Author: The Author

The brooches awarded to all finishers in the IGAL Championships in 1980.

Designed by Carrick, Jewellers, Glasgow the one on the left was for the marathon, the other for the 10K

When  Walter Ross and his fellow enthusiasts started up the Veteran Harrier movement in Scotland in the early 1970’s, no one thought that a race such a this would be one of the results.    Held at Bellahouston, starting on Mosspark Boulevard and finishing inside the park, it attracted runners – Olympians, international stars and club runners of all standards – from all over the world.  There were 704 finishers in the 10K road race and 464 finishers in the marathon.  The Scottish Organising Committee did a wonderful job and it consisted of Bob Dalgleish (Chairman) , J Bissell (JP), Owen Flaherty, Tom Fletcher, Dale Greig, Ewan Murray, Norman Ross (Treasurer) and Walter Ross (Secretary).   There were events for both men and women and the results for both will go up.

The weekend’s activities started with a Friendship Jog from the Sports Centre, started by Dr Michael Kelly at 10:00 am and many of us who would be runners in the 10K, which was at 12:30, went round the course with our families, collecting our certificates at the finish.  The atmosphere was fantastic – there was more friendliness and sheer happiness than at any race I have been at before or since.   It was also a good flat course, impeccably marshalled and with the various water, sponge and time points all operating like clockwork. The 10K assembled at 12;30 and the race went off at 1:00 pm with a single lap.  By the end of the race the first thirty finishers were:

Some spot times:   50th – 35:35,   100th – 37:24,   150th – 39:11,   200th – 40:39,   300th – 43:33,   400th – 46:16,   500th – 49:59,     600th – 54:38,    last Scot – Joe Cascarina (M5) in 60:56, last finisher was Honji Takedze of Japan in category M9 in 1:24:02.

Among the familiar Scottish names crossing the finishing line were John Barrowman (Garscube – 35:0), Jim Sloss (Beith – 35:15), George Brown (ESH – 35:14), Henry Summerhill (Shettleston – 35:22), Ian Whyte (L & L – 35:22), Ian Leggett (Livingston – 35:39) and Bill Ramage (Springburn – 35:41) who were all on page one of the 13 pages of results.

The team (ie country results were not so good for the host nation with England winning six races and Switzerland and West Germany one each.  In the women’s races there were only teams in three categories,with England winning one and West Germany the other two.

The first Fifteen Women

 Pearl Meldrum was the highest placed Scot in either men’s or women’s races and was second in her age group

The running over, there was a delegates conference at 2:00 in the Palace of Art, Bellahouston and in the evening, a civic reception and presentation of awards for the 10K at 7:00 pm.

The Trails

On Sunday, 24th April it was the turn of the marathon runners who were required to run three laps of the 14K route with Timing stations at 10, 20, 30 and 40 kilometres, refreshment stations at 11, 16.21, 26, 30, 35, 40 kilometres and sponge stations at 14, 18, 23, 28, 33 and 38 kilometres.   Appropriately enough, in the last and hardest test of a wonderful weekend, the marathon was won by the wonderful Donald Macgregor of Scotland by a full 15 seconds from Robinson of New Zealand in 2:19:23.    The big names were out in this one – an autograph hunter’s paradise for anyone into athletics history.   Donald of course, Ron Hill, Gordon Pirie, Mick Molloy, Jim Alder, Eddie Kirkup and many, many more.   Scottish marathon champions on display included Alastair Wood, Gordon Eadie and Charlie McAlinden.   The top thirty here were as follows.

Some spot times:   50th – 2:41:17,   100th – 2:50:39,     150th – 2:57:04,     200th – 3:07:33,     300th – 3:27:03,    400th – 3:54:07,   the last Scot was James Stuart (M4) in 4:03:59, the last finisher was Jimmy Hempenstall (England – M2) in 5:17:53.    There were four finishers outside 5 hours and 50 between four and five hours.

Other Scots crossing the finishing line on the first page of the results were Gordon Eadie (M2 – 2:35:10), Jim Alder (M1 – 2:35:59),   John Brierly (M3 – 2:39:46), John Black (M2 – 2:42:11) and James Morrison (M1 – 2:43:16).

The team races by category were as in the table.

But the overall Championship results were as follows …

…. and the first fifteen women were

I could see no Scots women in the list of finishers and there were no women’s team results given in the official results booklet.

On the Sunday evening, There was the Farewell Dinner at Tiffany’s Ballroom, Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow City Centre which had the presentation of awards for the marathon, Dinner, Dance and Cabaret.    Well before the actual weekend of the championships, these functions were all sold out – and could have been sold out several times over!

The brooches were a master stroke: T shirts were commonplace, medals were usually fairly cheap and mementoes rather than ‘objects of desire’.   But the brooches, crafted by Carrick the Jeweller in close consultation with the organising committee were desirable in their own right.   Modelled, I think, on the clan badges sold all over Scotland, they had that symbol of eternal friendship in the middle (like a figure 8 on its side) with no end and no beginning.   For the marathon it was in red, for the 10K it was blue.   As a gift from Scotland to every vet finisher from all over the world, from USA to Japan and Australia, men and women, it was appreciated by all who took part.

These pictures from the 1989 Scottish Vets Championships at Balgownie Playing Fields  in Aberdeen were taken by Ben Bickerton, Simon Axon and Ewen Rennie.   They show Colin Youngson retaining his championship title from some very good runners.   I can see Charlie McDougall, Allan Adams, Bob Anderson and the winner Colin Youngson for a start.   Then you might be able to spot Archie Duncan, Willie Day, Peter Marshall and Graham Milne.  Aberdeen won the team race that day.   (In words at the bottom of the page.

Colin Youngson of Aberdeen AAC retained his title in the Scottish National Veteran Cross-Country Championship s at Balgownie, Aberdeen yesterday.   Youngson had little difficulty in covering the 10,000 metre trail to win in 31:36 over 120 yards in front of Charlie McDougall (Calderglen Harriers) who finished 22 seconds behind.  Peter Marshall (Haddington) took third place in 32:29.

Recently at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, I managed to struggle round what used to be called the Veterans’ Cross-Country National. 18 so-called races in a row for me – my very last ‘sequence’ – if I can make it to 21 (assuming I live to 60) then I can retire happy.  Only now the odd collection of male competitors – greying hounds, limping oddballs, slapheads, stout fellows and semi-cripples – are called ‘Masters’.

Most of the females – ‘Mistresses’? – predictably look a good deal better.  I doubt whether I was ever a master.  A fairly good English teacher, a fairly good runner but hardly a master anything.  The word suggests expertise and superiority, and is sadly ironic when related to the short-striding gasping slo-mo scuttling around which is the best nearly all old runners can manage nowadays.  George ‘Superman’ Sim of Moray Road Runners is a notable exception.  The rest don’t even get the respect due to elders and worsers.

Still, light-limbed George Sim can only have been racing for twenty years, tops. During every one of the last forty years I have raced at least one National championship – either Cross-country (Scottish Schoolboys, National or Vets) or the late lamented Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay.  Not to mention track and road, including the sixty or so marathons.  No wonder that the legs are too battered to train enough. Mel Edwards is about to clock up his official hundred thousandth mile; I must be close to that myself. Fraser Clyne probably ran a lot more and Don Ritchie twice as much but they’re struggling too.  It happens – get over it. Better to wear out than not to try. And think of the memories.

The focus of this article is meant to be Cross-Country. However I must mention the Road Relay.  For me the most important race of the year used to be the Scottish Marathon; and now it is the Masters Cross-Country.  But the most intense, dramatic, depressing or wonderful race was the E to G, which I was lucky to run thirty times. Sadly, police and officials have put an end to it.  Nevertheless the Six-Stager continues and there are other relays.   Every runner ought to take part in them, to relish the nervous responsibility, total commitment and relief involved in doing your best for your friends.   Tactics are simple: flat-out all the way; never give up; and don’t drop the baton.  Distance running is an individual sport but relay-racing fosters genuine team spirit.

Cross-Country, by contrast, can be tortuous and ridiculous – and unglamorous. Courses can be long, short, fast, slow, hilly, flat, muddy, dry, golf course or ploughed field.  Like the venues for ‘my’ Vets Nationals: Clydebank, Aberdeen (twice), Dumfries, Linlithgow, Troon (three times), St Andrews, Hawick (twice), Elgin, Edinburgh, Cumnock, Glasgow (twice), Forres and Cupar. Not many tourist magnets there. Even the Capital City venue was in the ‘run very fast!’ badlands of Craigmillar; and in Glasgow, Bellahouston Park is near Ibrox …..

