SCOTTISH DISTANCE RUNNING HISTORY

We now have a profile of John Hanratty on the Veterans page See and read it by clicking on his name.

The late Dale Greig (see profile) was a very important pioneer in the development of Women’s Distance Running, not only in Scotland. She also encouraged women to join the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club. Last week an excellent six minute part of a television programme was devoted to Dale. The programme is available on BBC iPlayer. Search for ‘Great British Railway Journeys, series 15’ – and find the episode ‘Shawlands to Livingston’ or use this link . After the first two minutes there is a section, filmed in Pollok Country Park, with Michael Portillo (serious, respectful tone) interviewing two people about Dale – running historian Katie Holmes and Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Palm Gunstone. There are a number of fine black and white film extracts, with Dale running and then being interviewed. The section finishes with a humorous minute when Michael tries and fails to warm-up and run with female Bellahouston Harriers (Dale’s first club). Recommended viewing.

There are many stories – as well as a strongly supported petition – for the retention and support of Grangemouth Stadium as our top athletics venue. We all want it to succeed. The photograph above is of another stadium that was mainly football, then football and dog racing and was a favourite venue for athletics once every year. Read about it here. There will be more about the venue as an athletics venue to come.

Colin Youngson has just completed a profile of Edinburgh Southern Harriers runner Alex Robertson (fourth in the picture above). Son of former ESH stalwart Hamish he was a considerably good runner in his own right with Scottish representative honours on the track and on the road, several top ten rankings and a good career as an endurance runner of quality. Read it here .

The SCCU Handbook was a mine of information with fixture lists, SCCU committee members, club secretaries, rules for competition and more which was an annual production that cost not very much. Pocket sized it was a good reference work at an affordable price. We have the 1980-81 version in its entirety on site now at this link We have also added the SAAA Handbook for 1979 and the professional SGA Handbook for 1969.

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