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Allan Adams (born 3rd January 1944) enjoyed a long running career, achieving most success after the age of 40, when he not only ran marathons for Scotland but also won many age-group titles as a Veteran. Dumbarton AAC was his only club and he served them extremely well. His son, Allan Adams (Junior) also became a prominent Scottish athlete and represented his country internationally. In 1997 he won silver medals in Scottish 10,000 metres Championship and Half Marathon; and secured bronze in the 2001 10k. In 2004 Allan Junior won the Scottish 10k title.

By 1966, Allan (Senior) was representing DAAC in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay, moving up three places on Stage Three. He took part in the event again in 1972, 1976 and 1983. Allan’s clubmates during this period included International runners Graeme Grant and Colin Martin, as well as steeplechasers Hugh Elder and Bill Cairns. Tough guy Alastair Lawson also featured: he specialised in hill and trail races; but no one trained harder than Allan Adams.

His frequent training partner, Colin Martin, started off as a talented young track specialist but in 1988 won the Scottish Marathon Championship, outkicking Donald Ritchie, the ultra-distance legend. Before this triumph (aged 41) Colin and Allan had been doing 90 to 100 miles per week, with Tuesdays and Thursdays devoted to 400, 800 or even mile repetitions with Lachie Stewart and his promising son Glen (later a GB track representative). The Saturday session might be 22 miles on the road; with Sundays an hour and a half over country trails. Both men became extremely fit, due to this arduous schedule.

Back in 1979, Allan Adams appeared in the Scottish ranking lists with a marathon time of 2.32.27. By 1985 (aged 41) he had improved to 2.25.48 and won the Inverclyde/SVHC Marathon in front of David Fairweather and Brian Carty. Then in 1986 Allan produced an outstanding 2.23.03. He was still running 2.26.32 in 1989 and signed off with 2.31.37 (aged 47) in 1991. Apart from World Veteran champions Donald Macgregor, Dave Clark, Alastair Wood and Bill Stoddart, plus ultra-distance legend Don Ritchie, hardly any Scottish Veterans have covered the classic distance so fast.

1986 was his peak as a marathon runner. In April he was 1st M40 in the famous Tom Scott Memorial 10 Mile Road Race, finishing in the outstanding time of 49.12. After that, he set a record for the Cairnpapple/SVHC Hill Race. Then in May, at the Aberdeen International Marathon, Allan Adams ran for Scotland in the match against the ‘Auld Enemy’. English team runners were the first three home. Aberdeen AAC’s Colin Youngson was first Scot, only a minute ahead of the fast-finishing Adams, who was fifth (and 1st Veteran) in 2.29.10 on a long, hilly course. In September, representing his country again in the Glasgow International Marathon, Allan was second team counter (and 1st Veteran) in his fastest-ever time of 2.23.03.

[Allan Adams (number 65) in the Tom Scott 10, 1985. Photo by Graham MacIndoe.]

Further highlights were to come for this Tough of the Road. In April 1989 at the Lochaber Marathon, Allan had a real battle with Colin Youngson for the Scottish Veterans marathon title. There was snow on Ben Nevis behind the runners, as a pack of seven battled into a strong headwind on the way out to halfway. Naturally, Adams showed his strength by leading into the gale, while Youngson loitered in shelter behind the others. After the turn, the pace suddenly increased by about a minute a mile! Colin gained fifty yards but Allan hung on. Every time the leader passed Allan’s wife (who kept overtaking the pair in a car) Colin tried to look fresh, but in reality he was tiring. Eventually he threw everything into the last couple of miles and, exhausted, won in 2.29.40 while Allan won the M45 age group in 2.30.09.

Then, in October 1989, Allan Adams became British Veterans M45 Marathon Champion in the Flying Fox event in Stone, Staffordshire. In actual fact, Allan became the only Scot ever to win this event outright, defeating all the M40 runners too! He was timed at 2.29.32, with his Dumbarton team-mate Colin Martin 2nd M45 in 2.33.03.

