McAndrew Relay in Pictures – SCOTTISH DISTANCE RUNNING HISTORY

The McAndrew Relay was a real classic that deserves its place in Scottish athletics history. The traditional start to the winter season, it was held on the first Saturday in October for over half a century. Organised by Victoria Park AAC, it began with changing in the Whiteinch Baths and a start at the side of Victoria Park and consisted of two interlocked rectangles, it later changed to a start outside St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School and went up round Anniesland Cross and back round via Danes Drive, past Scotstoun Showground and up to the school to finish. The map of this course is below.

It was a very popular race with many clubs entering four or five teams – it was unusual for clubs to enter only one four man team.

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

Start of the race in the 1950

On the original trail in October 1947

Alex Kidd and Arthur Warton of Garscube in 1947

The start in October 1947 – George White (Clydesdale) on the left leading the field out.

Tom O’Reilly (Springburn) to Gary MacKay

McAndrew Start, 1950

McAndrew Finish, 1950, Andy Forbes

Duncan Middleton (Springburn

The first of three with Danny Wilmoth (Springburn): here he is with Jimmy Irvine (Bellahouston) in the 50’s

Danny – again in the 50’s

Danny as a veteran on the traditional trail passing the Showground

Brian McAusland, mid 1960’s

Hugh Barrow (VPAAC) running the fastest time of the day in 1965: last stage, winning team

Victoria Park winning team, mid 1960’s: Ian McPherson, Albert Smith, Hugh Barrow, Joe Reilly

Molly Wilmoth in the middle with Doug Gillon (Reporter) quizzing Andy Forbes (VPAAC), Brian Goodwin (Bellahouston extreme right and Willie Laing (Shettleston) behind Molly.

Race Start: 1960’s

Handover from Donald Macgregor for Fife AC and Alistair Douglas for VPAAC; Alex MacIndoe on the left, and Alastair Macfarlane (68) for Springburn waiting for his runner.

Race start, 1986 – Alistair Douglas number 37 – record entry of 154 teams

1986: Kilbarchan leads the group

Handover from Donald Macgregor for Fife AC and Alistair Douglas for VPAAC; Alex MacIndoe on the left, and Alastair Macfarlane (68) for Springburn waiting for his runner.

The winning Spango Valley team from 1986: Chris Robison, Lawrie Spence and the Connachan brothers

Dave Cooney (Cambuslang) member of winning Vets team in 1989

The start, mid-90’s: 63 John ‘Cowboy’ Cunningham (Fife), 38 Des Roache (Clydesdale), 30 Tommy Hearle (Kilbarchan), 11 Brian Kirkwood (Racing Club).