’s team of Reilly, Alexander (6th) and Inglis (7th) was also first.   Not content with that, Lawrie also won the national in Bellahouston Pak from Rowan of Ayr Seaforth and Paul Bannon of Shettleston with Mulvey fourth.   The  team was also first with the other runners being Alexander 7th, Logue 12th, and Turner 22nd.    The ‘Glasgow Herald’simply said  “Laurie Reilly had a comfortable win the Youths 5000 metres.”   And left it at that.

Summer ’71 was one to remember.   His best times were 1500m  3:56.8  (22nd),   3000 8:33.8  (23rd).    These were senior men’s rankings.   As far as the age group ratings were concerned he was placed first and first.   Competitively he won the Scottish Schools in 4:04.6, the West District Championship in 4:03.0 and the inter-counties in 4:04.6.   He didn’t run in the national championships which was probably as well for the others  he was almost eight and a half seconds faster than anyone else in his age group.   (Lawrie 3:56.8 and Jim Thomson (Law) 4:05.2)   Selected for the Schools international at Meadowbank on 17th July, he finished fourth the time that headed the rankings.    The SATS Handbook read: “Once again Lawrence Reilly was the outstanding Youth at this distance, unaccountably missing the SAAA Championships but winning by a large margin in the other major titles.   Reilly convincingly broke four minutes in the Schools International race at Meadowbank, but will not be seen much in Scotland due to having moved South to Liverpool.”   

Lawrie was listed in 1971 as St Thomas Aquinas HS and Victoria Park, while Joe was credited to Liverpool Pembroke and VPAAC in that order.  His first race south of the Border was at the old track at Wavertree where the local runners knew nothing about him at the start of the race.   He simply sat in for the duration of the race – then out kicked them all.   They knew a bit more about the slightly built young Scot then.  The good news is that Lawrie continued to run for the Scottish club; the sad news is that he missed the major championships that winter of ’71/’72.   In the summer of ’72 he finished the season with best times of  3:58.0  for the 1500m which placed him 26th,  8:12.2 for the 3000m (5th),  14:35.8 for 5000m  (21st),  and 30:29.8 for 10000m (11th).    The last time, the 1000m, was run when winning for Liverpool Pembroke at at Kirkby on 11th June, 1972, which still stands as a club Junior record.

By 1972/73  Lawrie was a Junior Man in athletics terms and was able to run in the eight stage Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay for the first time.   Run on Saturday 18th November, it was a race with no easy stages.   Having said that, second and sixth were the really ferociously competitive ones where the top Scottish endurance runners faced each other.  Lawrie, on his first outing, was asked to run the second stage.   He performed nobly, but for the only time ever in the race, he dropped three places, from fifth to eighth.    The threee who overtook him were Norman Morrison, Jim Dingwall and Doug Gunstone.   Against that, Lawrie (who was a first year Junior) ran faster than Jim Alder.   He would never drop a place in the E-G again.    The club team was fourth – a position they were to fill several times in that decade.   Based in Liverpool, he failed to turn out in the District Championships at Viewpark in January 1973 but in a very competitive Junior National he was third across the line.   He was part of a very talented generation of runners, in eveidence I list the first five in the race:

   1st J Brown (Monkland), 2nd L Spence (Strathclyde),  3rd Lawrie Reilly, 4th R MacDonald (Monkland), 5th D McMeekin (Victoria Park).

The club team was second.    This run gained him selection for the Junior team to compete in the ICCU cross-country championships at Cambridge where he finished 20th.   Brother Joe had run in these championships in 1964 and finished ninth.   

The following summer, living in Liverpool by now, he had best times of 3:52.6 for 1500m which placed him 11th on the domestic ranking lists, 8:10.6 for fifth place in the 3000m listings and he was ninth in the 5000m with a best time of 14:10.0.   Running in the Pembroke colours, he ran the 3000m at Crystal Palace when finishing fifth in the AAA Under 20 championships on 14th July, 1973, and the 5000m at Derby on 4th September in the Northern Counties v Midland Counties v RAF fixture: both still stand as club Junior records in March 2017.

In the cross-country season of 1973/74, Lawrie ran well and won his first world cross-country selection.   In his second Edinburgh to Glasgow, Lawrtie again ran on the second leg where taking over in sixth place, he moved up to second collecting some good scalps on the way.   Two seconds faster than Jim Brown on the same stage, he saw the club again finish fourth.    Came the Junior National and this time Lawrie went two better than the previous year and won from Allister Hutton, Willie Sheridan and Lawrie Spence.   The standard of running among this generation was very high indeed and Reilly was well up to it.    The report in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ said only “Our junior winner, Laurie Reilly, has made the senior team, and it was little wonder after his clear cut victory over All-star Hutton (Edinburgh Southern). ”       Yes, he did say ‘All-star’ Hutton – wasn’t my misprint.

Selected for the Senior team for the international at Monza in Italy, Reilly finished 97th and was a counting runner for the Scottish team.

The 3000m distance seemed to suit Lawrie’s talents better than any o the standard events with his rankings for it consistently in the top five or six.  Strange then not to see him rated over the distance in summer 1974.   That summer he was running for Sale, which was the only club for whom he was credited that year.   Based in and running almost exclusively in England, he ran 3:56.9 for 1500m when finishing second at Oldham on 19th May, and 14:20.6 for 5000m at Crystal Palace on 21st September.   

The age groups for SAAA and SCCU were sometimes at odds with each other.    For cross-country purposes however, he was a Junior in 1974/75 and ran his third Edinburgh to Glasgow race in November 1974.   Again on the second stage he moved from the middle of the field (ninth) up to second with the fastest time of the day on this stage of savage competition among the top men.   Among those beaten for speed by Lawrie were Jim Dingwall, Ronnie McDonald, Donald Macgregor, Sandy Keith and Frank Clement.   Some were top milers, some were marathon men, and Lawrie ran faster than every one of them.   The team finished, yet again, fourth.    Living in the south as he did, he was not out in the District championships but he did appear in the Junior National and finished second, 11 seconds behind Allister Hutton.   It was another quality field.   As an illustration, the top ten are noted: 

1st A Hutton, 2nd L Reilly, 3rd P Kenney, 4th J Graham, 5th J Burns, 6th W Sheridan, 7th J Thomson, 8th J McGarva, 9th P Forbes, 10th I Orton.   

He had gone into the race as favourite, but the report in the ‘Glasgow Haerald’ said, In the junior five miles, Alistair Hutton emphatically turned the tables on his conqueror  of last year, Laurie Reilly.   Hutton was always a threat to the favourite, but informed spectators must have been  stunned to see a gap of 70 yards between them at the finish.”    Yes, he did say Alistair Hutton – wasn’t my mis-spelling.

The team selected for the international that year included Reilly among the seniors and he finished 43rd on the flat trail in Rabat.

The following summer was spent south of the border and it was a good one as his list of best times shows:

Event     time     ranking

1500     3:51.3       17th,  

3000  8:01.4,    4th

5000  14:01.8       5th,  

10000  28:58.75   3rd

The 10000m time was recorded when he competed in the AAA’s championship at Crystal Palace on 1st August that year.   The fact that he ran that time when finishing 13th indicates the gap in standards between Scottish and English distance track running at the time.

Winter 1975/76 was his first as a Senior over  the country and it was another good one.    In the eight stage relay from Edinburgh to Glasgow, Lawrie ran on trhe sixth stage and gained one place when he went from sixth to fifth.   He had fourth fastest time of the day behind Dave Logue, Doug Gunstone and Ronnie McDonald.   The team finished sixth.   At the start of 1976, Lawrie made a rare appearance in the District Championships at Coatbridge on 24th January and won from Frank Clement and Phil Dolan.   Ron Marshall in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ commented at length on the race.   “Scotland’s cross-country selectors have few opportunities to check on Anglos such as Lawrie Reilly.   Normally they have to rely on newspaper results from south of the Border, but on Saturday Reilly came north to reinforce the printed word with a victory of impressive dimension.   Slim, pale, scholarly looking, with a pair of unfashionable spectacles, Reilly gives the impression he would have a struggle lapping a kiddies playground, far less the four laps totalling six miles that an immense field of runners undertook at Drumpellier Park, Coatbridge, in a quest for the Western District senior championship.

 Appearances are deceptive.   He is superbly fit.   Winner last week of the East Lancashire cross-country title, Reilly counted among his victims Ron Hill and Mike Freary, two of the North of England’s best known faces.  Last year on the track he dipped under 29 minutes for the 10,000 metres and his summer objective is to beat 28 min 30 sec.   

On Saturday his aim was to stretch the biggest gap possible between himself and the rest.  The result was beyond dispute.   His ultimate lead was one of 175 yards, his runner-up the familiar bearded features of Frank Clement who had stayed more or less in third throughout.   Phil Dolan, Clydesdale, leader at three-quarter distance, was third in 30 min 46 sec, six seconds behind Clement.”