In Masters Cross-Country, Allan was outstanding, representing Scotland five times in the annual Five Nations British and Irish International fixture: with his best performance being 3rd Individual M45 at Ampthill, Bedford in 1989, when his team won silver medals.

Allan Adams won no fewer than six Scottish Veterans Cross Country titles. In 1985 he finished second M40 (only three seconds behind Greenock Glenpark Harrier Dick Hodelet); and in 1986 he was second again, this time to Maryhill Harrier Brian Scobie.

1989 brought Allan Adams’ first M45 Scottish CC gold medal; and he retained this title in 1990, 1991 and 1992. After M45 silver behind Youngson in 1993, Allan continued age-group domination with M50 gold in 1994 and 1995, before injuries brought his career to a halt.

In 2012 a reunion was organised at Drymen by Clydesdale Harrier Brian McAusland. This was attended mainly by old runners from the West of Scotland, plus a few from the East or North. Allan Adams, cheerful and vibrant, looked as strong and energetic as ever!

Graham Macindoe is a very lucky man in that his father visits the local Thrift Shop in Bathgate and that particular outlet has provided a whole series of wonderful athletics memorabilia.   First of all there were the Edinburgh to Glasgow programmes – the News of the World ones with pictures – and now there are a lot of programmes from what seems to be Andy Forbes’s collection.

Andy was a wonderful man – I only knew him from the early 60’s when he was a bit past his peak but he was still a good runner, an elegant runner, a runner who made the whole business look effortless.   He was a class act – Scottish Cross-Country champion in 1947 and 1951, SAAA Three Miles champion in 1951 and 1952, silver medallist in the Empire Games, six times a cross-country internationalist – and that’s only scraping the surface of his achievements.   Very easy to talk to, good-natured at all times.   Like everybody who knew him, I liked him a lot.   However – Graham got the programmes into his hands and some are reproduced here.   First of all there is the one from the English National of 1958.

Victoria Park had won the English Championships in 1951, and although the did not replicate this victory they kept taking on the best.   In 1958 the team was fifth with leading man John McLaren ninth.

The next programme we have is from the Scottish National Championships in 1959.

At that time the championships always took place on the last weekend in June – usually some of the heats plus final of the Six Miles on the Friday and the remainder on Saturday.   For several years the 880y/800m had three races over the two days – heats on the Friday and then a semi and a final on the Saturday.

Programmes sold ell although not everybody actually filled them in.   They were then stuck in pockets, kit bags or poly bags beside the picnic brought for sustenance during the afternoon.   The result is that very few completed programmes are still around.   What   follows is the programme for 1961 – or most of it – as completed by Andy.   You’ll note that for one event at least the Vicky Park runners results are marked with a wee cross!

… and if you meant to keep it, you cut out the results from the Monday’s ‘Glasgow Herald’ or ‘Scotsman’ …

Another meeting which went well for a number of years was the Glasgow Championship meeting at Scotstoun and of course Andy was out in those – but the fields always had quality with Lachie, Ian McCafferty, Frank Clement, Hugh Barrow, Les Piggott and many more competing there.   It’s a pity that it’s gone with the City Council seeming to see Scotstoun more as a rugby stadium these days despite the quality of the track.

We have had British, Scottish and Glasgow championships but the next programme if from a different kind of meeting, on a grass track in a football field but with a ten miles road race in which Andy probably ran.   I say ten miles but given that top class runners normally took 55 minutes it was probably nearer eleven.

By 1968 Andy was running as a veteran and taking part with his friends Emmet Farrell, Gordon Porteous and David Morrison in road races all round the country – you’d see them at Dunblane, at the Strathallan Gathering, at Gourock and all sorts of meetings.   This programme is from the Kirkintilloch Highland Games in 1968.

