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“The  Jedburgh Border Games  –  The Blue Riband Meeting of Scotland’s Summer Circuit”.    So says the banner at the head of the excellent Jeburgh Games website and it certainly has a very good claim to the title.   Their brief description of the origins of the meeting read:

The first person to moot the idea of having an athletic games event was probably Mr Thomas Oliver, sawyer of Jedburgh. While chatting with ex-provost Miller in the High Street one evening in 1852, he remarked to the effect that there may be an opportunity to have a Games here next year. Both were enthusiastic admirers of athletics and accustomed to conducting such sports during the summer evenings in the town. They both managed to get other kindred spirits interested in the matter, and were not long in putting the idea into a business like form. Contests held almost nightly during the summer evenings, at the Anna and at Abbey Bridge End Green, adjoining Barton’s Ropery may be said to have been the immediate precursors of the Border Games. Sums of up to sixpence could be won by youths testing their running prowess in those early days, and the modest prizes collected from a willing crowd of spectators, were as hotly contested then, as the much prized cups and other trophies presented to the most successful competitors nowadays. The first ‘Jethart Games’ were held on Friday 12th August 1853 to mark the coming of age of the 8th Marquis of Lothian. The original, memorandum quotes, “acting under a desire to give the greatest possible amusement in the least harmful manner, the commitee of Management for the occasion resolved to celebrate the majority of the Marquis of Lothian by Border Games”. Early records recall that a procession left the Market Place for the Dunion Games field where Peggy Lockie set up her krame at the Toonheid selling gingerbread horses. The band was made up for the occasion, and consisted of Thomas Main, shopkeeper (bugler), James Hopkirk, painter (cornet), James Turnbull, tailor (trombone) James Balmer, skinner (cornopean), Wm. Aitchison, tailor, and Walter Ferguson, shoemaker (drummers), James Cook, High Street (fiddler).”

There is more but for the full story you should visit the website where the story from 1853 to the present day is detailed in nine chronologically ordered chapters.   It is probably the best set out and most detailed description of a meeting on the internet and well worth a visit.   

The meeting is a popular one and has had many close and exciting races with all the top class athletes performing there.   The Jedsprint is the main attraction among many and the story behind it is an interesting one.   This description is from the official website:

“Although there was no formal Jedforest Sprint during the early years of the 1850’s and 60’s, prizes were already being donated to the Games from Jedburgh exiles who had emigrated and found wealth and prosperity overseas in the Dominions and in the Americas. The origin of the Jedforest Sprint was a flat handicap open race of 150 yards, introduced to the Games events as the Glasgow Cup in 1871. The handsome purse for the winner then stood at £3, and was donated by Jedburgh lads working on the shipyards of the Clyde, who were probably earning a comfortable wage at that time. This event continued for a number of years with the prize increasing to £7 for the winner at the turn of the century, when it became known as the Glasgow Prize, after the distance was reduced to 120 yards during 1887. At the Games Jubilee Year of 1903, this sprint became known as The Tyneside Prize, a title that had in previous years, been associated with a wrestling event. Once again, the purse was provided by Jedburgh lads working in the shipyards of Tyneside and Sunderland. For the Games of 1911 the event was advertised as The Coronation Handicap with the prize money then increased to £10 for the winner. The following year of 1912 heralded the first use of the title, The Jedforest Handicap, which continued until the Games were abandoned during the Great War. The next gathering in the year 1919 saw the event hailed as the Victory Handicap, and from 1920 was continued until present as the Jedforest Handicap, with the prize money during that particular year being reduced to 140 shillings. The Original Glasgow Cup was finally presented as a trophy to the winner of the 90m Youths Open event in 2003, and has now been withdrawn as a competitive prize, to be viewed by all at The Castle Jail Museum in Jedburgh.”

The direct quote is important because each of the meetings has its own particular history and traditions which to a large extent dictate the individual nature and content of each meeting.   Sprinters at Jed include the great Australian Eric Cummings, Edinburgh’s Ricky Dunbar, who shaved three one-hundredths of a second off Ewell’s record in 1965, the incomparable George McNeill and, much more recently, Olympic sprinter Nick Smith from Dunfermline and there were the legends of the sport such as Dave Walker, Jimmy Bryce and JB Steede.

Sprint Finalists in the 1950’s

Of course the Borders is a stronghold of Scottish Rugby and naturally it has seen many take part, generally in the sprint.   British and Irish Lions to compete include Peter Dods, Colin Deans, Alan Tait and Tony Stanger – with Dods winning the sprint in 1980.   Tait was a frequent competitor on the circuit.

The programme currently has 34 events and starts with a Round the Town race at 6:30 am. Traditionally a small cannon is also fired from the town square at 6:30 am in all four directions to mark the start of Games Day – and the start of the race which needs 5 runners before it can be held.   

 The starts with a race for athletes with special needs and there are races for Youths, for Juniors, for Seniors and for Over 45’s, events for Ladies, races for Front markers and for Back Markers in most categories, and an Obstacle Race.   There are also races for 6 – 8 year olds and 9-10 years old (boys races and girls races held separately).   There is also an interval at mid-day during which the crowd is entertained by a pipe band.   Two of the big names in Games distance running – G Tinion from Dearham and J Brotherstone from Gordon were frequent visitors and both defeated former world record holder Gordon Pirie in the Mile where Brotherstone won in 4:10.5; Pirie was also well beaten in the Two Miles.   He was later quoted as saying that he was surprised at the high standard of running on display.   He would not be the only visitor surprised in that fashion.

The Games have also had their fair share of controversy.    For instance in 1961 young James Kirk from Lochgelly ran in the Mile Race, ran well and was first over the line.   The representatives of the second placed runner put in a protest on the grounds that their man had been jostled going down the back straight.   The protest was upheld by the meeting judges and Kirk disqualified.   Many that day thought that Kirk had been the better man on the day and deserved to win but that’s not how it worked out.   Kirk threatened to leave the sport but fortunately he did not and went on to have a great career as an athlete.   

In 1964 Olympic sprinter Berwyn Jones refused to run after “discussions with the Committee” because he had claimed appearance money of £60 .   

Then there was the story of Tommie Smith, the Olympic 200m gold medallist who became a professional athlete and competed in Britain in 1972.   He ran in Wakefield for the title of World Professional Sprint Champion against some of the best of British professionals who included Scotsmen George McNeill, Bob Swann and John Steede.    He travelled up to Jedburgh on the Thursday and tried to enter but, as entries closed two weeks before the meeting, his was not accepted on the grounds that the rules applied to everyone.   Legally correct – but there have always been times when a late entry was accepted – on one occasion I had an entry on the day accepted for a Games Hill Race, probably because I would not interfere with the proceedings at the head of the field.   

Like all athletics – professional and amateur alike – and maybe like most sports, the numbers have dwindled, spectators and competitors alike.   But with a tradition as strong as Jedburgh’s you can bet that the Games will continue to flourish. 

…

Alastair Macfarlane had a very successful career as a middle distance runner on the professional Games circuits.  Some run only in the Fife Games, others restrict themselves to the Borders and the West Highland events have their own devotees but Alastair ran in them all – from Oxton and Grasmere in the Lake District to Pitlochry in the Perthshire highlands, from Thornton in Fife to the Games at Luss – and ran well.  These are just some photographs from his collection.