Two weeks, two wins.    Reilly was clearly in great form.   In the National on 14th February, racing at Coatbridge for the second time in less than a month, he finished fourth, six seconds behind Hutton, and was selected for the international at Chepstow on 29th February.    The Scottish team finished a disappointing tenth in the race and Reilly was a counting runner when he finished in 81st place.

Summer 1976 saw Lawrie Reilly ranked in five different distances.   He ran the unfamiliar 800m distance in 1:54 to be fourtenth fastest Scot, his best 1500m was in 3:48.4 where he was eighth, in the Mile he turned in a 4:06.4 time to be seventh, his 3000m was in 8:02.4 and he was third best Scot over 5000m when he ran 13:54.6.

*

Winter 1976/77  was one where we did not see too much of Lawrie in Scotland at all.   He had a very good run in the Edinburgh – Glasgow.  Back on the second stage, he pulled the club from sixth to fourth with the fourth quickest run of the day behind Jim Dingwall, Lawrie Spence and John Graham – it was a position that the club held to the finish  and they had been fourth  four times in five years.   He had run in his last District race the previous year, and he was absent from theNtional championships in February 1977.   He was nevertheless selected for the International in Dusseldorf where he finished 41st.

By now Lawrie was appearing only as a Sale Harrier as far as the ranking lists were concerned and on 3rd May he turned in a 4:06.5 Mile to get his summer off to a good start.   A month later on 14th June he recorded 8:02.8 for 3000m and on 7th August 5000m was run in 14:07.4.   All three times were good enough to be in the top 10 Scots – 9th for the Mile and 5000m and 5th for the 3000m.    

Winter 1977/78  saw him firmly ensconced in England but still committed to Scotland.   Nevertheless he missed the November relay as well as the District  Championship but he was out in the National where he finished down in 23rd position.   He was however selected – presumably on his form over the winter in the south – for the international to be held in Glasgow.   On a very wet day with rain throughout the running of the race, he finished 97th.     

 

In summer 1978 he won his only SAAA medal when he was third (14:08.7) in the 5000m behind Lawrie Spence (13:45.0) and Nat Muir (13:47.5).   By the season’s end he had bests of 

1500  3:46.8  7th, 

Mile  4:06.4  6th, 

3000  8:00.4  5th, 

5000  14:08.7 8th

 

In the 1978 version of the Edinburgh to Glasgow, he was back on the sixth stage for the team that won second place medals.   After Alistair Douglas won the first stage, Dave McMeeking was passed by Ian Elliott, Rod Stone and Jim Brown to hand over in fourth place.   Albert Smith ran the fastest third stage of the day to move into second place and the club held that all the way to the finish with Lawrie holding it with Nat Muir, Doug Gunstone, Willie Day and several other top guns chasing him.   In the National on 10th February, 1979, Lawrie in the blue and white hoops of Victoria Park  finished sixth and was again selected for the international championship.    Like many of the Scots senior team, Lawrie had a bad day at Limerick and finished 146th.   The team was fourteenth – the worst ever finishing position.   None of the big names in the team, and there were many very big names that year, performed to expectations.

In summer ’79, Reilly’s times in 3000m and 5000m were good enough to be ranked but were slower than he had run for many years.   His 3000m time was almost outside the top ten.   They were:  3000  8:16.4 and ranked 10th,  5000  14:35.5  ranked 15th.   By now he was not running in Scotland at all and in summer 1980 he appeared in the ranking lists for the last time with  1:53.2 for 800 placing him 18th,  and  3:49.1  for 1500 9th.

That is where the Lawrie Reilly trail in Scotland stops.    Whether he was injured or stopped serious running for business and career reasons has not been noted anywhere.   The SATS are assiduous enough to have noted any times coming out of England but there were none until 1987 when he ran a marathon in an excellent 2:26:29  –  good enough to be ranked 24th.

Such was the sandard of Scottish distance running at the time that Lawrie only gained one Scottish international vest.   That was at Cwmbran in Wales on 9/8/75 against England, Wales and Northern Ireland where he was fifth in the 3000m in 8:01.8, the race being won by Jim Dingwall in 7:58.   At British level, he was second in  the Youths 1500m in 1970, and and second to Paul Bannon in the AAA Junior 3000m in 1973 and also placed eighth in the Euro Juniors in the 5000m in the same year.

More information on the latter part of his career in athletics, or of his racing in England is really required to finish the profile but it is already evident that he was a very talented athlete and a loss to Scottish athletics when he stopped running seriously.

 

Cammie Spence

Cammie running in the Six Stage Relays

Cameron Spence, known to everybody as Cammie, was born on 19th July in 1950 and ran for five Scottish clubs (with an affiliation to one Irish outfit).   The Scottish clubs were Greenock Glenpark Harriers, Greenock Wellpark, Spango Valley, Inverclyde and in the summer of 1973, for Shettleston Harriers.   On the track he was ranked nationally from 1972 to 1988 in 3000 m, 5000m and 10000m with personal best times of 8:40.8, 14:27.6 and 30:00.84.   On the road there are times of 64:18 for the half-marathon and 2:28 for the marathon.   All good times and he was really competitive whatever the surface.  He hated the track because “it was so bloody hard” but he did run it in championships and in Highland Games.  Nevertheless, he is better known as an international cross-country and road runner.   

He started as a boy with Glenpark between eleven and fifteen years of age, and ran in his first major championships in 1960/61.   He was fifth in the District Championships as a Junior Boy and then 63rd in the National at Hamilton.  Of these early days he says Running was in the family. My 3 older brothers, Jim, George and Gordon all ran. So at the age of 11 I joined Glenpark Harriers. My first coach was the legendary Bill Elder. He coached all the youngsters in the club at that time. I only trained twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Short run followed by circuit training. To this day I can still be dab hand at skipping!”   

His father was a football player of talent and had been approached to play for a senior professional team and Cammie followed in his  footsteps for four years or so.   He played at the top amateur level before coming back into athletics in 1970.   He trained for a while with younger brother Lawrie and they were coached by big brother Jim.   With some encouragement from big brother George and his wife Pat, Cammie then moved to Greenock Wellpark Harriers where he coached himself.  His first run in Wellpark colours was in 1970 at Bute Highland Games.   It was in the Mile Handicap where  he was the back marker.  The family in the form of Jim and George complained to the handicapper because Cammie was a novice, saying that it was his first race in five years and he shouldn’t be the back marker. The handicapper would not change his mind.    Cammie, however, finished 4th and at the following week’s Cowal Highland Games he finished third on the Friday and, it being the age of the amateur,  won a plaque. He still has it.   The family bond was always important and when Cammie was asked if any person or group had a marked influence on his attitude or his performances, he says without hesitation, “I would say my oldest brother Jim. He was very enthusiastic about athletics and installed discipline into my training.”

Cammie is known as a hard runner and a real competitor.   He never just ‘ran round’ a trail in his life.   Maybe that’s why the photograph above is labelled ‘How to Hurt’!    He became a senior athlete in 1971/72 and he competed all the way through to the twenty first century.   One of the really big events during his time in the sport was the eight man Edinburgh to Glasgow relay and Cammie ran in no fewer than twenty one of them between 1968 and 1998 for four clubs.   The toughest stages of a race with no easy stages were the second and sixth.   His record was 1st Stage x 2, 2nd Stage x 3, 4th Stage x 1, 5th Stage x 4, 6th Stage x 9, 8th Stage x 2.   He represented Glenpark in 1968 and ’69, Wellpark in 1970, ’71 and ’72, Spango Valley in 1977, ’78, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’87 ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94 and ’95, and Inverclyde in 1998.   Remarkable.  

Cross-country was his forte however.   Spango Valley AAC was founded in September 1973 and Cammie was one of key men there right from the start.  A very good all round team they seemed to be specially good in relays and the part Cammie played (he was team captain for 20 of the club’s 25 years) was tremendous.   In the District Relays, they won gold, silver and bronze and Cammie ran times in the top ten most years and although they never won the six-stage road relays, they won lots of metal there as well.   He was a really good team player.    How was he as an individual?   We can look at his championship record.

In 1972/73 the Glasgow Herald report on the South West District championships read: “The Spence brothers, running for Glenpark and Wellpark respectively, dominated the South Western District Championships.   Laurie Spence was an easy winner of the senior/junior title by no less than 270 yards from his brother with Dick Hodelet a similar distance away third.”    Glenpark won the team race with Wellpark third.      In the National championships at the end of the season, Cammie was 27th in the Senior race while Laurie was second in the Junior event running for Strathclyde University.  Running for the new club of Spango Valley AAC in the 1974 National at Coatbridge, Cameron was 17th  while Lawrie was fourth in the Junior race.   The improvement was year-on-year by now and in 1975, Cammie won the last South-West District championship ever held by over half a minute with former team mate Bill Stoddart third.  This was followed by 41st in the National at Coatbridge.   