This one is from the National Cross-Country Championships in 1972, notable for the absence of many good runners because of the power workers strike.   The national shortage of power meant that workers were all put on to a four day week, and if one of your days was a Saturday then that was just your luck.   Cover picture is of course Lachie Stewart who actually finished fifth on the day with Ian McCafferty victorious.

The second in a mini-series of national programmes, and for the first of a series of races at Coatbridge which were well organised, held over good running courses which nevertheless had plenty of variety and where the runners needed the old fashioned skills of cross-country running.   One man who really seemed to enjoy the trails and conditions at Coatbridge was Andy McKean who won from Weatherhead and Stewart.

The centre-spread!   The trail for 1973.

George Sutherland produced a very good magazine.   On A4 paper, every word typed by hand it was a really interesting production: results in detail, ranking lists, race reports from all over the country from the borders to the north and articles on coaching and so on.   It was a real shame when it went.   We often get good magazines in Scotland but they never seem to last very long:   The Scots Athlete from 1946 to 1957, the Athletics in Scotland magazine had a shorter life and the very good Scotland’s Runner from 1986 to 1993 – all top class productions, all sorely missed.

And – the bonus picture –

Andy ran the first leg in this one and finished fourteenth.   He had started running in 1935 and we have programmes here up to 1973 and he went on long after that.

A wonderful athlete and a very good man.

Dave Cocksedge is an athletics journalist and statistician of the highest calibre.   He is also a member of the British Milers Club and that is where I met him.   It was at a BMC Annual General Meeting  and Coaching Weekend at Cheltenham in the late 80’s and we jogged a couple of miles while the athletes were warming up for their session on the Saturday afternoon.   He has done a lot of work for the BMC and one of his latest in a list of the fastest British milers of all time on cinders.   There is no doubt at all that the all-weather tracks of today are faster than the all-weather tracks of the 70’s, 80s and 90s which were faster than cinders.   There is always work being done on faster tracks and there is no doubt in my mind that many near-misses of the 50’s, 60s and 70’s on cinder tracks would have been a couple of seconds quicker on current surfaces.   Enough philosophising – let’s have the list.