Alastair with Alan Simpson, former Olympic 1500mrunner Alan Simpson, and sprinter Stuart Hogg

Grasmere, 1968, Finish of Mile race, won on the tape from Brian Carruthers

On left, winning on the line from Sandy Nelson at Pitlochry – have a look at the size of the crowd.

Athlete of the day, Grasmere, where he won both heat and final of the half mile, plus final of the Mile

Lauder, 1968

Just some of the trophies!

Alastair Macfarlane was one of the best runners in the country: first as a professional middle distance runner, and then as a top class amateur road runner who won international honours as well as being SAAA marathon champion.   The following pictures are from a collection of some that he has taken himself.   You will know most, if not all of the subjects – Jim Brown Nat Muir, Graham Laing, Sandy Cameron, Tom Donnelly, Tommy Wiseman, Peter McGregor and so on.

Some from the 1982 Edinburgh to Glasgow: you should know all of these guys

On to the road races : Clydebank to Helensburgh

1980 Marathon:  Doug Gunstone

After the portraits .. some of the National …

As well as running for his club, Alastair ran – more than that, he organised – the BT Telephones team.   It was a good team whose top men were Alastair himself and Jim Evans.   What follows is a selection of his pictures of the Telephones team.

Note that the chap on the left watching the action closely is the Scottish international team manager, the late John Hamilton

JP Stark, Glasgow

In 1905, the Inter-Varsity Sports were held on 12th June and the  Scotsman printed a very full report of the event despite there being many other athletic meetings on the day.   The Free Gardeners Sports were held at Powderhall (a big meeting with, for instance, sixteen heats of the 120 yards), the Abercorn FC Sports in Paisley (another big amateur sports meeting, the even bigger West of Scotland Harriers Sports Meeting at Ibrox, Cupar Highland Games, Falkirk Junior Games, Clack,annan Games, the Hawick two-day Games as well as several other smaller local meetings) so it was a busy weekend. 

 “Aberdeen was on Saturday the venue for the annual athletic sports between the Scottish Universities, and the recreation grounds at the King’s College afforded ample accommodation for the interesting event.   Fine, if slightly cold weather, favoured the occasion, and the attendance, which was good, included a considerable number of Ladies.   An agreeable feature was the musical programme discourse by the band of the Aberdeenshire Royal Garrison Artillery, led by Mr James Wood.   To all sportsmen the various competitions were replete with attraction.   Unfortunately for Edinburgh they were without Messrs Macrae and Irons, but gave a very good account of themselves, for in the end they tied with Glasgow for leading place.   There were in all ten events on the card.   

The first was the 100 yards race which, as was generally anticipated, easily fell to JP Stark, Glasgow, the Scottish champion.    WH Welsh, who filled DJ Macrae’s place, coming in second.   The half mile proved exceptionally interesting.   PF Hugo and AM Mathews represented Edinburgh, C Duguid and W Smellie represented Glasgow, and Aberdeen’s men were A Murray and C Twort.   Mathews led all the way until the last 100 yards or so, when Hugo pressed him on entering the straight.   Then amidst much excitement on the part of the spectators, Twort came away in fine form and, passing Mathews about 20 yards from the tape, ultimately beat him by about half a yard, the plucky performance evoking hearty cheers.   The time – 2 min 2 4-5th sec. – is the best yet achieved at the Inter University meeting, and experts regarded it as a very good performance on grass.   Hugo was third.   In the 220 yards, E Russell filled Macrae’s place for Edinburgh, Welsh being their second string.   Here, as in the opening event, Stark  (Glasgow) was again victor, covering the distance in what was regarded as the fine time of 22 3-5th sec, and beating Welsh by three yards.    That fine racer however once again asserted his supremacy as the record holder for the quarter mile by winning that event, on this occasion coming in first a few yards ahead of his team mate Hugo.   Always a popular race, the hurdle race (120 yards) evoked keen interest.   RS Stewart and Cookson championed Edinburgh, while A Gordon and AN Gordon were Glasgow’s representatives and HR Neilson and GM Bain  did service for Aberdeen.   This was a spiritedly conducted contest.   Stewart (who had been fancied for first place) was outdistanced by both Aberdeen men, and had to take third position, some two yards behind Bain, for Neilson came in first by just a foot, his time being 17 seconds.   In the Mile Mathews, as last year, proved the winner, defeating Dawson (Aberdeen) by 25 yards, while JH Bennett, the other Edinburgh runner, pluckily persevering, arrived third.   The remaining three competitors dropped out. The jumping competitions came in for a good deal of notice, G Carmichael (Edinburgh) leading in the Broad Jump by 20 feet 1/2 inch with R Twort (Aberdeen) and Wilson (Glasgow) tieing for second place at 19 ft 10 1/2 in.   Cookson dropped out at 19 fet 5 ins.   Last year at Glasgow, DJ Macrae (Edinburgh) cleared 23 ft 2 ins.   In the weights the leading honours fell to R Gunn (Glasgow) .   It was after 6 o’clock before the sports terminated.   …   Th result of the day’s contests was a tie between Edinburgh and Glasgow with 11 points ; Aberdeen gained 8 points.   

It was the typical Scotsman report which beautifully wrote up the meeting from an Edinburgh point of view – note that the results of the throws competitions were not included although they appeared in the list of results that followed.   For the record, Glasgow had one and two in Putting the Weight with Gunn and McDonald achieving 40′ 4″ and 38′ 2″ respectively, Gunn won the Hammer (111′ 4″) from Macpherson (Edinburgh  99′ 2″) and there was no javelin that year.

On 9th June, 1906, Glasgow Universitry held their own sports at the grounds of Glasgow University as preparation for the Inter-Varsity Games, and Aberdeen University held their Sports which included fourteen events, at the King’s College Grounds on the same day.   The big event was held the following week at Craiglockhart in Edinburgh on a wet and miserable afternoon where the reports all said that the performances in all events were adversely affected.   The results were as follows:

100 yards: 

Ht 1:  1.  E Russell (Edinburgh); 2. J Walker (Glasgow)  10 3-5th sec.   Stark did not compete although he was present.

Ht 2:  1.  GH Weller (Glasgow); 2.  ID Dickson (Edinburgh)  10 3-5th sec

Final:  1.  GH Weller;  2.  E Russell;  3.  ID Dickson   10 4-5th sec.   Less than a yard separated the men at the finish.

High Jump:  1.  JB Milne (Edinburgh) 5′ 6″;  2. J Murray (Aberdeen) and J Walker (St Andrews)  tie  5′ 0 1/4″

880 Yards:  1.  CC Twort (Aberdeen);  2.  AM Mathews (Edinburgh);  3.  T Jack (Edinburgh).  Time 2 min 10 sec.

Throwing the Hammer:  1.  TY Bremner (Aberdeen) 96′ 1″;  2. H Macpherson (Edinburgh);  3.  N McInnes (Glasgow)

120 yards hurdles:  1.. RS Steuart (Edinburgh); 2.  Alex Gordon (Glasgow);  3.  H Hoyland (Edinburgh).  Time 17 3-5th sec

220 yards:  1.  WH Welsh (Edinburgh);  2.  D Dickson (Edinburgh);  3.  James B Struthers (Glasgow)  Time 24 4-5th sec

Putting the Weight:  1.  A MacDonald (Glasgow) 39′ 1″;  2.  WH Welsh (Edinburgh) 36′ 1″;  3. N McInnes (Glasgow).

