George Craig

Posted on August 15, 2016 by The Author

Scottish Cross-Country team, 1949. Craig third from right in the back row.

George Craig was the son of Archie ‘Baldie’ Craig of Bellahouston Harriers who had won the national cross-country title in 1913 and five cross-country international vests and the younger brother of Archie, junior, who was a member of Shettleston Harriers and ran for Scotland in the cross-country international in 1938 and 1939. There have been many remarkable family groups in Scottish athletics – Dundee’s Hasketts and Gunstones, Greenock’s Spence brothers and others. No one has had a father and two sons run for Scotland to the best of my knowledge, although the Brown family from Motherwell came close – Andy and brother Alex both represented the country but although father Andy was a very good runner, he never had a Scotland vest.

George was the younger of the two brothers and he first came to prominence in 1935 at the age of 16 when he won the Scottish Youths National Cross-Country Championship. The Glasgow Herald reported on the race as follows:

“As was generally expected, Springburn Harriers with three of last year’s winning team available, scored a comfortable victory in the Youths championship. …. There was however a surprise in the individual race, G Craig (Shettleston Harriers) bowling over several more fancied candidates. It was in a way a remarkable performance for a Youth of 16 years, particularly as this was but the third race he has taken part in. He is the son of A Craig, the well-known member of the SAAA committee who won the national championship in 1913 and who figured in several internationals.”

The Shettleston Youths team was second but the following year, when Craig was the only winner from 1935 to retain his Scottish title, they won comfortably from Victoria Park: 17 points to 54. In both seasons – 1934/35 and 1935/36 – he won the club youth cross-country championship.

The Shettleston team at the time was very strong and the young Craig was not a counting runner in championship teams for several years. Even the detailed Shettleston Harriers centenary history next mentioned him in season 1938/39 when he won the National Novice Championship at Hamilton Racecourse from more than 300 runners. Missing the national championship in 1939, he ran in the 22nd April 1939 Edinburgh to Glasgow on 22nd April on the third stage (big brother Archie ran second) and was second fastest on his stage with the club in third place.

The war started that year and athletics suspended until after the hostilities had ceased. Both brothers served during the war with George in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and Archie was a dispatch rider with the RAF.

George was next to appear in the records at the start of the 1946/47 when he was a member of the Shettleston team that finished fourth behind Maryhill Harriers. He ran the second fastest time for the club (16:47) – only three seconds behind Charlie McLennan. Two weeks later he was part of a team that was fourth in the Dundee Kingsway Relay

The District Championships were held at Hamilton Race course on 25th January, 1947, and George was third behind Andy Forbes of VPAAC and B Cairns of his own club to see Shettleston finish second. According to Eddie Taylor’s report for the Scots Athlete, four men dominated the race – the three mentioned plus W Lamont of Victoria Park. All four had been mentioned in Emmet Farrell’s preview in his “Running Commentary” column which also had an eye on the comin international in Paris. He had this to say of Craig: George Craig of Shettleston, son of an ex-cross-country internationalist, and brother of Archie Craig, also an ex-internationalist, is beginning to show some form at the right time, and may be Forbes’s chief rival for the individual title. Twice winner of the national Youths Championship, and also of the Novice Championship, his promising career was interrupted through the war, but he may well fulfil his early promise – and a trip to Paris is well within his capabilities.”

However when it came to the national, he fought hard and started off well up with the leaders but dropped off the pace and eventually came in in fourteenth place. The team finished fourth.

He added to this total in the SAAA championship six miles at Hampden on 21st June. Report from AD McDonald in the ‘Scots Athlete: “George Craig of Shettleston had a nice win in the six miles, but though the track was heavy the time was nothing great, possibly because the first three miles was run at what seemed like a crawl. Nevertheless Craig’s judgment was good, and his first senior track title should give him confidence for the future. Alex McLean, who was runner-up, was not the man we saw winning the ten miles championship in April, and looked over his peak. From the spectator’s point of view, it was a pity that holder JE Farrell ( very wisely in view of his marathon commitments) did not take up the field. He would at least have shaken up the field a bit and we might have got a truer picture of Craig’s abilities.”

His winning time was 32:17.6 with Alex McLean (0f Bellahouston) second.

Into winter 1947/48 and on 4th October the McAndrew Relay at Scotstoun was the first serious race. Craig was on the second stage where he took over outside the first half dozen runners but handed over in the lead with a time of 16:28 – a lead which the team held until the finish. Two weeks later it was the Dundee Kingsway Relay where Shettleston fin ished second to Victoria Park with Craig on the second stage again and this time, although he moved into first place with half a mile to go, he was passed by Mitchell of Edinburgh Southern Harriers. Still with the relays on 6th December, Craig was in the winning team in the Midland District Relay at Motherwell. Running on the second stage he ran the second fastest time for the day, only three seconds behind Bobby Boyd of Clydesdale Harriers. In the Midland Championships on 7th February, 1948, Craig ran well enough to be third behind Boyd of Clydesdale and Lennie of Vale of Leven with his club team in third place.

In his preview of the National in 1948, Emmet Farrell quoted Craig as a possible winner but had this to say: “Geo. Craig of Shettleston, the 6 miles champion, is another runner who is fit, strong and keen, and with the vast experience of his father, an ex-champion himself to guide him. Nevertheless he has still to pass the acid test of the National Championship.”

In the National at Hamilton he finished third, and won the Scottish Junior Championship, only 14 seconds behind the winner, JE Farrell. He was selected for the international at Reading on April 3rd. Craig was running so well at this point that he was named by Farrell as a potential Olympic representative for the Games later that year: “Scottish 6 miles track champion, George Craig of Shettleston Harriers, is listed as a “possible” for the 10000 metres. After trying for cross-country honours, George is likely to have a short rest, and then in his own words, ‘have a go at the 6 miles event. Sharp 2 miles for speed are likely to figure in his track schedule.” In the actual international cross-country, Craig was last counter for the Scottish team that finished fifth with his 38 place across the line, one place behind Jim Flockhart. The Tour de Spa invitational cross-country was a very prestigious race at the time and the Scottish contingent was made up of Alex McLean (6th), George Craig (12th) and Jim Flockhart (18th). In the ‘Scots Athlete’ of May 1949, Emmet Farrell remarked that McLean’s performance was a very good one, and that the usual five nations were augmented by Sweden and Czechoslovakia on a trail near the Forest of Ardennes. Two international races in a matter of weeks was valuable experience for the young Scot. Racing with the likes of Flockhart and McLean could not have done him the slightest harm!

In the summer of ’48, Craig probably took part in most if not all the two mile team races thatwere available and popular among runners at the time. For instance, on 22nd May at Ibrox in the Bellahouston Harriers Sports, Craig was part of the winning Shettleston team that won the two miles team in which Andy Forbes (VPAAC) was the winner in 9 min 24.9 sec; his own club won their own two mile team race on 7th June at Ibrox, and there were several others at such sports as Gourock and Babcock’s.

On 12th June, Craig again tackled the 6 miles in the championships, and again he lined up against Alex McLean. “Only seven entrants and five starters in the six miles was not very impressive when distance running is considered to be so popular among the athletes. Ten miles champion Alex McLean (Bellahouston H) brightened affairs with grand running to win in ‘best championship’ time of 30 min 54.7 sec, which was 7.3 sec better than than the time set up by JE Farrell in 1938.”

The result: 1. A McLean 30:54.7; 2. G Craig (Shettlestom H); 3. R McCormack (Lochwinnoch H).

After the championships were over the season progressed with several two and three miles individual and team races including such meetings as the Edinburgh Highland Games where there was a handicap three miles, in which his club participated.

1948/49: Craig was not in the first team for the McAndrew Relay at the start of October. The Midland Relay was held at Stirling on 4th December and Shettleston ran out the winners. He did run this time, on the first stage and handed over ‘a nice lead’, having run the sixth fastest time of the day, which his club maintained to the end. Craig also missed the District Championships in the new year too.

In his preview of the national in 1949, Farrell thought that Craig would make the international team, saying “Geo. Craig is essentially a cross-country type rather than a track runner. He has apparently recovered from a stubborn period of staleness and is looking in good shape. An experienced pacer with the confidence of previous selection, last year’s Scottish Junior champion will be difficult to displace.”

On the day, the conditions were really bad – “the worst,” said Emmet Farrell, “For 30 years.” Nevertheless Craig ran well enough to be seventh and gain international selection. Shettleston won the team race and were encouraged thereby to contest the English cross-country championships where they were fifth out of fifty three teams. With 600 competitors it was a major undertaking, and their men all ran well with Craig in nineteenth. Meanwhile, back at home the selectors had the problem of picking a team after Andy Forbes came a cropper in the national. He clearly had to go in he was too good to eave out – and the difficult selection came down to Stuart of Shettleston or Craig of Shettleston. Stuart had been one place ahead of Craig in the national, but Stuart (after a leg problem, was 65th in the English race. Farrell’s ear was always close to the ground and he said: “Although Stuart had the slight edge on his Scottish performance, the latter’s good performance in the English championships, coupled with a doubt concerning the latter’s fitness may have swung the scales just in Craig’s favour.”

In the international itself at Baldoyle Racecourse in Dublin, Craig was third Scot to finish when he was 32nd.

The Edinburgh to Glasgow that year was in April and of course George was in the team The two stiffest tests in the race were always on the second and sixth stages. This year he was on the sixth stage, the longest in the race at 7 miles, where he turned in the fastest time of the day – 33:01, W Williamson of Greenock Glenpark and Alex McLean of Bellahouston – to keep his team in first place, which is where they finished. On the track, there was another second place to Alex McLean in the Six Miles at the SAAA Championships on 25th June, McLean’s time was 31:04.8. That third medal in three years at the championships was the high spot of the year – at the end of the summer, in his review of that season, Emmet Farrell did not mention either Craig or McLean.

In the International at Reading, 1948

It was on to the 1949-50 cross-country challenges. In the McAndrew Relay at Scotstoun on 1st October, Shettleston was second behind Victoria Park but Craig was not in any of the three teams. Nor was he present at Dundee Kingsway where there were two Shettleston teams, the first of which finished second. The Midland District Relay was run on 5th November but Craig was not in either of the club teams. But when the Edinburgh to Glasgow eight stage relay came around on 21st November – the second running in 1949, George Craig was there on the hard, six mile, second stage. He ran the equal second fastest time behind Chic Robertson of Dundee and the team won from Victoria Park. On 4th February when all thoughts were starting to turn to the national championships, he competed in the Midland District championship at Motherwell and was second Shettleston runner home in sixth position for the team that won gold.

In his preview of the National, Emmet Farrell said that “George Craig is an ex-6 mile champion, and therefore a more than useful track runner, yet I feel he is essentially a cross-country type. Craig, an ex-youth and novice champion, has perhaps not quite fulfilled his brilliant early promise. Nevertheless he has run some grand races over the country and in my estimation is a much under rated runner. So far he has not shown particularly brilliant form this season yet I feel that when the time comes, he will be challenging hotly for a place in the team.It is difficult to leave him out of a short leet.”

In the race itself he finished fifth and Farrell commented: Most surprising performance was that of young George Craig. The Shettleston runners form recently has been moderate. But on this occasion he ran with verve and tenacity, was up with the leading bunch all the way and indeed at times looked a likely winner.”

Shettleston won the team race and he was selected for the international. Before that however, the club sent a team to the English national where they were third with Craig leading the team home in 13th position. The others were Bickerton 16th, Flockhart 24th, Wallace 26th, Howard 80th and Ross 83rd. Then it was on to the international.

The event was held in Brussels and featured 10 nations – a record number – including newcomers Italy, Holland and Belgium, along with Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, France, Spain and Switzerland. Craig finished 55th and the team was seventh.

That summer was the first for several years that Craig did not contest the six miles at the championships in June, and it was on to the winter season. There had been no indication of illness or injury in the previous year and this year too Craig had a slow start. Farrell mentions twice that I can find that Craig was ‘lightly raced’ and certainly his winter programme never seemed to embrace all the classics every year, and by classics I mean McAndrew relay, Kingsway relay, E-G, Nigel Barge as well as the District and National relays and District and National Championships. In 1950/51 he missed the McAndrew and Kingsway relays which meant that he was in the second team for the Midland relays at Stepps on 4th November. He was fastest in the second team but slower than all of the first team (finished second). This set him up for a good run where, despite missing the start of the season, he was asked to run the sixth stage again. Taking over in first place, he stayed first with third fastest time of the day (34:56) behind Andy Forbes (34:13) and Tommy Tracey (34:38). Johnny Stirling took Victoria Park back into the lead on the last leg to see them win and Shettleston finish second. Craig then missed the Nigel Barge 5 mile road race at Marhill at the very start of January but turned out in the District Championships on 3rd February where he was second club man to finish when he was ninth (Bannon was second) and the team was again second to VPAAC. Emmet Farrell’s preview of the national read “I cannot see Tracey or Craig as serious challengers for the individual title yet I feel that they are reasonably certain of forward places and individual selection. … Craig has been more lightly raced, and strength and reserve can be telling factors in a gruelling race.” Unlike many modern commentators, Emmet was never afraid to nail his colours to the mast and this at times led to judgments that were a bit off in events where the subjective feelings and actions of individuals were involved . As far as Tracey and Craig in 1951 were concerned he was a bit off. After a mix-up at the start where both Forbes and Tracey missed the gun and started behind the field, the race turned out to be between just those two with Forbes getting the win with Tracey runner-up. Craig was down in twelfth place and completely out of the reckoning for international selection. He was again second club man (behind Ben Bickerton) in the team that finished third (VPAAC and Springburn). He had seen his last Scottish international vest. There were to be no more dark blue vests for the Craig family.

He ran well enough in 1951/52 to be Shettleston Club Cross-Country Champion but he never again appeared in any championship race, missing all District and National relays and championships. What was the story? Well, Emmet Farrell in his preview of the 1952 national commented that “There is a whisper that George Craig, who threatened retiral last season, and is at present residing in Ireland, has resumed the sport and if this is correct and he enters – well, George would still have to be watched.” It would seem that the whisper was inaccurate for George did not compete again in Scotland.

It had been a short career but an excellent one, if falling slightly short of the brilliance that it had once promised but one of which he can be proud.

Andrew T Ferguson

Posted on August 5, 2016 by The Author

Andrew T Ferguson died on 1st March 2016, at the age of 87. A member of English club Highgate Harriers, he had a fairly long athletic career but although he was undoubtedly a very good runner, he never held a Scottish championship title or won any cross-country representational honours. Indeed he hardly ever ran in Scotland yet won a Scottish vest on the track and finished second in the national.

Not mentioned in the Scottish athletic press in 1948 or 1949, he burst on the scene in 1950. In his preview of the National cross-country championship of that year, Emmet Farrell in “The Scots Athlete” bracketed Ferguson alongside Andy Forbes, Tom Tracey, CD Robertson and the rests as a contender for the title. He went on to say “My nomination of AT Ferguson may occasion some surprise, but if this Anglo-Scot feels he has entirely thrown off the effects of a recent leg injury he will make the journey north to try for his place; and one can be sure that if he elects to travel, his bid will be a serious one. Ferguson is a most promising young runner with a brilliant turn of speed. He can stay, too, as he recently demonstrated by finishing fourth in the Middlesex championships to Olney, ahead of such well-known runners as Hughes, Burfitt and Blowfield. Though he may be a menace to home aspirants, he could be a distinct asset to a Scottish team and that is the main thing.”