My very first championship was the Scottish Schools, in 1965 at Dalziel High near Motherwell, probably on the notoriously marshy Cleland estate. This was a two-lap, mud-and-snotters affair. Steady jogging round the golf course and up the Broad Hill in Aberdeen was hardly specific preparation. As I passed a schoolmate just into the final circuit, he was singing ‘This Could Be The Last Time’ (a Rolling Stones hit at the time). I was happy to finish 19^th, improved to 9^th the next year (my old friend Innis Mitchell won) and went off to Aberdeen University to start training properly.

A famous venue was Hamilton Racecourse, where the National was held so often. I ran the Junior five miles there in 1967 and 1968. The course was heavy, flat and relentless – not made easier by thousands of hoofprints and steeplechase barriers held up by sharp iron stanchions and strands of barbed wire. No Health and Safety regulations then. However we enjoyed watching the Seniors running their event. In 1968 I remember Lachie Stewart battling with Alistair Blamire, who led Edinburgh University to a one-point team victory over a strong Aberdeen AAC team, including Mel Edwards, Bill Ewing, Peter Stewart (brother of Ian), ex-champion Alastair Wood, Steve Taylor and Joe Clare. These lads all finished in the top twenty.

My first Senior championship was in 1969 on Duddingston Golf Course near Edinburgh – Dick Wedlock’s first victory. I think I might have been 49^th. A great day out that year was when we drove down to see the International Cross-Country championships taking place over a very hilly course at Clydebank.  These featured real stars – Gaston Roelants, the Belgian Olympic Steeplechase Champion, Dick Taylor of England (a 200 miles per week man), European 5000m silver medallist Mike Tagg and the most talented and infuriating Scot of them all – Ian McCafferty, who outsprinted Tagg for bronze. Dave Bedford won the Junior race by a long way.

After university I moved to Glasgow and joined Victoria Park. I was running at least 70 miles a week and training much harder. Consequently I managed 19^th in the 1972 National at Currie –  McCafferty outkicking Jim Alder (over a section of ploughed field!) to win.  And so the years rolled by – I never managed better than 13^th, although I was quite often in the top twenty. But we ran on sunlit springy turf, floundered through downpours on horrendous mud and slipped and tumbled on snow and ice. Only Foot-and-Mouth has ever caused cancellation of races – and never the National, to my memory.  At least I was twice in a winning team – Edinburgh Southern Harriers – and, as captain, even collected the trophy at Irvine in 1980.

Who were the very best Scottish Cross-Country runners over that period? Apart from those already mentioned – Andy McKean, Allister Hutton, Jim Brown and expecially Nat Muir. Others had their days – for example John Robson, Tommy Murray and Fraser Clyne.  And Anglo-Scot Ian Stewart actually won the World Championships back in 1975.  Three years after that, the event came to Bellahouston Park – and I watched Irish mudlark John Treacy ( who later won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Marathon) somehow streaking away from a Russian over deep bog, to record his second successive victory.

In my last few years as Senior, I kept an eye on whether any of the runners in front in the National were the same age or older than me. I was glad to note that advancing age, injury, or perhaps a desire to behave in a more dignified adult way, led to retirement for most of my speedy contemporaries. Eventually I turned 40 and travelled down with Mel Edwards, Graham Milne and Roddie McFarquhar to take on an over-distance Danny Wilmoth course at Clydebank for the National Veterans Championship. That was the day it rained at the start, snowed during the second lap and we all ran the third lap wearing snow bunnets! I managed to win from Archie Duncan, with Graham third. Mel and Roddie were first and second M45 and Aberdeen A.A.C. won the team race. With shocking and uncharacteristic bad taste, Roddie commented on the way home that the last team to do that much damage at Clydebank had been the Luftwaffe.

Scottish Veteran Athletics is a little world apart and a lot of fun. I realise now that the speedy M40 ‘youngsters’ are admired but considered to be novices. They have yet to encounter the reality of knackered legs (constant niggles and regular injuries), shrinking lungs and the inability to sustain serious training.   Yet we all come to realise that we are very lucky to be jogging at all and retaining some fitness and that, if we get round the occasional race and see our old friends/rivals, then we ought to appreciate it greatly. The mid-stage vets, like myself, certainly enjoy the fact that we’re not quite finished yet and see the amazing oldsters as role models. When I first joined the Scottish Veteran Harriers I was fascinated to meet world record holders from M60 upwards – and some of them are still breaking records at M90! Emmet Farrell, Davie Morrison and Gordon Porteous are phenomenal – and I understand now how fast these age-related times are. As well as the three musketeers, we have had older runners like Tom O’Reilly, Andy Brown, Willie Marshall, John Linaker and the late Andy Forbes. Some of these were champions in their youth, others as veterans but strong personalities and redoubtable competitors to a man.

Who have been the best Scottish male veterans of my acquaintance? We have had World Champions or record holders like Bill Stoddart, Donald Macgregor and the late Alastair Wood. Certainly Bill won most Scottish championships; with Brian Kirkwood, the most successful of current competitors, still accumulating titles rapidly. Other notable names, as well as those above, include: Allan Adams (who seemed indestructible in his prime); Brian Emmerson and Ian Elliot (the Teviotdale fliers); Ed Stewart (the Cambuslang Czech); Fraser Clyne and Keith Varney (Metro Massif); Ian Stewart (from Carnegie – not Birchfield); Dougie Gemmell; Brian Gardner; Gerry Gaffney: and Archie Jenkins (my favourite ‘Bear’). George Meredith was last heard of winning a World Championship medal as an indoor rower; Tommy Murray – probably the fastest of them all – may be making a comeback; and Colin Donnelly (Downhill Racer) continues to amaze. As for ‘old guys’ who beat me all too often – Pete Cartwright, George Mitchell and the irrepressible Bobby ‘Forever’ Young. What a fine varied bunch of lads – and there are many more, not quite as ‘fast’. Apologies to aggrieved omissions!

A bonus for those who do well in their age-groups at the ‘Masters’ National is an invitation to run for Scotland in the annual five nations championship (Scotland versus England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire). Most people share the doubtful delights of a marathon bus-trip from Glasgow to hard-working Davie Fairweather’s judicious choice of hotel – usually remote from the race course. A major benefit is that you get to know vets from all over Scotland – including the ‘girls’. My experience of running has been male-dominated and, before becoming a vet, I had little chance to become acquainted with female runners – the races were at completely different places for a start. So it has been a real pleasure to chat to Scottish team-mates and to watch their International race, which takes place before ours. Particularly since I am outpaced by some women nowadays, I can appreciate their speed and determination. Over the years I have been impressed by athletes like Sandra Branney, Janette Stevenson, Trudi Thomson, Lynn Harding, Sonia Armitage and Sue Ridley. The post-race meal and presentation has been much livelier because of friendly banter between men and women of the five nations – I particularly remember selling my short story book about running to the Northern Irish girls (including my ex-clubmate Moira O’Boyle) who really love to party. As a keen member of CAMRAR (The Campaign for Real Ale for Runners) I have also had a lot of fun, after the race of course, seeking out the best pubs and beers to celebrate success or recover from defeat, with the likes of Archie, Bobby, Mick McGeoch of Wales, Jimmy Bell of England and any other thirsty runner. And next morning we all enjoy the hungover, sore-legs jog before the biggest breakfast in the world.

Easily the best performance of my seventeen years as a veteran runner was in 1992 when I was newly 45, in the Five Nations Veterans International Cross-Country in Belfast. Managing to peak perfectly, I won the age-group by no less than 59 seconds, leaving the current British M45 champ and the World M45 champ well behind. The Scots won the team race too. Perhaps on that day only, I really could consider myself a ‘Master’.

By Colin Youngson

Metro Aberdeen AC and SVHC

1988

The Scottish Veteran Harriers Club (and in particular the irrepressible Danny Wilmoth) organised the Alloa to Bishopbriggs in late March between 1984 and 1991. The route changed in 1992 to Alloa to Twechar. In 1993 the event was taken onto traffic-free roads at Torrance. Eventually the SVHC relay became a six-stage affair which is now held in Strathclyde Park.

However the original Alloa to Bishopbriggs (or to Twechar) was undoubtedly considered better than the comparatively tame six-stager. A to B was the Vet equivalent of the legendary Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay (which also featured 8-man teams). The E to G invited around 20 teams; but the A to B allowed free entry and could cater for up to 50! So many runners on narrower roads with closer traffic whizzing past! To participate in the Alloa to Bishopbriggs 8-Stage Road Relay was a real adventure: dramatic, scary, and (at the front) extremely competitive, yet probably more fun than the E to G, since there was less pressure to succeed. A wide age-range produced widely-varying speed and fitness. But what an experience for all!