In season 1975/76 the South West District merged with the Midland District to form the West District – a much tougher outfit with good results harder to come by.   In the Championships, neither Cammie nor the club were placed and Cammie missed the National held again at Coatbridge.   

The rivalry between Cammie and Lawrie had not yet started to heat up and in the District Championship Lawrie was eighth and Cammie 21st.   In the National in 1977 Lawrie was fourth and Cammie was 26th.   The following year on a very hard and rutted course at East Kilbride Lawrie won from Phil Dolan of Clydesdale Harriers and Cammie was not able to run.   In the National however, Cammie had the beating of Lawrie when he finished twelfth to Lawrie’s fifteenth.   Time difference?   22 seconds.   The rivalry was probably at its best over the next few years    Both quality cross-country men, they had some real battles over the years with Lawrie generally coming out on top.     Neither ran in the District in 1978 and Cammie also missed the National where Lawrie was second.   

In the District championships in 1979/80 Cammie was third but they met up again in the national where Lawrie was fifth with Cammie tenth.  Difference?   47 seconds or 200 yards+.   The following year Lawrie was fourth with Cammie 12th, and so on with the gap being about 200 yards at the finish.   When Lawrie finished at Strathclyde Unversity he returned to Greenock and joined Cammie at Spango Valley AC.   Inevitably there was some sibling rivalry in evidence.   When asked, Cammie says, Of course there was, at times, between Lawrie and myself.   I always enjoyed beating Lawrie in races – which wasn’t very often.    He wasn’t as keen for me to do it!    Some of our sessions we did in the Battery Park in Greenock were legendary, and boy did they pay-off for us!”    

As  founder nations of the Cross-Country International Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales ran as separate nations in the World Cross-Country Championships up until 1985.   It was a wonderful time and the effect on Scottish distance running was entirely beneficial.   As well as the International there were several international fixtures on the continent for four man teams – Elgoibar in Spain, Hannut in Belgium, San Sebastian in Spain and so on.   The opportunities were there if you could take them.   Cammie was fortunate enough enough to have the talent that could take him to the necessary standard.   After running for a short time for Scottish representative teams at a time when the standard was high, he had the opportunity to race in the biggest race on the calendar for Ireland.  

Asked about the Irish connection, he said It started in 1979 when I fell out with the Scottish selectors.  I won the International race at Stirling University grounds running for Scotland in 1978.  Won it quite easily and was picked to run in Belfast  (which was cancelled due to the Troubles), and San Sebastian on the back of that win. Then went to Spain and picked a bug up (likely on the plane) and ran poorly. When I got home I had a chest infection. Missed training for a number of weeks and as a result missed the National but asked the selectors to consider me for the Worlds.   They didn’t.  

Meanwhile Rod Stone (Cambuslang Harriers) from NI asked Lawrie and I if we would like to run for Annadale Striders at the NI Senior Cross-Country Championships. We had Irish qualification through our father who was born in Belfast (and how did they find that out?).  We both agreed and joined the Striders.    Lawrie finished second  and I was sixth. They offered us places in the NI team for the Worlds. I said yes and Lawrie said no.  I got International clearance quickly. I went to Limerick for the Worlds and beat half the Scottish team. I had proved a point. It was the best move I ever made.”  

He had to qualify for selection by running in the Irish Senior National Cross-Country Championships and the result was that Cammie ran for Northern Ireland in Limerick in 1979, in Paris in 1980, in Madrid in ’81, in Gateshead in 1983 and in New York in 1984.   In  Limerick they were almost side by side at the finish – Lawrie was 193rd and Cammie 194th  and in New York they were team captains.   Not limited to the Worlds he turned out in international races at Milan and Buussels on the continent, Gateshead, Stirling, Cumbernauld and in road races in the south of Ireland too.   It was a great time for the event and cross-country has a high status in Ireland – Cammie ran in teams with Greg and Gerry Hannon, Paul Lawther, John McLaughlin and many other well-kent athletes.   

Family rivalry was now raised to international level.   Asked about the duels with Lawrie he said: ” Yes – at the Worlds and various other events.   I have stories about us and our battles over the country.   Now here is a question for you. Who are the only brothers to captain different nations at the World Cross-Country Championship.    And what year and place?    Yip, Lawrie and myself were the captains of Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively at New York in 1984.    What a honour for us.   Pity our dad had died two years previously.”

Cammie in his Irish vest

Of course there was life after the World Cross-Country Championships – 8 of his Edinburgh to Glasgow Relays for a start.   Cammie is a runners’ runner, he turns out for his club as readily as for his country, he turns out for the sake of the race regardless of whether there is a club team or whether he is running as an individual.    He continued to do so as well and as hard as he always did.   There was something he had not tried yet though.    In the 80’s the marathon was the thing.   Everybody ran the event – young people, old people, very old people – and there are no prizes for knowing that Cammie ran the event.   He says:

I hated marathons. 20 miles and body switched off. Every time except…………………in 1984.  I ran at the Cowal Games on the Saturday in the 5K. 2nd to Lawrie in 14.53.   Then it was 8 pints of lager and Chinese meal after.   My wife got me up at 9.30am on  Sunday morning saying I had promised to run the Inverclyde Marathon with Terry Wilkie.   I had just remembered after the 5K he asked me.   So I had a cold shower to wake and sober up and get a entry on the day (morning) and got to the start line just in that ime.   Off we went.   Time passed by in a sort of blur.   We stopped for water, we stopped for sponge fights, we stopped to get our picture taken.  Our last stop was just before the mile to go mark.

“Terry was struggling.   I wisnae bad.   Didn’t have a clue about time, but there were two  Kilbarchan runners coming and I said to Terry we can’t let them beat us.  He told me to go away.   He just wanted to lie down.    I wouldn’t let him,   Got him going.  We finished with a time of 2.35.    I couldn’t believe it.    Could have been 2.34 but we stopped again to pose for pictures before the finish.    There is no justice.    Didn’t train for it; raced the day before; drank too much the night before. I still don’t know how I managed it.”

Clearly fit and well but the twenty first century had a nasty surprise for Cameron Spence.

ATHLETE TO KEEP RUNNING DESPITE HEART PROBLEM

The above headline appeared in the Greenock Telegraph in 2010 and started: “An international athlete from Greenock discovered that his heart stopped beating during the night – but is now amazingly back running.   Cameron Cammy Spence was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma two years ago and had to give up running – but it was actually his heart that was causing breathlessness during exercise.   He has been fitted with a heart pacemaker and is back pounding the streets as well as being involved in worldwide research that could save lives.  

Superfit Cammy was given the shocking news about his heart after a specialist at Inverclyde Royal Hospital said he wasn’t convinced he had asthma and arranged for him to  get a mobile heart monitor.   Cammy said “I had the monitor on for 24 hours and it showed my heart stopping twice during he night for 4.5 seconds at a time.   I couldn’t believe it.   There is no history of heart problems on my mother’s or father’s sides of the family.   I felt numb.   

Now the Inverclyde Athletic Club coach wants to warn other runners that they too might under certain circumstances be in danger of damaging their hearts.”

Cammy then discovered after reading a magazine article that he wasn’t the only runner diagnosed wrongly with asthma instead of an irregular heart beat.   Now the Inverclyde Athletic Club coach wants to warn other runners that they too, under certain circumstances , could be in danger of damaging their hearts.   He said, “Just as I was getting diagnosed for an irregular heartbeat there was an article in “Athletics Weekly” by oneof the regulat writers who has the same problem.  “

Cammie got in touch with Martin and many Scottish runners then got in touch with him about it.   His belief is that hard training when running through colds and ‘flu may be the cause.   Remember he was running when all the regular road runners, not just the internationals, were running 70 – 100 mpw.   The whole article can be found at: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/14001294.Athlete_to_keep_running_despite_heart_problem/

The cardiologist who diagnosed the problem was very keen to find out more about it and was very interested in Cammie’s work with Martin through AW.   Right now, he says that he was happy with the pacemaker but at present and for the last two years it’s not as good.   He still runs but feels more tired, even when jogging.   It is an ongoing problem and he is discussing it with his new cardiologist.  

*

Cammie is still very involved in the sport.    Let’s count the ways!