Unfortunately he was not in the line-up on the day but his ability that had earned Emmet’s high opinion was there for all to see during the summer.

His running over the summer was all done south of the border but in the AAA’s championships, won by Lucien Theys of Belgium, he was second to Olney in a blanket finish with the places and times being 1. L Theys 14:07; 2. A Olney 14:11.2; 3. A Ferguson 14:11.6; 4. W Lucas 14:11.6; 5. F Green 14:14.6. At the time his 14:11.6 was a Scottish best but because of the rules existing at the time, it was not officially recognised as a record. Not selected for the European Games, Ferguson was, however, selected for Scotland in the international against England, Wales and Ireland at 5000m. The other Scot was Tommy Tracey and they finished third and fourth with Ferguson timed at 15:34.2 for third. First and second were Olney (14:48) and Lucas (14:56.8).

In the summer, 1950, Ferguson represented Scotland in the international against England, Wales and Ireland at 3 miles , finishing 3rd. That year, he was second to the Belgian Lucien Theys in the AAA Championship 3 miles in 14:11.6. At the time, the performance was a Scottish best although it was not officially recognised as a record because of the rules in force at the time.

The “Scots Athlete” had a ranking list for Scottish athletes of 1950 and Ferguson was included at at number 6 of the 20 ranked. the comments read: “Recently made a life member of his club on account of his international recognition. 3rd position and 2nd British finisher in the AAA 3 miles with 14:11.6 (compare with Andy Forbes’ brilliant Scottish record of 14:18.2) and also 6 mins 49 secs for one and a half miles.”

The cover of “The Scots Athlete” for February, 1951 was of Ferguson winning the 7 miles Middlesex cross-country championship which he won. Inside Emmet Farrell began his preview of the national by saying, “Over the gruelling nine miles test I cannot help feeling that quite a number of last year’s team will again be well in the running for places. If Anglo-Scot AT Ferguson of Highgate Harriers decides to run he would be favourite for the individual title. He has great speed, as witness his 14 min 11 sec odd in last year’s AAA 3 Miles championships and can stay too as he showed in winning the Middlesex cross-country championship over 7 miles. Against that the 22-year-old could find at this stage 9 miles more testing than 7 miles. Nevertheless the services of such a classy runner would be a great asset to a Scottish team and our selectors will no doubt follow his form with more than passing interest, even if he does not manage up for our race … ”

Unfortunately Ferguson was missing when the national was run and was not in the team for the international.

Walter Ross who founded, printed, wrote for and subsidised “The Scots Athlete” was a wonderful man. In addition to all that, doing his day-job, having a happy family life, running almost every day of the week, he kept up a correspondence with may people all over the world. It was natural that he should start writing to Andrew Ferguson and in December, 1951, he published this letter from him. As he says, it was not written to be printed, but he took the correct decision I think in letting us see it.

His exploits were not recorded in Scotland until Emmet Farrell, Walter’s friend and sidekick on the magazine, who always had a hand on the pulse of British athletics, said in his preview of the national, “Down South there is Anglo Andy Ferguson of Highgate Harriers at last returning to the form which made him one of Britain’s best distance prospects. Previously Ferguson has shown brilliance on the track and over country, and if he retains his present form and comes up for our national, which he is planning, then sparks will fly.” The highlight was the national of 1952. This was held on 1st March, 1952, at Hamilton Racecourse and the top man in Scotland was Eddie Bannon of Shettleston Harriers. Emmet Farrell previewed the race in “The Scots Athlete” as follows:

“A “GRAND” NATIONAL. There are prospects of a very keen race in the National both for the individual honour and international places. The individual race may resolve itself into a contest between Eddie Bannon of Shettleston Harriers and the grand Anglo Scot Andrew Ferguson of Highgate Harriers, with odds on the former pulling it off. With some trepidation, I select the following as my first six home and in this order: 1. E Bannon (Shettleston); 2. A Ferguson (Highgate; 3. A Forbes (Victoria Park); 4. T Tracey (Springburn Harriers); 5. T Stevenson (Greenock Wellpark); 6. CD Robertson (Dundee Thistle).

A brave man was Emmet. As for the race, Colin Shields reported in “Whatever the Weather” –

“Bannon faced the challenge of Anglo Scot Andrew Ferguson of Highgate Harriers who had recorded the Scottish record time of 14 minutes 11.6 seconds for 3 miles when finishing runner-up in the 1950 AAA’s championships. Ferguson had some outstanding cross-country runs in England to his credit but was outclassed by Bannon who ran away with the individual title defeating Ferguson by 57 seconds with Tommy Tracey taking third position ahead of Andy Forbes.”

Result: 1. E Bannon (Shettleston ) 49:24; 2. AT Ferguson (Highgate H) 50:21; 3. T Tracey (Springburn H) 50:34; 4. A Forbes (VPAAC) 51:03; 5. T Stevenson (Greenock Wellpark) 51:16; 6. CD Robertson (Dundee Thistle) 51:29; 7. I Binnie (Victoria Park); 8. AC Gibson (Hamilton H); 9. CD Forbes (Victoria Park); 10. A Black (Dundee Hawkhill).

Emmet had the first six exactly right with only Forbes and Tracey switching places.

Unfortunately Ferguson had to pull out of the national and this was indeed as described by Emmet Farrell “a distinct loss” but his summer season started well, although he missed the SAAA and the AAA championships and, as far as the press was concerned, ran seldom in Scotland. Nevertheless at the end of the season he was ranked third Scot behind Andy Forbes and Tom Tracey by Emmet Farrell in “The Scots Athlete.”

In the “Scots Athlete” of May, 1952, Farrell referred to ‘Ferguson’s southern success’ saying Andrew Ferguson whose inability to run for Scotland at Hamilton was such a distinct loss had a grand win in the Southern 6 miles championship in 30 min 41,4 sec, defeating such well-known runners as R Robbins, F Sando and |Harry Hicks. What a race should Forbes and Ferguson meet in either 3 or 6 miles in the Scottish championships.”

Unfortunately Ferguson did not run in the SAAA championships and was unplaced in a very good AAA title race but by the end of the season he had four very good times which placed him high in the Scottish rankings, all run in England. For the mile he had a season’s best of 4:22.7 (3rd best Scot behind K Coutts, EUAC, and J Hendry, Elgin AAC); for two miles he ran 9:31.6 (4th behind Bannon, Calderwood and Forbes); 14:27.6 for three miles (second behind Andy Forbes); 30:41.6 for six miles (second behind Ian Binnie ).

In 1953 there was no sign of Ferguson north of the border: he did not run any cross-country up here, nor was he seen on the track. Not at the championships nor at any of the big invitation meetings. He may have missed the season through illness or injury or been out of the sport for some reason but he was not ranked in the mile (where the list went down to 4:25.6); the three miles (down to 14:59.8) or the six miles where there were only two times ranked.(Binnie 28:53.4) and Breckenridge (31:58.0).

That seemed to be it as far as his participation in Scottish athletics was concerned – in truth he had never competed much here. Despite the number of Scots at invitation meetings such as Edinburgh Highland Games or the Rangers Sports, and even when a AAA’s team competed here, AT Ferguson was not to be seen. His appearances over the country were almost as rare. He did continue to compete right on to the veteran stage – note the obituary by Alistair Aitken below – and he ran a good London marathon in 2:39:48 at the age of 53.

When he died, Alastair Aitken noted journalist and a member of Highgate Harriers had this to say about Ferguson:

Andy Ferguson, one of the older Highgate Harriers, was a real lively character. He sadly died on the 1st of March. Andy was passionate, in his days, for Highgate Harriers not to amalgamate. He thought they stood better alone.
Andy Ferguson had a long athletic career, and he went on to run a good London marathon, as an M50. At 53 he ran 2:39.48 but, his fame was long before that. He won the Junior North of Thames in 1948 and, the strongly contested, Senior North of Thames cross country Championships in 1951.
He represented Scotland, as a cross country international, coming second in their Championships in 1952 and, back in 1950 he ran 14.11.6 for 3 miles in the AAA’s Championships at the White City, coming second to the Belgian Lucien Theys who ran 14.09.0. Before that, he set a Scottish 3 miles Scottish Native record in 1949, when he was 3rd in the AAA’s in 14.11.02.
Ferguson also ran in races at the White City with Pirie and Zatopek. The latter he congratulated when Emil won and, said how nice Emil Zatopek was.

Andrew Thomson Ferguson, b. 7 November 1928, d. 1 March 2016.

Spango Valley AAC

Posted on July 29, 2016 by The Author

Cammie Spence, Spango Valley, running in the Six Stage Relays, 1983

Greenock has produced many fine athletes over the years and the area has been well served by some fine clubs – Glenpark Harriers and Wellpark Harriers are very well known and have served Scotland well. Among the clubs which are now defunct are Rankin Park, which was a ladies only club, and slightly less well known was Auchmountain Harriers . There are also several well known families in the sport in Scotland – the Hasketts and the Gunstones in Dundee and the Browns in Motherwell for example – but the five Spence brothers from Greenock (Gordon, George, Jim, Cameron and Lawrie) are probably unique. There has been a change in the nature of athletics in the area over the past 30 years or so with the newest club, Inverclyde AAC, serving the area and its population of all ages and abilities superbly well. Before the birth of Inverclyde there was Spango Valley AAC which appeared suddenly on the scene and, despite not recruiting big numbers of champion athletes from around the country but rather relying almost entirely on local talent, became one of the biggest players in the Scottish game. Cameron Spence wrote the following historical account of the club’s development.

The winning team in the 1986 McAndrew Relay: Chris Robison, Lawrie Spence, Peter Connaghan, Steven Connaghan

Spango Valley AAC was formed in September 1973 when a group of IBM employees decided they would like to form an athletics club. It was also at the time when there was a bit of unrest between the local clubs, Wellpark and Glenpark, and a certain local family. I will go no deeper. The club was originally called IBM A.C. But after a year or so the name had to be changed due to the rules and regulations then. It wasn’t a true Business House club because they allowed non-IBM’ers to compete for them. So the name was changed to Spango Valley A.C. This was where the IBM site was situated in Greenock. IBM was added in the late ’80’s when we were the first male club in Scotland to have our sponsors name added to our club title.

From early local successes the club started to make its presence felt nationally from about 1978 winning many Local, County and District Championships at cross-country Relays and 6-man team contests. The results they achieved at the National Relay were outstanding for a provincial club. But the highlight for the club and myself was winning the National 4 man Relay at St. Andrews in 1985. The four man team was Peter Conaghan, Chris Robison (there’s is another great story on how he joined Spango), my brother Lawrie and myself. To win the National in the mid 80’s was something special. Scotland at that time had an abundance of athletic talent. What a day it was for the club. And the trip back to Greenock will go down in history.

Over the years the club has had many international athletes running in the famous blue and yellow stripes. Here are some of the names: Graham Clark, Peter and Steven Conaghan, Lachie Stewart, Hammy Cox, Tommy Murray, Chris Robison, Mark Pollard (as a boy), my brother Lawrie and myself. Many of these athletes had won National and District titles. But we had a lot of very gifted and talented club runners who did a fantastic job for the club. Here are some of their names: Chris Leck, Terry Wilkie, Joe Gallagher, Charlie Doyle, Ray Hyett (the father of Graeme), Martin Coyle,Tom Dobbin and Stuart Hodge. These runners were just below International standard. In fact the times they were doing back in the 70 and 80’s would put them among the best runners around today.

As the club came into the 90’s they realised that the top runners were not getting any younger. There weren’t many of the younger generation keen on the sport. Just like today. The Spango committee could see it would make sense if the three local clubs, Spango, Glenpark and Wellpark should get together and form one strong club in the district. Wellpark and ourselves agreed. Glenpark were initially keen on the idea but then turned it down at the last minute.

Spango Valley was in existence for exactly 25 years

The Inverclyde AC track club was formed 1996. 2 years later Inverclyde AC, with cross-country now added, started to make its presence felt on the roads and country in Scotland. They were the youngest ever club to win the National Relay Championship. The cross-country club was only 3 weeks old when they won the title at a windy day down in Irvine. The team that day was Tom Tipping, Steven Conaghan, Tommy Murray and Chris Robison.

The club has gone from strength to strength.”

Chris Robison tracking Nat Muir at Irvine

And that’s where Cameron’s Spango Valley AAC history ends. It is now appropriate to add some colour and detail to the account and we can look at their record in the various championships as they developed in the 25 year period. He was probably right that they performed better in relays than in championships and if we look at the National Championships, the club’s best performance was fifth in season 1984/85 when Cammie himself led the team home and they had four runners in the first 100 – he was 13th, Chris Leck was 22nd, brother Lawrie was 31st and Peter Connaghan was 61st. Although the club improved year on year from 1975, it was not until 1979/80 that they were in the first twelve teams in the race – but that in itself was a considerable achievement when you consider that it was right in the middle of the ‘running boom’ and they did not have a policy of going out to recruit stars. Their best performer in the National was Chris Robison with two second places (1987 and 1988), Hammy Cox and Graham Clark each had a fourth place. Reference has been made to how Chris Robison came to join the club. Chris was an extremely talented athlete from Derby who had come to Scotland while in the Royal Navy and married a Greenock girl. Her brother was a good runner and a member of Spango Valley called Terry Wilkie. That was the connection. It is maybe worth noting that the young club had two sub four minute milers at that time, Lawrie Spence being the other one.

Terry Wilkie

The major relay in the country was the eight stage Edinburgh to Glasgow. Their first run was in 1977 and they finished twentieth. To qualify for the prestigious relay four years after the club’s formation was real progress – many clubs tried for years without making selection for the event. Nevertheless a team containing such as Hammy Cox, Cameron Spence, Graham Clark and Chris Leck could maybe have expected better. But after finishing 10th, 10th and 21st the club was seventh in 1981 and picked up the medals for the most meritorious team performance of the race. They were helped by Lachie Stewart, now a veteran, in second place on the first stage and outstanding runs by Graham Clark (3rd quickest on the fourth stage) and Cammie Spence’s fifth quickest on the tough and competitive sixth leg. Now established in the top ten, the team was 9th and 8th before a third place position in 1984. The team was solid all the way through with several very good runs: Lachie Stewart 9th on the first stage, followed by Lawrie Spence who pulled the team up to fourth, J Gallagher who dropped places but not much distance to eighth, Chris Leck moved up to sixth with second fastest stage time, Cammie Spence up ro fifth with fifth fastest, Graham Clark came up another place to fourth on the sixth stage with fourth time of the day, young Peter Connaghan ran second fastest of the day in moving them up to third and Terry Wilkie ran the second fastest of the day on the last leg to keep them in the medal winning third slot. An excellent all round team performance. Chris Robison joined the club in 1985 and ran the second stage, turning in the day’s fastest time to hand over in the lead but, despite good performances all round, by the end of the race Edinburgh Southern, Shettleston and Cambuslang Harriers were too good for them so they were fourth team in the race. Between ’86 and ’88 they slipped to 22nd and did not appear in the line up again until 1991 when they were back up to 7th and again won the most meritorious performance medals. Founded in 1973, into the race in 1977 and then three sets of medals in 14 years. Not a bad performance by the club at all.