One Mile:  1.  AM Mathews (Edinburgh);  2.  CC Twort (Aberdeen);  3.  MB Ward (Edinburgh)  Time  4 min 55 1/2 sec

Broad Jump:  1.  HA Cookson (Edinburgh);  2.  John Murray (Aberdeen);  3.  HGM Wilson (Aberdeen)  Distance  19′ 7″

440 yards:  1.  WH Welsh (Edinburgh);  2.  ID Dickson (Edinburgh);  3.  D Gillespie (St Andrews).  Time  56 secs.

This was the year when St Andrews returned to the meeting, their first entry since the event’s restart.   It was a welcome return but their lack of previous experience showed in the fourth position that they occupied at the end of the day.   Team Result:

1.   Edinburgh 40 points;  2.   Aberdeen 14 1/2 Points;  3.   Glasgow  13;   4.  St Andrews  2 1/2. 

In 1906 the meeting was held on 16th June in St Andrews         The report in the Glasgow Herald was interesting, apart from the report on the meeting, for what it had to say about the facilities at St Andrews.  The Herald of 18th June reported as follows: 

“The Inter-Varsity ended in a very pronounced win for Edinburgh University whose representatives scored 40 points against 14 1/2 by Aberdeen, 13 for Glasgow and 2 1/2 for St Andrews.   This is the first time the students of the “Grey City” have taken part in the contest, and if they did not cover themselves with glory they will no doubt do much better in the future.   Thanks to the generosity of their Lord Rector they have a recreation ground which is second to none in Scotland alike in regard to situation and general appointments, and it will be nothing short of a reproach to Fifeshire students if they do not make the most of it.   JP Stark, the SAAA Sprint Champion, was not among the competitors, but for all that the 100 yards fell to Glasgow, GH Walker winning after an exciting finish with JD Dickson who, the previous week, won the sprint at the West of Scotland Sports.   WH Welsh who seems to have got back some of his old form won the 220 and 440 yards while he was second in the weight, which was the only other first scored by Glasgow, A McDonald putting 39 feet 5 in.   AM Mathew annexed the half mile and the mile for Edinburgh, and AH Cookson of the same ‘Varsity covered 19 feet 3 in in the broad jump, while the modest performance of 5 feet 6 in won the high jump for Edinburgh.”

*

Edinburgh won a fairly wide margin again on 15th June, 1907, when the championships were held at Anniesland in Glasgow, the result being Edinburgh 32, Glasgow 23 1/2, Aberdeen 12 and St Andrews 2 1/2.   The report said right at the start that St Andrews was not up to anything like full strength.   JD Dickson had three firsts in the 100, 220 and 440 yards and was largely responsible for Edinburgh’s success.   “There was a surprise in the half mile, Aberdeen providing first man, and thereby defeating such stagers as AM Mathews and T Jack, both of whom made short work of all opposition in the Mile event.   Glasgow excelled in the hurdles, getting first and second thereby crying quits with Edinburgh who had a similar number of points (6) in the Mile.   The proceedings were a little dull and it was remarked by those who have followed University athletics in Scotland this season that the quality is scarcely up to the quality of some recent  years.  The fact is athletics are not taken as seriously as they might be at our centres of culture.”

Maybe a bit harsh at the end – among the athletes mentioned above, Tom Jack won the SAAA 10 miles 6 times, the four miles once and won other medals in the mile and four miles; Mathews was second to no less than John McGough three times in the national championships and Dickson after gaining two third places in the Scottish championships, would go on to win the 220 and 440, with a second in the 100 yards in 1909.   There was a lot of talent there.   The un-named victor in the half mile for Aberdeen was CC Twort who had run so well in previous Inter-Varsity events.   

EUAC Sports 13th June, 1908;  

“Favoured with splendid weather, the Scottish Inter-University Athletic Sports held at University Recreation Park, St Andrews on Saturday afternoon, were carried through with great success before a large and fashionable gathering.   The contests were under SAAA rules.   

100 yards race Final:  1.  JD Dickson, Edinburgh; 2. EFW MacKenzie, Edinburgh;  3. R Gilmour, St Andrews  Time  10 2-5th sec

High Jump:  1.  GH Wilson, Glasgow, 5 ft 5 in;  2.  GR MacDonald, Aberdeen, 5 ft 4 in;  3.  JR Izat Edinburgh, 5 ft 2 in

Half mile:  1.  CC Twort, Aberdeen;  2.  JW Bruce, Edinburgh;  3.  A Gray, Aberdeen.   Time: 2 min 6 4-5th sec

120 yards hurdles Final:  1.  EFW MacKenzie, Edinburgh;  2.  T Prain, St Andrews;  3.  H Hoyland, Edinburgh.  Time  17 4-5th

Throwing the Hammer, 16lb:  1.  R   MacPherson, Edinburgh, 101 ft 7 1/2 in;  2.  G Wilson, Edinburgh, 96 ft 8 in;  3.  CR Glass, Aberdeen, 94 ft 8 in.   

220 yards:  1.  JD Dickson, Edinburgh;  2.  EFW MacKenzie, Edinburgh;  3.  R Gilmour St Andrews.  Time  23 2-5th sec

Putting the Weight, 16 lb:  1.  R MacPherson, Edinburgh, 36 ft 1 in;  2.  CK Smith, Aberdeen, 35 ft 11 in;  3.  RD Sivwright, Edinburgh, 34 ft 10 in.

Broad Jump:  1.  G Stephen, St Andrews, 241 ft 4 in;  2.  RF Twort, Edinburgh, 21 ft 3 in;  3.  AJ Cookson, Edinburgh, 19 ft 2 in

440 yards:  1.  JD Davidson, Edinburgh;  2.  RF Twort, Edinburgh;  3.  AD Donald, Edinburgh.  Time: 53 3-5th sec

One Mile:  1.  CC Twort, Aberdeen;  2.  A Gray, Aberdeen;  3.  RT Johnstone, Edinburgh.  Time:   4 min 47 3-5th sec

Team:  1.  Edinburgh 38 points:  Aberdeen 18, St Andrews 10 and Glasgow 4.

The only event which was described at all was the Mile where the first three were separated by only two feet.   

*

In 1909, 19th June was the date of the contest which was held at King’s College in  Aberdeen on a showery day with few spectators.   Dickson of Edinburgh won the 100, 220 and 440 yards and G Stephen of St Andrews won both high and broad jumps.  Results:

100 yards:   1.   JD Dickson, Edinburgh; 2.  EFW MacKenzie, Edinburgh;  3.  WL Kinlay, Glasgow.   Time  10 4-5th sec

High jump:  1.  G Stephen St Andrews, 5 ft 3 in;  2.  AGG Ellis, Aberdeen, and J Izatt, Edinburgh, equal  5 ft 2 1/2 in

880 yards:  1.  A Gray, Aberdeen;  2.  T Welsh, Edinburgh;  3.  JW Bruce, Edinburgh.  Time  2 min 5 sec 

Hurdles:   1.   EFW MacKenzie;   2.  RM Chance, Aberdeen;  3.  GV Bogie, Edinburgh.  Time 17 2-5th sec

Throwing the Hammer:  1.   RDM MacPherson, Edinburgh, 113 ft (beating record of 111 ft 10 in at Aberdeen in 1902); 2.  J McCrae, Glasgow;  3.  FR Cramb, Aberdeen 

220 yards: 1.   JD Dickson, Edinburgh;  2.  T Milroy, Aberdeen;  3.  TA Clarke, Aberdeen.  Time:  23 1-5th sec

Putting the Weight:  1.  F MacCrae, Glasgow, 36 feet;  2.  HDC Craig, St Andrews;  3.  CK Smith, Aberdeen

Broad jump:  1.  G Stephen, St Andrews, 20 feet;  2.   RM Chance, Aberdeen;  3.   J Cattanach, Edinburgh.