  1.   He has been coaching for many years.  It was easy for him to do the coaching, he says, as he had been coaching himself from 1976.   He was always experimenting.. When Spango were at their peak in the 80’s most of the guys at IBM were doing Cammie’s sessions.  Heencouraged them and says it was great to see them improving.
  2.  Administration. He has been doing that for a very long time as well. We have already noted that he was club captain at Spango for 20 years of its 25 years in existence. He was also the first captain of Inverclyde AC when it was formed in 1998.    Vice President  in 1998 and then President of the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club, plus  was the handicapper, race convenor, timekeeper, recorder.
  3. Then there was the Cowal Highland Gathering.   The Games committee asked if he was willing to bring athletics back to the Games.  This was 1996.   Of course being Cammie, he said he would.  He says:  “Cowal was wonderful. Running if front of 20000 people was amazing. So it was May ’96 that I had a meeting with the Captain Eric Brown, committee member, on the Western Ferries  So over 2 sailings between Gourock and Dunoon I had  my plan accepted and the athletics would start again at that years Games. Had my ups and downs at Cowal. Down bits caused by the Scottish Pipe Band Association. The up bits were the athletes who supported me. I’m sure they all enjoyed the experience. I stepped down last year after 20 years as athletics convenor. I always intended that the Dunoon folk should look after their Games. Now happening.”
  4. He has also been involved with the Bute Highland Games since he himself first started competing there in 1970.   Over the years he slowly drifted into becoming an official and is now athletics convenor. “I canny help myself, he says.
  5. Now there is the Renfrewshire AAA’s. President. Stand in Secretary, Treasurer, timekeeper, recorder. Been Colin Shield’s back-up for many, many years. Colin retired last year. His health not that great. 40 years he has been involved with the county. Looks like I’m going that way too.

  We asked Cammie to reflect on his running career and he came up with the following responses.

Looking back, Cammie, what exactly did you get out of the sport?

Friendships. The people I met during my running career were all wonderful. From Joe Jogger to World and Olympic Champions. And the many officials as well. It was the friendships that were created and they still last today.

Can you describe your general attitude to the sport?

It was hard work at times but  I enjoyed the training and taking part in races. Especially the racing.

What do you consider your best ever performance?

It was actually one year, 1979.

*I had always wanted to win a District Track title (10K at Coatbridge).

*I won the Gourock Highland Games Road Race(remember watching the road race as a wee boy and thinking I want to win that).

*And racing at the World XC Championships for the first time.

It was some year for me. The only down side it was a couple of years until I got my motivation back.   So the moral of the story is, and something I tell my athletes “You can always do better”.

 And your worst?

All my marathons. (Except the Inverclyde one in 1984. Which made me question why was I doing them?).

What goals do you have that are still unachieved?

My goals are for the athletes that I coach. I want them to get the best out of themselves. I think I achieved mines.

What would you have changed about your athletics career were you able to go back?

When I started running again there was only Ravenscraig Stadium for us to do our quality sessions.   It was a cinder track.   It was either brick hard or like a bog.   You know what Greenock is like for rain!!!   It was blisters or getting covered in wet dirty cinders.    So it was the Battery Park and on the grass which I developed for doing our speed work starting in 1976.  If we had a decent track maybe my track times would have been better.   But the Battery did help me pick up a lot of prizes at the Highland Games hmmm.  So to answer the question, if I had a decent track to train on maybe, just maybe, my track times would have been so much better. That would have gave me a lot of satisfaction.

Ran for Scotland quite a few times on the country. I would call them B vests. And was involved in the international training sessions, usually at Livingston on a wet Sunday.

I ran for the Scottish Vets. I did offer my services to the Northern Ireland people when I turned 40 in 1990. They didn’t respond for some reason. So I was more than happy to put on the dark blue vest once again. But I decided in 1996 I had had enough of International competition. I just didn’t want the pressure any more.

 

What do you think of the sport now that it is ‘more professional’ in its set up?

It was better run(ex the pun)in days gone by. But things are starting to improve. Scottishathletics are slowly starting to realise that the clubs are the mainstay of the sport. But there is too much emphasis on the younger athletes and not enough encouragement for the older ones. As I say the young ones come and go. The seniors are the mainstay of the clubs.   The “professional” athletes we have are having money flung at them. When they are good enough they will get invites and appearance money to the larger events. They don’t need the sports body to support them.

What advice would you give a young person coming into the sport for the first time today?

Athletics are there to be enjoyed. You can only do your best. You are going to have good days and bad ones. Don’t expect too much too soon. You only get out of the sport what you put into it.

And my favourite saying “You are as only as good as your NEXT race. You learn from the last one”. 

One of his former rivals, Colin Youngson (three SAAA Marathon titles, 10 marathon medals in total, and SAAA 10 miles track champion) has some good memories of racing Cameron.   He says

“To other runners, Cammie was well liked and respected as a fighter, a terrier – someone who could be relied on to battle as hard as possible and seldom even considered easing off – a very difficult man to beat, or stave off, if he was chasing you. He and I were occasionally close rivals, although his forte was cross-country and mine road running, especially marathons, which he did not enjoy.

Since I am nearly three years older, when we first raced against each other, on Stage Two of the E to G in 1970, I was a fair bit faster and the same was true on Stage Four in 1972. However by 1982 on Stage 2 he outpaced me quite easily, although I got my revenge on Stage Five in 1984 and 1985.

In the National Senior Cross Country, Cammie definitely had the edge. Although I finished in front of him in 1972, he outkicked me a year later. The last time I beat him in this prestigious event was in 1975. After that it was Cammie all the way, although 1978 was close – I was thirteenth and he was one irritating place in front! In 1980, although he beat me easily, I had the consolation of being ESH captain and a counter in their winning team.

An interesting encounter took place in October 1981 at the Allan Scally Road Relay. I had moved back up north and rejoined Aberdeen AAC. Since I was not particularly fit, I assumed that this event would merely provide good training. However Peter Wilson and Fraser Clyne ran well and then Graham Laing came back to form with a bang – handing me a totally unexpected 39 second lead! Cammie closed inexorably and by the finish, although AAAC did hold on to win, it was only by eleven seconds!

After he became a veteran by turning 40 in July 1990, we renewed our rivalry and had quite a few close contests. In the 1991 Scottish Vets Track Champs, I did manage to beat Cammie over 5000m, but he had raced the 1500m previously. Aberdeen was the venue for that year’s Home Countries Veteran Cross Country tussle. I was in the Scottish first team and Cammie in the second team. However I suffered badly from catarrh and, after starting too fast, began retching and struggling. Cammie’s unsympathetic voice rang out just behind me, “For God’s sake, Colin, if you’re going to die, just die!” He moved ahead, out of earshot, and ended up a respectable 11th, with me a disconsolate 16th.

At the Kelvin Hall Scottish Vets Indoors in March 1992, Cammie and I had a real fight in the 1500m, before he sped away to win in 4.16.3, while I was happy enough with 4.17.4. Then he beat me into third in the 3000m. Dougie Mackenzie won, with Cammie recording 8.56 and me three seconds behind. At the end of the same month the 8-Man Alloa to Twechar relay took place. Cammie won Stage Stage Two; I was fastest on Stage Seven and AAAC were first team home.

Saturday October 31st 1992 was a red letter day for me, and Cammie made me fight very hard. I had just turned 45 and was very keen to do well in that category at the Five Nations Vets XC event in Belfast. The rest of the Scots team arrived on Friday; but Cammie flew in from Glasgow that morning. I started fast but Cammie caught up and we ran closely together until there was less than a lap to go, when I edged away to finish 6th (and first M45, also leading my age group team to Gold), while Cammie was a fine 9th and led the Scots M40 team to Silver medals. Then he flew straight back home!

In 1993 I did manage to beat Cammie over 5000m in the Scots Vets Track; and in 1994 finished 4th in the Scots Vets XC, one place in front of him. However in 1996 Cammie Spence beat me very easily in the British Veterans Half Marathon Champs in Monkland.

Looking back, we were very well matched and enjoyed a long friendly rivalry.

Always a contributor to the sport, Cammie became President of the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club. When I started as editor of the club newsletter, Cammie submitted a lengthy account of the SVHC Easter trip to the sun in Lanzarote, a thoroughly enjoyable trip which he had helped to organise for many years. Social events in 2014 included daily runs exploring the local area, darts, sunbathing, Bingo, hotel entertainment, several refreshments, water flumes, climbing a volcano, a barbecue, cycling and a 5 km road race!”

And one of Colin’s key phrases was  “always a contributor.    Many, many people take part in the wonderful sports of road and cross-ountry running and almost all retire more or less gracefully after their competition dys are done.   But the spport relies on such as Cammie who after a long career as a runner give back at least as much as they have got out of the sport.   In Cammie’s case the return has been considerable.

 

 

 

 

The Spence Boys

George, Cammie, Lawrie, Jim and Gordon Spence.

No account of the importance of families in Scottish athletics could be done without covering the five Spence brothers from Greenock.   As you see from the picture above, three of them ran for Greenock Glenpark Harriers and two of then wore the colours of Greenock Wellpark Harriers.   Jim was the first to appear in the national rankings in 1964 and Cameron was the last in 1988.   They covered distances from 800m through to marathon, they ran track, road, cross-country and hill races.   The five between them produced excellent runners, good coaches, quality officials and top grade administrators.   They had been brought up in a sporting family – father was a very good football player who turned down the offer to play as a professional – but oldest brother Jim was the one who started running first and, although Cammie did play football for a while, the five were all involved in running.   Jim is the oldest with George just two years younger.   Then comes Gordon with Cammie almost five years later and finally there is Lawrie.  We can look at them individually in order to start with.