3:55.68     Alan Simpson     White City     30th August 1965

3:56.8      Ian McCafferty     Reading     11th June 1969

3:57.2      Derek Ibbotson     White City     19th July 1957

3:57.3     Ian Stewart              Reading       11th June 1969

3:57.5     Mike Wiggs              Dublin     5th July 1965

3:57.68     John Whetton     White City     3rd July 1965

3:57.74      Andy Green     White City     3rd July 1965

3:58.0     John Kirkbride     Motspur Park     23rd July 69

3:58.01     Stan Taylor     White City     18th August 1962

3:58.4       Nick Rose     Motspur Park     25th July 1973

3:58.5       Jim Douglas     Motspur Park     23rd July 1969

3:58.6     John Boulter    Motspur Park     24th July 1968

3:58.7     Allan Rushmer     Northampton     26th August 1967

3:58.7     Peter Stewart*     Reading     11th June 1969

3:58.8     Roger Bannister     Vancouver, Canada     7th August 1954

3:58.9     Brian Hewson     White City     3rd September 1958

3:58.96     Tony Harris     White City     3rd July 1965

3:59.2     Derek Graham    White City    20th Aug 1966

3:59.2      Walter Wilkinson     Stretford     28th May 1968

3:59.24       Mike Berisford        White City     18th August 1962

3:59.3      Ken Wood     White City     19th July 1957

3:59.4      Bill McKim     Motspur Park     22nd Jul 64

3:59.4      Roy Young    Motspur Park     14th Jul 71

3:59.80     Maurice Benn     White City    3rd June 1968

3:59.8     Chris Chataway     White City     28th May 1955

3:59.8     Rayfel Roseman     Motspur Park     23rd July 1969

3:59.9     Gordon Pirie     Dublin     23rd September 1960

4:00.0     Mike Blagrove     White City     3rd September 1958

4:00.0       Steve Ovett        Motspur Park     25th July 1973

4:00.1     Brian Hall     Witton Park     6th June 1962

4:00.3     Frank Clement     Scotstoun   17th May 1975

4:00.4     Phil Banning     Motspur Park     25th July 1973

4:00.5     Bill Cornell     Eugene, Oregon     16th June 1962

4:00.5     John McGrow     Brighton     21st August 1966

4:00.5     Chris Stewart     Motspur Park     14th July 1961

4:00.6     John Cadman     Motspur Park     25th July 1973

4:00.7     Peter Keeling     White City      3rd August 1964

4:00.9     Chris Barber     White City     24th July 1974

4:01.0     Mick Gowan     Motspur Park     21st July 1965

4:01.0     Hugh Barrow     Stretford     28th May 1968

4:01.0     Andy Carter      Motspur Park     8th July 1970

4:01.1     Ken Ballantyne     Motspur Park     21st July 1965

4:01.3     Derek Haith     White City     29th May 1961

4:01.3      Alan Mottershead     Motspur Park    15th July 1981

That’s the top 33.   Scots are marked in red – only five of them of whom two go back to the 1950’s.   And only one Scots track listed as the venue for any of these races.    The Scots mentioned ran at Reading, Stretford and Motspur Park.   Going solely on the times noted above, the best races were at Reading in 1969 where McCafferty beat the two Stewarts, and the one in 1965 at the White City where John Whetton defeated Andy Greeen and Tony Harris.

(20th Dec 2015)

Having put up some of Tom O’Reilly’s Photographs, it seems only right that I put up some of Danny’s.   Both members of the same club, both ran in many of the same teams, Tom encouraged Danny to join the club and so on.  Now see some of Danny’s pictures.

From the left Eddie Sinclair, Tom O’Reilly, Bob Dalgleish, J Crawford , John McCormick, Danny Wilmoth

Christmas Handicap, 1953

Lanarkshire relays, 1954

 McAndrew Relays, 1958

Wes Districts, 1962

McAndrew Relay, 1955

Winning Babcock’s Half Mile, 1958

Lanarkshire Police Sports, Shawfield, 1960

Lanarkshire Police Sports, 1955, half-mile

McAndrew Relays

Springburn Club Presentation

Vets line up at Largs: 80’s

1003, Huntershill., Vets

 Men Vets, Ballymena, 1995

Women Vets, Ballymena, 1995

Two or three years ago we were given copies of some of Tom O’Reilly’s groups, etc.   Many of the people in them are familiar and where I have them, I’ll add the names but for some …. you’re on your own!   Relays first.

Tommy Lambert to Tom O’Reilly at the Millerston Pony Trotting Track at Millerston (Stepps)

McAndrew Relay :Tommy to Garry Mackay

Lanarkshire Relay at Auchinairn : Tommy hands over first at the end of the first stage to Garry Mackay

Edinburgh to Glasgow: John Stevenson to Tommy at the start of the fourth stage

Tommy at the end of that fourth stage

First three at Spean Bridge: Ian Harris (Beith), Eddie Sinclair, Tommy

Winning team at Spean Bridge: Moir Logie, John Roon, Eddie Sinclair and Tommy

Club Presentation: F Morton, Tommy, Duncan Middleton, Hugh McCartney, jnr, Jack Crawford snr, Jim Keenan, Kenny Lunn, Alan Lamont, Eddie Knox, Harry Gorman,  Davie Tees, George Jarvie, Moir Logie.

Front: Duncan McSwein, J Young (Provost), Bob Dalgleish, Hugh McCartney

Tom second left back row, Bob Dalgleish second right back row, Campbell Christie third right back row

Molly Wilmoth second left front row.