N.B. A minor miracle: absolutely no injuries were caused by motor vehicles!

FIRST THREE CLUBS TO FINISH

* Twechar

As can be seen the results above, big clubs from the West of Scotland dominated until a few from the East (or indeed North-East) began to make an impact. However once the race shifted to Torrance on closed roads, and then became only Six-Stage, Cambuslang regained superiority (although Metro Aberdeen R.C. came second a couple of times).

I only have four results sheets. In 1988, the fastest stage times were set by: Ken (Archie) Duncan (Pitreavie; Jack Adair (Bellahouston); Brian Carty (Shettleston); Andy Stirling ((Falkirk); Eddie McIvor (Cambuslang); Willie Daly (Falkirk); Andy Hughes (Cambuslang); and A. Nixon (Gosforth Harriers).

In 1989, the quickest men were:  Brian Carty (Shettleston); Stuart Asher (Fife); Tony Ross (Fife); Ian Seggie (Livingston); Peter Marshall (Haddington); Ian Briggs (Livingston); Ian Leggett (Livingston); and Ian Stark (Springburn).

The 1990 information sheet sets out the route from Alloa to Bishopbriggs.

THE ROUTE: A907 out of Alloa, turn right onto A977, turn right on A88 across Kincardine Bridge, turn right onto A905, via Airth, Dunmore, turn left (South) on A91 Coupar-Stirling By-Pass, continue on the A872, turn right on the A803, via Kilsyth, Kirkintilloch, crossing to the West side of the road to the last changeover at Industrial Estate, Kirkintilloch, continue on the West side of the A803 and turn onto the Forth & Clyde Canal footway at the “Stables Inn” (next to the Glasgow Bridge), thence along the footway to the finish.

Follow that  (and signpost the junctions) if you can!

The Alloa to Twechar route was as follows.

The programme for this 1992 race added: “All runners must obey instructions regarding running on the correct side of road – otherwise their team will be disqualified.” But were you meant to run on the right, facing oncoming traffic, or on the left, in the direction that traffic was moving? Or did it vary? My own memory is of daring manoeuvres made in the heat of competitive zeal and flat-out effort. Maybe drivers simply avoided such obvious lunatics!

Young Danny Wilmoth with his favourite timekeeper

ABERDEEN AAC MEMORIES

 In 1990 we sent down a decent squad, but perhaps not all of the first team. (After all, AAAC had won team gold medals in the Scottish Veterans Cross-Country Championships three years in succession – 1988-90.)

 At the end of Stage One, Graham Milne came in third; Jim Morrison, Francis Duguid, Ben Preece and Davie Grubb maintained our position; with the fastest time on the stage, I moved up to second; and then Ken Hogg and Rod McFarquhar finished a highly respectable third, less than a minute off victory.

Fife led from start to finish and had fastest times on Stages One (Don Macgregor), Two (Stuart Asher) and Three (Tom Graham). Ian Seggie of Livingston AAC was quickest on Four; S. Balfour, also of Livingston on Five; probably myself on Six (although the result sheet went wrong there); Ian Burke of Bellahouston Harriers on Seven; and Roddy McFarquhar on Eight. The inimitable Bill McBrinn (in his SVHC ‘McBrinnlets’ column) commented on Fife having “an air of invincibility” and on “the effort Roddy McFarquhar made along the canal to catch Robert Anderson on the last leg, but to no avail.” According to Bill, I vowed “We shall return.”

 My diary notes: “Next year we’ll bring the FIRST team! Apart from running, I drove three different cars! The whole relay was flat-out into a headwind and definitely hilly. Good enough performance but hard. Enjoyed last leg spectator jog, the Stables Bar and peanuts. A decent trip. On the way back we passed the sign for Gleneagles and I promised that if we won the relay next year, I would stand everyone a drink at the posh 5 star hotel.”

 After the 1991 A-B, I wrote the following race report – and ‘poem’ for the club magazine!

“Aberdeen Veterans had a golden day at this event. The First Team broke the course record by 16 minutes 1 second, beating Fife (last year’s winners) by more than five minutes. Our Second Team also broke the old record and finished seventh of the 42 teams entered. Every Aberdeen runner went well. Perhaps a particular hero was Bill Adams, who not only gave us an excellent start but also endured a tortuous and lengthy itinerary to get from Shetland to the race and home again in 36 hours. George Sim was speedy and stylish in breaking Fife hearts and also the Stage Six record (by 54 seconds). And Francis Duguid was the star on the same stage for the Second Team. A day to remember!

 (First Team was: Bill Adams, Colin Youngson, Charlie Noble, Eddie Butler, Dave Armitage, George Sim, Mel Edwards and Rod McFarquhar.

Second Team was: Ian Fraser, Ken Hogg, Bill Scullion, Ewen Rennie, Davie Grubb, Francis Duguid, George Swanson and Jim Morrison.) 

THE BALLAD OF BISHOPBRIGGS 

‘Twas 6 a.m. on Sunday morn

when Aberdeen set out

with sixteen eager veterans

all keen to run no doubt

from Alloa to Bishopbriggs

an eight-man relay race –

an early start and long-round trip

was what we had to face.

Yet all arrived and on Stage One

Macgregor starred for Fife

while Aberdeen’s Bill Adams clung

to third for his dear life.

Our Postie Bill’s a Viking brave –

real tough if middling old –

he runs his round on winged feet

and wins medals of gold!

Then Captain Colin took the lead

but couldn’t get away

from Stuart Asher – left the rest

behind at least, they say.

When Noble, Charlie tried to stick

with flying Graham, Tom –

he ran so fast, that Charlie moaned,

“That guy went like a bomb!”

Now relay four is mountainous,

just right for Hillman Ed

who overtook the Fifer and

once more our heroes led!

“We’re pretty sure that Eddie B

was fastest,” Dons’ fans yelp –

“He must have raced much faster

than a chap called Smith from H.E.L.P.!”

Next gritty Dave, the orienteer,

took over on fifth stage –

he sprinted hard up all the hills –

Fife thought him underage.

George Sim ignored his hangover –

gave Fife the coup de grace –

he chopped the Stage Six record.

Macgregor gasped, “He’s class!”

With total dedication the

enthusiastic Mel

picked up th’invisible baton and

then belted off like, well …..

He handed on to Roddy who,

with supercool control,

just eased his way to victory

And we achieved our goal.

The relay record was destroyed –

no wonder that we smile –

without exaggeration we

had won it by a mile!

First Team were Scottish Champions!

Team B were 7^th and

Ian, Ken, Bill, Ewen, Davie, Francis, George and Jim all joined

The record-smashing band.

The Captain of the Second Team

Was dauntless Davie Grubb

Who led the celebrations in

Gleneagles Hotel ‘pub’! 

[I remember that, after the race, when our cars drew up outside Gleneagles, we were all suddenly aware that our garb could hardly be described as formal evening dress. The other fifteen, many of them my senior, pushed me (as captain) to the front, to ask the ‘superior’ doorman if we would be allowed to buy some alcoholic refreshment. He indicated politely that the so-called ‘American Bar’ would be the only appropriate venue for customers such as ourselves, said they did not serve draught ale (too common?), but permitted us to purchase sixteen bottles of the most expensive beer we had ever bought. (Mel split the round with me; then others bought a second one. So much for Aberdonian meanness.) This venture added class and amusement to a great day.] 

In 1992, the Alloa to Twechar was also an exciting contest between Fife and Aberdeen. The former held a narrow lead on Aberdeen for the first five legs. Then, on Stage Six, George Sim did it again, I extended the lead on the next leg and Francie Duguid brought us home 5.04 clear of Fife. There were two sets of the results. The second (correct?) version noted fastest stage times from: Charlie MacDougall (Calderglen), Cameron Spence (Spango), Tom Graham (Fife) and Graham Milne (equal), Tony Martin (Fife), Ian Burke (Bellahouston), Jim Dingwall (Falkirk), probably the best run of the day), me (only 13 seconds better than Falkirk’s Dougie McKenzie) and Bobby Young (Clydesdale). 