Jim ran in all the events and all surfaces in the country in the 1950’s and 1960’s He ran in at least 15 District championships, his first run in the national cross-country was in 1957/58 as a Junior Man and his last run out in the event was in 1969/70; he ran in 14 Edinburgh to Glasgow relays on 6 different stages.   His main successes however came in the longer road races and he was a member of the Scottish Marathon Club and the following information has been gleaned from the club’s Minute Book.

JA Spence of Glenpark Harriers joined the Scottish Marathon Club in early Spring 1968. By 19th August, Committee Meeting minutes confirmed that, in his first season, Jim Spence had become Club Champion!   The Championship consisted of a member’s best three runs from four races which had to include the SAAA Marathon Championship,   The others were the Cambuslang 12, the Clydebank to Helensburgh 16, the Strathallan 20 .  

Jim did not compete in the 12 mile event at Cambuslang on 20th April, and Andy Brown (Law and District) was first SMC man home, gaining six points.   On 27th April, Jim Spence finished fourth, and second SMC, in the 16 mile Clydebank to Helensburgh race, which gave him four points. His time was well inside SMC First Class Standard. However Andy Brown was second and first SMC – so far his total was 12 points for the season.   The 1968 SAAA Marathon took place at Grangemouth on 22nd June.   Jim ran well to finish fourth in 2.39.42, which was inside the SAAA National Standard and SMC First Class target. He was second SMC man home and gained another five points, which gave him nine points so far.   On 3rd April the final counting race took place: the 21 mile Strathallan Highland Games road race. After a very close battle with his SMC club rival Don Turner (Pitreavie AC), Jim finished fourth, just eleven seconds in front of Don, which gave him another five points as first SMC.

The final SMC Championship positions were: First Jim Spence (14 points); Second Andy Brown (12); and Third Don Turner (10 points).   In addition that season, Jim Spence showed his strength by finishing well up in further races over 14 miles (Babcock & Wilcox, Renfrew); 18 miles (Bute Highland Games); and 20 miles (Largs to Irvine).   Don Turner was a very good runner indeed with lots of good victories to his credit.   Scottish marathon man Colin Youngson has this to say about Jim’s SMC win: “1968 was arguably Don Turner’s best year ever.   He was a close third behind Don Ritchie’s tired second in the SAAA marathon and in August came through strongly to win the Two Bridges.   So Jim did well to outkick him or  fend him off in the crucial Strathallan 21 miler and thus secure the SMC title.   If Don had beaten Jim that day, I believe that Don would have been the SMC champ.”

He remained a member of the SMC and continued to run well in its fixtures but this was his only club championship.   When he stopped enjoying his running, Jim retired but he was also a coach.   I remember going to the West District Track Championships at Westerlands in Glasgow and meeting up with him again after many years.   He was, he said, coaching his young brother Lawrie.  He had however worked in that capacity with all his brothers at one time or another.

Cameron was the only one who followed his father’s football example and left the sport to play football for four years.    He came back in 1970 and trained with Jim to start with before deciding to train according to his own methods.

A group photograph with George Spence third from left in the back row, Jim Spence second from left in front row and Gordon Spence fifth from left in front row.

Photograph from club website

George  was a cross-country runner for the club, and first ran in the national cross-country championship as a Youth in 1958/59 when he was sixty sixth, as a Junior in 1958/59 and 1960/61 when he finished down the field.    George is better known as an official by the present generation.   He was an administrator with the SAAA and the Cross-Country Union.   As a competitor he had done some long jumping on the Games scene so it was no surprise to see him involved with the “Heavies”  at many Highland Games both as an official and as convenor. A Greenock man, he specially enjoyed Bute and Cowal as well as the local one at Gourock.   He had had to stop running because of his knees. He was very active in the district events.   He had a particular involvement in the anti-doping and drugs control issues.   Latterly he gradually stepped down from his various posts. The last of these were Bute and Cowal.  

 

 

Greenock Glenpark Harriers Youths team that did so well in the National Championships of 1964:

Tom Dobbin, Ronnie Arthur, Gordon Spence, Teddy Walker and Clive Turner

Picture from Glenpark website

 Gordon, born in 1945, showed talent as a school boy when he was runner-up in the school championship in second year then, a year later, was third year champion winning all the running events including the hurdles!   He followed this with the Renfrewshire schools Under 15 half-mile title.   With Glenpark Harriers, Gordon first appeared as a Boy in the District Championships in 1960/61 when he was third, leading the team to second place.  Two years later as a Youth (U17) in 1963/64 he was third behind team mates Tom Dobbin and Ronnie Arthur to provide the winning team for Glenpark on a day when Jim was a member of the winning Senior team.   Later that season in the National Championship, Tom was seventh, Teddy Walker 39th, Gordon 42nd and Ronnie 45th to be fifth team.   It was a really good team – Tom was one of the best half-milers in Britain in his age group, Ronnie was another half miler and a solid club runner and Gordon had a great deal of potential as these results showed.    After winning the Greenock District Junior Cross-Country Championship but after that problems with knee and leg injuries he dropped out of the sport.  

All the brothers, except Lawrie at that time, joined IBM(as it was known at the start – it later became IBM Spango Valley) athletic club in 1973.    Started as a result of local athletic politics, it attracted a lot of interest locally.   Gordon raced occasionally for IBM.   WHe was a good club runner but kept getting injured.   Knees were the problem, as Cammie says, it was a bit of a family trait.    Gordon stopped altogether in the ’80’s. but bas been cycling to keep fit and has been averaging about 5000 miles per year.

 In 1961 Cameron appeared in the District results for the first time, being ninth in the Boys one and a half miles and part of the second placed Glenpark team, launching a great career in the sport as runner, organiser, administrator and coach.

 Cammie running in the Six Stage Relays

Cameron, known to everybody as Cammie, was born on 19th July in 1950 and ran for five Scottish clubs (with an affiliation to one Irish outfit).   The Scottish clubs were Greenock Glenpark Harriers, Greenock Wellpark, Spango Valley, Inverclyde and in the summer of 1973, Shettleston Harriers.   On the track he was ranked nationally from 1972 to 1988 in 3000 m, 5000m and 10000m with personal best times of 8:22, 14:10 (at the RAAA Championships) and 30:00.84.   On the road there are times of 64:18 for the half-marathon and 2:28 for the marathon.   All good times and he was really competitive whatever the surface.  He hated the track because “it was so bloody hard” but he did run it in championships and in Highland Games.  Nevertheless, he is better known as an international cross-country and road runner.   

He started as a boy with Glenpark between eleven and fifteen years of age, then departed to play football.   It was not really surprising given that he was living in the West of Scotland where football is almost a religion, and that, probably more important, his father was player.   He played at the top level as an amateur before coming back into athletics in 1970.   His first national was in 1960/61 when as a Junior Boy he was fifth in the District championships and 63rd in the national.     After the football period, he came back to athletics in 1970 and trained for a while with younger brother Lawrie, coached by big brother Jim.   With encouragement from brother George and his wife Pat he joined Greenock Wellpark Harriers.   His first run in Wellpark coours was in 1970 at Bute Highland Games.   It was in the Mile Handicap,  he was the back marker.  Jim and George complained to the handicapper because Cammie was a novice. It was his first race in 5 years and he shouldn’t be the back marker. The handicapper would not change his mind. Cammie, however, finished 4th. At the following weeks Cowal Games he finished third on the Friday and, it being the age of the amateur,  won a plaque. He still has it.

 Cammie became a senior athlete in 1971/72 and Lawrie in 1976/77 – by that time Lawrie was attending Strathclyde University and racing for Shettleston.   Both quality cross-country men, they had some real battles over the years with Lawrie generally coming out on top.   For instance in the national of 1979/80 Lawrie was fifth with Cammie tenth.   The following year Lawrie was fourth with Cammie 12th, and so on with the gap being about 200 yards at the finish.   When Lawrie finished at Strathclyde Unversity he returned to Greenock and joined Cammie at Spango Valley AC.   Spango was a new club, formed in 1976/77 which included the former Greenock Wellpark Harriers formed in season 1973/74- you can read its story here

Lawrie (78), in Strathclyde University colours, racing Lachie Stewart and Alistair Blamire

The brothers were both international cross-country athletes but Cammie was running for Ireland in the World Championships while Lawrie wore the dark blue of Scotland.   Asked how the Irish connection came about, Cammie said: 

It started in 1979 when I fell out with the Scottish selectors.  I won the International race at Stirling University grounds running for Scotland in 1978.  Won it quite easily and was picked to run in Belfast  (which was cancelled due to the Troubles), and San Sebastian on the back of that win. Then went to Spain and picked a bug up (likely on the plane) and ran poorly. When I got home I had a chest infection. Missed training for a number of weeks and as a result missed the National but asked the selectors to consider me for the Worlds.   They didn’t.  