One Mile:  1.  T Welsh, Edinburgh;  2.  A Gray, Aberdeen;  3.  WE Glover, Aberdeen.  Time:  4 min 46 1-5th sec

440 yards:   1.  JD Dickson;  2.  JW Bruce, Edinburgh;  3.  JA Clarke, Aberdeen.   Time:  54 1-5th sec

Points totals:   1.  Edinburgh  37 1/2;   2.  Aberdeen  13 1/2;   3.  St Andrews  10;  4.  Glasgow  9.

The results above are as printed in the Glasgow Herald two days after the meeting – the initials may be wrong in some places – eg is it JA Clarke or TA Clarke or were there two of them; similarly is it J MacCrae or F MacCrae or both?   Whatever it is, the result was another resounding victory for Edinburgh, and for Glasgow it was two fourth places in consecutive years.

1903 Cross-Country International Field

Photo from Alex Wilson

Following on from the account of the ten mile track championships from their inaugural run in 1886 to their unfortunate death 90 years later in 1976, short profiles of the runners who won medals of whatever colour in the races are presented here for information.   Those athletes who already have individual profiles are linked to these profiles where their name appears on the text on the race reports [recognisable because they are in blue.]   We will do it in chronological order.

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W Henderson, 1887. was a member of the Clydesdale Harriers national cross-country winning team in 1888 when he was fifth.   In the breakaway SHU version of the national cross-country championship in 1890 he was in the winning Glasgow team where he was tenth.   

P Addison, 1888, Edinburgh Harriers: In addition to winning the 10 miles track championship in 1892 and being third in 1888 and 1896, Addison ran in and was a member of the winning Edinburgh team in the first ever National Cross-Country Championship in 1886 and continued to represent the club in a series of national championships where he continued to win team medals in 1891 and 1895 when the team won for the first time in several years..    

Charles Pennycook, 1889, of Arthurlie FC and Clydesdale Harriers, had an illustrious athletics career winning the National Cross-Country title in 1892. He had previously won the breakaway SHU Cross-Country Championship of Scotland in 1890 under the Scottish Harriers Union rules.   On the track he won the SAAA Mile in 1889 and was second in the Ten Miles in the same year.   There were also second and third place championship medals plus team medals.   He went on to be President of the SAAA in 1907/08.

TIS Hunter, 1890, Edinburgh Harriers,  was second in the ten miles track twice (1890 and 1892), and third in the four miles in 1890.   This was his first year running in the championships but his talents stretched to cross-country where he was a solid club cross-country runner who ran in several national medal winning teams, starting with second team medals in the SCCA championships in 1890, winning team medal in 1891 (he was sixth), and a personal best finish in 1894 when he was fourth.   He ran often on the track and won prizes in events as disparate as the mile flat, the novelty race (one lap race walking, one lap running backwards, one lap running) and the three and four miles events.

WM Carment, 1891, Edinburgh Harriers, medallist in both 10 miles and one mile, as well as being a regular member of medal winning cross-country teams for his club, he won individual silver in the 1892 national championship and bronze in 1893.     Carment went on to become Secretary/Treasurer of the SCCU between 1892 and 1897.

P McMorrow, 1892, West of Scotland Harriers and Celtic Harriers, ran in his first national cross-country championship in 1892 where he finished tenth for the team that finished third.   He never won team or individual medals on the country but won prizes at distances from 880 yards to 4 miles in track handicaps.

SJ Cornish, 1893, Edinburgh Harriers, was twice runner-up to Andrew Hannah in the 10 miles track championship.  His first run in the national was in 1893 (team third), then after another third in 1894, he was in the winning team in 1895 

A McCallum, 1895

RA Hay, 1896, Edinburgh Harriers, was Scottish Cross-Country Champion in 1896, also over a ten miles course, leading his club to first team honours.   His first cross-country national was in 1894 when he was 11th for the team that finished third for the second year in succession.

David White Mill 1901 Clydesdale Harriers. One International Cross-Country vest. His first National run for Clydesdale was in 1896 when he was part of the gold medal winning team.  He won the National Cross-Country (plus team gold) in both 1901 and 1902. Individual silver (and team silver) in 1900. Four Miles Track champion in 1901, after bronze in 1899 and silver in 1990. Four Track International vests: at 4 Miles versus Ireland – winning in 1901.   Mill started out with Greenock Glenpark Harriers,and switched allegiance to Clydesdale Harriers for several years during which he won National titles on the track and over the country before returning to run again for Glenpark.

Tom Jack 1904 Edinburgh Southern Harriers, had a remarkable record:

•  on the track where he won the 10 miles track six times (1904, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1910) and was second once (1905) as well as winning the Four Miles in ’08, being second in ’05, ’06, third in ’07, second in ’09 and second in ’10.   
• over the country where he won the national championship in 1907, ’08. 09 and 1912.

Thomas Mulrine 1904  West of Scotland H. 5th in 1905 National XC (plus team gold). Team silver in 1907

Sam Stevenson, 1905 ’08 Clydesdale Harriers. 3 International Cross-Country vests. Four Miles Track champion in 1905 and 1906.   Olympic Games 1908.   Four Track International vests versus Ireland, winning twice.

Sam Stevenson, Clydesdale H

Peter Russell 1905 Bellahouston H. 2 International XC vests.

W Bowman 1907 West of Scotland H. 4 International XC vests (including 11th and first Scot in 1909). 5th in 1907 National XC (plus team silver).

William Robertson 1908 Clydesdale H. 2 International XC vests. National XC team gold 1906. Track One Mile silver medallist in 1897. Two Track International vests versus Ireland, competing in 880 yards, One Mile and Four Miles. Eventually suspended for professionalism.

Alex McPhee 1909 Clydesdale H.   3 International XC vests, including 8th and first Scot in 1910. National XC champion in 1909 and 1910. Team 1st equal in 1910. Four Miles Track champion in 1909 and 1910. His father was a good professional runner; and his younger brother Duncan a fine Scottish International 880/Mile athlete.

Alec Mann 1909 Clydesdale H.   3 International XC vests. National XC team gold in 1907; team silver in 1909 (individual bronze); team gold in 1910 (individual 5th); team silver in 1911 (individual 4th); team silver in 1912; team bronze in 1913.   He was also known as a road runner well before it was fashionable for amateurs to do so.

Angus Kerr 1911 Motherwell YMCA H and Bellahouston H. 4 International XC vests: 1911, 1912, 1913, 1920. He finished a fine 11th in 1913. National XC individual silver in 1912, one second behind Tom Jack. Team silver in 1920, when he finished 9th. One Track International vest versus Ireland, running the Four Miles.

A Smith 1913   Clydesdale Harrier. One International Cross-Country vest which was won in 1920 .

George Cummings 1914  Greenock Glenpark H / Bellahouston H? One International Cross-Country vest. In the 1914 National Cross-Country he finished 6th (plus team gold).

John Cuthbert 1921 Garscube H. One International Cross-Country vest. In the 1921 National Cross-Country, he finished 9th (plus team silver); and added another team silver in 1923.