Our First Team was: Bill Adams, Eddie Butler, Graham Milne, Charlie Noble, Ben Preece, George Sim, Colin Youngson and Francis Duguid. The Second Team achieved a most meritorious sixth from 47 teams. They were: Chris Simpson, Ken Hogg, Davie Grubb, Ally McDonald, Kerr Walker, Ewen Rennie, John Ballantine and Mel Edwards. We reckoned that, if we had shifted a first team runner to the second team and vice versa, we might have finished first and second – but such brinkmanship had to be resisted, since it might also have left us second and third.  

A peak performance, one of the last for AAAC veterans and we celebrated this time in Twechar’s own Quarry Inn, which dispensed Maclay’s marvellous 60 and 70 shilling real ales. (Sadly, both pub and brewery are no more.) 

(The photo below shows a tired man, who went too fast for the first twenty minutes, bashing away as hard as he can on Stage Seven in 1992.)”

Brian Campbell, Bobby Young and Pete Cartwright in 2005

Clydesdale Harriers has had many very successful teams in the years since 1885 – the founding fathers won many championships and gold medals between them but the club had up to 1000 members to do it with, the post war teams with George White, Cyril O’Boyle, Pat Younger and company were the last to win medals at National level over the country, the Ian Donald, Allan Faulds, Phil Dolan and Doug Gemmell generation won a lot as well and the middle distance men of the 1990’s were quite outstanding with three of them winning GB vests.  However possibly the most successful men’s team the club has ever had in terms of winning British titles is the group known as the Three Amigos who went everywhere as a team in the M60 Age Grouping and won just about every British Team Championship they entered, whether on the road or over the country, whether 5000 metres or 10000 metres, whether straight race or relay race between 2002 and 2008.   In that period they won thirteen titles and medalled in four others – quite remarkable!    Each was a very good athlete in his own right but if ever there was evidence of the total being greater than the sum of the parts, this was it.  Before detailing their main triumphs, I’ll have a word about each of the runners separately and I’ll just do it in alphabetical order.

Brian Campbell 

Brian started out as a schools football player after attending a school in Lanarkshire where the heroes were Billy McNeill and Bobby Murdoch.  By fifth year he was captain of the school first eleven and as was usual played for the school on the Saturday morning and for an amateur team in the afternoon, thereafter repairing to the pub or the dancing for a couple of pints.   He had what he calls the ‘dubious pleasure’ of playing against Jimmy Johnstone when he played outside right for St Columba’s Boys Guild and Brian was left back for St John’s!

Athletics became a career purely by chance.   At the age of thirty six he had to give up weekly five a side football ‘due to several injuries – broken ankle, dislocated shoulder, broken fingers, fed up wife…’    By the age of forty he had gone up to 11.5 stones in weight and at New Year 1984 his resolution was to get back some fitness.   By January he had started easy runs with some other ‘potential geriatrics’.   By April he was running in the Galloway Marathon in 3:26:00 and then three weeks later he ran the Motherwell Marathon in 3:22:00.   In his first year he ran four marathons in all – not to be recommended he says!   In 1985 he joined his local club Hamilton Harriers and as his children grew he introduced them to athletics taking three of them to the club twice a week and to League Meetings at the weekend.   In 1986 he went to Inverclyde on a coaching course where he shared a room with one of his heroes, Commonwealth 10000 metres champion Lachie Stewart, and did some coaching at the club.   !987/88 saw him try some triathlons with a bit of success winning the vets prize at East Kilbride and Cumbernauld.   The training demands of three distinct schedules  were ultimately too much physically and time-wise and so he went back to road running where he picked up various age group prizes at a variety of distances and venues.

His best performances as a veteran were:

Marathon:   2:49:55

Half Marathon:   74:52

10 Miles:   54:25

10K:   33:50

Brian had known Bobby Young and Pete Cartwright through road and cross country racing plus as members of the SVHC.   It was actually at one of the Vets Races in 2003 that he got talking with Pete and the upshot was that he joined Clydesdale Harriers as there were no other over 60’s at his club to make up a team.   Like the others Brian had many individual and team successes over the period in question – for example in 2006 he won both 1500 metres and 3000 metres at the Vets Indoor Championships in Kelvin Hall – but I won’t list them here because in this section we are dealing almost solely on the British dimension of their work.

The team success thereafter is well documented and their raids south of the Border were so successful that they became known by the English as ‘The Border Raiders’.   I believe that one of the main ingredients of the success of the trio is that they are indeed The Three Amigos who delight in each other’s company.  Indeed at the start of this year (2009) they spent six weeks together in Australia and New Zealand: you don’t do that and not fall out if there is not something special in the relationship. 

Peter Cartwright 

Starting off in Manchester where he played professional football, he enjoyed training and never ever found motivation a problem.   He moved to Scotland to work with the G.P.O. at Stirling University as the resident engineer.   There was a group running at lunchtimes and he joined in with them – it was only about three or four miles of easy keep fit running and a chat at the same time.   It wasn’t long before the former pro footballer was roped in to the lunchtime 5-a-side football league.   By the time he was 38 years old, he met Derek Easton, brother of Stuart and a very good runner in his own right who went on to become a highly rated coach.   Derek told him that he would be eligible to run as a Veteran when he was 40 and explained the scheme to him.   He got a training schedule from Derek that had him wishing he had never met him, joined Falkirk Victoria AC and within months was covering 70/100 miles per week in training with three track sessions thrown in.   As he says, “it that’s what it took, that’s what I did!”   He did dinner time sessions and ran home in the evening from Stirling to the village of Thornhill where he lived which was 12 miles away.   He was training hard and wishing his life away – he couldn’t wait to get to 40!   His first ever race was a Vets Cross Country Race at Torrance where he was first and he says “running took over my life.”

He was very successful – two years later he won a round of the British Adidas Half Marathon series at Wilmslow in Cheshire followed by what he calls “a streak of title winning.”    At 1500 he won the SVHC, the British Telecom National Championship and the British Civil Service Championships plus a bronze medal in the Vets Commonwealth Games in Grangemouth.   1994 was probably his most successful year taking gold in the WAVA Games in Canada, running for Great Britain and wins in America over 5 miles and 10 miles.   His first individual title on home ground was when he took the 1500 and 3000 metres in the same day at Kelvin Hall.    He then won the 5K Road Championship and was very pleasantly surprised when his club (Falkirk Victoria) presented him with their Athlete of the Year Award.   Like everybody at the time he continued to race all over Scotland and he won his share of races but the standard of Masters Athletics was so high that hard fought races did not always end in success.   The highest honour of his career was when he won the Athlete of the Year Award for Central Scotland in 1999.

He raced and trained until he was 55 before he switched to Mountain Bike Racing.   Having raced motor bikes as a sidecar passenger in the Isle of Man TT and World Championships for 15 years and gone into SuperKart racing, the thrills of using his fitness for the thrills of mountain bike racing was a big attraction.   In his first two years he won the Scottish Masters Series title and became totally hooked on the speed, jumps, single track and adrenalin rush of downhill speed.   Like all bikers however he had a big accident which damaged several discs in his back and he had to spend six months having treatment.   He made his return with the intention of taking on the British Championships against the very best riders from the four home countries.   He made it to second in the series and then in the Welsh Series he attempted an eight foot drop off and things went wrong: he ended up with a suspected broken neck!   On X Ray he was told that he was lucky that he had only damaged the discs in his neck but that was enough for the doctor to tell him that any more disasters like that and there would be no more sport for Peter!   So it was back to running.

That’s when he joined Clydesdale Harriers, teamed up with Bobby Young and subsequently Brian Campbell with the avowed aim of trying to bring some British titles in the M60 age group back to Scotland.   They trained hard – individually and as a group – travelled a lot and had a great time winning titles and just being together.    The running led to the thirteen titles, the friendship led to a six week holiday in Australia and New Zealand in 2009.

 Bobby Young 

 Bobby leading the M60’s in Scottish colours. 

Bobby took up running for the first time in December 1979 when he was thirty six with some friends and work colleagues.   A five mile run at 9:00 am in Pollock Park on Saturdays turned into a twice yearly handicap race and Dinner.   He had a go at several races including the Springburn Cup, Round Cumbrae and the Glasgow University Race over the next two years before there was a group decision to run in the second London Marathon and the first Glasgow Marathon – both in 1982.   These resulted in times of 3:03 and 2:46 after which training became more regular.

He got up to 60/70 miles a week with a couple of speed sessions and the regular long Sunday run became standard practice.  Bobby joined Clydesdale Harriers and ran a couple of dozen marathons and recorded 2:37:18 in Glasgow in 1986.   His lifetime best for the marathon came at Lochaber in 1990 when at the age of 46 he ran 2:36:15.   He regularly ran 10K’s in 33 minutes, 5K’s in 16 minutes, 10 miles in 54 minutes and half marathons in 72 minutes testified to the quality of his running at this point.