Meanwhile Rod Stone (Cambuslang Harriers) from NI asked Lawrie and I if we would like to run for Annadale Striders at the NI Senior Cross-Country Championships. We had Irish qualification through our father who was born in Belfast (and how did they find that out?).  We both agreed and joined the Striders.    Lawrie finished second  and I was sixth. They offered us places in the NI team for the Worlds. I said yes and Lawrie said no.  I got International clearance quickly. I went to Limerick for the Worlds and beat half the Scottish team. I had proved a point. It was the best move I ever made.”   

But the story doesn’t end there.   In reply to a query about whether they ever raced against each other at international level and if they did, how often, He went on to say

” Yes – at the Worlds and various other events. I have stories about us and our battles over the country. Now here is a question for you. Who are the only brothers to captain different nations at the World Cross-Country Championship. And what year and place? Yip, Lawrie and myself were the captains of Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively at New York in 1984. What a honour for us. Pity our dad had died two years previously.”

In the 80’s the marathon was the thing.   Everybody ran the event – young people, old people, very old people – and there are no prizes for knowing that Cammie ran the event.   He says:

 “I hated marathons. 20 miles and body switched off. Every time except…………………in 1984. Ran at the Cowal Games on the Saturday in the 5K. 2nd to Lawrie in 14.53. Then it was 8 pints of lager and Chinese meal after. The wife got me up at 9.30am on  Sunday morning saying you had promised to run the Inverclyde Marathon with Terry Wilkie. I just remembered after the 5K he asked me. So I had a cold shower to wake and sober up and get a entry on the day(morning)and got to the start line just in time. Off we went. Time passed by in a sort of blur. We stopped for water, we stopped for sponge fights, we stopped to get our picture taken. Our last stop was just before the mile to go mark.

“Terry was struggling. I wisnae bad.   Didn’t have a clue about time, but there were two  Kilbarchan runners coming and I said to Terry we can’t let them beat us. He told me to go away. He just wanted to lie down. I wouldn’t let him, Got him going. And we finished with a time of 2.35. I couldn’t believe it. Could have been 2.34 but we stopped again to pose for pictures before the finish. There is no justice. Didn’t train for it. Raced the day before. Drank too much the night before. Still don’t know how I managed it.”

Clearly a quality athlete with that wonderful story about captaining Ireland in the World Championships with his brother captaining Scotland.   What about Lawrie?

Lawrie Spence is by the best of the brothers competitively and many consider hiim the most complete Scottish distance runner ever with best times ranging from under 4 minutes for the mile  to  2:16 for the marathon.   He has also captained the Scottish team in the world cross-country championships succeeding the great Jim Alder.    He won his first cross-country championship as a Senior Boy in 1967/68 when he won the South West District championship and he finished sixth in the National championships at Hamilton that year too.  The cross-country career was quite outstanding and led to Lawrie having no fewer than eight appearances in the world championships, as well as many really excellent domestic races – eg in the national, although he never won it, he had several races where he was second, third and fourth.

He was coached by big brother Jim and says   I was coached by my brother Jim who took me from the boys’ age groups through to senior international level..   During the break through years I was lucky to have Lachie Stewart as a mentor which gave me a great foundation in the sport.  In the early eighties I had a spell with Stan Long who was Brendan Foster’s coach but due to him being based down in Gateshead, the distance proved to be difficult before the age of our modern communications like email and mobile phones.   As time went by I became more in control of the detail of what was in the sessions and what the  plans were to be, but always keeping Jim as a rock in my training.”   

On the track Lawrie had many successes and his list of personal bests is impressive.

One Mile:   3:58.8

2000m:   5:03.8

3000m:  7:52.82

5000m:   13:37.73

10000m:   28:11.85

Marathon:   2:16:01

Lawrie has won medals at the AAA’s championships, has 7 gold and 2 silver medals from the SAAA championships, run in the Commonwealth Games and was ranked almost every year from 1970 to 1986 inclusive.   Over the country he has run 8 times for Scotland in the world championships as well as in many smaller representative teams.  For the complete story of his fine career in the sport, follow the link at the top of this section, just below his photograph.   

There is one more Spence to be mentioned: not a boy and not a Spence by birth but Pat Spence was very much a member of the family.   As Pat McCluskey she was second to Dale Greig in the SWCCU Championships in season 1959/60, and won it from Dale in 1960/61.  In ’61 she followed the Scottish run with 9th of over 200 runners in the English national.  In each year she was in the winning team – Tannahill Harriers in ’60 and Greenock Rankin Park in ’61.   Pat married George Spence and they have two daughters, Gwen and Lorna.   She was the life and soul of Greenock Rankin Park Harriers and helped develop them into one of the top cross-country clubs in the country.  Rankin Park came from nowhere to being one of the top cross-country clubs in the country during the 1960’s – eg. first in the National in 1961, second in the National in ’64, and in ’65, third in ’66.   Pat herself was a talented athlete winning District as well as National cross-country titles.  She was just as much at home on the track: in 1959, aged 19, she was ranked seventh in Scotland in the half-mile with a time of 2:30, in ’61 she was fourth in the Mile with 5:31.1.   

She retired from competition  after marrying George Spence but kept the club running and performing at a high level.  But when she came back in 1970/71 she was maybe even better – certainly she won several SWAAA championship medals – second in the 3000m and third in the 1500m in 1971 and third in the 1500m in 1972.   In ’71 she also won the West v East 1500m, and was second in the East v West 3000m and in the West 3000m.   ie in 1971 she won the West 1500m, and was third in the national 1500m, was second in the West 3000m, the E v W and the National 3000m.  In that year she was ranked 7th in the shorter distance and fifth in the longer 3000m event.   

On the country she was seventh in ’71/72 and 16th in ’73/’74 but the real achievements in the early 70’s was the development of the club team: 5th, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd with runners in every age group.   eg in 1971/’7 the Seniors were third, , the Inters ninth, the Juniors twelfth and the Minors ninth.   Names like Duncan, Langan, Brown, Lafferty were becoming known as the started to move through the ranks.   In the national rankings for 1974 Alison Brown was ranked 14th in the 800m and 9th in the 1500m, Lesley Langan was 26th in the half mile and Pat herself was 16th in the 3000m.   Note: that was the Senior rankings and the younger women had come up through the age groups.   

With things going so well, it was tragedy in every sense of the word when she died in hospital in September 1976.   Most of all for George and the entire family but also for Scottish athletics.   A very popular, talented athlete with a great future in the sport taken from us.

 

Helen Donald

 

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.

Year West District 880y West District Mile SWAAA 880y SWAAA Mile WAAA Mile
1959   1st   2nd  
1960   1st      
1961 1st   1st    
1962 1st   2nd 1st 3rd
1963   1st   1st 3rd

Helen appeared in the national rankings every year from 1959 until her early retirement in 1963.   Until she dropped down to the half mile in 1961, her best Mile time was 5:24.7 when ranked second in 1959.   After 1961 her best times 5:02 in 1962 and 5:08 in 1963.

Year Distance Time Rankings
1959 880y 2:22.2 5th
  Mile 5:24.7 2nd
1960 Mile 5:48.7 3rd
1961 440y 61.2 6th
  880y 2:19.5 3rd
1962 440y 62.2 14th
  880y 2:17.2 4th
  Mile 5:02.5 1st
1963 440y 62.0 12th
  880y 2:20.0 5th
  Mile 5:08.4 1st

There really is no way to assess how good she could have been – coming from 5:24.7 in 1959 to 5:02.5 in 1962 is quite remarkable, and the race she ran in 1962 almost catching world ranked Madeleine Ibbotson indicated competitive nerve and determination.  

She retired in 1963 after marrying Ian and in reply to the query about why, her answer was that they had bought a house in Old Kilpatrick that needed a lot of work doing to it.   She couldn’t do both run and work on their home.   No doubt her priorities were right but if only ……………………

The Scally Dynasty

Allan Scally (extreme right) with the winning McAndrew Relay team of 1945.  The runners were Barney Cairns, Harry Howard, Willie Connor and Charlie McLellan

The Shettleston Harriers Centenary History says “It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Allan Scally to Shettleston Harriers.”  The information that follows is from the Shettleston Harriers Centenary History by John Cairney.    Allan – who was born in 1904 which was the year that Shettleston Harriers was founded – had two sons who took up the sport, Bill, Frank, and a third son, Allan, who emigrated to America.   Allan’s son, Sean, competed at High School in America at long jump.    Bill had two children, Brian and Elaine, who were very good athletes in their own right, and Elaine had a son and daughter; Allan who was an international shot putter and discus thrower and won the Scottish shot putt title in 2008, and his younger sister, Nicola, who won age group national titles at shot putt.   Four generations between them winning honours at club, national and international level.   Bill’s wife was also involved in the running of the club – if you can’t beat them, join them!   She herself started running in her 40’s and became one of the first female members of the club in its centenary year in 2004.