P Martin 1923 Maryhill H. In the 1926 National Cross-Country, he contributed to team silver.

James Mitchell 1925 Kilmarnock H/Mauchline.  2 International Cross-Country vests, including 1926 when he finished 5th and was first Scot. In the National Cross-Country he was second in 1925; and became champion in 1926.

Daniel Quinn 1926 Garscube H. One International Cross-Country vest. In the National Cross-Country he won team bronze in 1923; finished 8th and secured team gold in 1925; and in 1926 was fifth and led his club to team gold.

William Sutherland 1935 Shettleston H. 4 International Cross-Country vests. In the National Cross-Country he was 6th in 1935; secured team silver in 1938; and finished 8th (plus team bronze) in 1939. He ran regularly in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay and contributed to team silver in 1936 and bronze in 1939.

David Brooke 1936  Garscube H. In the National XC, he helped his team to bronze in 1928 and 1935. In the E to G, he added bronze in 1931 and silver in 1935. Secured a bronze medal in the 1936 Six Miles track championship. Later he was active as a time keeper respected by all and worked at the 1970 Commonwealth Games before becoming President of the Scottish Marathon Club.   There is more about him   here   and    here

   William Kennedy 1937 Kilbarchan H. 2 International Cross Country vests. He finished 10th in the National Cross-Country in 1937.

Gordon Anderson 1947 Bellahouston H. One International Cross-Country vest. In the National Cross-Country, he was 4th in 1947 (plus team gold); 8th in 1948 (team silver); and 12th in 1949 (team silver).

Archibald Gibson 1948 Hamilton H. 4 International Cross-Country vests: he was one of Scotland’s scoring six on each occasion. In the National Cross Country he was 6th in 1948; and ran fast in the Edinburgh to Glasgow.   You can read mor about him at this link

Edinburgh University team, 1899

The Inter-University Sports had been held between 1872 and 1879 with a gap where the 1874 sports should have been.   They then, for whatever reason, ceased to be until 1899 and the trail is picked up with the following article in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ of  20th March, 1899.  It is a report on a meeting to re-introduce the inter-university champs.   It is reproduced here as it gives an insight into what prompted the move and what it was hoped would be gained from it.

“If we except football, athletic life at our Scottish universities is not as healthy as it might be; indeed, there was more activity and more genuine interest in general athletics at Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews ten years ago than there is now.   It is common to represent these centres of intellectual light as given up almost wholly to the worship of athleticism, but it is scarcely necessary to say that this is a delusion.   Athletics have a fairly reasonable hold at Edinburgh but it might easily be stronger and more general without interfering in any way with the intellectual development of the students.   This is evidently being felt, as a proposal, emanating from the capital, is on foot to establish inter-university sports, and a meeting of delegates from Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Aberdeen is to be held shortly at Dundee to discuss the scheme, and, if at all possible, bring off a gathering this season.   Glasgow students seem to think the idea will take practical shape, as on Friday several confined races were decided at Hampden Park. and though the performances were not of much account, there was enough merit to justify the expectation of better things.     We may mention that many years ago, inter-varsity sports were held under the auspices of the Edinburgh University AC, but for some reason or other the event lost its charm, and was eventually dropped altogether.   We hope the contemplated scheme will be carried through as the commonplace character of athletics at our universities is not only a reproach to those institutions as centres of intellectual and physical activity, but it is also a reproach on the prestige which we as a nation enjoy for athletic achievement.”

It is only arguable that the sports before 1879 were ‘under the auspices’ of EUAC –  there was always an organising committee of members from all the establishments involved and the venue went to each participating college in turn.   However that may be, the move was success and the first of the new sports was held at Aberdeen,   

Aberdeen University team, 1899

“INTER-UNIVERSITY SPORTS AT ABERDEEN.

The first of the revived inter-university athletic meetings was held in brilliant weather and in presence of a fashionable attendance at the King’s College grounds, Aberdeen on Saturday afternoon.   Of the four Scottish universities, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen were represented and the pick of the academic sportsmen were present.   In the first contest, throwing the hammer, Aberdeen made a good show but they had to bow the knee to Glasgow, who had a tower of strength in Gunn.   The one mile race was an easy thing for JW Milne, Aberdeen, who completed in satisfactory time.   A fine tussle took place in the long leap event.   Edinburgh had forward a fine jumper in GD Laing, who kept a formidable lead by never being under 20 feet and finished first with a fine leap of 20 feet 9 ins.   Fitzgerald of Glasgow gave him trouble only once and ended a good second with 20 feet 4 1/2 ins.   The 220 yards was a somewhat unsatisfactory race, the corners completely killing the outside men.  Glasgow was an easy first with Jeffrey.   Result:

Throwing the Hammer:  1st  R Gunn (G) 95 feet; 2nd J Taylor (A) 93 feet;

One Mile Race:  1st JW Milne (A) 4 min 44 4-5th sec; 2nd: AN Fell (E);

Long Leap: 1st GD Laing (E) 20 feet 9 in; 2nd CC Fitzgerald (G);

220 yards race:  1st J Jeffrey (G) 24 2-5th sec;  2nd J Muir (G);

Putting the Weight: 1st DJ Macrae (A) 38 feet 8 ins; 2nd CC Grant (A);

120 yards hurdle race:  1st HM Fletcher (E) 17 1/4 sec; 2nd JAS Grant (A);

Quarter Mile Race:  1st WW Welsh (E) 53 3-5th sec; 2nd GT Ford (E);

High Jump:  1st CG Anderson (E) 5 feet 4  ins; 2nd CC Fitzgerald (G) and HR Neilson (A);

100 yards race:  1st GS Stewart (G) 10 4-5th sec; 2nd WW Welsh (E).

Abstract of points: (first place counts two, second place one) : Edinburgh 11 points, Glasgow  8 1/2 points, Aberdeen  7 1/2 points.

Sir David Stewart, LLD, afterwards presented the prizes to the successful competitors.   It was 26 years he said since inter-university sports had been held in Scotland, and he congratulated Aberdeen upon the success which had attended their resuscitation.   He also congratulated Edinburgh on topping the list.”

“Glasgow Herald”, 19th June 1899.

Perhaps he is the man responsible for creating the misapprehension that the sports ended in 1873: he was speaking in 1899 after all.   Again the versatility of some of the competitors was notable although there were no double event winners. 

Glasgow University team, 1899

In 1900 Glasgow University had hoped to hold their sports on 9th June but had unfortunately to postpone them to the following Wednesday because the weather was so bad.   The Glasgow Herald report on Thursday, 14th June, read:  “Owing to the breakdown in the weather on Saturday last, the University Club held their sports at Anniesland last night in dull but fair weather.   The sports were to decide the competitors to represent our Alma Mater at the Inter Varsity Sports in Edinburgh on Saturday first.   The attendance was fairly good.”   There were ten events plus two for local schools with Glasgow Academy, Allan Glen’s Paisley Grammar, and Whitehill among the prize winners.  Edinburgh University was well known as the establishment which took these Sports most seriously and Glasgow had been chastised in the 1870’s for not taking them seriously enough.   This meeting is evidence that the situation had changed.   