Chris Robison and Alex Gilmour

The other national relay championships were the six-stage road relays and the four stage cross-country event. The pattern was similar to that in the Edinburgh to Glasgow with the high spots a bit higher again. Let’s look at the placings (the first ever six stage road relay was held in 1979 and was won by Clyde Valley):

1979: 7th; 1980: 4th; 1981: 19th; 1982: 4th; 1983: 3rd; 1984: 4th; 1985: 3rd; 1986: 3rd; 1987: 2nd; 1988: 7th; 1989: 19th; 1990: DNR; 1991: 13th; 1992: 8th. Fourteen teams produced one second, three thirds, three fourth places and two more top ten placings. Many good performances but as with the national and Edinburgh to Glasgow teams Cammie Spence was the driving force, not only turning out but as often as not finishing among the top times for his stage of the race.

As for the national four man cross country relays, the club peaked in the 1980’s with six sets of national championship medals including gold. It only took five years for their first set of medals when they were silver winners in November, 1978, with Hammy Cox, Graham Clark, Tom Dobbin and Cammie Spence in the team. They did not seem to travel well – no team at Inverness in 1980 and away down in 63rd at the same venue in 1989 – but their placings in the national four man relays between 1976 and 87 were 4th, 6th, 2nd, -, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 3rd and 3rd. A fantastic record when the strength of teams such as Shettleston, Edinburgh Southern and, latterly, Racing Club are taken into account. The team which won in 1985 was made up of Peter Connaghan, Cammie Spence, Chris Robison and Lawrie Spence.

Lawrie Spence, Six Stage Relay, 1983

The ‘peak period’ as a club was undoubtedly the 1980’s. The only other significant championships to be contested outwith the county were the West District Championships and Relays. In the relays, the club had three first places, three seconds, two thirds and three other top 10 finishes between 1976 and 1987. Their first victory was in October 1979 with the runners being Hammy Cox, Gavin Clark, Tom Dobbin and Cammie Spence. The second win was in 1985 (P Connaghan, C Robison, C Spence and L Spence) and the third in 1986 (Osborne, P Connaghan, S Connaghan and L Spence.) In the championships, their first win was in 1985/86 with 93 points and the athletes responsible were Chris Robison 2nd, Lawrie Spence 3rd, Chris Leck 18th, Cammie Spence 29th, Lachie Stewart 32nd and E McKee 37th. Not content with that, they won it again the following year with four of the same team counting – Robison was first this time, Lawrie Spence seventh, Peter Connaghan ninth, Cammie Spence twenty first, John Brown twenty fourth and Chris Leck fifty fourth. These two wins followed a second (1983/4) and a third (1984/5). Not quite as good a record as in the relays but still pretty good after you count in another 6 top ten finishes.

There was, however, as Cameron says, a falling away in the very late 80’s and early 90’s. Reasons would include his own of aging runners, lack of younger ones coming through but there were some very good athletes available – the two Connaghan brothers could have had a long career as international athletes ahead of them, and there is a report by Cammie of a positive recruitment policy among the local schools, youth organisations, etc. That might have made a difference in the medium term but from outside the district and at a distance of 25 years we cannot even attempt to judge the situation. What we do know for certain is that the efforts put in by Cammie and his committee did bear fruit – success at national and district level in the 1980’s was clear to see, and that is without examining the club record in such classic races as the Nigel Barge race and the McAndrew Relays.

Lachie Stewart to Graham Clark, Six Stage Relay, 1984

If we look at some of the runners who represented the club, in alphabetical order, it is an impressive list.

Graham Clark was a very good runner, a pupil of Donald Macgregor when at school, who had personal bests of 8:13.5 (3000m), 14:38.22 (5000m), 30:38.4 (10000m) and who ran in the IAAF World Cross-Country championships twice. Graham died in 2003.

Peter Connaghan had a best of 14:28.0 (5000) and ran in the IAAF World Junior Cross-Country Championship in 1983 and was not ranked after 1984.

Steven Connaghan was Peter’s brother and had bests of 14:37.0 (5000m), and 31:28.66 (10000m).

Hammy Cox was the son of former Glenpark harrier Bertie and a hugely talented runner who had many individual successes including a superb run in The Great Race. He moved to his father’s old club latterly and represented both Spango Valley and then Greenock Glenpark with great distinction. His personal bests included 3:59.5 (1500m), 30:03.38 (10000m) and 2:18:04 (marathon)

Tom Dobbin is a very interesting chaaracter. Initially a highly ranked half miler as an Under 17 with Glenpark Harriers in the mid 60’s when he had pb’s of 1:56.5 in both 1965 and 1966, Tom reappeared with Spango Valley in the 1980’s.

Chris Leck was a very good runner who was highly rated by everyone on the scene. Principally a classy cross-country and road runner who never showed the same form on the track, he had some outstanding runs in the Edinburgh to Glasgow.

Tommy Murray was a man of many clubs – Greenock Glenpark, Cambuslang, Spango Valley and Inverclyde – and an excellent athlete to boot. A Scottish internationalist on the country, the road, the hills and the track Best times of 8:11.46 (3000i), 14:02.5 (5000m), 29:12.32 and 4 national 10000m titles to his name as well as a Scottish cross-country title.

Chris Robison has had a lot said already – a four minute miler who married a Greenock girl and joined Spango Valley in 1985, leading them to team success at national, district and county level on the road and over the country. Hugely talented, his pb’s include 3:50.69 (1500m), 8:05.94 (3000mi), 13:55.7 (5000m) and 28:47.26 (10000) as well as having a 2:22 marathon to his credit. Represented Scotland on the track, the road, over the country and on the hills.

Cammie Spence was a driving force behind Spango Valley AAC. A good committee man he almost certainly ran in more races for the club than any other. Over the country or on the road, championship races or relays, it was all the same. A very good athlete he had personal bests of 8:22.0 (3000), 14:20.0 (5000m), 30:00.84 (10000m) as well as representing Northern Ireland over the country..

Lawrie Spence was another man of many clubs representing Glenpark, Strathclyde University, Shettleston and Spango Valley. A sub-four miler and a 2:16 marathon man with outstanding times at every distance in between. Captain of the Scottish cross-country team in the world championships and with victories in the SAAA championships at 1500m (twice), 5000m (twice) and 10000m (three times) he was a superb addition to any team.

Lachie Stewart – who needs to say anything about Lachie?

Terry Wilkie was a good standard team runner – never ranked nationally as an individual, he was a member of many a medal winning team for Spango Valley from the 70’s through to the amalgamation with Inverclyde AAC.

Lawrie Spence to Chris Leck, Six Stage Relay, 1983

SPEYSIDE WAY 50KM HISTORY

Posted on July 26, 2016 by The Author

(This history, based on his annual race reports, was compiled by Don Ritchie, the legendary ultra-distance runner.)

The Speyside Way mixed terrain 50Km race

At the meeting of the ‘Ritchie Foundation’ trustees in February 1992 it was decided to investigate the staging of a local ultra-distance race. I thought that 50Km would be an appropriate distance and Noel McPartlin, suggested using the Speyside Way. It was decided to investigate the route by bicycle, so Noel, Graham Milne and I, accompanied by our daughter Claire, set off from the old Ballindalloch railway station. Claire stopped at Aberlour, where we had our pub lunch and continued, suitably fortified, to the Spey Bay Hotel. We agreed that the course was suitable for running and quite challenging, especially the climb over Ben Aigen. The route was modified to avoid a dangerous road crossing and carefully measured from OS maps by Jim McWilliam and the start line arranged at Ballindalloch so that the estimated distance was 50Km. Mike Francis joined our group as a trustee, as we planned the race. It was decided to plan for the race to be on Easter Sunday, the 3rd of April 1994

Route description: The route will follow the Speyside Way from Ballindalloch to Spey Bay as indicated on the entry form. To accomplish the full distance a deviation of approximately 5Km commences on the descent from the forest track off Ben Aigen, to the east of Boat O’Brig. The track from Brigeton Farm is taken to the right, onto the B9103, past the Distillery, and then next left onto a road through the Moss of Cairnty. The Speyside Way is resumed on the Ordiequish road. After skirting round Fochabers, the final stretch is a track by the river Spey to the Moray coast at Spey Bay. Altogether a safe and very scenic route.

Sponsorship for the race was obtained from Isobel Ritchie, Gleaner Oils, United Distillers (Bell’s), both Elgin-based, the Coasters running club, Banff and Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise. The race finish would be at the Spey Bay Hotel, where post race refreshments would be served and the Caravan Park showers made available. Mick Francis agreed to be race director, with all race entries being sent to him. A pre-race pasta party staffed by Moray Road Runners helpers was to be held in Lodge Moray. Elgin.

NERVOUSNESS BEFORE A TYPICAL START

In this inaugural race, Alan Reid (Peterhead AC) went straight out on his own and opened a large lead, which at one point had grown to four-and-a-half minutes. After the climb on Ben Aigen, Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen) began to close on Reid and took the lead at Fochabers and went on to win in the excellent time of 3:02:03. Reid held on for second place in 3:15:00 and Eric Grant (Moray Road Runners) making his ultra distance debut, finished third in an impressive 3:19:28. Forty-nine year old Don Ritchie (Forres Harriers) was first veteran in sixth place in 3:31:06, just ahead of fifty-one year old Charlie Love (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers), who was 7th in 3:32:04. Paul Bream (Wallsend Harriers) was second veteran in 3:35:11 and Neil McGregor (Shettleston Harriers) was third in 3:37:23. Eleanor Robinson (Border Harriers) in 21st place won the ladies race in 3:59:12 ahead of Marianne Savage (Centurion Road Runners) who finished in 4:10:30 and Isobel Clark (Arbroath Footers) was third lady with 4:38:48. In a very close-fought team race, Moray Roadrunners just managed to hold off Forres Harriers by one point. One of the most pleasing aspects of the event was the fact that out of 81 starters there were only four drop-outs and 77 finished within the 6-hour time limit. Everyone involved with this event agreed that it was a success. Once all the expenses had been dealt with and all donations summed, including £62.32 raised by our nine-year-old daughter, Anna, who played her violin for two hours outside the Lossiemouth Co-op supermarket, £1247.82 was donated to the Elgin and District Cancer Research Campaign.

ALAN REID AND FRASER CLYNE

1995:

The second edition of the Speyside Way 50Km race was held on Sunday 16th April 1995. At 11am, Glen Elliot and Alan Barclay of United Distillers, the main sponsors, sent the 66 runners on their way from the old Ballindalloch Station to the finish at Spey Bay.

Allan Stewart Moray Road Runners), following his good run in the London marathon two weeks earlier, was in confident mood and assumed the lead. He extended his advantage until his pursuers, Don Ritchie (Moray Road Runners) and Andy Farquharson (Inverness Harriers) could no longer see him. At one point he was six minutes ahead.

By around 24 miles the chasing pair was caught by Peter Baxter from Pitreavie (Dunfermline). Ritchie slowed as his 50-year-old legs protested at the demands being made on them. However Allan slowed more dramatically on the rough path by the Spey towards the finish, and was passed by Farquharson and Baxter. Over the last quarter mile, Baxter was able to break away from Farquharson to win by 10 seconds in 3:23:11. Ritchie, running almost five minutes faster than last year, also passed the gallant Stewart to take third place in 3:26:25, which together with Alan Young’s 18th place gave Moray Road Runners, first team place. Paul Bream (Wallsend Harriers) was second 0ver 50 in 7th place with 3:32:24. Geoff Oliver (100Km Association) was the first over 60 with an excellent 3:51:20 in 15th place and helped his team finish second.

First Lady was Sharon Gayter (Mandale Harriers) in 4:03:58 with Helene Diamantides (Westerlands AC) second in 4:25:07 and Susan Low (Roasters RC) third in 4:29:18. Oldest finisher was John Foden from Nottingham who is 68. There were 62 finishers plus a five-person (four men and a lady) relay team from United Distillers, and Robin Gatenby’s dog.

The race organiser appreciates the assistance given by the sponsors: United Distillers, Moray, Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise, Gleaner Oil and Gas, Lossiemouth Co-op and all the helpers on the day.

From the race proceeds, £200 was donated to the Elgin and District Cancer Research Campaign.

DON RITCHIE (YELLOW VEST) LEADS THE PACK

1996:

With the departure of Mick Francis, race director of the previous two races, to Australia, Don Ritchie added this to his race organising role. The third edition of the race, now called the ‘Bell’s Speyside Way 50Km race, was held on Sunday 14th April 1996. At 11am, George Runcie of United Distillers, the main sponsors, sent the 47 runners on their way. Brian Scally, a track specialist with a 1500 metre best of 3:49.2 soon established a lead on the run down to Carron.

Moray Road Runner Allan Stewart and Simon Pride of Keith and District were joint second at this point. As the race progressed, Scally began to tire and Stewart suffered on the downhill sections. Pride, although never having raced further than a half marathon, ran on strongly, catching and passing Scally soon after the Moss of Cairnty. He finished full of running, recording 3:11:00, the second fastest time on the route, indicating that he has the potential to become an excellent ultra distance runner. Afterwards, race organiser, Don Ritchie, along with others, who had seen Simon’s running during the last five miles, were asking: is Simon a future Scottish or British 100Km champion?

Robert Brown (Hunters Bog Trotters) from Edinburgh, the Lairig Ghru race record holder, also finished strongly to overtake Scally and take second in 3:19:29. Scally held on for third in 3:21:01, just 24 hours after helping his club win the national road relay championship. Roger Greenaway (Ochil Hill Runners) from Stirling set an over 40 course record of 3:28:51, as did Colin Youngson (Metro Aberdeen) in the over 45 category with 3:29:27.

Sharon Gayter (Mandale Harriers) from Middlesborough repeated her win of last year, and set a new course record of 3:56:04, taking over five minutes off the existing record. Susan Low (Roasters RC) from Golspie improved her time of last year by over four minutes to finish second in 3:24:56. Nicki Innes (Carnethy H.R.C) from Edinburgh was third lady in 5:03:12.

Nigel Rose (Carnethy H.R.C), Edinburgh was first over 50 in 4:28:51 and 63-year old Bill Robertson (Perth R.R) was first over 60 in 5:10:01.

Moray Road Runners won the team race with 27 points, ahead of Edinburgh Southern Harriers with 39 points. A team of five from United Distillers ran in relay over the course, co-ordinated by George Runcie.

The race organiser very much appreciates the assistance given by the sponsors: United Distillers, Moray, Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise, Gleaner Oil and Gas, Lossiemouth Co-op and all the helpers on the day.

From the race proceeds, £500 was donated to the Elgin and District Cancer Research Campaign.

1997:

In the fourth edition of the ‘Bell’s Speyside Way 50Km race, Simon Pride successfully defended his title on 6thy April, 1997 and slashed 2 min 49 sec off the course record. The previous record was set in 1994 by Great Britain marathon international Fraser Clyne.