Tommy (7) in the Ibrox Steeplechase: the chap on the right, second out of the water is Springburn’s Andy Girvan

Tommy : Ibrox again

Winning Medley Relay Team at Bute Highland Games: Tommy (440), John Kerr (220), John Young (220), Eddie Sinclair (880)

Tommy Tracey in the club championships

Jim Morton and Davie Wallace

Start of the National at Hamilton: Tommy on the left beside Tommy Tracey

What Tommy calls the ‘all conquering boys team’

Outside the old clubhouse

Colin Young who ran for Atalanta in the 1960’s was good enough to send a copy of the Member’s Handbook for 1963  plus a copy of the invitation to the annual dinner.   They have been copied and are reproduced here for information and as a companion to the page on the Atalanta Club.   If you take the time to look through them you will see that they are a valuable Social history document: look at the geographical  spread of the members – all over the UK, France, South Africa, Rhodesia, Canada, Nigeria, etc, etc.   Note too that they are keeping in contact with founder members such as Hugh Maingay – the club was formed in 1926 and there are quite a few of those members still ‘on the books’.   Lots of interesting stuff here.   Thanks Colin!

(Chris has of course run for Scotland in the Annual British and Irish Masters Cross Country International; is currently racing better than ever; and has a long, distinguished history as a dedicated hill-runner.)

CLUBs. Ronhill Cambuslang (previously Westerlands 2000-2014).

DATE OF BIRTH. 08/08/1963.

OCCUPATION. Naval Engineering at BAE Systems.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT?

Very gradually… From 5 years old I knew I wanted to run on the hills and explore wild places. Teenage years were spent exploring the English Lake District on foot and bike. Mid 1980s I caught the Munro-bagging bug, and have since climbed all the Scottish Munros and Corbetts. In 1989 I had a near fatal climbing accident that broke my ankle and crushed a lumbar vertebra. In 1990 I came back more determined and climbed Mont Blanc, then Elbrus in Russia in 1993. I then spent 10 years rock climbing around Britain, Europe and the United States, before thinking about trying a couple of hill races in 2000 with Glen Rosa and Borrowdale. Since then I’ve completed more than 800 races, plus visiting Nepal 6 times and hiking across the Pyrenees 2 and half times.

Races have ranged from 800 metres at the Emirates, to the 10-stage Everest Sky Race in Nepal.

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

Recently, the stalwart veterans at Ronhill Cambuslang and SVHC Masters have inspired me to keep working hard. Uncompromising runners like Paul Thompson, Colin Feechan and John Thomson show that you can still perform at a high level as a V55. I guess that growing up in the 1970s I’m inspired by keeping things simple, and remembering the importance of physical discomfort.

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU GET OUT OF THE SPORT?

A sense of belonging. A sense of purpose.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE?

Best performance: 1st M50 at Scottish Masters Cross Country at Kilmarnock in January 2015.
YOUR WORST?

I don’t remember any worst performances. I think all performances are part of the learning process.

WHAT UNFULFILLED AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE?

Sub 2:50 marathon. Possibly a World Masters track medal.

OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES?

Playing violin. Playing with my 3-year old son Benjamin.
WHAT DOES RUNNING BRING YOU THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO MISS?

That gut-churning sense of excitement before every race.
The sense of relief and peace after the race.

CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS OF YOUR TRAINING?

Quite ad hoc. At present, just lunchtime runs and weekend races.
Occasionally more structure leading up to a marathon.

Career Highlights in hill-running.
Won the FRA Long Distance Award in 2003 for Lakes24, a new route in the Lake District that bagged 24 Marilyns in 24 hours.

Favourite Races.
My favourite race of recent years is Defi de l’Oisans in France. My favourite Scottish races are probably Two Breweries and Pentland Skyline.

Most Memorable Race
Inter Lacs 2003. Restonica Valley, Corsica. 2-Stage event. Very rugged spectacular scenery. Ben Nevis is the most challenging and memorable Scottish race.

Other Interests.
I also occasionally take photos for the Geograph project; and sometimes play my violin with the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra.