Came the Sports themselves and The Scotsman reported as follows: “At Craiglockhart on Saturday, i  magnificent weather and before a large and fashionable audience, the representatives of the three great Scottish universities – Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen – met to decide which University was entitled to claim for the present season the athletic championship.   Last year the sports, which had then been revived after having been in abeyance for a long period, were held at Aberdeen, and Edinburgh on that occasion won by 11 points to Glasgow’s 8 1/2 and Aberdeen’s 7 1/2.   On Saturday it was anticipated that with an athlete of the calibre of WH Welsh among her representatives, the Metropolitan University would have little difficulty in retaining the championship and this anticipation was fully borne out by the results.   The items for competition were throwing the hammer, putting the weight, long leap, high jump, quarter mile, 220 yards, 100 yards,  120 yards hurdle.   Two entrants from each university to compete.”

There are some points to note from this report – one is the reference to Edinburgh University by The Scotsman as ‘the metropolitan university’: none of the other papers consulted at any point called it so.   It may have been how the citizens of Edinburgh saw the university but it seems peculiar unto them.   ‘The three great universities’ makes no comment on the fourth – St Andrews – which was not present and would not be until 1906.   And WH Welsh would have been an asset to any team in any age: before his career was over he would have won the triple treble – the 100 yards, 220 yards and 440 yards at three  SAAA Championships – and set Scottisg records as well as being a regular member of Scottish teams.   

Throwing the Hammer:  1.  DJ Macrae, A, 107′ ; 2.  G Minty, A, 3.  R Gunn, G.   Edinburgh, as was expected, was completely out classed in this event, all three points going to Aberdeen.   

One Mile Race:  1.  AS Fell, E;  2.  JW Milne, A; 3.  H Watson, A.   Aberdeen with Watson and Milne, led for two laps with Fell, E,  lying fourth and Renwick, G, third.   Campbell, E, gave up at the beginning of the last lap.   Then Fell drew ahead, shook off Milne’s challenge and won by 10 yards. Time: 4min 50 3-5th sec.

Long Leap:  1.  GC Anderson, E, 20′ 4″; 2.  CC Fitzgerald  20′ 3 1/2″, G; JM Bell, E, 20′ 2 3/4″.   The contest of the afternoon so far was unquestionable the long leap.   After the weeding out, the three men above were left.   Anderson then led with his 20′ 4″, Bell was second with his 20′  2 3/4″ , and the Glasgow representative third, a quarter of an inch less.   In his best effort, however, Fitzgerald got to within half inch of the winner.

220 yards:  1.  WH Welsh, E;  2.  AJ Milne, A; 3.  JB Paterson, A.   The start was a rather straggling one but Welsh soon headed the lot.   Milne, though beaten by eight yards, kept the Edinburgh champion going up to the tape.   Time:  22 3-5th sec.   

Putting the weight:   1.  DJ Macrae, A, 38′ 8 1/2″;  2.  WH Welsh, E, 35′;  3.  DM Petrie, A.   Welsh’s first put was his best.   Twice he ‘fouled’ the others.

120 yards Hurdle Race:  1.  GC Anderson, E;  2.  AB Timms, E;  3.  AJ Milne, A.   Timms went off in great style, but lack of conditioning told against him and, knocking down the last two hurdles, he finished a poor second to Anderson who finished in good style   The Glasgow hurdlers were not forward so the Western city was not represented in this race.   

Quarter-Mile:  1.  WH Welsh, E;  2.  JA Mathers, E;  3.  J Jeffrey, G.   From the pistol, Welsh took a commanding lead.   Easing up 100 yards from home, he allowed his club mate to get almost on level terms, then in the home straight, without trouble, increased his lead to twelve yards.   Time: 54 1-5th sec.

High Jump:   1.  GC Anderson, A, 5′ 5″; 2.  BH Robertson, G, 5′ 4″.   Anderson and Robertson both failed at 5′ 4″ at first, but ultimately cleared that height.   Then Anderson went an inch higher and won.   

100 yards race:  1.  WH Welsh, E;  2. FH Fraser, A.   Another easy victory for Welsh who won by 5 yards.   Cowan, E, was third.  Time: 10 2-5th sec.

Edinburgh won the championship with 17 points, Aberdeen coming next with 8, and Glasgow far in the rear having 2 points. “

Welsh then lived up to the expectations – first in 100, 220 and 440 yards plus a second in the shot putt.   He was aided and abetted by GC Anderson who won high and long jumps plus the 120 yards hurdles: they picked up 13 of the university’s 17.   

1899 Long Leap

.Edinburgh won again in 1901 and Welsh contributed even more to the team effort despite losing the 100 yards – the last event on a programme in which he had competed in 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, shot putt and throwing the hammer.   He had turned out in five out of nine events.   The Sports were held in Glasgow at the Glasgow Exhibition.   Placed men:

Throwing the Hammer:  1.  MN McInnes, E; 2.  J Macrae, A.  Distance:  107′  7 1/2″

One Mile:  1.  AN Fell, E;  2.  WG Gunn, E.   Time: 4 min 42 1-5th sec

Long Leap:  1.  GC Anderson, E,  19′  1 1/2″;  2.  HR Neilson, A, and M Holmes, E,  18′  5 1/2″

220 Yards:  1.  WH Welsh, E;  2.  EAL Brown, G.  Time: 24 2-5th sec.

Putting the Weight:  1.  MN McInnes, E, 40′ 3£ ;  2.  DJ Macrae, A,  36′ 7″

Quarter-Mile:  1.  WH Welsh, E;  2.  TF Campbell, E.   Time:  53 3-5th sec

High Jump:  1.  HR Neilson, A, 5′ 5″;  2.  BH Robertson, G, 5′ 4″

100 Yards:  1.  J Ford, G;  2.  WH Welsh, E.   Time: 10 4-5th sec 

Team competition:   1st Edinburgh 18 1/2 points;  2nd Aberdeen  4 1/2 pts;  3rd  Glasgow  4 pts.

1899

In 1902 the event was held in King’s College grounds, Aberdeen on 14th June.   With no WH Welsh in the team this year, it might have been thought that Edinburgh’s title was in jeopardy but the table of points winners told a different story.   

The meeting was held in ‘as disagreeable weather conditions as could be imagined’ reported the Scotsman on 16th June, 1902,  ‘rain falling more or less heavily the whole time.’   But it should be added that ‘the somewhat depressing conditions were brightened by performances of the fine band of the Aberdeen Volunteer Royal Engineers led by Mr Stavert.’    

It is not surprising that in the conditions the performances were not outstanding although most events were closely contested.   The visitors were guests of the Aberdeen men at Dinner in the Students Union in the evening.

JP Stark, Glasgow University

In 1903, the Edinburgh University trials were held on the Wednesday, ten days before the Sports but the Scotsman comments on the Glasgow trials on the Saturday before the big event were maybe more interesting.   They read:  “Confined Sports were held at Gilmorehill on Saturday with a view to aiding the committee in selecting the team to compete in the Inter Varsity Sports to be held this week.   Little interest was taken in the event beyond ‘Varsity circles, and the attendance on that account was more select than numerous.   Principal Story and several professors were present and evinced an intelligent interest in the proceedings.   Some good sport was witnessed, particularly in the field events.   …  Altogether the Glasgow performances compare favourably with those of Edinburgh University at Colinton last Wednesday.”