The event was blessed with beautiful spring weather, which came as something of a relief after two days of rather unpleasant weather leading up to it. Alan Barclay of United Distillers, sponsors of the race, sent seventy-seven runners on their way at 11 am.

Pride had set himself two goals; to win and break the course record. With his confidence high following a brilliant 40-mile track race five weeks ago at Barry in South Wales, Pride set a fast pace from the start. By the first refreshment station at Carron he had a substantial lead over Brian Scally of Shettleston Harriers, who was followed by Allan Stewart, last years ‘Moray Marathon’ winner, and Peter Shirley, both of Moray Road Runners. By Craigellachie, Pride’s lead was almost 10 minutes and such was his pace that lead cyclist, Eric Grant had to work very hard to stay ahead of him on the hill going over the brow of Ben Aigen.

Stewart running cleverly and bravely, with ‘sair feet’, moved through ahead of Scally, while Shirley continued to run well in fourth place.

Pride continued his charge down to Fochabers and on to Spey Bay and as he approached the finish it appeared that not only would he break the course record but he might also crack three hours. With yells of encouragement from supporters waiting at the finish, Pride surged to the finish to record 2:59:18, taking 2 min 49 sec off Clyne’s record.

Stewart finished well in second achieving a personal best of 3:19:06, for the course. Scally repeated his third place of last year in 3:29:00 and was closely followed by Shirley in 3:29:52. Roger Greenaway (Central AC) first veteran and first over 45 in fifth place in 3:31:32 and Joe Holden (Fife AC) in sixth place was first over 50 in 3:31:41, while Colin Mathieson (Pitreavie) in seventh was first over 40 in 3:36:20.

Leading the 15 ladies was Helene Diamantides (Westerlands AC) a Great Britain 100Km international, who finished an excellent 10th overall in 3:44:42, to take 11 min 22 sec off Sharon Gayter’s course record. Kate Todd (Kilmarnock H) was second and first veteran in 4:08:09 and Hilary Spenceley (Carnethy HRC) was third in 4:10:53. Sixty-six runners completed the course in the six-hour limit.

Moray Road Runners were again first team with Raymond Farquhar third counter. Shettleston Harriers were second and the first ladies team was Carnethy Hill Runners.

The awards were presented in the Spey Bay Hotel by Dr Alan Rutherford of United Distillers.

Simon Pride’s confidence will have been further boosted by this win and should stand him in good stead for his Great Britain 100Km debut in next month’s European Championships in Italy over the hilly ‘Del Passatorie’ course from Florence to Faenza.

The race organiser again appreciates the assistance given by the sponsors: United Distillers, Gleaner Oil and Gas, Lossiemouth Co-op and all the helpers on the day.

From the race proceeds, £600 was donated to the Elgin and District Cancer Research Campaign.

1998:

In cold winter-like conditions, seventy-five courageous runners and several volunteer helpers assembled at Ballindalloch on Sunday 12th April, for the fifth edition of the ‘Bell’s Speyside Way’ 50Km race. Alan Barclay of United Distillers (U.D), sent the runners on their way at 11 am, and then with several other U.D employees, set out to run part of the route as part of their preparation for the London Marathon on 26th April.

Simon Pride immediately took the lead, followed by Allan Stewart of Moray Road Runners, and the field of following runners began to stretch out as each set their appropriate pace. Runners had to cope with two hail showers, with large hailstones, propelled by a strong northeast wind, which caused discomfort to exposed runners. Underfoot conditions were quite difficult in places, with snow, slush and mud, being encountered. This made the downhill section coming off Ben Aigen potentially dangerous.

Simon ran a very competent race for a third successive win in 3:19:59, over 20 minutes down on his course record of last year because of the adverse conditions. Allan Stewart ran well to take second place again in 3:30:22 and this will give him a good confidence boost for the British 100Km championships in Greenwich on 10th May. There he will represent Scotland, along with fellow Moray Road Runners; William Sichel and Don Ritchie, in the Anglo Celtic plate competition incorporated in this race. Third finisher was debutant 50Km, David Hurst (Deeside Runners) in 3:38:15. Forty-five year old Neil MacGregor (Shettleston) was first veteran in 6th place in 3:49:21. Don Ritchie in 10th was first over 50 in 3:58:32, Nigel Rose (Carnethy HR) was first over 55 in 4:35:18 and Mike Briggs was first over 60 in 4:51:02.

Carolyn Hunter-Rowe (Horwich R.M.H) was first lady, finished fifth overall in 3:47:09, indicating that in better weather conditions she would have broken the ladies course record. Kate Jenkins (Carnethy HR) in 11th, a huge improvement from last year, was second lady in 4:02:24. Kate Todd (Kilmarnock) in 22nd place was third lady and first lady veteran in 4:25:08.

Carnethy H.R.C was first men’s team and F.M.C Carnegie was first ladies team.

Organiser Don Ritchie thanked United Distillers for their sponsorship and Gleaner Oil and Gas and the Co-op, Lossiemouth who provided support. He also praised those who acted as helpers on the day.

From the race proceeds, £600 was donated to the Elgin and District Cancer Research Campaign.

1999:

Starter, Steve McGingle of United Distillers sent a record field of ninety-seven runners off in the sixth edition of the ‘Bell’s Speyside Way 50Kn race at 11 am on Sunday 11th April. Winner of the last three races, Simon Pride (Keith & District) set the pace, closely followed by Alan Reid (Peterhead AC) and these two began to pull away from Steve Reeve and Allan Stewart, both of Moray Road Runners. It was good to see Simon having team support from Mike Turner, Willie Johnstone and Andy Philips, all making their 50Km debut.

Simon continued his strong running and actually increased his pace over the last six miles to finish in 3:02:20, only 2 min 42 sec outside his course record and the third fastest time for the route. Alan Reid dropped out at 20 miles.

Steve Reeve improved greatly on his personal best, finishing second in 3:18:41 and Allan Stewart, now a veteran, ran bravely to secure third place in 3:25:32, overcoming some recent injury problems.

Defending champion, Carolyn Hunter-Rowe (Horwich R.M.H) maintained her good pace to finish seventh overall in a new ladies course record time of 3:31:59, taking a whopping 12 min 43 sec off the previous record. Kate Jenkins (Carnethy HR) running over ten minutes faster than last year was second again in 3:52:42 and Nicola May (Babcock Pitreavie) was third in 4:05:50.

James Watson (Livingston & District) was first over 45 in 4th place in 3:29:49, closely followed by fellow over 45, William Sichel (Moray Road Runners), 5th in 3:30:04. William’s fifth place gave Moray Road runners the team title ahead of Keith & District.

Don Ritchie, in 13th place was first over 50 in 3:44:44, with Neil MacGregor (Shettleston Harriers) second in 16th with 3:45:59. George Armstrong (Haddington) was first over 55 in 4:04:57. Second lady veteran behind Carolyn Hunter-Rowe was Elspeth Scott (Westerlands) in 4:15:18 and third, but first over 45 was Carol Cadger (Perth Strathtay) in 4:17:48.

A record number of 91 runners finished the course aided by the pleasant weather conditions.

Organiser Don Ritchie thanked United Distillers for their sponsorship and Gleaner Oil and Gas and the Co-op, Lossiemouth for their support. He also thanked all his helpers who made the race such a success.

From the race proceeds, £742 was donated to Charities.

2000:

On Sunday 16th April Alan Barclay of United Distillers sent off the 87 runners in the seventh edition of the Bell’s Speyside Way race in pleasant spring sunshine. The good weather was a great relief to all after the stormy weather of the preceding days.

Because of the clash of dates, Simon Pride, who has won the title for the last four years, was running in the ‘Flora London Marathon’ in his bid to make the G.B Olympic marathon squad.

Alan Reid (Peterhead AAC), the current Scottish 50Km champion, led immediately and pulled away from William Sichel (Moray Road Runners), the present British 100Km champion, and Alistair Black (Forres Harriers). At Aberlour the leading positions were unchanged, while Steve Reeve and Allan Stewart, both Moray Road Runners, were joint fourth, followed by Alex Keith (Hunters Bog Trotters) and debutant Graeme Goodall from Buckie.

Reid continued to extend his lead to finish more than two miles ahead in 3:12:20, a good performance considering how muddy and slippery parts of the route were. William Sichel set an over-45 course record of 3:26:54 in finishing second. Alastair Black was a revelation, never having raced further than a half marathon; he finished third in an excellent 3:27:10.

With Steve Reeve fifth and Allan Stewart eighth and first over-40, Moray Road Runners secured the team title ahead of Peterhead AAC. In tenth place, Don Ritchie set a new over-55 course record of 3:43:32. First over-60 was Richard Gorman (Westerlands) in 5:32:55.

Kate Jenkins (Carnethy HRC), who had finished second for the past two years, won in 3:56:32. Her team mate Hilary Spencley, was second and first veteran in 4:04:26, followed by Scottish 100Km international, Carol Cadger (Perth Strathtay H) and second veteran in 4:14:24. Dundee Road runners won the Ladies team prize.

Eighty-one runners completed the course

Organiser Mr Ritchie expressed thanks to United Distillers for their sponsorship, Gleaner Oil and Gas and the Scottish Co-op, for their support as well as the race volunteers.

From the race proceeds, £500 was donated to the Cancer Research Campaign and £407 to other Charities.

2001:

After seven years of very generous sponsorship, United Distillers had to terminate their support for the race. A new sponsor was found in ‘Neways’, who make a range of special health and personal care products.

.Because of the Foot and Mouth disease crisis, Moray District Council closed the Speyside Way route and would be closed for three weeks after the last recorded outbreak of the disease. Consequently, the race scheduled for the 15th of April had to be cancelled and entry fees refunded to those who had already sent entries.

2002:

Sixty-one runners assembled in damp weather on Sunday the 14th of April for he eighth edition of the race, now called the ‘Neways’ Speyside Way 50Km race. All runners, except Simon Pride were sent on their way to Spey Bay by starter, Ken McKen at 11am.

Simon, a four times winner of this race, and course record holder with a time of 2-59-18, arranged with the race director and timekeepers to start his race exactly 10 minutes after the field of 60 runners departed. The former World 100Km champion and Scottish Commonwealth Games marathon team member, used this Hares and Hound approach to ensure that he would not have such a lonely run as in some previous years.

Charlie Noble, the reigning Scottish 100Km champion, led a small group through Carron and Aberlour, before he and Ian Lewis pulled away approaching Craigellachie, some 13 miles into the race. On the climb over the brow of Ben Aigen, Lewis, who was attempting 50Km for the first tine, gained an advantage over Noble and went on to establish a lead of about 700 metres by the time he reached the road. By this time the weather had deteriorated from a ‘Scotch Mist’ to a heavier drizzle, making some parts of the course rather slippery.

Further down the field, Kate Jenkins, accompanied by her Spaniel, was running strongly and looked like repeating her success of two years ago.

Approaching his home town, of Fochabers, ‘Local Hero’ Simon Pride caught and passed Ian Lewis and went on to win convincingly for a fifth time in 3:07:27. This was a good workout for Pride, who was using the run as part of his preparations for his next marathon, in Belfast on the 6th of May. Lewis (Shettleston Harriers) was runner-up in 3:24:34, ahead of Charlie Noble (Metro Aberdeen), whose time of 3-26-44 was only 19 seconds short of Don Ritchie’s V50 course record. James Watson (Lothian R.C), also an over-50 was also close to the record with 3:26:49 to place fourth.

Alex Nicol (Carnegie H) in 10th place was first over-55 in 3:41:53 followed by Dave Stewart (Moray Road Runners) who finished 19th in 4:10:53. Alan Kay (Dundee RR) was first over-60 in 5:32:55 and Bill Robertson (Perth RR) was first over-65 and oldest finisher in 5:59:49.

Kate Jenkins (Carnethy HRC) duly won the ladies title for the second time, finishing 13th overall in 3:58:48, ahead of Carol Cadger Perth Strathtay H), who was 17th overall in 4:08:50 and also first veteran (LV50), while fellow veteran Maggie Creber (Carnethy HRC), claimed third in 4:19:59.

Westerlands C.C.C won the men’s team from Carnethy ‘A’ and Carnegie Harriers won the ladies team competition. Fifty-seven runners completed the course in the six-hour limit.

The race organiser thanked ‘Neways’ for their sponsorship, Gleaner Oil and Gas and the Scottish Co-op, for their assistance. In addition a big thank you was due to all the helpers on the day.

ON THE SPEYSIDE WAY

2003:

Eighty-eight runners assembled for the start, in excellent conditions, of the ninth edition of the ‘Neways’ Speyside Way race on Sunday the 14th of April. All, except five times previous winner Simon Pride, were sent on their way to Spey Bay by Ken McKen at 11.00 am. Simon arranged with the timekeepers and race director to start his race exactly ten minutes later, as he did last year.

At Craigellachie, Nigel Holl from Stirling, led from James Watt of Hamilton Harriers, with Alan Reid of Peterhead not far behind and John Goodall (Keith & District) in 4th place. Approaching Fochabers, Simon caught and passed Nigel Holl and went on to win convincingly for a sixth time in 3:11:55. This was a ‘good workout’ for Simon and should contribute to his preparations for his next marathon, in Belfast on the 5th of May.

Nigel Holl finished second in 3:30:39, ahead of the fast finishing veteran, John Kennedy, in 3:31:49. Alan Reid claimed fourth in 3:42:22 ahead of John Goodall, who ran very well in his debut, finishing in 3:44:18.

Roger Greenaway (Central AC) was first over-50 in 12th place in 3:49:40 and George Armstrong (H.E.L.P) was first over-60 in 4:28:46. The oldest finisher and first over-70 was William Robertson (Perth RR) in 6:05:55.

In the Ladies race, Andrea Devine, from Christchurch in New Zealand, led all the way to finish 11th overall, and first veteran in an excellent 3:48:39. Kate Jenkins, from Carnethy Hill running Club, accompanied by her Spaniel dog, was runner up in 4:01:46 and Lynne Kuz of E Z Carnegie Harriers claimed third place and second veteran in a personal best of 4:17:30 and led her team to victory in the ladies event. Deborah McDonald (Hunters Bog Trotters) was third ladies veteran in 4:27:07 and Carol Cadger (Perth Strathtay) was first over-50 Lady in 4:34:47.

Perth Road Runners won the men’s team race from Forres Harriers, with Carnethy Hill Running Club, third.

84 runners achieved the satisfaction of completing this challenging course.

The race organiser, Don Ritchie thanked ‘Neways’ for their sponsorship, also the Scottish Co-op and Gleaner Oil and Gas for their assistance. In addition a big ‘thank you’ is due to all the helpers on the day.

2004:

In the tenth edition of this race on Sunday the 11th of April, ninety-eight runners assembled for the start, in excellent conditions, and were sent on their way to Spey Bay by Ken McKen at 11.00 am. Simon Pride, the course record holder and winner on six previous occasions, soon assumed the lead and began to pull away.