IAN LEGGETT

(Ian Leggett, pictured above in a 1960s Nigel Barge road race, is one of our most durable SVHC runners. He made his debut for Clydesdale Harriers in 1963 as a senior and quickly became a first team runner. Clydesdale won team gold medals in Dunbartonshire Cross-Country relay championships. Between 1966 and 1969, Ian emigrated to Australia but returned to run Stage Six of the Edinburgh to Glasgow in the latter year. From then up to 1973 he was at his fastest, running particularly well in the Midland (West) District CC (4th) and the National (31st). In the 1969 Scottish Inter-Counties CC he had perhaps his best-ever race, finishing second to international athlete John Linaker. In addition he ran well on the track, won long road races and tackled severe challenges like the Mamore Hill Race and Ben Nevis. Of course he was awarded several Clydesdale Harriers championships, for example the 3 and 6 miles track events, and other club trophies. Ian Leggett raced a great deal more than nearly all athletes nowadays.

As a Veteran/Masters runner, Ian won Scottish middle distance track titles and ran for Scottish Veterans in the annual British and Irish CC International, winning team medals. His long fight to win a Scottish Masters CC title seemed to be making progress in 1986 when he was second M45 behind the aforementioned John Linaker. It was the same one-two (M50 this time) in 1990. Ian picked up two more silver medals (M60); and a silver and bronze in M65. At last, in 2011, Ian Leggett won a very well deserved gold medal in the M70 category, and followed that with, guess what, a silver the following year.

As the article below makes clear, he is not only a role model for ageing SVHC members, but also quite a character!)

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE MAD TO BE A RUNNER
BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS
By Ian Leggett

I don’t usually reply to questionnaires as they usually result in cold calls about PPI or more questionnaires but in this case I felt I was safe enough.

My Name is Ian Leggett, appropriately enough for a runner born and raised in Maryhill, Glasgow, where my allegiance to the famous Partick Thistle (JAGS) was formed.

Married to Cathy for 52 years and blessed with 7 sons and 3 daughters (before we purchased a television set).
CLUBS currently Lothian Running club, prior clubs Livingston, Clydesdale, Whyalla Harriers South Australia.
AGE 76
OCCUPATIONS Ex Postman and admin worker.
HOW DID I GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT? During National Service played football and was drafted into athletic involvement – anything to dodge drilling and cookhouse duties.
HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP INFLUENCED YOU? My first connection with athletics came as a result of following the Jags around the Glasgow Sports at Ibrox. In those days 5 a side football tournaments were highly contested summer events, but the highlight of that day was an Aberdeen runner by the name of Alastair Wood in the 3 mile race – left the other runners in the field for dead and made a lasting impression on me. He went on to win marathons but probably his finest achievement came in winning the famous London to Brighton race in 1972 and breaking the record.
Another was Brian McAusland and the Clydesdale Harriers team of the 70s.
We had great team camaraderie and absolutely fantastic changing facilities down in the basement of Clydebank Baths, with heated pipes and showers, where many a Bothy ballad rung out on a cold winter night after a training session.
Martin Hyman and the Livingston club of the 80s was another group which kept my momentum going in the sport,
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT OUT OF THE SPORT? Lots of friends, healthy wellbeing and, through Masters events, travelling to many places around the world I would probably have missed i.e. Finland, Denmark, France, Italy, Slovenia, Australia – and even England.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE? The last race I ran.
YOUR WORST? Undoubtedly, as a novice runner, running the second leg of the Edinburgh to Glasgow relay. I was completely unprepared for this type of contest. The second leg usually featured the cream of the best runners and I ended up shell-shocked at the end of the leg and almost called it a day there and then.
WHAT UNFULLFILLED AMBITION S DO YOU HAVE? To run overseas in a Scotland vest, instead of having to run as Team GB.
OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES? My 13 grand children help me fill up my time outside the sport.
TRAINING DETAILS? No secret! Arthur Lydiard processed the ultimate training schedules. It’s just adjusting your lifestyle to suit whatever your personal ambitions are.
Group therapy suited me best, with the old version of pack runs, adjusting to the season of either track, country or roads – we were all very versatile in those days. There weren’t as many races on the calendar as there are today.
When there was a free weekend without a race, there was a culture of going visiting other clubs to have a run and buffet afterwards. I remember one trip in particular as Clydesdale visited Greenock Wellpark but we had a lot of call-offs on the day. The buffet was enormous, with more than enough Scotch Pies, and we were obliged to eat more than our fair share so as not to offend our hosts.
I never thought I would be sick of the sight of a Scotch Pie in my life but that day was pretty close.
ADVICE TO ANYONE IN THE SPORT? Respect your body, because injury is the hardest obstacle to overcome.
AW RA BEST, IAN LEGGETT