Nicola, the youngest of the dynasty

Allan was born in Camlachie in the East End of Glasgow and his family moved to Broomhouse soon afterwards.   At Broomhouse, his father and later Allan and his three brothers all worked in the local pit.   He was a good runner, a fact not missed by his workmates, and he was sponsored by them to compete at various sports meetings.   His first Powderhall race was in April, 1925, when he won the mile handicap off a mark of 125 yards in 4:32.    Running as ‘Scally of Broomhouse’ he earned enough to donate some of his winnings to provide food for miners’ families, especially during the strike of 1926.   Part of his training was done on a track on the banks of the Clyde.   His major successes include

  •   The Powderhall 10 mile marathon in 1927, ’28, ’29, ’30, ’31, ’32
  •    World Professional 10 Mile Championship in 1931 and ’32
  •    The Red Hose race at Carnwath: the oldest footrace in the country. 

Allan also had a second (1933) and third (1934) at Powderhall.   It was at his point that he really became focused on coaching.  He had been appointed as a coach to the club in January, 1928, while he was still running and racing at the top of his game,  but now that his running career was over he could devote his time and energy to the club, to the schools I the locality and to Scotland.   He could not become a club member since he had been a professional runner and Shettleston was an amateur club.   

Allan Scally with the women from Lewis’s in 1947

As a coach he was at least as good as he had been a runner.   Among his top distance men were Jim Flockhart, international cross-country champion, and Joe McGhee Empire Marathon champion in 1954.   In addition to his coaching at club level, he was an official acting as a starter at several meetings, and a coach with Scottish teams for several years.   When he was invited by Tom Millar, Clydesdale Harriers secretary, he was delighted to go and give a lantern show, talk about training and take questions.   He also followed up with a letter of appreciation for the reception that he had received.   A wonderful and successful coach wit top class athletes working for and with him, he also continued to work in the community.

For instance, the photograph of Allan with the women employed with Lewis’s, tells a story.   Lewis’s store in Argyle Street in Glasgow had an athletics club for its employees.   The Lewis’s chain throughout Britain had an annual competition between them and the Glasgow store was keen to do well.   They asked Allan to help them train for the big match and after he had been training them for two afternoons a week, realised that they were not the most talented.   His solution was to ask the management to employ some club members, including some who had just come back from the Forces.   The suggestion was taken up.    The result was victory at Belle Vue with the Victor Ludorum trophy brought back to Glasgow.   Always active in the community, he also trained the St Bridget’s church running team and worked with local schools.   If we look back at his early days as a pro and his actions in donating hard won prize money to the miners, his whole record in this regard is exemplary.   There is an interesting article by Allan in the club magazine which can be found at  this link  which was passed on to us by John Mackay.

Bill Scally (left) passing the baton in the Edinburgh to Glasgow to Les Menelly

Although he could not himself run for Shettleston Harriers, his two sons could.   Bill was the better known and ran in club colours

  •  in the National cross-country championships 15 times between 1959 and 1984, running in gold, silver and bronze winning teams;
  • in 16 Edinburgh to Glasgow races between 1963 and 1986 winning 3 gold and 2 silver team medals and running fastest (1969) and second fastest (three times) on his stage;

  • in the District championships winning many gold, silver and bronze team medals.

Over the period in question the club was extremely strong with many international runners turning out for the club.  eg in the 1959/60 national team were Alastair Wood, Graham Everett, Joe McGhee and Eddie Bannon; in the 1970/71 team were Dick Wedlock, Lachie Stewart, Norman Morrison and Tommy Patterson. Joe <cGhee talks of his friendship and of what he owed to Allan in a letter sent to Frank Scally in 2002 which you can read  at this link.   It was not just in Shettleston that the quality was high – the three Edinburgh clubs of Southern, Athletic Club and University were outstanding for most of this period – and it was in this context that Bill ran some of his finest races such as the fastest time on the on the fifth stage of the Edinburgh to Glasgow.  

Although he is best known as a road and cross-country runner, Bill was no mean track runner.   Although he never won a Scottish medal on that surface, he was nationally ranked twelve times between 1964 and 1984 in six events.  

The track events were 3000m steeplechase (best of 9:45.2 in 1972), 3000m (8:44.2 in 1969), 5000m (14:40.8 in 1969), 6 Miles (31:33.2 in 1965) and 10000m (31:11.0 in 1970).   Bill was born in 1941 and became a veteran in 1981 and his best two marathons were as a veteran.   Having run 2:31:21 and 2:35:08 before his 40th birthday, he then ran seasonal bests of 2:32:59, 2:25:00 and 2:24:05 in 1982, ’83 and ’84.

Bill had a very good career as a veeran runner too.   in 1988 and 1992 he was second in the 25K event at the World Vets championships.

Peter McMahon, Jo and Bill Scally, Brian, Elaine and John MacKay

Bill was an out-and-out one club man.   I remember in the 1970’s when many Scottish clubs were using ‘second claim’ runners from other clubs to bulk up their teams for league competition Bill and I were always on the same side.   I remember one year in particular when we sat together in the Meadowbank cafeteria before the meeting agreeing to move and second opposition to the notion of English runners being regarded as ‘first claim in Scotland.’   He was adamant that it should be one man, one club.   Everything he did was with the interests of Shettleston Harriers in mind.   He ran for the club, he managed club teams, he coached club members and was club president between 1989/90 and 1992/93.   Even as team manager for club teams, he was at times seen running an event to complete the team.    He was also an excellent administrator whop helped organise national championships, convened open graded meetings and was treasurer, as well as a founder member, of the Glasgow Athletic Association.   For his work in the sport he was awrded life membership of Shettleston Harriers and of Scottish athletics.   A great club man, a hard runner and the right kind of club man.   You can read more about Bill’s running at http://www.scottishdistancerunninghistory.scot/shettleston-harriers/

Bill running in the Scottish Veterans Cross-Country Championship in 1985

Bill had an older brother, Frank, who ran for several years but although he did what Bill didn’t and won a club (junior) championship, he never ran in the Edinburgh to Glasgow teams.    He was nevertheless a good runner who was, perhaps, unfortunate to be running in a club with an abundance of top quality runners such as Eddie Bannon, Clark Wallace, George Craig ,  Joe McGhee, Hugo Fox and Ben Bickerton.   Just missing out on Edinburgh to Glasgow selection, he was nevertheless good enough to run in no fewer than three London to Brighton races.   He ran in most races on the Scottish circuit.   Frank ran in the National as a Junior in 1952, and in 1953 when, finishing ninth, he was part of the team than was second.   Slightly further down the field in 1954, he again won team silver.   As a first year senior in 1955, he was not a scoring runner for the winning Shettleston team, but he was in good company – neither was Harry Howard!   Frank ran in the National in 1956 and in 1957 he was, for the first time, a counting runner for the club team when he finished 49th, but unfortunately they were fourth and just out of the medals.   That was to be his last run in the cross-country championship.   In the District championships he was part of the second placed team in 1953/54 as club third scorer ahead of Hugo Fox and Tommy Walters and that was to be his only medal despite running in the event throughout the 50’s with his last recorded run there in 1960.   It was a similar tale with the relays – with Shettleston usually turning out four teams, and on one memorable occasion there were teams down to Shettleston Harriers H team, Frank ran as often as not in the B team with a couple in the C team.    The standard at the top of the club was very high indeed and at a time when Scottish distance running was on a real high with the great Victoria Park road and country team (Forbes, Binnie, et al) and Bellahouston Harriers challenging everything, Frank was unfortunate.   At another time he would have had his share of the spoils of victory! 

Elaine at European Uphill Championships

The Scottish team finished second

Just as Bill ran for the club, so did his two children – Brian and Elaine.   Elaine was a year older than Brian and was a good all round athlete.   Before the age of 18 Elaine was ranked in Hurdles, High Jump, Javelin, 400 Hurdles and Pentathlon.   After a gap of nine years she returned to athletics and was ranked at 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m at various times.   On the country Elaine ran well with the best years maybe being 1993, when she finished seventh of 200 finishers, and 1994 when she was eleventh with Shettleston Harriers Ladies winning the team race.   This allowed her to compete in the European club championships events in Portugal.   She also won the Scottish half marathon title by over a minute  in 1993, won silver over 10 miles in the same year, and silver over 10K in 1994.   At that time the club had a very strong hill running section and Elaine also competed for Scotland in European Uphill Running championships, s well as on the road and over the country for Scotland.   

 

Brian, second from the left, in the SAAA 1500m final, 1985.   Other runners include Alistair Currie (37), Adrian Callan (1), and John Robson (17).

Brian was the second family member to win a Senior Scottish national title when he won the marathon in 1998 but he had been known on the Scottish running scene since the early 1980’s.   His career had two phases.  Initially he had successful career as a young athlete from 1980 to 1989 running distances from 800m to 300m on the track, and then after a gap of several years he was ranked at national level in distances between 5000m and the marathon between 1996 and 1999.