By Carron, Simon was well clear of Nigel Holl (unattached) from Stirling and Andy Eccles (Wigan Phoenix), who were locked in the battle for second place. Simon continued to extend his lead to win convincingly in 3:02:15, less than three minutes outside his course record, bringing his tally of wins to seven. This was a good workout for Simon and should be a good contribution towards his preparations, representing Great Britain in the European, 100Km Championships in Italy on the 29th of May. Nigel Holl and Andy Eccles, after an excellent, race long tussle, agreed to have a dead heat for joint second place in 2:24:11. Andy’s time was a new course record for over 40’s, taking 1 min 21 sec off Allan Stewart’s record, which had stood since 1999.

Second veteran and first over-45 was Les Hill (Dumfrise RC) in fifth in 3:35:50 and Alan Lawson (Dundee RR) was first over-55, finishing 11th overall in 3:50:16. Eric Sidebottom (Strathearn H) was first over-60 in 4:33:27. First local runner was John Goodall (Keith and District) in eighth place and was closely followed by Mike Howell and Mark Priestly, both of Forres Harriers in 9th and 10th places respectively. The only Moray Road Runner was Allan Stewart, making a welcome return to ultra running, finishing a creditable 22nd despite limited training.

In the Ladies race, previous winner on two occasions, Kate Jenkins (Carnethy H.R.C), accompanied by her Spaniel dog, won in a personal best time for this route of 3:58:23. Runner up was Debbie Cox (Glasgow City) in 4:17:06, while Lynne Kuz (E Z Carnegie Harriers) claimed third place and first Lady veteran in 4:20:11, and led her team to victory in the ladies event. Judith Dobson (Kinross RR) was first lady over-45 in 4:31:36.

Forres Harriers won the men’s team race from Central AC, with Carnethy Hill Running Club, third. 94 runners achieved the satisfaction of completing this challenging course.

Race organiser, Don Ritchie, thanked ‘Neways’, for their sponsorship, also the Scottish Co-op and Gleaner Oil and Gas, for their assistance and all the helpers on the day.

2005:

The eleventh edition of this race on Sunday the 10th of April, saw sixty-one runners assembled for the start, in excellent conditions, at the former Ballindalloch railway Station and were sent on their way to Spey Bay by Ken McKen at 11.00 am. Simon Pride, the course record holder and winner on six previous occasions, was not participating on this occasion, so the race was ‘wide open’. Carl Pryce, a debutant and over-45 veteran, from Pitcaple, running for Cosmic Hillbashers, assumed the lead and began to pull away from the field.

By Carron, he was well clear and looking comfortable, even finding time to stop at the refreshment station there, for a drink and food. He continued to extend his lead to win comfortably in 3:45:11. Ritchie McCrae (Penicuik Harriers) was runner up in 3:49:23 and Andrew Brierly (Fife AC) was third man in 3:56:54. Doug Walker (Westbury Harriers) was first over-50 in fifth place in 3:57:16 and Alistair Kerr (Scottish Veteran Harriers) was first over-60 in 4:44:56. John McArdle was the only over-70 veteran and finished in 6:24:50. First local runner was Mark Priestley of Forres Harriers in 9th place in 4:07:35.

In the Ladies race, previous winner on two occasions and course record holder, Carolyn Hunter-Rowe of Dumfries R. C. moved through the field to finish third overall and a convincing third win in 3:53:45. Runner up and also second veteran behind Carolyn was Lynne Kuz (E Z Carnegie Harriers) in 4:17:32. Rosie Bell (Strathaven striders) was third lady in 4:26:52. Sue Drummond (Strathearn Harriers) was first over-55 lady veteran in 5:19:00.

Fifty-nine runners completed this challenging event.

Fife A.C. won the men’s team race from Strathearn Harriers, with Carnethy Hill Running Club, third.

Organiser, Don Ritchie, thanked ‘Neways’ for their sponsorship, the Scottish Co-op and ‘Little the Jewellers’, for their assistance. In addition a big ‘thank you’ is due to all the helpers on the day.

2006:

During my preparations for the twelfth edition of the ‘Neways’ Speyside Way 50Km I learned that the company which owned the Spey Bay Hotel was declared bankrupt and that the hotel was no longer operating. I telephoned the receivers and their representative informed me that they did not know what the status of the hotel would be on race day, the 16th of April, so I had to cancel the race. The hotel and the attached caravan park shower block were vital to provide finishing facilities, changing, showers, food and presentation of awards, for the runners.

The Spey Bay Hotel never reopened and was boarded up until May 2016, when it was demolished to make way for several ‘luxury’ homes.

It was intended that the Speyside Way 50Km race would provide a ‘stepping stone’ for some runners; from the marathon distance to the international standard ultra distance competition of 100Km. Performances in this race influenced the selection of Scottish team members for the Anglo Celtic Plate 100Km competition.

Nigel Rose (Carnethy Hill Running Club) has the distinction of having completed all of the eleven Speyside Way races.

Another benefit from the eleven races was that £5034 was donated to charities.

The existing male course records are:

Simon Pride (Keith & District), 2:59:18 (1997),

V40 Andy Eccles (Wigan Phoenix), 3:24:11 (2004),

V45 William (Sichel Moray Road Runners), 3:26:54, (2000),

V50 Donald Ritchie (Moray Road Runners), 3:26:25 (1995),

V55, Donald Ritchie (Moray Road Runners), 3:43:32 (2000),

V60, Geoff Oliver (100Km Association), 3:51:20 (1995).

Carolyn Hunter-Rowe (Horwich RMI Harriers) a lady (V35) veteran set the female record of 3:31:59 in 1999.

AL HOWIE OBITUARY

Posted on July 13, 2016 by The Author

(The following obituary was written by Jack Davidson)

AL HOWIE: ULTRA DISTANCE RUNNER

BORN 16^TH SEPTEMBER 1945 WEST KILBRIDE

DIED 21^ST JUNE 2016 DUNCAN, BRITISH COLUMBIA

(Al Howie running in the Trans-Canada event)

Scottish-born athlete Arthur Howie, known as ‘Al’, was one of the world’s most renowned ultra distance runners and record holders who made his name initially in North America after taking up running aged 30 in Canada in order to quit smoking. During a competitive career between 1979 and ’99 he ran countless thousands of miles in races in many countries pushing the boundaries of human endurance to the limit and beyond as he chalked up success upon success with scarcely believable feats. Arguably his most outstanding achievement was running across Canada from east to west in 1991, a distance of more than 4,500 miles in just over 72 days, equivalent to more than two back to back Tours de France and two and a half marathons daily. Dubbed by him as ‘The Tomorrow Run ‘91’, he set off from Mile Zero in St.John’s, Newfoundland on 21st June reaching Mile Zero in Victoria, British Columbia 72 days later. In the process he raised over half a million dollars for special needs childrens’ charities in conjunction with the Elks of Canada, a fraternal organisation dedicated to community improvement projects. His run merited the installation of a brass commemorative plaque in Victoria recording the details for posterity. Fellow athletes called him ‘the Trans Canada Running God.’

Hardly having caught breath, two weeks later he went to New York to compete in the Sri Chimnoy 1300 mile race which he won setting a new record of just over 16 days breaking his own record set two years previously. This raised ultra distance running to unprecedented levels, particularly remarkable as he was aged 46 at the time, and along with his Trans Canada run, earned entries in the Guinness Book of Records.

Brought up in Saltcoats with sister Elizabeth and brother Ian, his early years offered little hint of his future running career although he showed some promise in cross country while a pupil at Ardrossan Academy. Young Arthur was later known as Alfie and then as Al. His father Arthur, a merchant seaman, had boxed in the navy during the war while mother Mary was a competitive swimmer. Although Howie did not participate in structured sport his family underlined the benefits of exercise and outdoor life to him by going on long daily walks during annual holidays and his mother encouraged him to swim daily in the sea during summertime.

After marrying an American girl temporarily living here, they moved to the Bournemouth area where he worked in landscape gardening. When the marriage broke up he entered a relationship with a Canadian lady and in about 1973 went with her to live in Toronto. It was while there that he took up running to help him cope with giving up a heavy smoking habit. Determined to prove friends wrong who thought him incapable of stopping, he soon found long distance running therapeutic to his efforts and that he had a lot of natural ability. In one of his first attempts he was able to run 10 miles in normal daily clothing and footwear with ease. From there he progressed to making his competitive debut in 1979 in a 17 mile race finishing third while in his first marathon in Edmonton in 1980 he finished first in his age group. He then ran from Edmonton to Victoria to compete in the Royal Victoria Marathon.

By now he was dedicating his life to running and his distinctive appearance of long blond mane of hair and bushy beard, often sporting a Lion Rampant running vest and his long spindly legs soon became instantly recognisable. Referring to himself as the ‘Tartan Spartan’ he cut a somewhat eccentric figure, exacerbating that image by sometimes drinking beer before and during races while fish and chips was his food of choice. But there was no doubting the quality of his running as illustrated in the following examples.

He won the Ottawa 24 hours day and night race[Canadian Championship] five years in a row between 1981 and ’85 and for a sixth time in ’87; in 1988 he completed the John o’ Groats to Land’s End run in the then record time of eleven days, three hours and eighteen minutes, before going on to run through England, France and Corsica en route to competing in a 254 km race between Cagliari and Sassari in Sardinia; in 1989 he was the first runner to break 18 days in the Sri Chimnoy 1300 race in New York; his last race was the 72 hour “Across the Year” event in Phoenix Arizona, from 29^th December 1998 to 1^st January 1999 which he won, then aged 53.Altogether he raised over a million dollars for charity in his career.

To continue running and do so successfully he had to overcome considerable adversity. In 1985 he suffered brain cancer and in 1995 was diagnosed with Diabetes I which he controlled with daily insulin injections leading to his being honoured by the North American Association for Diabetic Athletes. In 2007 the city of Duncan awarded him the Perpetual Trophy for Excellence and Sportsmanship while in 2014 he was inducted into Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame.

His latter years were spent in care homes in Duncan marred by diabetes and mental health issues. In 1985 he married Claudia Cole but they separated, amicably, in 2000. He is survived by his wife, son Gabe, daughter Dana, and grandchildren Jocelyn and Kiyari.

Link to profile

Inter Clubs at the Games: Shawfield and Brockville

Posted on July 5, 2016 by The Author

Danny Wilmoth winning at Shawfield in the Lanarkshire Constabulary Sports

Note the dog track (cinder) round the outside of the running track on the grass

There were two or three miles races at other venues but they were often erratic in that they were not on the programme every year. Shawfield was a fairly good meeting but the three miles was not an ever present – they did have other attractions however which kept the meeting going for some time. The Falkirk meeting was only held for ten years as far as I can find out and at one time the Strathallan Gathering at Bridge of Allan had a three miles handicap. It is maybe worth looking at the first two.

The Lanarkshire Constabulary Sports were held at Shawfield Stadium on the first Saturday in June. Shawfield was the home of Clyde Football Club and was also famous for the greyhound racing that took place on the track round the outside of the football pitch. This kept the spectators well away from the action and the size of the stadium meant that what would have been a ‘crowd’ at another Games meeting, appeared to be a sparse gathering. The runners had to change under the stand, cross the dog track and then they were on the grass track which was marked out on the football pitch. It was obviously a bit short of the 440 yards distance, but that was par for the course as far as summer tracks were concerned. The sports organised by Clyde FC were originally professional sports and remained so for a big chunk of the amateur era, becoming amateur only in the second decade of the 20th century. They ceased to be in the 30’s but the Lanarkshire Constabulary Sports took place there one week before the Glasgow Police Sports at Ibrox. The programme changed from time to time at Shawfield and the three miles (not the more usual two) was a team race but the emphasis was on the individual event and lots of the top men took part in it.

We all enjoyed running there but it was not one of the major venues of the summer.

There was no team race at all in 1960 where the real interest was generated by Crawford Fairbrother broke the Scottish native record of 6′ 7 1/2″ for the high jump getting over 6’8″ on his second attempt. The invitation quarter mile was won by WillieBlack of Maryhill and the open Mile by Mike Ryan of St Modan’s. Nor was there one in 1961 – but 1962 say a good programme of events which included a three miles race. The report on the race read: “AP Brown (Motherwell) at half way in the three miles never looked like catching his team mate R McKay but his recovery over the final half mile was so remarkable that he beat McKay by 30 yards in the good time of 14 min 08.5 sec. ” There was a team race and Motherwell won it with 9 points.

The meeting in 1963 was held on June 3rd and the three miles was described in the results as “Three mile team race. Motherwell YMCA(J Linaker 1, I McCafferty 2, AH Brown 3) 6 pts. Linaker’s winning time was 14 min 23.8 sec.” Away from the team race there were several interesting races. The meeting most years had an invitation three quarter mile race and this time the invitees included Graham Everett (Shettleston), and Hugh Barrow (Victoria Park). Shortly after the start there was a collision and Hugh Barrow fell to the track and was out of the race. He tried to make up the ground but too much ground had been lost. Everett won in 3:07.8 from Craig Douglas of Teviotdale with Graham Peters of Victoria Park third. These meetings organised by the football clubs almost always had a five a side football tournament and Rangers, Third Lanark, Celtic, Clyde, Hamilton and Motherwell were the teams with Motherwell beating Rangers 1-0 in the final.

Motherwell again won the three miles team race on 13th June, 1964, although Lachie Stewart won the race from Bert McKay in 14:18 after sprinting away with 200 yards to go. Hugh Baillie of Bellahouston was favourite to win the invitation handicap 300 yards but was beaten by a yard and a half by Graeme Grant who was running from 14 yards, Grant following this up with second in the mile to Eddie Knox of Springburn. The featured three quarters of a mile invitation was won by Wilson of Teviotdale from Jim Johnstone (Monkland) and Graham Everett in 3:06.1.

Lachie again won the race in 1965, this time from Ian McCafferty (Motherwell) and Albert Smith (Victoria Park) in 14:06.6. This was still the only team race in the programme, it was an open race by now and the meeting in 1965 really emphasised the five a side competition pointing out that the crowd was larger than usual and that it was ‘more raucous’ when the football came on. Graeme Grant won the three quarter mile from Bill Ewing (Aberdeen University) and Craig Douglas of Teviotdale.

Brockville during a football match: you can see how tight the bends would be for four or five lanes to be inside the goal posts for an athletic track. Lovely running surface though: definitely a class above the usual.

We can pick up on the Sports at Falkirk FC’s ground (Brockville Park) on 25th July 1959. The meeting was organised jointly by Falkirk Victoria Harriers and the football club and was – unfortunately – on the same date as Gourock Highland Games. The meeting included a five-a-side football tournament which meant the goal posts had to be in place, which meant that the track had to be on the infield with enough space inside the goal posts for several runners to run side by side without touching wood. It was one of the smallest tracks of the summer: I only ran there once and on that afternoon we all did personal best times, only to be disappointed when we were told that we had run one lap short. In 1959 Andy Brown of Motherwell won the two mile team race in 9:13.8, a good time on a track with short straights and tight bends. Two Victoria Park runners – John McLaren and Bobby Calderwood – were second and third and their club team won with 9 points. St Mirren beat Celtic in the final of the football by 3 goals and 1 corner to 3 goals, the competing clubs being Rangers, Celtic, St Mirren, Falkirk, Stenhousemuir, East Stirlingshire, Hearts and Motherwell. There was no men’s relay but in the women’s 4 x half lap, Broxburn beat Ardeer and Clydesdale.