In 1988 he took part in the first ever British Veterans International at Wrexham where he won the bronze at M45 – Pete Cartwright had also been invited.   Bobby then ran in the British Vets International for 18 consecutive years until 2005 when he won gold in the M60 category.

On the World Veterans stage, he competed in 1999 at Gateshead in the World Vets Track and Field Championships winning team gold in Cross Country and Marathon in which he also won the individual bronze.   Then in 2001 he went off to Brisbane in 2001 for the World Veterans Track and Field Championship winning team gold in cross country, team bronze in the marathon and individual bronze in the 10000 metres

And that is one of Bobby’s biggest virtues as an athlete – he is very competitive and goes looking for good competition.   The table below shows his record in Scottish Championships is summarised in the first 10 rows and successes further afield follow.

Bobby ran in 19 Cross Country International races

And you can add in 4 SAF Gold Medals and 4 SAF Silver medals that are unlabelled in any way!    As for open races, forget it, the calculator can only go so high.    He has been known to do three events in a weekend.    The other amigos have similar records but I think Bobby’s is unique in the sheer number of victories in County, Scottish, British and World Vets Championships.

These then are the individuals who made up the team that brought so much kudos to Scotland – and to Clydesdale Harriers.   Now for the Championships and the stories behind them.

The Amigos

Pictures after the British Cross Country Relay Championships in 2007

None of them had had a significant running career before becoming vets but all had been medal winners, all had been highly ranked and all had run for Scotland after the age of 40.   13 victories in 17 races at British level is quite a record.    The first year as a unit was in 2004 and there was success right from the beginning.   The success did not come easily.    There might be some notion that because we are talking about the M60 grouping wins were easy to come by but that was most certainly not the case.   As in all running, there is always some one or some team that makes life difficult.   For our team the main opposition was always Bingley Harriers and in 2007 there was stern opposition from Oxford and then from Elswick.

In 2004 they came second in the BMAF Cross Country at Durham Results here are decided by adding the times of the three top runners from each club.  Bingley was first with 2:17:36 to Clydesdale’s 2:18:58 – Bobby who had been leading all the way was tangled up among some back markers and misjudged the entry to the finishing straight which allowed Martin Ford of Cheltenham to gain a slight lead which he held to the finish.    The team was also third in the BMAF Road Relays at Sutton Park.   The trail there seems to suit the Amigos: it starts with an uphill 800 metres, followed by a flat and fast mid section before a long downhill swoop and ending with a punishing, sustained uphill half mile to the finish. This first run was more medals for the team and a personal triumph for Bobby.   Pete ran a good first leg after only one week’s training following a long lay off due to injury and finished sixth of the 69 starters in 18:38.   Brian who was going well early on tore a muscle running the second stage nevertheless pulled up to fifth in 19:36 before Bobby set off 23 seconds behind the third placed Thames Hares and Hounds runner and eventually caught him on the hard uphill finish to clinch third place by five seconds pulling in a whole two minutes on the leading two runners with the fastest run of the day with his time of 16:58.    Team bronze and individual gold were a fair reward for the journey.   Bobby’s time is still the only time under 17 minutes for the stage ever recorded.    Brian’s calf injury was so severe that it prevented the Amigos competing again as a unit in 2004.

If that was impressive, the following year, 2005, turned out to be their best of all with an astonishing six wins in six championships.   They won the BMAF Cross Country Relays at Norwich from Bingley running in their favoured sequence of Pete, Brian and Bobby on the final stage.    Pete returned a time of 16:49, Brian 17:28 and then Bobby ran the second fastest time of the day of 16:23.   Gold for the team, silver for Bobby who was only beaten by Les Haynes.    At the Cross Country Championship in Bangor, Ireland in March over 90 seconds clear of rivals Bingley Harriers.   Bobby in fourth place was clocked at 40:35, Brian at 42:06 was fifth and Pete sixth in 42:10.    The National Championships had been held only six days earlier over a testing course in Bellahouston Park and the closeness of the two races meant that Bobby was possibly denied the chance of a British medal.   At Sutton  Park, they kept the running order established the year before with Pete starting off for the team and being third at the end of a competitive first stage in 17:36 ahead of the two main challengers Bingley Harriers and Aldershot, Farnham & District.    Brian put the team into a narrow lead with 17:50 and Bobby opening up the gap to one of 36 seconds in a fine time of 17:09.   The team time of 52:35 is still (in 2009) a course record.   Bobby added individual gold to team gold once again.

.  Later in June at Horwich in the 5K Championship, Bobby was unlucky not to win this one just losing out in a three man tussle up the long finishing hill to be third over 60 in 17:59, Pete fifth in 18:29 and Brian three places back in 18:48.   The victory was by 12 points from Bingley.   Came September and it was the Road 10K in Glasgow where Bobby again led the team home with 37:51 in bronze medal position followed by Brian in 38:49 and Pete in 39:04.    At Bishop Stortford in November for the 10 miles championship the team further enhanced their already considerable reputation over a trail that was mainly off road and went through farmyards, grassy fields and one stretch of about two miles over broken concrete.   The finishing order had Bobby in third place after seriously straining a calf muscle on the concrete with 63:32, Brian fifth in 65:55 and Pete sixth in 67:71.

There were only (!) four victories for the amigos in 2006.   In March the Championships were held in Bournemouth where Bobby was finished in 30:23, Brian in 31:20 and Pete in 32:05.   Pete led the team off again at Sutton Park against 39 other club teams and came home neck and neck with Bingley Harriers in 18:41, Brian dropped three seconds to Bingley with a time of 18:13.   Bobby had a real ding dong battle with the Bingley top runner and took the club into the lead on the last stage with 17:33 for the narrowest of victories – only two seconds ahead of Bingley.   This gave him second fastest time of the day with the fastest being recorded by a man without a team: the single Hallamshire runner turned in a creditable 17:17.    However it was another team title.    If it was June it had to be Horwich and Bobby was fourth in 18:10, Brian eighth in 19:17 and Pete ninth in 19:18.   The 10K Road Race in September was held at Swansea and the team was first in 2 hours 04 minutes and 51 seconds made up of Brian’s 39:45, Bobby who was carrying an injury this time ran 42:22 and Pete came home in 42:44.

In 2007 they were first at Horwich with 56:31 to Bingley’s 7:32. Bobby ran 18:41, Pete 18:53 and Brian 18:57 with Bobby picking up bronze for third fastest time of the day.  They were first again in the Cross Country Relays at Bathgate where they led from start to finish with Pete clocking 14:57 and handed over a 19 seconds lead, Brian 15:27 to maintain the lead but the chasing bunch pulled in to within 3 seconds but Bobby 14:38 for the fastest time of the day and a 30 second win.   Individually Bobby won gold and Pete won bronze.  And finally for 2007 they were also second at Sutton Park.   Pete ran first and was placed fifth in 18:57, Brian picked up to fourth with 18:16 and Bobby ran an excellent 17:54 on the last stage to be second team and have third fastest leg.

Then in 2008 when they were at the very top of the M60 age group with lots of new opposition in the form of young men of 60 and 61 challenging and snapping at their heels they had their last success at Horwich.   Pete was quickest this time with 18:47 to Brian’s 19:05 and Bobby’s 19:19.   Pete was not only fastest club runner but took gold for the best M65 time of the day. The margin of victory over Bingley this time was 52 seconds.    Pete had just turned 65 and it seemed to spark a fine vein of form.   His 18:09 on the first stage of the Road Relays at Sutton Park a couple of weeks earlier was the team’s fastest, Brian was timed at 18:14 and Bobby at 18:13.    They followed up with fourth in the Cross Country at Banbury where Pete (now in the M65 class) was again top man in 36:12 and silver medallist, Bobby was three seconds adrift and Brian ran 38:02.

For almost all of their time in the M60 age group they had been unbeatable as a team and had all at one time or another picked up individual medals of one colour or another.    It was a superb record of success.  It might not yet be over – see Pete’s brilliant M65 form – but for now in 2009,  there are two of my favourite quotes that I will put in here:

“You can’t say you want to be a ski-er and never leave Maryhill: you have to go where the snow is.”

 And

“You guys will go 200 miles to get out of a good race: I’ll go 200 miles to get into a good race!” (Ian Stewart talking to some Scottish cross country runners of the 1970’s).