QUIRKY RACES

One was a race organised by the notorious Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow to raise funds for HIV testing units within the prison.

We arrived at the main gate and were ushered into our changing room which was, the warden who escorted us took great pleasure in pointing out, where the last hanging had taken place.

The race itself consisted of 5 laps inside the prison. The head warden, who was a 6 foot 6inches Texan, started the race with a klaxon (no gun).

A few personalities, including Terry Butcher, a couple of Celtic second-string players, a well-known Glasgow boxer and some privileged prisoners, helped to make up the 50 starters. The privileged prisoners were conspicuous by their orange plimsolls, white tops and black shorts. At the start we were surprised by a few of the orange plimsolls flying off around the first corner. Then, at the second corner they were leaning against the wall, having a fag. As the rest of us raced round we were greeted by the rattling of tin mugs against the bars of the windows – it was like a Japanese prisoner of war movie.

After the race we were given a slap-up meal with the prisoners and enjoyed their company.

It was an enlightening experience but I gave a sigh of relief as the big double doors slammed shut with me safely outside.

Another race for the archives was in Broxburn, organised by BELL’S distillery, not so much the race itself but the finishing drinks were thimbles of whisky and the prizes consisted of bottles of the amber nectar. Can’t say if it was beneficial to after-race recovery but certainly an enjoyable warm down! By today’s drink -drive regulations we would have been very close to the limit.

Similarly the Broughton Brewery race at the New Year where the first prize was a crate of the local ale, second was half a crate and 3rd was 6 of the best; and a bottle to each finisher warmed the cockles of each heart.

My club was fortunate enough to finish 3rd in a prominent Glasgow road relay and the prize was 4 trouser presses. Not long afterwards, at the annual club Christmas handicap race, nicely wrapped up, were 4 very distinctive trouser presses.

If any readers would like to share details of any race that they found quirky, just send the information to Colin on the back of a twenty pound note!

(Brian’s friend and former Clydesdale Harrier team-mate Brian McAusland added the following. “On a two-hour plus Saturday afternoon run down through Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven and back home via The Boule – going out through Dumbarton he switched on his transistor radio (for the Thistle result later on), and there was Victor Sylvester’s music, so he grabbed me round the waist and ballroom-danced me for fifty or sixty yards up the High Street. Wasn’t even legal at the time!

At a Scottish Marathon Club dinner in Glasgow the first course was served, the staff scattered around the room waiting to clear the tables. When they got the nod from the heid bummer, they swung into action immaculately. Leggett grabbed the table numbers from our table and the one beside it, held them up and called out ‘Seven point six!’ a la ice dancing, gymnastics etc.”)

BETTY GILCHRIST

[Betty (W70) achieved clear victories in both the 2014 British and Irish Masters Cross Country International at Nottingham; and the 2015 Scottish Masters CC at Kilmarnock.]

CLUB: Ferranti AAC (a friendly and supportive club).

DATE OF BIRTH: 20 -9-44.

OCCUPATION: Retired.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN SPORT: I lived in Saudi Arabia for over 20 years and met Ian Wilson who invited me to join his group.

HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP HAD A MARKED INFLUENCE ON YOUR ATTITUDE OR INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE?
Ian was a fantastic coach who really encouraged us and is still coaching very successfully in Ireland.