The actual sports were held on 13th June, 1903 at Craiglockhart, Edinburgh, where the home team won again with 15 1/2 points to Aberdeen’s 7  and Glasgow’s 4 1/2.   HN Fletcher was unable to run in the hurdle race but his place was taken by GC Anderson, the Scottish champion, who went on and won the race – as well as winning the Broad Jump and being second in the High Jump.   SP Wadson of Aberdeen also had a busy day winning the 220 and being second in both the 100 yards and the 440 yards. The numbers were always a problem and this one was labelled the fifth annual inter-university sports by the Scotsman.   

Results:  

Throwing the Hammer:   1.  G Minty, A, 94′;  2.  G Milne, A, 91′ 8″

100 yards: 1.  J Ford, G;  2,  SP Wadson, A.  Time  10 3-5th sec

Broad Jump:  1.  GC Anderson, E, 20′ 11 1/2″;  2.  J Murray, A, 20′ 8 3/4″

220 yards:  1.  SP Wadson, A;   2.  A Milne, A.  Time: 24 3-5th sec

Putting the Weight:  1.  LD Shaw, G, 38′ 4″; 2.  HN Fletcher, E, 35′ 5 1/2″

120 yards hurdles:  1.  GC Anderson, E;  2.  RS Steuart, E.  Time:  16 4-5th sec

Quarter Mile:  1.  JM Hardy, A;  SP Wadson, A.   Time  55 sec

High Jump:  1.  JM Graham, E, 5′ 5 1/2″;  2.  Equal – GC Anderson, E, and GH Wilson, G,   5′ 4 1/2″

Mile:  1.  AD Anderson, E;  2.  JA Jamieson, E.    Time:  4 min 48 sec

Robert F Twort   –   Aberdeen University

The sports of 1904 were held on Saturday, 11th June, and reported the following Monday.   The Scotsman first:  On Saturday, at Anniesland, the ground of Glasgow Academicals, representatives of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities met for the sixth time to settle the question of athletic supremacy for the year.   Up until Saturday, Edinburgh University had always been successful, gaining victory on all occasion by a substantial majority of points.   On Saturday however, Glasgow University scored their first triumph, winning by one point.   The actual points were:- Glasgow 12 points, Edinburgh 11 points; Aberdeen 7 points.   For a time on Saturday Glasgow held a big lead being nine points ahead of Edinburgh at one stage of the proceedings.   From then onwards however, Glasgow only managed one point while the Edinburgh men added nine.   In the sprints the Glasgow men won easily, and in the half mile and high jump the Aberdeen men were prominent.   In the quarter mile, one mile and long jump, the eastern competitors distinguished themselves, winning those events very comfortably.   The weather for Saturday’s meeting was all that could be desired which no doubt accounted for the large gathering of spectators, and throughout the afternoon music selections were provided by the band of the 1st Lanarkshire Garrison Artillery.   The officials were:- judges Messrs A Ross Scott, H Barr and T Fraser; time keeper and referee Mr Mr DS Duncan; Starter Mr James Moore.   Results:-

100 yards:  1.  JP Stark, G;  2.  JB Clarke, A.   Time: 10 3-5th sec.

Throwing the Hammer:  LD Shaw, G;  2.  N McInnes, G.   106′ 8″     Won by 6′ 1″

Half Mile:  1. RF Twort, A;  2.  TF Campbell, E.   Time: 2 min 3 44-5th sec

High Jump:  1.  GM Bain, A, 5′ 7 1/2″;  2.  CH Wilson and J McConnell, G, tie at 5′ 6 1/4″

220 yards:  1. JP Stark, G;  WH Welsh, E.   Time: 24 4-5th sec

Putting the Weight:  1.  LD Shaw, G, 39′ 10″;   2.  N McInnes, G, 38′  8″

120 yards hurdles:  1.  RS Steuart, E;  2.  DB Nicol, A.   17 4-5th sec

Quarter Mile:  1.  WH Welsh, E;  2.  JB Clarke, A.   Time:  53 4-5th sec

Broad Jump:  1.  JD Macrae, E, 21′  11 3/4″;  2.  CC Fitzgerald, G, 21′  3 1/2″

One Mile:  1.  AM Matthews, E;  2.  JH Jamieson, E.   Time:  4 min 43 4-5th sec.

The sprints were particularly strong in this  meeting –  

WH Welsh has been spoken of above – multi medallist in the SAAA championships, double winner in the international  v  Ireland in 1900;

JP Stark was three times SAAA 1000 yards champion, winner of the 220, three firsts and four seconds in the international  v  Ireland.

The officials were also of a high standard with Ross Scott officiating in the 1908 Olympic Games in London and in both 440 yards  races where Halswell ran so well.   Hugh  Barr was seven times Scottish long jump champion, 100 yards champion and winner in the internationals against Ireland.   DS Duncan had been Scottish champion at one mile, four miles and ten miles as well as over  the country.   

The Inter varsity championships which had started off so tentatively in 1871, were now integrated into Scottish athletics and attracted big crowds and extended coverage in the national press.

23^rd February 2019

R.I.P Ron Bentley

Tipton Harriers are deeply saddened to report the death of Ron Bentley at the age of 88 after a long illness.

Born in November 1930 Ron became a member of the club in 1951 continuing right through to the present day. He was a Life member of the club this being awarded in 1972 some twenty years after he joined.

He was born in the heart of the Black Country. Proud of his Gornal roots he helped put Tipton Harriers on the map again in the late 60’s and early 1970’s following the earlier exploits of another Tipton Harrier Jack Holden during the period 1930 to 1950.

Ron’s work ethic was forged in his upbringing. From a humble & simple background he became one of the most respected men of his era in the area. He could mix with anyone.

Outside the world of athletics, he worked in the metals industry for most of his life. A grafter in so many ways. He worked his way from loyal employee through to owner of a company. He & Eva, his wife, enjoyed danced, he baked, and he enjoyed films. He played table tennis to a high standard. He loved his wife, his family, friends and athletics. He was a proud father of his two children Jane & Ron and their children.

Ron’s life spanned many generations of athletes and athletics. Athletes were his friends, inspirations, mentors and provided an extended family. He learned from those that had gone before absorbed their strengths and understood their weaknesses and set standards for those that followed after. He forged himself into being one of the club’s greats.

Ron was known around the country and around the world. His name and that of Tipton Harriers were inseparable. From the UK to South Africa, the USA & Scandinavia, from Brighton to Rosyth, from Exeter to the Isle of Man Ron carried the colours and hopes of the Harriers. A true ambassador.

He became a natural leader, someone people looked to for direction and inspiration. He took groups training, far and wide. He covered thousands of miles on the roads, footpaths & canal towpaths across Staffordshire & Worcestershire.

He provided an important focal point for hundreds of runners not just from Tipton Harriers but from Dudley Harriers, Halesowen AC, Oldbury AC, Wolverhampton Harriers, Bilston AC and West Bromwich Harriers to name but a few. Many eventually joined Tipton Harriers at some point in their careers.

Engaging and mercurial he could encourage with a look, a shout or a simple firm handshake. His energy was infectious.

For over sixty years he dedicated himself to the club and our sport. He served the club as an athlete, volunteer, officer and President. For many generations he became simply the heartbeat of the club.

If Ron was going to be at a race or an event you knew it was worth entering or going to watch. You were in for good racing, good friendship and good fun. Many remember the antics and adventures when taking part in the old point to point road relays in the 50’s & 60’s like the London To Brighton and the Manchester To Blackpool.