The amigos exemplified both of these: they did go where the ‘snow’ (ie the competition) was.   They went to all the major championships.   The club helped out financially at some points but they had always put their own money where their mouth was and always paid for the travel and entries up front.   As for the Ian Stewart line, well they often went further than 200 miles to get into a good race.   If runners like everybody else need a challenge to succeed, then they met the challenge and how they succeeded!    The record is shown below.

 A Closer Look At Bobby’s Scottish Cross Country Championship Record

 * indicates race missed through injury or illness   That only takes us up to 2008: it’s now 2921.   Has he called it a day after a long and successful career?   Don’t you believe it – the successes just keep on coming!   Just look.

2009.  Irvine. —          65

2010   Forres.  Gold.   66 

2011   Kirkaldy.  Bronze. 67

2012   Kilmarnock. 14th.  68

2013.   Forres.  —–          69

2014.   Hawick.    ——       70

2015    Kilmarnock. Gold.  71

2016.  Forres    Silver.  72

2017.  Dundee. Gold.    73

2018.  Kilmarnock  5th.  74

2019.   Hawick. Gold.    75

2020.  Johnstone.  Gold. 76

Total 21  Medals:   8 Gold     4 Silver   9  Bronze 

Below: The team finishing first by 2 seconds in the relays at Sutton in 2006

Down Under 2009 

It’s not for nothing that the trio is known as ‘The Three Amigos’.   They spend a lot of time in each other’s company and this was exemplified in spades when they went off on holiday together at the start of 2009 – no wives, no family, just the three of them.  No big deal, you might think, but when you say …’.to Australia and New Zealand for six weeks!’   it is a bit different.    The families didn’t mind, they had relatives in both countries so off they went.     Bobby tells the story.

Flew out of Glasgow with Emirates on 16^th January 2009 via Dubai and Bangkok and arrived Sydney 18^th. The films, the food and the complimentary drinks made the 22 hours flight pass quickly. .Stayed four nights at Travelodge Wynyard near Sydney Harbour. Weather was very hot. Next day we took the Sightseeing bus tour of Sydney and Bondi Beach area. A sail on ferry to Manly beach was a great day out. Next day we tackled the Sydney Harbour Bridgeclimb on a spectacularly sunny day, towering 440ft, twice the height of the Opera house.  A visit to the world-famous Bondi beach for a beer and a paddle was a must although Manly beach is a better beach for non-surfers. A visit to the Wildlife Sanctuary and Aquarium at Darling Harbour was followed by a trip up the Sydney Tower for spectacular views of Sydney. Some great beer and steaks were also regularly visited. Lattes and muffins were also regularly sampled

On 22^nd January we flew to Auckland, picked up car and drove south to visit my sister Betty Flynn and brother-in-law Bobby in Taupo where we spent a week. Lake Taupo is a vast flooded caldera of a volcano in the centre of the North Island. A day out climbing Ruapehe, where a volcanic eruption in 1995 interrupted ski-ing , which is a side vent of Ngarahoe which was Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings. Most of New Zealand was in Lord of the Rings. Another day was spent visiting the thermal area of Rotorua and the Maori Hangi (welcome and dance) We also visited Pete’s niece in Nelson on the East coast. Jet boating, white-water rafting and Pete’s bungy jump were also highlights.

We travelled down to Wellington, the Capital of New Zealand, a beautiful city set on the hills overlooking the harbour. We stayed two nights fitting in sightseeing, the Botanic Gardens and Te Papa Natural History Museum and a sail in a friend’s boat followed by a barbeque and cold beer.

Then it was off early on the Interislander Ferry to Picton on the South Island. This is a fantastic sail across the Cook Strait and down the beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton. A four-hour drive via Kaikoura took us to Christchurch for a two-night stopover. Christchurch is a very English town, almost like Oxford or Stratford-on Avon, You can go for a punt on their river Avon too. Dunedin is the Scottish town, even got a statue of Rabbie Burns in the Town Square.

Then it was off to Omerama in the central South Island for two nights. Next day we were up early to get to Twizel for the helibiking which Pete fancied. They take you and the bikes up a mountain on a helicopter and you cycle down the mountain then twenty miles back to Twizel enjoying Lord of the Rings scenery and commentary. Unless of course you brake suddenly, go over the handlebars, land flat on your back and take a chunk of flesh off your leg which tends to take your mind off both the stunning scenery and the fascinating commentary. A country doctor putting four stitches in your leg does not improve your running either. Next day we drove south to Queenstown, possibly the most beautiful place in New Zealand, described as the Adventure Capital of New Zealand. The world’s original bungy jump site off a bridge, jet-boating, paragliding, ski-ing , horse riding

On next day further south to Te Anau where we had booked a trip to sail on Milford Sound. The bus driver provides an excellent commentary on the geology and history of the area including the construction of the mile-long Homer tunnel through the impassable mountain range to access the fiord area of the southwest corner of New Zealand. The tunnel was built during the depression to occupy the labour force. A sail up the Sound began with an elaborate buffet and continued with frequent pauses to hear explanations of the formations of the rocks and vegetation and the seal colonies was fascinating. The Milford sound is the second wettest place on earth, raining two out of three days of the year (no!, Glasgow’s not  the wettest). Actually it did not rain that day but it had the dark, brooding, overcast look that you often get in Glencoe. Mitre Peak rising majestically out of the waters of the fiord was spectacular, the most recognisable sight in New Zealand holiday brochures. A visit to the underwater observatory sunk into the waters of the fiord allows a fascinating view of the life in the fiord.

After Te Anau we returned to Queenstown for a three night stay. A trip up Ben Lomond on the gondola to appreciate  the stunning view out over Lake Wakatipu with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables in the background and the steamship MVS Earnshaw  making it’s way down the lake. In the foreground was Deer Park Heights animal sanctuary which we  visited previously. This hill is famous for the Lord of the Ring scenes of the attack by Orcs on way to Helms Deep when Aragon is dragged over the cliff (actually four foot high). An visit to nearby Arrowtown , which is a preserved mining town, a drive down to Glenorchy Forest, where Sean Bean is killed at end of first Rings film and Pete went horse-riding. Before leaving Queenstown Brian went back up the gondola on Ben Lomond and ran off the edge of the mountain- attached to a guy with a parachute- and spent 20 minutes floating over the mountain and lake. Awesome!

Next day we left the car at Queenstown airport and flew back to Auckland City in the north of the North Island for a three night stop. Galbraith’s pub and microbrewery next to the hotel proved an irresistible attraction for Brian and Bobby. Auckland is a huge sprawling nearby city which is home to 1.2 million of New Zealand’s 4 million population. Imagine the UK with only 4 million people. Although huge all of Auckland’s citizens live within half hour of the sea, mountain trails and dozens of islands. The Auckland Tower (Sydney Tower is 250m) which is 328m or 1076feet high offers a panoramic view of Auckland . A visit to Kelly Tarlton’s  Antarctic Encounter and Underwater world to see the penguin colonies, the sharks and rays in the world’s first underwater tunnels is a must-do experience. Here we also met up again with my sister Betty Flynn, her husband Bob and their daughter Amanda and her husband JP’s family.

A three hour flight from Auckland saw us arrive in Brisbane, Queensland, the Sunshine State on the East coast 900miles north of Sydney. Brisbane is a very beautiful city on the banks of the Brisbane River, home to 2 million Australians and third biggest City after Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane is situated on both sides of the Brisbane river. North is the Central Business District and south is the Cultural, Museums and Art Area with man-made beach. The City Cat fast catamarans provide cheap, fast, easy transport up and down the river, We arranged to visit my two nieces in the suburbs on the same evening as the old firm game. Brian decided to stay in Brisbane in a bar full of Brisbane Celtic Supporters Club members and bond a little. Pete and I kept the appointment but I made it back for kick-off. The result a cagey 1-1 draw but much excitement and beer.. We then set off on a trip to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo on the way north up the Sunshine Coast to Noosa where we had booked a day trip to Fraser Island. Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island at 123km long and 22 kilometres wide and 240m high. Here pure sand supports vast rain forests and there are no roads. We were picked up at our motel in a 4×4 about 6.30am and headed north up 40-mile beach to make the short ferry crossing onto Fraser Island. A drive up the beach, just beating the incoming tide,  then  inland through the rain forest on bumpy sandy tracks took us to the large, crystal clear Lake McKenzie where we were promised a swim and a barbeque. TV addicts will remember Billy Connelly swimming here in the buff . Unfortunately, although summer, it was raining rather heavily but Brian joined some other hardy souls in a swim before lunch.