Programme photographs from Graham McDonald

A year later, on 30th July 1960, the Scottish three mile record holder, Andy Brown, faced up against the SAAA three mile champion, Eddie Sinclair of Springburn. Brown won by 50 yards in 9:18.0 with Sinclair second and club mate Tom O’Reilly third. Sinclair led home the winning team with Springburn having 12 points. There was a medley relay that afternoon which was won, surprisingly, by Larbert Youth Club from Edinburgh Northern Harriers and Ayr Seaforth in 2 min 34 seconds (the distances were 2 laps, 2 x half lap and 1 lap).

In 1961, George Brownlie of Edinburgh Southern Harriers was unplaced in the junior half-mile but stepped up for the team in the two miles team race and won in 9:35.2. R McFall of ESH was second and John McLaren third. Southern won the team contest with 13 points. Three years, three different clubs winning the race – competition was good. The afternoon was marred by three players being ordered off in the five-a-side – Crerand of Celtic for arguing with the referee, and then Jackson (Celtic) and Lowrie (Falkirk) for coming to blows. To cap it all, Provan (Rangers) and Roberts (Motherwell) had their names taken. Not a good advertisement for football. There was no men’s relay in 1961.

On 28th July 1962 Bert McKay (Motherwell) won from ‘two more fancied competitors’, John Linaker (Pitreavie) and Andy Brown, in 8 min 14.2. The report added, maybe unnecessarily, that the distance was undoubtedly sort for the world record was 8 min 32 sec! Motherwell won the team race. It was a sparkling meeting that year with Ming Campbell winning the 100 from Ronnie Whitelock (VPAAC) and G Mclachlan (St Modan’s) in 9.9 seconds. Willie Morrison (Larkhall) won the handicap mile from Mike Ryan (St Modan’s) and AC Gibson of Hamilton and David Cairns (Springburn( won the high jump. There was an invitation medley relay again and it was won by Edinburgh AC from Larbert and Clydesdale in 2 min 24.2 sec.

27th July 1963 saw another win for the Motherwell YMCA team but this time their leading runner was JH Linaker – the same John Linaker who had been second the previous year but who was now working in Motherwell – from Andy Brown in a sprint finish, with Ian McCafferty third. Motherwell of course won the team contest with 6 points. Although it was not a team contest, Teviotdale runners held the first three places in the handicap half-mile – JR Wilson (12 yards) first, Craig Douglas (scratch) second and P Roden (10 yards) third. Hugh Barrow (VPAAC) gave Dick Wedlock 42 yards in the junior half mile and it was just too much with Wedlock winning in 1:56 before also winning the mile. The programme was much reduced and there were no relays other than the local Under 15 race.

“The Falkirk Football Club – Falkirk Victoria Harriers joint meeting at Brockville Park suffered from the counter attraction of the Gourock meeting and entries were down for the track events” said the ‘Glasgow Herald’ of 27th July 1964. There were only five track events for the men and four for the women. There were no relays for either sex or for any age group. The only club competition was the two miles team race where JR Wilson (Teviotdale Harriers) won in 9:31.6 from Tom Brown of St Modan’s. Teviotdale won the team race.

Les Piggot, Brian Scobie, Lachie Stewart, Jim Johnston, Dick Hodelet and the sprinters in the relay teams were all competing at Gourock that day and to top it all David Stevenson set a British record in the pole vault. It was to be the Falkirk meeting’s last fling. It disappeared from the calendar. It had been a good meeting but the competition from others was great with international meetings taking place most years on that weekend and Gourock was taking the highland games/local sports custom more and more. Falkirk Victoria Harriers are to be thanked however for their effort in putting on this attractive fixture for so long. Below is the list of officials from the Falkirk Sports programme of 1952 with many well-known names in there – Dunky Wright of course, Joe Walker, Alex Nangle (one of two handicappers at the time along with W McNeillie), Fred Evans the doyen of all the starters, David Corbett of Bellahouston, and many others. It is not stretching a point in any way to note that they all had the competitors interests at heart.

Inter-Clubs at the Games: Gourock and Shotts

Posted on July 3, 2016 by The Author

Picture from Gourock HG website

The structured inter-club competition fostered all summer was not totally selfless on the part of the Games organisers. Almost every competitor in the events brought along at least one spectator, often two or three. In addition a club requiring four runners in a team race, often brought at least one competitor who would not otherwise have been there. So a club with teams in the two miles and the relay had at least eight runners plus 20 or ore paying spectators. The club teams usually used seven or eight runners over the season – not all of the top four were always available – so more athletes were exposed to the hard fought, elbows-out-on-the-bends, competition which would help them considerably come the winter cross-country season. It was a win/win situation.

Among the venues, the Clyde coast meetings were at the end of July and the start of August – Gourock, Bute and Cowal all on successive week ends. The Gourock meeting was on the last Saturday in July at the picturesque Battery Park, high on a hill outside the town. The views from the park at times were superb. A at any of these venues, the track was short with something like 5+ laps to the mile. It started outside the pavilion and the first bend was downhill into a short back straight with a wee climb up to the finishing straight which was also on a gentle up-slope. But the racing was hard. There were always good races there and in 1960 the top end of the team race featured Graham Everett of Shettleston Harriers, Steve Taylor of Aberdeen AAC and Eddie Sinclair of Springburn. Bunched at half distance, they were split when Everett set off on his fast finish: he won by 15 yards from Taylor with Sinclair a further five yards back. There was a tie for the team race but Shettleston was given the verdict over Springburn because their last runner was ahead of Springburn’s. The distance events generally were well supported at Gourock and in 1960 the Mile was won by McNeil of Shettleston from McLatchie of Muirkirk and Ballantyne of Edinburgh Southern; Ian Harris won the road race from Lyall of Edinburgh Southern with George King of Greenock Wellpark third. The relays at Gourock were a bit different in that they kept them for schools teams – one school pupil running often brought grans and grandads as well as parents and siblings along!

In 1961 the two miles was won comfortably by Andy Brown of Motherwell YMCA and his club won the team race with 12 points. 12 points is an interesting number – it can be made up of first, second and tenth, or it can be made up of first, fifth and sixth or indeed in many ways but not one of them indicates and easy win for the club against the best of Shettleston, Victoria Park or any of the other clubs taking part in these events. The 1962 Games were held in pouring rain – atrocious for the spectators but even worse for the runners. The team race was won by Motherwell again, this time with 11 points, and the first three places were filled by Andy Brown (9:54.4), Bert McKay (Motherwell), and George Brownlee (Edinburgh Southern). That year, in addition to the schools relays, the meeting included a medley relay which was won by Victoria Park, the report saying that the lead given to them by Hugh Barrow on the first (880 yards) stage gave them no problem in winning the race from Bellahouston Harriers and Clydesdale Harriers in 3:47.3. The road race was won by John Kerr of Airdrie from Ian Harris of Beith, with Peter McConnachie of Wellpark third.

On 20th July, 1963, the sun shone and records were set in many events on a good, dry track. One of these was in the team race over two miles where Motherwell’s new boy, John Linaker, won from Andy Brown in 9:10.8 which took 0.4 sec from Graham Everett’s record of three years earlier. Brown’s time was 9:13.8 and Everett, who was also running that day, was timed at 9:23.4. Importantly though, the team race was won by Motherwell (with 7 points) for the third year in succession. The medley relay (880 + 220 + 220 + 440) was won by Ayr Seaforth (Davidson, McCrindle, McCarvel, Stewart) in 3:39.3. Victoria Park’s Hugh Barrow won the 880 yards won the junior half mile in 1:58.9 from a field of 15 runners, all of whom were give handicap marks ahead of him. The Victoria Park team probably suffered from his absence on the afternoon.

On July 25th, 1964, Lachie Stewart (Vale of Leven) who had been the outstanding performer all summer on the longer track distances, won the two miles from Pat McAtier (Paisley Harriers) in 9:42.4. Shettleston Harriers won the team race. Bellahouston Harriers (MJ McLean, P Ritchie, R Rae and W Robertson) won the invitation medley relay from Glasgow University and Glenpark Harriers in 3:43.5.

The track for the 1965 Games was sodden but nevertheless half a dozen records were set on the ground. One of these was by Vale of Leven’s Lachie Stewart who won the two miles in 9:03 – taking 7.8 seconds from the existing record and beating Andy Brown by 8.4 seconds. Motherwell YMCA won the team race with 10 points. Bellahouston again won the medley relay from Ayr Seaforth in 3:34.5 with a foursome slightly altered from the previous year – MJ McLean, W Robertson, P Ritchie and D Young to win the Auchmountain Trophy. This relay had been won in the past four years by Victoria Park, Ayr Seaforth and Bellahouston Harriers twice, with Glenpark Harriers, Clydesdale Harriers and Glasgow University all featuring in the first three. It was no easy race to win.

In 1966 the two miles record was broken once again – this time by Ian McCafferty who won in 9:01.2 from a genuine past master in Ian Binnie of Victoria Park. A multi-record breaker in the 1950’s Binnie inspired Victoria Park to a team victory with 10 points. It was the third different club to win in as many years – Motrherwell the previous year and Shettleston the year before that. Ayr Seaforth beat Dumbarton AAC in the mile medley in 3:39.7. The road race was won by Alex Wight of Edinburgh University from Andy Brown in 1:12:33. Graeme Grant (Dumbarton – scratch) won the half mile Duncan Middletin (Springburn – 10 yards) in 1:54.1, Norman Morrison (Shettleston – 130 yards) beat Jim Johnstone (Monkland – 10 yards) in the Mile in 4:17.8. The field events featured Crawford Fairbroither (HJ) and Douglas Edmunds (throws).

Gourock Highland is still pulling in the crowds – the date has changed: initially it went to the fourth Saturday in July and it has moved back in the calendar to May now -but it was always a favourite venue for the club against club battles and much was read into the victories.

Hannah Park, Shotts: Home of Shotts Bon Accord FC and the Shotts Highland Games

There were always two meetings in September that attracted the attention: on the first Saturday here was Shotts Highland Games in the heart of Lanarkshire where the welcome was warm, the prizes good, and the track poor. The back straight was definitely downhill, the home straight was definitely, indisputably, uphill. The track was of red blaes and in wet weather was heavy and clinging. White vests needed the aid of the best detergents to remove it. But it was a good meeting. The second Saturday in September was always Dunblane Highland Gathering. An altogether more douce kind of affair in a kind of natural amphitheatre with close cropped grass banks on three sides for spectators to sit and watch the events unfold. It was a grass track and at times the start of the bottom bend had some big holes made by the shot putters best efforts. Each had a 14 miles road race but Shotts had the team events that Dunblane lacked. Club competition was one of the things at Shotts.

In 1961, the team race was won by JT Anderson of Saltwell Harriers in England from Graham Everett of Shettleston in 9:12.4. The track was narrow and with five or six teams of four plus a couple of individual entries, the starting line was usually crowded – if you were not on the front two ranks, then you had no option but to start relatively slowly while those in front burst forth on the gun with a serious sprint for the first bend. Bert McKay of Motherwell YMCA was third and the team race was won the the Englishmen from Saltwell. Shotts at this time was also known for the quality of its relay racing, often incorporating an SAAA sprint or medley relay into the programme. In 1961 it was the SAAA mile medley relay championship and the report read:

“One of the closest races at the Shotts Highland Games at Hannah Park was the Scottish Mile Medley Relay championship. Bellahouston Harriers won by two yards in the good time of 3:38.3, but their success was by no means assured until the final lap. With Bellahouston third and 12 yards behind the leaders, Ayr Seaforth AC, at the three-quarter mile mark, young R Greig made such good progress that he overtook and beat the two runners ahead of him, including JR Boyd (Ayr) the holder of the half mile record. Some watches showed that Greig had returned his personal best time of 50.3 seconds.”

In 1962, individual and team honours in the two miles team race again went to Saltwell Harriers: Anderson (9:08.4) and Hillen finished one-two, with Bert McKay and Andy Brown (winner of the 14 miles road race the previous year) in three and four. The SAAA medley relay championship went to Victoria Park’s squad of Barrow, Turner, Johnstone and Ballantyne) who won in 3:34 from Ayr Seaforth and Bellahouston. According to the reprt in the Herald, McLatchie beat Barrow in the opening half mile eg ‘by a good margin’ , and Seaforth retained the lead until the last 440 yards leg when ‘A Ballantyne (Victoria Park) ran one of the best races of his career and beat the junior quarter mile champion, JC Stewart (Ayr Seaforth) .’ There was also a women’s medley relay which ended as a contest when Bellahouston’s Helen Cherry gave them a big lead over the half mile. Getting away from team races and club involvement temporarily, the Shotts 14 mile road race (featuring a couple of serious hill climbs) has something totally unique as a prize – it’s a silver groat. A groat was an old Scottish coin worth fourpence and it is not something that most Scots have seen. The race is usually well supported and the winner in 1962 was J Layburn of Jarrow in 1:14:34. Among the winners in the open events was Ian McCafferty running off 120 yards in the handicap mile, Neil Donnachie of Edinburgh in the half-mile off 16 yards and in the field events Howard Payne of Birchfield won the hammer with an allowance of 3′.

On September 9th, 1963, it was a wet and windy day at Hannah Park and several invitees did not turn up but the club teams for the two miles race were there as usual renewing their rivalry. This time there were no raiders from across the border and the race was won by Ian McCafferty in 9:34.6 from Jim Johnstone (Monkland Harriers) and Tom Brown (St Modan’s). The team race was won, not by Motherwell as expected, but by Springburn Harriers whose team of Tom O’Reilly in fourth, Ian Young fifth and Moir Logie in seventh had 16 points. The medley relay was the feature race that day with the title going to Ayr Seaforth’s quartet of J Davidson, C Stewart, R McCrindle and R Billson in 3:38.0 from Bellahouston and Octavians. ‘Victoria Park were unable to field a satisfactory team as their leading half-milers were engaged elsewhere.’ Only five of the ten invited runners turned up for the invitation mile which was won by JR Wilson of Teviotdale Harriers from Fergus Murray. The road race again went to Layburn of Jarrow from Donald Macgregor and Charlie McAlinden.

In 1965 it was Ian McCafferty’s turn to win the team race ‘in workmanlike fashion’ from team mate Bert McKay in 9:09.6 with Motherwell taking the team race. Lachie Stewart won the road race from Layburn by over two minutes in a new record time (1:11:20) but the race gaining all the attention was the other inter-club race – the invitation medley relay. The report read: “Glasgow University, holders of the Scottish Mile Medley Relay championship title, even with BW Scobie, WM Campbell, J McGeogh and AB Kennedy, found Bellahouston Harriers more than a match for them. MJ McLean, a junior, obviously instructed to have as big a lead as possible over the 880 yards first leg, never let up and Scobie found it impossible to get any nearer him than 20 yards. Thereafter the race was as good as won for H Robertson, W Robertson and H Baillie made the most of this advantage and won by 25 yards.” Dumbarton AAC was third and the winning time was 3:34.0.