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU GET OUT OF THE SPORT?
Keeps you fit and you meet some friendly people at races – and living in Edinburgh
we have great running routes on our doorstep – hills, river paths, canal paths or along the shore.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE OR PERFORMANCES?
Hard question but my favourite five races would be: Bahrain Marathon Relay; Brampton to Carlisle; Midnight Sun; Porty New Year’s Day; and of course Parkrun (great for us older runners).

YOUR WORST? Haddington Half.

WHAT UNFULFILLED AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE?
To run a decent time at Haddington!!! (4th time lucky.)

OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES? Gym – swim – walk.

WHAT DOES RUNNING BRING YOU THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO MISS? Friends around the world.

CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS OF YOUR TRAINING? Don’t really do any speed sessions any more. Simply go out and run. I had a bad foot injury about two years ago, and later that year had a hernia operation, so mileage and speed have dropped but I am still happy to be out there.
Monday – 3 miles + gym.
Tuesday – 5 miles fartlek + gym.
Wednesday – 5 miles off-road.
Thursday – 5 miles with hills + gym.
Friday – 7 miles tempo for me (= steady for my running partner).
Saturday – Parkrun or race.
Sunday – 90 to 105 minutes Time On Your Feet; or race.

(As one of her five favourite races, Betty names The Bahrain Marathon Relay. Below is some information about this unusual event.)

The Bahrain Marathon Relay, the largest race in the Middle East, takes place at the end of October, and starts at 10 a.m. at the Bahrain International Circuit, home of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Temperatures soar to the mid to high 30s by early afternoon. The 50 km event is undoubtedly an exhausting challenge, given desert conditions, with heat and humidity. There are 16 stages, each approximately 3 km in length. There are eight runners in a team. Each athlete will run either one, two or three legs of the relay. There may be 150 teams competing.

Ian and Teresa Wilson spent over 30 years working in Saudi Arabia and, through their positive coaching methods, succeeded in training seemingly ordinary athletes up to both Olympic and World Championships levels. Teresa is originally from Stillorgan in Co. Dublin. Ian is originally from Sunderland. Eventually, they decided to retire and settle in Co. Laois, Eire, at the end of 2013. Their company is Nuparc Wellness, a business established to assess health and wellbeing of individuals in large corporations. Ian is a UK Level 4 endurance coach; and Teresa a UK Level 2 endurance coach. Even in semi-retirement, hey have taken Irish teams to Bahrain.

The Bahrain Marathon Relay, for which the Wilsons have prepared many teams, was first run in 1981 and has grown to the point where the event attracts a large number of teams and athletes ranging from Olympic standard to those who just enjoy a healthy jog and the camaraderie of taking part. It has become an important highlight not only for Bahrain and its neighbouring countries but also for countless runners who fly in from all over the world to compete. There is a good deal of corporate sponsorship and almost two million dollars has been raised for charity, during the 27 years of the relay.

Roads through the desert, camel trains, extreme heat, rainstorms, sudden hot head- or tail-winds – all these aspects add to the uniqueness of this event. The full history of each race makes fascinating reading.

Scottish athletes who have taken part include Phyllis O’Brien (HBT); Ivie Rennie and Gordon Reid (Kilmarnock AC); Janice Madsen, former British Marathon International Lynn Harding, and David, Betty Gilchrist’s son.

Betty herself holds the record for most appearances by a woman in the Bahrain Marathon Relay, having run 22 stages. Teresa Wilson and Jackie Newton tie with 18.

This time we start with some from Alistair Blamire – a wee bit of a cheat since they are on his page, but not really because they are only just added!

Scottish Schools International – plugging Adidas spikes.

Edinburgh University Sports 1965, 3 Miles

Leading Ian Binnie, 1st stage E-G, 1965

Not sure where the next one came from but it’s a good one.

Scot Unis Cross Country Championships