So next day we drove back to Brisbane for a night then next day drove south to the Gold Coast. High-rise apartments signalled our arrival at Surfers Paradise, with it’s theme parks and nightclubs that attract the young and beautiful, no place for Three Amigos? Unlike the Sunshine Coast and Noosa which is a sleepy place for retired geriatrics. We preferred the Gold Coast, facing the Pacific breakers head on until a tropical storm dropped six inches of rain on our heads in five minutes Having decided to buy five Koala cuddly toys complete with Aussie attire for children/grandchildren of course, Brian with superb bartering skill saved us nearly a dollar.

Two nights in Singapore and two nights in Dubai completed a memorable trip.

Sonia has been a very classy athlete for many years, having run for Scotland as a senior: in the World Cross-Country Championships; five times in the World Hill Running Trophy; and three times in the European Hill Running Trophy. In 1996, Sonia won the Scottish Hill Running title. She has been a World Masters Champion in Mountain Running and both Outdoor and Indoor track. In Scotland she has won the Masters Cross Country title in 1996 (W35), 2001 and 2003 (W40), as well as Team gold with AAAC in 1996. She has helped Scottish Masters to secure several team medals in the annual 5 Nations CC International. Naturally she has won umpteen Scottish Masters titles on the track, indoors and outdoors. She is a speedy, elegant runner who has overcome several injuries, competes brilliantly, thoroughly deserves every success but is always modest and friendly.

NAME: Sonia Armitage

DATE OF BIRTH: 27.10.60

CLUB(s): Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club, Cosmic Hillbashers.

OCCUPATION: Chartered Physiotherapist

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT?

I always ran everywhere as a youngster. As a teenager, was a competitive swimmer, so had good basic fitness. I then got into school cross country running, doing well in local races, which led to being approached by a member of Aberdeen AAC to ask if I would consider joining the club. That was back in 1975, and I have not looked back since.

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

My Grandad; my Dad’s Dad, was a great sprinter, who competed at Powder Hall. My other Grandad, my Mum’s Dad, was a great footballer, who was briefly goalie for Celtic FC, then later went on to play for Cowdenbeath FC. In AAAC, Hunter Watson and Mel Edwards have had a marked influence on my running; then especially in the years running in Masters events, Terry Kerr has been a great help to me. However, above all, I have always had wonderful support from my husband Dave, himself, a very successful hill runner and orienteer.

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU GET OUT OF THE SPORT?

I get so much from the sport; firstly, there is the obvious physical benefit; then of course, mental relaxation, which I always enjoy, no matter how fit I am. I have always enjoyed the competitive challenge. Running in Masters events has allowed me to continue enjoying first class challenges continuing on from my senior running career; the standard of running in Masters women in this country and around the World is incredible. I also love the social interaction with like minded people both locally and internationally. I have met so many wonderful people through my athletics career. I have been very fortunate to enjoy my athletics with Dave and our two daughters, Hilary and Rachel.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE OR PERFORMANCES?

a) as a younger athlete

To gain selection to run for the Scottish Senior Cross Country Team to run in the World Cross Country Championships, in Paris, in 1980.

b) as a hill runner

I have had many good runs in the Scottish Senior Hill Running Team, running in both World Trophy and European Trophy races; including finishing 13th in the European Trophy at Snowdon, and 3rd team at the World Trophy in Malaysia in 1999. It was very exciting finishing 24th in the World Trophy race when it took place at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh in 1995 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Another memorable run for me was the International Snowdon Race in 1998, which was my first international race back, following suffering a pulmonary embolism in February 1997; I finished second in my fastest time ever, in 1.22. Lastly, but not least, one very special run has to be winning the W40 race in the World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Poland, in 2001.

c) as a Masters athlete

My best ever Masters performances, I would have to share between three. Firstly, winning the W40 race in the World Mountain Running Championships in 2001, as I mentioned above. Secondly, my W45 1500m gold medal at the World Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships in Clermont Ferrand, France, in 2008. Thirdly, W45 gold in both the 800m and 1500m at the World Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships in Kamloops, Canada, in 2010.

YOUR WORST?

2013 Scottish National Cross Country Championships in Falkirk; the first time in my 38 years of running that I have voluntarily pulled out of a race! I simply didn’t have enough energy for the race that day. I think a mixture of getting up very early for the journey to the race, and also being fairly busy as Aberdeen AAC Women’s Cross Country Team Manager. Too much for an old lady!!

WHAT UNFULFILLED AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE?

I really just want to stay healthy and enjoy running as long as I can, in both track and hill running. Maybe complete 1 or 2 more Mountain Marathons with my husband, Dave.

OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES?

I enjoy many other sports such as cycling, swimming, cross country skiing, occasional wind surfing. However, my main passion outside of running is music; in particular, my saxophone, which I play most days. I enjoy a mixture of music, including classical, jazz, contemporary, and popular.

WHAT DOES RUNNING BRING YOU THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO MISS?

Running has allowed me to see some of the most beautiful areas in Britain and around the World. I have also met many special people throughout my career, both here and all over the World, which I would not have wanted to miss for anything. However, most importantly, I met my husband, Dave, through my running!

CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS OF YOUR TRAINING?

Generally, I do 6 sessions a week. These include usually 2 interval sessions, which are sometimes on the track in Aberdeen, or on a football pitch near home, or fartlek on the trails near home. I have a longer run at weekends with Dave, which is very often on the hills. Occasionally, I go out on my bike as an alternative to running. In the winter, when conditions allow, I sometimes cross country ski instead of running.

 Back to Supervets

Jane Waterhouse looks serious and races hard. Nevertheless she is very friendly and supportive to other runners. Her modesty hides the fact that she is one of the most successful Scottish Masters cross-country runners, female or male, EVER. I base this assessment on her incredible record in the Scottish Masters CC: Jane has won thirteen individual titles, all by clear margins! She started off in 1997 with the W40 championship; won three W45 gold medals between 1999 and 2001; added three more at W50 (2003-5) plus another in 2007; then secured four W55 titles in 2008 and 2010-12; and started her W60 campaign with gold in 2013. She did not compete in 1998, 2006 and 2009, and suffered her only defeat in fourteen races when she could ‘only’ obtain bronze in 2002!

In addition Jane has been a stalwart team leader for Scotland in the annual 5 Nations CC Masters International. I do not have all her results, but note that in 2007 she was 7th W50, but improved to 5th W55 in 2008 (behind the winner, England’s Susan Cooper). As she states below, her finest performance was at Birmingham in 2009, when her strong finish ensured that she overtook the long-time leader, Susan Cooper, and gained revenge by sixteen seconds to win a rare individual gold medal for Scotland in this very prestigious event. Her team won silver medals, only five points behind the Auld Enemy. In 2010 in Dublin, Jane finished fourth (only ten seconds behind third) and led her team to bronze medals. 2011: 5th and another third place for Scotland; 2012 9th and another team bronze. In the recent 2013 International in Cardiff, she came very close to equalling her 2009 achievement, finishing second W60, only nine seconds behind the winner, England’s Janice Needham. Jane trained especially hard for this race and was justifiably pleased with her performance, especially since she led the Scottish W60 team, who packed very well indeed, to silver medals.

Name: Jane Waterhouse

Club: Central AC

Date of Birth: 01/02/53

Occupation: Manager Medical Practice

How did you get involved in the sport? Through my two daughters. I used to sit and watch them train and then someone suggested I join in. I have never looked back!

Has any group had an influence? My training group at Central have always been a big part of my life. It is a very mixed group with a huge age span but always encourages us oldies.

What exactly do you get out of the sport? Lots of friends, lots of laughs, some stress (I hate racing) and being able to eat lots of cake.

Your best-ever performance? Winning my age group at the 5 Nations International Cross-Country at Birmingham in November 2009. It was my finest hour!

Your worst? Plodding around in last position in an inter-league cross country down in the South of England – and they were pulling down the course while I was running.

What unfulfilled ambitions do you have? I would like to run another marathon alongside my two daughters but am not sure my knees are up for that any more.

Other leisure activities? Singing in a choir. (That is my sensible side.) Walking in the mountains. Looking after my wonderful little grandson Fraser.

What does running bring you that you would not have wanted to miss? Keeping fit, making lots of friends from all over Scotland and from all walks of life and being part of our running group.

Can you give some details of your training? I train with Central AC twice a week. These sessions consist of repetitions of different distances from 400 to 1000 on fields or track in the summer. I run by myself on the weekend, doing a tempo run on Saturday and a longer slower run on Sunday.