More records were set in 1966, again Ian McCafferty won the two miles, but this time it was no ‘workmanlike’ job – not when he was racing Fergus Murray. Murray dropped bck in the second mile and McCafferty’s winning time was 9:04.4 with a winning margin by the end of about 14 seconds. The run erased the time set by John Anderson from Saltwell Harriers from the books by four seconds. Motherwell (first, third and fourth) won the team race. McCafferty almost won the handicap mile from scratch – finishing second to Mike Bradley of Paisley who was off 100 yards. In the medley relay, Bellahouston Harriers won from Octavians with Edinburgh AC third. Their team of MJ McLean, J Williams, HJ Carmichael and W Robertson were timed at 3:32.1. Incidentally the 880 yards leg featured an excellent field including Graeme Grant, Adrian Weatherhead (Octavians), Stewart (Edinburgh AC) and Mike McLean with McLean comfortably beating the favourite, Grant. In the open handicap half mile, Hugh Barrow (18 yards) defeated MJ McCarthy (Gosforth – 34) in 1:53.4.

In 1967 it was again McCafferty who won the two miles team race, this time in 9:10.0, and Motherwell won the team race. The drama of the day was in the SAAA Medley Relay. The report:

“One Scottish title was settled – the senior mile medley relay, but in the most frustrating manner possible for former holders, Bellahouston Harriers. Victoria Park, having been second in the Amateur Athletic Association Championships earlier in the year, were favourites, even without P Hepburn, one of their 220 runners. An unconvincing first leg (880 yards) by WH Barrow left Victoria Park with only a slight lead , and as the last leg (440 yards) was about to begin they had at the most, a yard in hand over Bellahouston – enough we thought for H Baillie (Bellahouston) to catch RT Laurie . In a scrambled changeover, however, Baillie was knocked prostrate on the track by an incoming opponent, Laurie was gone, unaware of his rival’s bad luck, and he raced home a clear winner. The blame really rests with an association which can award the holding of a national event to a meeting whose track has no lane markings and is approximately 17 feet wide instead of 24.” The winning team was Barrow, A Wood, J Duguid and Laurie and finished in 3:06.8 with Edinburgh AC third.

Shotts was undoubtedly a good meeting with excellent athletes and, coming as it did a month before the winter season’s pipe-opener in the 4 man McAndrew Relay, was supported by the cross-country fraternity as an early lead in to the season. Unfortunately in Scotland at the start of September, it seemed in retrospect, to have its share of rain!

Inter-Clubs at the Games: Cowal

Posted on July 1, 2016 by The Author

Lachie Stewart and Norman Morrison at Cowal Highland Gathering

Of all the Highland Games meetings, Cowal was probably the best known among the general public and among athletes it was seen as a two-day meeting, a well sponsored meeting (they paid expenses for invited teams!), and the one with the biggest crowds by far. Clubs took buses to Cowal – it was a long drive – and many athletes went by train to Craigendoran (at Helensburgh) and then went by boat to Dunoon. The journey, whether in a busload of friends or by train and steamer, was part of the whole day. And the quality of the athletics was always high. When I started going there, there were only six teams invited to the two miles team race and one of them was always an English club. We were sharing the dressing room and lining up with the best of Longwood and Saltwell Harriers, for instance. Running at Cowal was a dream of a day for men who normally had to pay money and travel to England to race these guys.

If we look at the 1959 Cowal Games first … They were held on the last weekend in August and the inter-club element was usually by invitation unless there was a championship relay being held. “Three runners in the two miles invitation caught the eye – GD Ibbotson (South London Harriers), a former world record holder for the mile, GE Everett (Shettleston Harriers) the Scottish mile champion, and AH Brown (Motherwell YMCA), holder of the Scottish native record for the three miles. The first mile was completed in 4 minutes 25 seconds with Ibbotson allowing Everett to make the pace. The position was generally similar until the last lap when Ibbotson went to the front and opened a wide lead from Everett, who appeared to be tiring rapidly. Brown made a strong effort to chase Ibbotson but the Englishman finished 10 yards ahead of him in 8:37.7 , Brown’s time was 8:59.4 and Everett was third in 9:15.2 – a time which he has easily beaten on previous occasions. “

Everett was out again in the medley relay where the Shettleston team won (Everett, McNulty, Meggat, Dewar) from Garscube and Ayr Seaforth.

Another Englishman won the event in 1960 – John Anderson of Saltwell Harriers winning from Bill Kerr (Victoria Park) and Eddie Sinclair of Springburn in 9:05.7. Team victors were Victoria Park (15 points) from Bellahpouston (21) and Springburn (24). The West District relay was included on the programme and as won by Victoria Park (Dunbar, Turner, Hildrey and Whitlock) in 42.3, a native record, from Larbert YC and Ayr Seaforth. The medley relay was Seaforth from Bellahouston and Liverpool Harriers. The inter-club component was important to the development of the athletes and the sport and to be representing your club before tens of thousands of spectator at what was an international gathering gave the athletes a real shot of adrenalin. The Rangers Sports were still going strong but they had no inter-club element to them – they fulfilled another function.

The team race in 1961 was on a higher plane than for many years when Ibbotson, Anderson and Everett faced each other on the starting line. It was a wet day and times generally were slow but the report read: “The two miles was a close race among JD Anderson (Saltwell), GD Ibbotson (Longwood) and GE Everett (Shettleston). They finished in that order, in 9:11, 9:11.8 and 9:12.2. Anderson had the edge for speed on his opponents down the finishing straight. GD Ibbotson turned out in the open mile, and although he made good progress through the big field of handicap runners, he just failed to be placed. JT McLatchie (Muirkirk AC) showed fine form and won from 45 yards in 4:11.8.”

The team race was won by Shettleston Harriers (20) from Bellahouston Harriers . Bellahouston had their consolation when they won the medley relay from Liverpool Harriers and Seaforth AC. Their winning team of Currie, LaPointe, Robertson and Greig was timed at 3:35.5. The West District Relay was again won by Victoria Park whose team was Ballantine, Hamilton, Hildrey and Whitlock in 43.2 seconds. The only other invitation event was the Youthe 880 yards which was won by Hugh Barrow (VPAAC) in 1:57.2 from Jim Johnston and Jim Finn (both Monkland).

On the second day of the 1962 meeting John Anderson achieved a notable double when he won the invitation mile as well as the two miles. The photograph in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ showed three men straining for the line – Anderson, Ibbotson and Jim McLatchie with times of 4:08.9, 4:09.9 and 4:09.9. The Two Miles was another hard race between the two Englishmen with Anderson’s 8:56.6 beating Ibbotson’s 9:01.2 and John Hillen (Saltwell) in 9:01.4. As they took the eye of the photographer and the spectating masses, there was a hard team race taking part which was won by Motherwell YMCA. The Medley Relay was won by Bellahouston (Currie, McGaw, LaPointe and Greig) from a fast finishing Seaforth AC and Liverpool Harriers in 3 min 31.7 sec. Bellahouston (Mayberry, McGaw, LaPointe and Rae) also won the West 4 x 110 yards relay in 43.6 seconds from Seaforth and Clydesdale. Ibbotson had enjoyed his previous experiences at Dunoon so much that he brought his wife Madeleine up in 1962 and she won a women’s invitation 880 yards from Scotland’s Georgena Buchanan and Ireland’s Maeve Kyle.in 2:16.0.

31st August, 1963, was another good day for JP Anderson of Saltwell. The ‘Glasgow Herald’ report read: JP Anderson was one of the most successful competitors at the annual Cowal Games on Saturday at Dunoon. He won the invitation two miles in the most satisfactory time of 8:54 on a track that had been made soft and heavy by continuous rain. There was never ever doubt about Anderson’s ability, for when he decided to take control of the race all that was left was to see who was going to be second. In the circumstances young I McCafferty (Motherwell YMCA) showed considerable ability, for in determined fashion he beat the more experienced JJ Hillen (Saltwell) for second place in 9:00.2 for his personal best and the best time ever shown by a junior. Motherwell again won the team race with 15 points with the brothers AH and AP Brown the supporting members for McCafferty. Bellahouston Harriers retained the Western District 4 x 110 yards relay championship. Ayr Seaforth and Clydesdale were again second and third respectively.

Saltwell Harriers was second in the two miles with 30 points and the medley relay was replaced by the SAAA junior medley relay which was won by Victoria Park (Laurie, Smith, Lappin and Wood from Edinburgh Southern and Seaforth.

This was Anderson’s third year at Cowal, and Ibbotson had been there twice. What was the attraction? The arena consisted of an ash track round a very tight infield. On the infield there was always (a) two pipe band circles, (b) a highland dancing platform, (c) a wrestling competition and the runners had to warm up around them, keeping an eye out for the pipe bands marching into the arena. On the outside of the track there was a crowd of 40000 or 50000, so close to the track that the athlete in the outside lane could shake hands with the spectators. It was a very intense experience.

Cowal was always a two-day meeting with an incomplete programme on the Friday with most of the standard track events, then on the Saturday with a complete programme of events. This enabled distance men to run two races, sometimes three, over the weeend. On 29th August, 1964, young Hugh Barrow took the plaudits. On the Friday evening he set a new SAAA record for the rarely run three-quarter mile distance of 3:00.5, just beating John McGrow on the line. He would go on to equal this time twice – at Airdrie in 1968 and 1969 – but never to beat it. Not content with that, he was out for his club on the Saturday in the two miles team race. Second in the two miles to Derek Ibbotson, who won in 8:49.4, he set a personal best time by no fewer than 11 seconds when he ran 8:54. Ian McCafferty was third in 8:59.4. Glasgow University (McGeoch, Gibbons, Ewan and Campbell) won the Western District 4 x 110 yards in 43.1 seconds from Seaforth and Clydesdale. The SAAA Junior 4 x 110 yards was won by Bellahouston (Carmichael, Brown, Symeonides and Ritchie) from Edinburgh Southern and Victoria Park in 44.1 sec and in the SAAA Junior medley relay (440 + 220 + 220 + 440), Bellahouston (Baillie, Carmichael, Ritchie McLean) beat Ayr Seaforth and Victoria Park in 2:28.6.

Barrow (right) beats McGrow in 1964

Came 1965 and Edinburgh Southern Harriers were back at Cowal and led by Kenny Ballantyne, they acquitted themselves well. “The most absorbing contest on the track was the two miles in which R McKay, KD Ballantyne and E Knox ran in that order for most of the way. McKay, the veteran of the three, was obviously trying to take the sting out of his rivals finish during the last two laps, and succeeded with Knox. Ballantyne however had too much left and in the home straight fought past McKay and won in 9 minutes exactly. “

Bellahouston Harriers won all three relays that year – the West District 4 x 110 yards, the SAAA Junior 4 x 110 championship and the SAAA junior medley relay championship.

The 1966 Games 440 yards invitation race was a personal triumph for Hugh Baillie of Bellahouston Harriers who won in 48.7 but the two miles team race where the country’s top clubs faced each other was as hotly contested as ever. Ian McCafferty (Motherwell YMCA) won from Hugh Barrow (VPAAC) by 17 seconds. Only Barrow attempted to go with him and their times at the finish were 8:42.2 and 9:05.6. McCafferty had come through the first mile in 4:21. Motherwell won the team race, as they did at so many venues in the 1960’s, with 9 points (1, 3, 5). In the relays, Bellahouston (Williams, Symeonides, Baillie and Carmichael) won the SAAA West District 4 x 110 yards in 43.4 seconds, and with a team of Johnstone, Wood, McAlpine and Wallace) the SAAA Junior 4 x 110 yards in 46.3. Edinburgh Southern Harriers (Hay, Miller, Railton and Stewart) however won the SAAA Junior medley relay in 2:32.2 from Bellahouston.

Alastair Shaw’s prize ticket from the mid-70’s: the prize was a cake stand

It is interesting to reflect on what effect all this head-to-head racing of runners of all standards at the various meetings had on standards generally in Scottish athletics. It should be borne in mind that Cowal was not as easily reached as all the other central belt venues – Gourock, Ibrox, Shotts and the rest were all well attended and the top men, the clubmen and the young pretenders all faced their own rivals on tracks around the country week in, week out and although the times were not good the lessons in hard racing were learned and perfected.

Star turn in 1967 was Lachie Stewart’s one hour run on the Friday evening in which he covered 12 miles 188 yards to set a new Scottish record. He also ran in the two miles on the Saturday and although always up at the front of the field, he dropped back allowing Ian McCafferty to win in 8:59.4 seconds leading Motherwell to team victory with 8 points(1, 3, 4). McCafferty also won the mile from Hugh Barrow in 4:03.1. The relays? The West District 4 x 110 was won by Garscube Harriers in 44.4 seconds after the ‘winning’ team from Victoria Park had been disqualified despite being well ahead at the finish, the SAAA Junior 4 x 110 yards was won by Shettleston Harriers in 44.8 seconds and the SAAA Junior medley relay championship was won by Shettleston in 2:32.2.

For some reason the Glasgow Herald correspondent took to reporting English fixtures at greater length about this time and the reports on Cowal and other Games and Sports dwindled and only winners were listed and, even less praiseworthy, the team events were not given their proper place. In 1968, Lachie Stewart won the mile against Walter Wilkinson of Longwood Harriers in 4:05.7 as well as the team race in 8:59.6. The West District 4 x 110 yards was won by Bellahouston and the SAAA junior 4 x 110 yards by Airdrie Harriers. Shettleston retained the junior medley relay title in 2:34.0. In 1969, the event went again to Lachie Stewart whose time was 8:52.6 and Shettleston won the team race; the West District 4 x 110 yards relay went to Victoria Park, thanks to a ‘splendid run by Andrew Wood, Victoria Park’s anchor man which enabled his club to win by six yards from Bellahouston Harriers . Wood later ran from scratch in the final of the open 220 yards and won by two yards in 22.7.”

Cowal continued to be good meeting but the point has been made about the inter club element being an ifactor. Man against man is what the sport is about but the club element where runners challenge themselves against their equals or betters for their club, when they would not do so for themselves, has always been an important factor in athletes development.

As an example of a typical meeting for the athletes we have extracts from the 1971 programme with all the results.

The meeting was still drawing the crowds in 1989 –

Unfortunately after many years as a model of how the light athletics (running and jumping events) should be incorporated into the programme, Cowal dropped all athletics events other than the heavies and the programme is less varied in other respects. The only running event in the 21st century is a 5K road race (plus some schools races), and the arena events now look like this. In the Stadium there are Heavy Events, Highland Dancing, Pipe Bands and Wrestling; and in the Performance Arena there is Axe Throwing. This is a sad loss for the athletics community and for the local athletics fans in Dunoon.