As a young athlete at club level, he won every cross-country age group title from the Junior Boys in 1980/81 through to the Junior Men in 1985/86 for a total of six in all.   He ran in the National championship in 1980 and in every following title race through to his second year as a Junior Man in 1986 winning gold, silver and bronze team medals and finishing in the top six individuals no fewer than five times.  He ran in the Senior race in 1987 and 1989 when he was first scoring runner in the team that finished third.  

On the track at this time his best performances were 1:54.4 for 800m in 1988,  3;50.7 for 1500m in both 1984 and ’85 then dipping below 3:50 with 3:49.33 in 1989,and  8:21,33 for 3000m in ’85 and 8:19.46 indoors in 1989.   As a youth he had won the West District 800m and 1500m in 1983 but his biggest championship win was when he won the AAA’s indoor 1500m in 1985.   His first Scottish championship medal in 1987 when he was second in the indoor 3000m.   

When he returned in 1996, he immediately ran a 10000m in 30:36.2 which ranked him sixth in Scotland and then in his marathon debut at Inverclyde was third in the national championship in 2:31:37 for ninth best time in the country at a time when the standard in the event was high. Over the next few years he won and performed well in many distance events, eg he won the Newtonmore 10 miles, he won the Argyll Half Marathon and finished third in the Speyside Way 50K in the excellent time of 3 hours 21 minutes.   As a team runner he was part of the sextet that won the Scottish six stage road relay in 1996 and also ran in the team that was second two years later.   His best year at the longer distances was 1998 when he won the Scotttish marathon, again held at Inverclyde, in 2:29:32 which ranked him seventh in the country.   He also turned in times of 30:58.33 for 10000m and 14:55.9 for 5000m.   There was another championship medal the following year when he was third in the Scottish indoor 3000m in 8:38.58.

Currently a very active Over 50 veteran, Power of 10 lists 20 events for 2016 between 800m and 10K, he competed in the World Vets in South Korea this year (2017) and won bronze in the individual 3000m with a time of 9:41.89 and team gold in the cross-country event where he was fifth individual.   

Scottish 6 stage road relays, 1985.   Brian (84) fifth from left, in leading group

It was another distinguished career by a member of the Scally dynasty – surely more than just a ‘family connection’ by now – in the blue and gold colours of Shettleston Harriers.   As runners Frank, Bill and Brian had all run for the club and there was a rather unique record here too: Frank ran in the London to Brighton Road Relay in 1952, ’53 and ’55, Bill had run in it in 1961 and Brian turned out in the AAA 12 stage road relay in 1998.   

Elaine and John

The dynasty continues.   Elaine married international track runner John Mackay from Clydebank and both their son Allan and daughter Nicola are Scottish shot and discus internationalists, and national title winners.   Allan and Nicola won titles as noted above, and Nicola competed in the London Olympic Stadium in the UK Schools Games and in the Celtic International.   Elaine’s husband John (just in front of Brian in the photograph above) went on to win the first stage that afternoon.   First Elaine and then Nicola have followed grandfather Allan and father Bill into coaching making it four successive generations involved on that side of the sport.

Above is Allan Mackay in 2008 and to finish where we started, we have a photograph of the man who started it all with two of his star athletes, Graham Everett and Joe McGhee.

 

Hugh Barrow’s Milers …

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

 

The Wright Brothers

Jack Wright

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 W

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 2nd 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 15th 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 28th 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 12th 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.”   

Wright H

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 17th 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!

Wright Govan

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.

Scottish International Marathon Men 1979-90

Enschede

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 (1st), England (2nd), Wales (3rd) and Scotland (4th).

For Scotland, Dave Clark was 2nd in 2.18.01; and Colin Youngson 22nd 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 (7th in 2.24.47) and Clyde Valley’s Joe Small (9th 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 7th in 2.26.48 (1st Veteran), and Evan Cameron 9th in 2.30.13.

Three

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 3rd in 2.21.52 (1st Vet); Evan Cameron 7th in 2.26.23; and Graham Milne 9th 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 4th in 2.19.12, Des Austin 5th in 2.19.19 and Alastair Macfarlane 6th 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 3rd in 2.19.58, Colin Youngson 4th in 2.21.03 and Peter Wilson 10th 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 12th. 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 4th in 2.20.38; Evan Cameron was 9th in 2.21.58; and Don Macgregor 10th 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 6th in 2:2:18:02, Andy Daly was 10th (2:20:09) and Craig Ross 17th (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 4th in 2.19.18 and Andy Daly 6th 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 6th in 2.21.53 and Don Ritchie 9th in 2.25.20.

Glasgow Marathon 1985 - The Scots..

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 6th in 2.16.15, Peter Wilson 21st in 2.21.42 and Colin Youngson 28th 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 5th 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 2nd (and SAAA champion) in 2.21.04, Charlie Haskett 4th (2.21.37) and Colin Youngson 6th (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 (1st and 2nd 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 2nd in 2.23.58, Craig Ross was 12th in 2.38.14 and Don Ritchie 36th 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 6th, with Don Macgregor (2.19.36) 10th (and first veteran yet again). Those two beat all of the official Scotland team: Jim Brown (12th in 2.19.50); Graham Getty (24th in 2.23.25); and Evan Cameron (39th 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 7th 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 4th in 2.27.56, Allan Adams was 5th (and first veteran) in 2.29.10, Doug Cowie 8th in 2.34.37 and Don Ritchie 9th 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 4th in 2.18.44; Allan Adams was 15th and first veteran in a ‘lifetime best’ 2.23.03; and Murray McNaught 23rd in 2.26.04.

Glasgow Marathon

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 3rd in 2.29.54, Doug Cowie 6th in 2.30.49, Bobby Ronald 10th in 2.31.09 and Don Ritchie 11th 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 2nd in 2.28.50, Craig Ross 6th in 2.43.46 and Samuel Graves 7th 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 (2nd in 2.19.40) and 3rd was Hammy Cox (2.19.43). Brian Carty finished 17th 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 6th in 2.26.21 and Colin Youngson 10th (and 1st 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 12th in 2.37.12; and Rod Bell 18th in 2.40.55.

1989

20/3/89 – The Barcelona Marathon included a team result (in finishing order) of Wales, Scotland, and Catalonia 3rd. 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 2nd in 2.24.53, Rob Hall 2.29.35 and Colin Youngson 7th (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 4th in 2.31.56 (but 2nd in the team contest) and Doug Cowie 8th in 2.39.06 (but 5th in the team contest. There is no record of the third Scot who dropped out, unless Scotland only sent two runners.

Enschede 2

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 4th in 2.26.50, Don Ritchie 7th in 2.31.00, and Doug Cowie 10th 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 7th in 2.33.34; and Doug Cowie, who unfortunately twisted his ankle on the morning of the race, 14th 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. 

6 Marstars

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 13th in 70.16.

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

Clydesdale Harriers : Scotland’s Premier Club

Charles-Blatherwick-750x1024

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.

1900,01

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.

1890 1,2

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!

1890 3,4

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.

1890 5,6Two 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

1890 7,8

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)

1890 9,10

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.

1890 11,12

Eleven and twelve were the start of the constitution.

1890 13,14

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.

1890 15,16

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.

1890 17,18

1890 18,20

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

 1890 21,22Who’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.

1890 23,24

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.

1890 25,26

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.

1890 27,28

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.

1890 29,30

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

1890 31,32

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.

1890 33,34

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.

1890 35,36

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.

1890 37,38

1890 39,40

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!

1890 43,44

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.

1890 45,46

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,.

1890 47,48

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.

1890 49,50

1890 51,52

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

1890 53,54

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.

A Hannah

Andrew Hannah

Clydesdale Harriers 1885 –

SCOTTISH WOMEN IN THE ICCU CHAMPIONSHIPS

SCOTTISH WOMEN WHO TOOK PART IN THE ICCU CHAMPIONSHIPS

AL-and-DL

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 9th out of 26 participants. Georgena Craig was 11th, Leslie Watson 14th and Margaret Purdon 16th.

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

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 12th, with Margaret MacSherry 13th and Scottish champion Dale Greig 14th. Good packing! Leslie Watson was fourth counter in 16th, Rosemary Stirling 17th and Sheena Fitzmaurice 19th.

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 (18th), 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 (8th). The other counters were Sheena Fitzmaurice (26th) and Sandra Kirk (28th). (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.

Christina-Price-Stirling_-1985

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 8th from 10. Christine Haskett had a marvellous run and finished 6th, only four seconds slower than the silver medallist. Margaret MacSherry finished 28th; Sandra Sutherland 43rd; and Ann Barrass 47th.

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 5th place from 44 competitors. With the Scottish Intermediate champion Mary Stewart 17th, Christine Haskett 19th and Ann Barrass 23rd, 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 134

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)