Neil Thin has been Scotland’s best M50 in the last two British and Irish CC Internationals. In Glasgow 2011 he was squeezed into the bronze medal position, only six seconds behind the winner. In Belfast 2012 he fought very hard to finish a close fifth. Back in the 1980s Neil ran for Edinburgh Southern Harriers, was in their winning team in the 1985 National CC and won two team silver medals in the Six-Stage Relay. In the 1985 Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay, ESH finished 43 seconds behind ‘The Kangaroos’, guests fielding athletes from the USA and Wales. Hopefully Neil and his team-mates received the gold medals!

NAME: Neil Thin

CLUB: Edinburgh AC

DATE OF BIRTH: 31.07.60

OCCUPATION: University Lecturer

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT?

School and university clubs

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

Never had a coach, and would have run anyway, but my interest in serious training was originally inspired by the sheer brilliance of Graham Williamson in 1978 (I came in more than half a minute behind him in Scottish Schools 1500m), and then by clubmates like Allister Hutton and John Robson which whom I used to run in the E to G, and in the European Clubs Cross-Country Championships in Portugal in 1985. Enjoyed sessions in The Meadows, Edinburgh, with Martin Craven et al. After a ten-year lay-off, inspired to return to running in late 40s by seeing that Brian Kirkwood was still running fast in his 50s.

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU GET OUT OF THE SPORT?

Mainly the intrinsic joy of getting out for a run at lunchtime, and the occasional glee of racing at speeds not too much slower than I used to run in my 20s.

Apart from the obvious benefits to health and mental wellbeing and the intrinsic enjoyment, there are two advantages that I think distance running has over just about any other sport: 1. A very clear relationship between effort and performance; 2.the possibility for just about anybody to take it up and pursue it to an excellent standard in most environments, with minimal cost or disruption to anyone else’s life. Most other sports require expensive infrastructure, complicated equipment, time-consuming training, and many require individuals to be supported by family and friends. 

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE OR PERFORMANCES?

30.20 in the Edinburgh 10k road race in about 1984; more recently, 32.06 in 2008 Stirling 10k.

Had some enjoyable wins: twice won the Oxford-Cambridge cross-country as an undergraduate in 1981 and 1982; won the BUPA Great Winter Run (5k round Arthur’s Seat, admittedly when most decent runners were warming up for the international races) at the age of 48 in 2009.

Some reasonable track performances: 14.35 for 5000 at Crystal Palace in 1982; 8m27 for 3000 same year; 30.45 approx for 10,000 got me a silver medal at British Universities in Birmingham around 1985.

YOUR WORST?

Dropping out of National CC with a stitch in 1984. 

WHAT UNFULFILLED AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE?

Wish I had gone under 30 minutes for 10k. Very keen to set Scottish age-group bests at various distances, though I don’t know if records exist.

OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES?

Walking and various casual sports with the kids – football, tennis.

WHAT DOES RUNNING BRING YOU THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO MISS?

Pure relaxation and rehabilitation every day. Plus guilt-free eating and drinking.

CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS OF YOUR TRAINING?

When not injured (less than 50% of the time nowadays) I try to do up to 70 miles per week, of which 2 days per week would include some long reps or hills. Normally, however, 40miles per week mainly moderate running.

Janette Stevenson has undoubtedly been one of the most successful Scottish veterans ever. In the Scottish Masters Cross Country Championships she won eight individual titles (from W35 to W55) plus two team titles with Falkirk Victoria. Her record in the British and Irish International CC is unparalleled, improving from 4^th W35 at Wrexham in 1988 to 3^rd W40 in 1989, 2^nd W40 in 1992 and then winning four titles: 1^st W50 in 2000 and 2001 and 1^st W55 in 2005 and 2006. Only her younger team mate Fiona Matheson looks likely to emulate Janette.

In addition she won the 1995 Scottish Senior 10k title in 35.22 at Cumbernauld, at the age of 46. Her W50 time of 36.25 for 10,000m in June 1999 ranked fourth on the all-time lists. In the 1999 World Veteran Championships, Janette Stevenson won both the W50 5000m and the 10,000 titles.

In 2007 she set a European W55 5000m record (18.25) in Riccione, Italy. At the age of 58 in Dublin on 6^th April 2008 she set a world W55 record of 38.23. Then in June 2009 Janette ran 3000m in 11.20 at the Scottish Masters Track Championship, creating a new W60 world record. In March 2014 (aged 64) she made a fantastic come-back to win W60 gold in the BMAF cross country championships in Glasgow.

CLUBS: Falkirk Victoria Harriers and SVHC

DATE OF BIRTH: 03/05/1949

OCCUPATION  Retired Library Assistant

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT?

Never did any running at school.  In primary school in 1950’s Glasgow the only P.E. I can remember was Scottish Country Dancing and a lot of messing around with beanbags??  At High School in Grangemouth the preferred sports for young ladies were hockey (which I hated) and netball.

I was in the 1^st year netball team and played in centre position as I was too wee to score points.  Once a year in the summer we had the school sports day. I can’t remember anyone training for it we just lined up and ran like the clappers.  It was all 60 metres dashes as I remember and I was usually left standing by the bigger girls. Might have been different if we had to run maybe half a mile or cross country but there were no opportunities for that in those days.  I got involved in running in 1984 there was an initiative between Woman’s Own Magazine and Nike the sportswear company to get women into running.  It was rolled out countrywide in sports centres and was augmented by a weekly training programme in the magazine. It started in April 1984 and the objective was to run a 10K in September.

So I turned up at Grangemouth Sports Complex along with about 20 or so other ladies all keen to be trained.  It was raining of course and we thought

They would let us run round the gym – nice and dry. But the coach I always remember this,  said  “If you don’t run in the rain in this country – you don’t run!”, and he opened the doors and shoved us out to run half a mile round the park.  The training was twice weekly and one of the coaches was veteran  runner Hugh McGinlay.  Most of  us managed to run the 10K and I think my time was 54.09.  After the race Ian Cluggie  a coach at Falkirk Victoria asked us if we would be interested in jogging with the club so I started training and the rest is history.

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

Probably as I mentioned before Ian Cluggie the women’s coach with Falkirk Victoria in the 1980’s was the most influential person at the beginning of my running career.   He pushed me to train on the track and persuaded me to enter events which I would not have had the confidence to enter on my own.  We often disagreed over training as I wanted to run 10Ks and half marathons on the road but his background was track running. But therein lies another story.   Also at that time there was a group of female runners within Falkirk Victoria who provided great competition and  companionship.  The only one still running I think is Caroline Lawless.  We were later joined by that superb athlete Fiona Matheson and we enjoyed some success in team events in road and cross country.  Also my husband Andrew who trained with me for a while and was a very patient “bag carrier” and always very supportive in the face of my pre-race nerves and bad temper.

WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU GET OUT OF THE SPORT

Self confidence. Discipline.  A lifetime obsession. Physical fitness.

Opportunity to achieve targets.  Travel to races all over Great Britain and overseas (No need to puzzle over where to go on holiday – just find a race or Championship and go there!

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE OR PERFORMANCES

Probably winning the National 10K road championships in Cumbernauld as a Master in May, 1995 with a time of 35.22 at age 46.

Also in 1999 just turned 50 in June I took gold W50 in the European 10K road championships in Bruges.  In the same year,  July at the BMAF track Championships at Meadowbank Edinburgh I took gold in the W50 10K then in August I took gold in the W50 5K and 10K at the World Masters Track Championships in Gateshead.

YOUR WORST

Nothing too much.  Just remember running in the Barnsley 6 miler after being awake all night due to loud music and traffic noise outside hotel.

WHAT AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE THAT WERE UNFULFILLED

Not being involved in athletics in my teens and twenties.

Not being able to compete at my best in the W60 category due to ill health.

WHAT DID YOU DO AWAY FROM  RUNNING TO RELAX

Reading, films, television, walking, cycling, cooking, baking, travelling UK and Europe in my motorhome. Visiting grandchildren in Dublin. And I love cuddling up with my Burmese cat Jason.

WHAT DID RUNNING BRING YOU THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO MISS

Gaining international vests for cross country.  The discipline you get from training.  Running and racing overseas, Spain, Malta, Italy, United States, Belgium.  On holiday you always know the best bars and cake shops as you suss them out on your morning training run. Companionship of like minded people.

CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS OF YOUR TRAININGWhen I was training seriously the max I have ever run is 50 miles per week. A long run on Sunday probably 10 miles max 13 miles.

Probably in summer 2 track interval sessions plus one LT session.

In winter probably hill reps, mile road reps and one shorter rep session as well as recovery mileage.   Now only running about 25 miles a week, with some intervals and fartlek.

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