Inter Clubs at the Games: Babcock’s

Posted on July 1, 2016 by The Author

Lachie Stewart (48) leading from Dick Wedlock (45) and Hugh Barrow (71)

Inter-club rivalry and competition did not stop with Tuesday or Thursday night matches but continued at Sports Meetings and some Highland Games during the summer season. Many of these occasions were enhanced by the inclusion of a two mile team race and one – or at times two – relays at the end of the meeting. Of course, athletes travelling to such meetings, would also enter individual races to maximise their pleasure or competition experience on the day. It was not unusual to see a runner finish the team race and immediately change the race number for the one he would wear in the up-coming mile handicap; it was unusual to see – as we saw Gordon Eadie of Cambuslang do once – a runner win a 14 mile road race and then step on to the track for the two mile team event! The sprinters in the 4 x 100 relay would as a matter of course also enter two of the 100 yards, 220 yards or 440 yards. I remember at Cowal the relay came before the 220 yards handicap and since so few turned up for the furlong, it was decided to have a straight final. After the decision was taken and the announcement made, the sprinters trooped across from the relay and it was discovered that there were almost two dozen runners for the straight final! They went ahead with it and it made for a most interesting race. But the thing is that the top men turned out in these races and with, say, Motherwell YMCA, Victoria Park and Shettleston facing each other almost every other week, the head to head racing that helped develop the top men, was the highlight of many a local sports day.

One of the most popular was that held at Babcock & Wilcox Sports in Renfrew at Moorcroft Park, on the third Saturday in June. By then the runners were well tuned up having run in the team race at the Lanarkshire Constabulary Sports at Shawfield on the first Saturday of the month and then as individuals in the Glasgow Police Sports on the second Saturday. The Glasgow polis did not have a two mile team race at this point. The track at Moorcroft Park was just good grass – it had no eccentricities (Cowal had a big hole on the inside of the second bend, Gourock had an uphill last bend and finish, and so on) , was easily reached by public transport and there was a trophy (the Empire Exhibition Trophy) for the club with the highest points for the afternoon.. In addition the prizes were of a good standard – eg we once had 54″ x 27″ fireside rugs for being second team.

In 1960 the race was won by Graham Everett in 9:00.2 at a time when he was SAAA Champion and GB Internationalist for the Mile. To keep the inter-club theme going, Edinburgh Northern Harriers won the Medley Relay in 3:38.8. 1961 was also a close run thing in the team race – Graham Everett again won the two miles from two Bellahouston runners – Joe Connolly was second and Dick Penman was third but Bellahouston won the team race convincingly with 9 points to Shettleston’s 20. Everett was out again in the medley relay and this time Shettleston won in 3:37.8. The Empire Exhibition Shield went to a third club – Springburn Harriers who were closely challenged by Bellahouston and Victoria Park. Nobody won anything unchallenged at Babcock’s.

Having come close in 1961, Victoria Park won the Shield in 1962 and possibly the two miles team race (the exact result is not available) but the Mile Medley Relay went to Larkhall YMCA who won in 3:38.8. Came 1963 and it was Bellahouston Harriers’s turn to win the Empire Trophy and the match incorporated a match between Renfrew and London which was won by the home team. The Two Miles was a clean sweep for Motherwell whose first three were Bert McKay (9:08.9), Andy Brown and Alex Brown with the team race being decided on these three places, with Victoria Park second and Edinburgh Southern Harriers third. The medley relay this time went to Maryhill Harriers from Dumbarton in second and Clydesdale Harriers in third.

In 1964 Lachie Stewart won the two miles in 9:6.8 while Motherwell again won the team race but the relays were the high point of the meeting. The medley relay was won by Ayr Seaforth for whom Jim McLatchie, home on holiday from America, ran the first stage but an added attraction was the holding of the two SAAA championship relays over 4 x 100 and 4 x 440 yards. The former was won by Glasgow University (McGeough, Gibbons, Ewan and Campbell) in 43 seconds, holding off Edinburgh Southern by a yard; and the students from Glasgow also won the long relay (Foster, Wilson, Hodelet and Campbell) in 3:19.1 by five yards. The inter-club events added a great deal to the sports – coming just a week before the SAAA Championships didn’t hurt either.

Lachie won the race in 1965 in 9:11.6 with Victoria Park taking the team race. Dumbarton AAC went one better than in 1963 when they won the mile medley relay in 3:42.3. In 1966 the weather was wet, the ground soggy and times generally slow but Victoria Park again won the Empire Trophy which they had won a year earlier and the race of the afternoon was reported to have been the two miles which was won again by Lachie Stewart in 9:24.8 while Bellahouston defeated Dumbarton to win the medley relay in 3:50.2. Bellahouston won the relay again in 1967 in 2:31.8 and Lachie Stewart of Vale of Leven won the two miles in 8:58.

Thereafter the third Saturday in June – which had always been taken up with the Scottish Schoolboys Championships, the Scottish Schoolgirls Championships and Babcock’s Sports was invaded by more and more meetings and one of the most enjoyable meetings on the calendar disappeared.

The point made at the top of the page – that inter-club competition which was beneficial to the clubs, to the individuals and to the sport in the country was continued throughout the season in a variety of ways. We can look at some of the other sports and games that included two miles team and relay races on another page.

Inter Clubs at Shawfield and Brockville Shotts and Gourock Cowal

Track Inter-Clubs: 1960

Posted on June 28, 2016 by The Author

The inter-clubs were in the main organised by the clubs concerned and were often annual fixtures – for instance Clydesdale Harriers always had track matches with Vale of Leven, Greenock Glenpark Harriers and Springburn Harriers with others (Shettleston, Victoria Park, Maryhill, etc) being less frequent. They should not be looked back on in a patronising fashion – they were far from being easy, wee social occasions – although there was always a social element present. I have printed the results of the first one here had 16 events, including almost all field events, and others had eighteen events on the programme. Bear in mind that they required all the hurdles on the track for both hurdles races, the uprights and other kit for the high jump and pole vault plus all the throwing equipment to be present and in a good condition and that track events usually went up to 6 miles and had both relays..

They were not contested solely by B string or C string athletes – note some of the names below – SAAA champions such as Ming Campbell, Joe Connolly, Tom McNab, Peter Milligan, Alan Dunbar, Mike Hildrey and so on all appeared in them. Arranged before the season started, these matches were often written in to the competition before the season began.

This is just a sampling of the fixtures – those from the East Coast are not here, nor are many of the local meetings in the counties around Glasgow such as Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire or Ayrshire. Not all results have been printed. If you want any particular set added, it can be done. Here we go.

Wednesday, 27th April, 1960: “Bellahouston Harriers beat Shettleston Harriers by 117 points to 82 last night in an inter-club contest at Corkerhill. R Sykes (Bellahouston) won three events, the shot putt (41′ 9″), discus (126′ 4 1/2″) and the long jump (19′ 7”) and he was equal first in the pole vault. Other winners:

100 yards: D Robinson (S) 10.7 sec; 220 yards: A McGaw (B) 22.9 sec; 440 yards: R Cairney (B) 51.6 sec; 880 yards: B Forrest (B) 2 min 9.3 sec; Mile: B Dickson (B) 4 min 32.3 sec; Three Miles: J Connolly (B) 14 min 21.8 sec; Six Miles: J Irvine (B) 31 min 7.1 sec; 120 yards hurdles: G Brown (B) 16.6 sec; 440 yards hurdles: Brown, 60.6.

High Jump: R Santini (S) 5′ 5″; hop, step and jump: T McNab (B) 43′ 11 1/2″; Javelin: D Fraser (S) 149′ 8″; pole vault: F McDonald and Sykes 9′; Hammer: T McNab (B) 79′ 1 1/2″; 4 x 100 yards relay: Bellahouston (S Watson, R Sykes, S Wineberg, S McGaw)45.4 sec; 4 x 440 yards: Bellahouston (W Robertson, J Currie, A Forrest, R Cairney) 3 min 35.1 sec.”

Friday, 29th April: Tomorrow there is a triangular contest at Barrachnie where Shettleston Harriers will have Seaforth AC and Garscube Harriers as visitors. Shettleston should prove too strong for both opponents as they have a much stronger team than that which lost to Bellahouston.”

Monday, 1st May: Shettleston Harriers won a triangular match against Seaforth AC and Garscube Harriers with an aggregate of 89 points to 66 for Seaforth and 36 for Garscube. J Meggat and T McNab (Shettleston) had doubles in the 100 yards and 220 yards and the long jump and shot putt respectively.

Results: 100 yards: J McNulty (SH) 10.4 sec; second race: J Meggat (SH) 10.5 sec; 220 yards: W Stockton (SH) 23.6; second race: Meggat (SH) 23.6 sec; 440 yards: J Baird (SH) 53 sec; second race: J Wilson (SAC) 53.2 sec; 880 yards: J Young (SAC) 1 min 58 sec; Mile: J Davidson (SAC) 4 min 35 sec; Three Miles: I Donald (SH) 15 min 7.8 sec; High Jump: A Santini (SH) 5′ 3 1/2″; Long Jump: T McNab (SH) 19′ 5 1/2″; Shot Putt: McNab (SH) 36′ 10 1/2″; 4 x half lap relay: Shettleston 1 min 17.2 sec.

[There were also races for Youths and Boys]

Wednesday, 3rd May: “Bellahouston Harriers beat Jordanhill Training College by 108 points to 84 last night at Corkerhill. G Brown (Bellahouston) won the 120 yards hurdles and 440 yards hurdles in 17.3 sec and 60 sec respectively. Another notable performance was achieved by J Connolly (Bellahouston) who won the three miles in 14 min 13.5 sec, 2 sec outside his own personal best for the distance.”

Friday, May 6th: “Shettleston Harriers will meet Edinburgh University in what should be a very closely contested men’s inter-club match at Barrachnie.

Glasgow University should give a good account of themselves in a three cornered contest at St Andrews against the local students and Queen’s University, Belfast. The Scottish Universities B Teams with Clydesdale Harriers will have a match at Westerlands.”

Monday, 9th May at Barrachnie: “Edinburgh University beat Shettleston Harriers by 78 points to 64 at Barrachnie. T McNab and RA Findlay, both of Shettleston, won two events. McNab won the long jump and the hop, step and jump and Findlay the shot putt and javelin. The students won 10 of the 15 events.”

Wednesday, 11th May: “Bellahouston Harriers beat Victoria Park by 82 1/2 points to 78 1/2 points in an inter-club contest last night at Nethercraigs. G Brown (Bellahouston) won both hurdles events, the 120 yards in 12.1 seconds and 440 yards in 57.4 seconds, and RC Sykes (Bellahouston) won the shot putt with 39′ 11″and the discus with 112′ 10″. In the high jump, C Fairbrother (Victoria Park) cleared 6’6″ but failed at three attempts at 6’8″.

Friday, May 13th: Springburn Harriers with 72 points won a triangular contest at St Augustine’s playing fields, Milton against Glasgow University (66 pts) and Garscube Harriers (45 pts).”

Monday 16th May, at St Andrews: “One of the best performances at the triangular match between St Andrews University, Edinburgh Southern Harriers and Shettleston Harriers was the pole vault of 12′ 6″ by N Brown (Shettleston), beating the ground record by 9″. St Andrews won the men’s contest with 95 points to Southern’s 62 and Shettleston’s 27. Jordanhill Training College, with 39 points won the women’s contest from Southern, 36 and St Andrews, 33. DJ Whyte (St Andrews) won three events – 100 yards (10.4 sec), high jump (5’11”) and long jump (22′ 6 1/2 “)”

Wednesday, May 18th: Glasgow University narrowly won an inter-club contest at Westerlands last night with an aggregate of 79 points. Victoria Park AAC were runners up with 74, Jordanhill Training College third with 52, and Shettleston Harriers fourth, 38. CW Fairbrother (Victoria Park) the British high jump champion, was one of the outstanding competitors with a jump of 6′ 7″, only half an inch outside the Scottish record. G McLaughlan (Victoria Park) equalled the 120 yards native hurdles record with a time of 15.3 sec.

[This was a particularly interesting match with many top class athletes competing – eg Mike Hildrey won the 100 yards, Graham Everett won the mile, Joe Connolly won the three miles, Tom McNab won the triple jump and hammer, PeterMilligan won the pole vault and Fraser Riach won the shot, discus and javelin.]

Friday, May 20th: Shettleston Harriers beat Glasgow University select by 71 points to 66 last night at Westerlands.”

Monday, 23rd May: Edinburgh Southern Harriers beat Victoria Park AAC by two points at Fernieside. Six ground records were broken and one equalled. Bellahouston Harriers beat Ayr Seaforth by 71 points to 45 at Ayr.

Wednesday, 25th May: “Glasgow University beat Bellahouston Harriers by 109 points to 78 last night at Westerlands. R Sykes (Bellahouston) won the shot putt (41′ 8 1/2″), the discus (124′ 5″) and the pole vault (9′). AM Miller (University) won the 100 yards in 10.4 sec and the 220 yards in 22.5 sec, and RR Mills (University) also won two events, the 120 yards hurdles (16.1 s) and the 440 yards hurdles (57 s).”

Friday, 27th May: “Victoria Park AAC beat Glasgow University by 58 points to 40 last night at Westerlands. I Binnie (Victoria Park AAC), holder of records from 7 to 12 miles, took part after a long absence from the track. He won the two miles comfortably in 9 min 55.5 sec in heavy rain.”

[June had most club championships, some county championships and a few open meetings – the big one was the SAAA Championships at the end of the month and the inter-clubs had been well used by most of the big names to get themselves in shape, often by running distances other than their usual but also some hard racing away in relatively private conditions against other top competitors. There were never many two or three club fixtures in June. July was the ‘holiday month’ with all the various Fair Holidays – several had the first fortnight as their annual break, others had the second two weeks and and very few clubs could field a complete team at that time of year. If you add in the AAA’s Championships with the best athletes competing there and having to prepare on their own for the week or two beforehand, the problem was exacerbated. So June and July were relatively free of the inter-club fixture although there were a few.]

Tuesday, June 14th: “Garscube Harriers beat Springburn Harriers by 108 points to 102 last night in their inter-club contest at Knightswood. MM Campbell (Garscube) won the 100 and 220 yards in 10.4 sec and 23.6 sec and E Sinclair (Springburn) won the mile in 4 min 33.5 sec, and the two miles in 9 min 33.1 sec.”

Friday, 12th August: “Shettleston have a contest against Edinburgh Southern Harriers tomorrow at Scotstoun. Shettleston, who have already beaten Victoria Park and Glasgow University, out to be more than a match for Edinburgh Southern. The Glasgow club will be without GE Everett, who will be competing at the British Games at White City, London, but Southern will be more heavily handicapped through the absence of RB Cockburn in the sprints, KD Ballantyne in the middle distance events and D McKechnie in the jumps. These three are included in the Scottish side who are due to compete in the Belfast Highland Games.”

Monday, August 15th: “Edinburgh Southern Harriers beat Shettleston Harriers by the narrow margin of four points (95 – 91) in their inter-club event at Scotstoun. Each club won 9 of the 18 events. K Skilder was a triple winner for Edinburgh Southern in the shot putt, discus and pole vault. F Davidson (Edinburgh Southern) and R Stephen (Shettleston) each won two events. Both relay events were won by Shettleston, W Stockton, the Scottish quarter mile champion, paving the way for his club’s win in the 4 x 440 yards.”

Monday, August 22nd: “Bellahouston Harriers beat Springburn Harriers by 58 points to 32 in their inter-club contest at Nethercraigs.”