He led by example in his training, racing and helping the club establish its base at Gospel Oak. He adored the club, its history its future and above all its people. He helped raise thousands of pounds to establish our sport in the Tipton area. He helped promote many events both for the club and other organisations in our sport such as the Birmingham & District Invitation Cross Country League. Midland Counties Cross Country Association or the Midland Masters Athletic Club. He was often first there and last to leave.

He laid foundations we see today in the spirit within the club, the work ethics and an integrity we aspire to. He saw countless athletes of all abilities come and go in over sixty years of our sport.

Ron was proud of the club, its athletes and its achievements.

He was also a pioneer in our sport in so many ways from his exploits in ultra-distance running in the 1960s through to the formation of the Masters’ or Veterans’ athletics movement in the Midlands. He was an ambassador for the club and all that is good in our sport.

At Sutton Park each spring from the 1970’s onwards he would oversee the road relays marshalling his team, the supporters and the race. He was part of that special day that witnesses racing, friendship, success & failure in equal measures.

Greats from our sport from so many different eras would seek Ron out. Stan Long, Basil Heatley, Jim Alder, Brendan Foster, Bill Adcocks, Dave Moorcroft, Ron Hill are just some of the names he could count on as lifelong friends.

Around the course you would often hear him before you would see or meet him. He covered almost as many miles as the race itself. As the years went by and he was increasingly physically restricted he would park at the “top of the hill” and watch the race unfold from that area. Content at his continued involvement and support of a race he loved.

He was encyclopaedic in his knowledge of the sport. He would be able to watch a race, encourage all and sundry and be computing the team result in his head like a bookie calculating his odds. He was gracious in both victory and defeat.

We have not dwelt on his many athletic achievements. Winners’ medals & world records came his way from many events as both athlete and team manager. He raced regularly always giving it his best. He won medals at county, area and national levels over road and cross country. His personal crowning glory was in November 1973 when he set a world record for the 24-hour race notching up 161 miles 545 yards.

This happened on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th November 1973. The place, the Walton & Hersham F.C. Stadium, Stompond Lane, Walton On Thames, Surrey, England. The event, the Road Runners Club Accolade 24 Hour Track Race. The cinder track cut up quite badly in the later stages.

There was a widely held belief, even among most of the Scottish athletics historians, that after the Inter-Universities Sports held in 1871, 1872 and 1873, the event fell into abeyance until 1879.   However it appears that this was not the case.   “The  Story of Edinburgh University Athletic Club”, published in 1966 has a chapter on athletics by Dr Neil Campbell in which he says that the event was actually contested – apart from a hiatus in 1874 – up to 1879 and it was at that point that the gap appeared.   On investigation this was shown to be the case.   This is what we are looking at – the missing years in the Inter-Universities Sports.

The Scotsman of 15th March, 1875, reported on the Edinburgh University Sports (‘the eighth annual’) saying that the object of the meeting was to help the committee select their representatives for the forthcoming inter-universities championships.   One week later and it was the turn of St Andrews University to hold their own trials ‘in a field adjacent to the railway station’ which, being flat and covered with a short herbage was suitable for the purpose and they came away hopeful of winning some medals at the championships the following week.   The inter-universities was held on 27th March and reported the following Monday.   The Scotsman report on the Monday began – 

“The periodical trial of strength and skill by representative athletes of the Scottish Universities, which in student circles is a pleasant indication of the close of the winter session, took place on Saturday afternoon in the grounds of the Edinburgh Grange cricket club in Raeburn Place.   On this occasion, the usual number of selected put in appearance, with the exception of  the contingent from the Aberdeen University, but as the absence of these representatives had been anticipated, there was no upsetting of the previous arrangements through their failure to come to the front.   Last year, it may be stated, they were to take place at Aberdeen, but owing to various circumstances the competition was not carried through, and not only was the meeting then allowed to remain in abeyance for the year, but the students of the Northern University have failed this season to take the necessary steps to getting a team forward.   The success, however, with which the programme was got through fell in no way short of that of former years.” 

In the competition there was agreement that the top performances were those of C Kilner in the 880 yards (won by half a yard in 2:15.4) and JM Cotterill in Thorwing the Cricket Ball (won with 121 yards, 1 foot 4 inches.).   Edinburgh won the tea race comfortably.

March 18th, 1876, was the date for the St Andrews Sports and Trials which were held on a track near the railway station.   The programme included golf (won by W Proudfoot with 92 strokes against TD Millar and A Mackinnon=105 strokes; and golf, longest drive.  Won by Proudfoot with 103 yards).   The Edinburgh Sports and Trials for theinter-universities championships were held the following Saturday at Powderhall.   The actual sports themselves were held on 1st April and The Scotsman report read:

“The annual sports of the Scottish Universities were held with great success on the grounds belonging to the West of Scotland Cricket Club on Saturday afternoon.   The band of the 13th Light Infantry were present and there was a large and brilliant attendance of spectators, who were favoured with splendid weather.   The sports commenced shortly after two pm.   The quarter mile was easily won by McKenzie.   In the 100 yards flat race Thomson had hard work to breast the tape before Johnson, both appearing to be in rare form.   In the half mile race a good start was made but eventually McKenzie of St Andrews shot out in front of the others and won a grand race.   The mile race, as usual, caused great excitement.   The other events were on the whole keenly contested.”

The events contested included 100 yards (Thomson G), Quarter Mile (McKenzie G), Half Mile (McKenzie St A),  Mile (Kilner E), Hurdle Race (Peterkin G), Hop, Step and Jump (Boucher E), Long Leap (Brunton G), Pole Vaulting (Rutherford E), High Jump (Smith E),  Throwing the Hammer (Irvine E),  Putting the Cannon Ball (Wilson G), Throwing the Cricket Ball (Dickson G).   The Glasgow Herald tells us that the fields were small in several instances but the competition was keen. 

It was on the last Saturday in 1977 March that the Inter-Universities match took place.   The Scotsman tells is that Glasgow took most of the honours on this occasion.   The results:

100 yards: R Williamson  G;  Quarter Mile: E Woodhead  E;  Half Mile: R Paterson  G;  Mile:  R Paterson  G; Hurdles: A Peterkin  G;  Hop, Step and Jump:  L Richards  St A;  Long Leap: HB McMaster  E;  Vaulting with the Pole: G McPherson  G; High Leap: JVW Rutherford  E;  Throwing the Cricket Ball:  J O’Reilly  E; Putting the Stone:  J Wilson  G.   Six wins for Glasgow, Four for Edinburgh and one for St Andrews.   The only double was in the half- and one mile, L Richards won the hop, step and jump and had seconds in the long leap and pole vault while McMaster won the long leap and was second in the hurdles.

In 1878, the championships were held on 16th March and the report in the Scotsman the next Monday was a full one.   It read as follows: 

SUCCESS OF THE EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY TEAM

The Scottish Inter-University Sports were held on a fine stretch of lawn in front of the Partick Burgh Hall on Saturday afternoon, and although the weather was very dull, there was a numerous attendance of spectators, including a great many ladies.   During the seven years which have elapsed since these athletic displays were instituted they have continued to attract a considerable amount of attention, not only in academic circles but amongst the general public and they have invariably attended with a gratifying measure of success.   On the present occasion the honours were fought for by teams from Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews, the only college being unrepresented being Aberdeen.   The hour fixed for the commencement of the sports was two o’clock but it was much later before the first of the competitors entered the field.   When the officials – who comprised Mr Wm Cross, judge; Mr AW Evans, timekeeper;   Mr R Henderson, starter; Mr CW Cathcart (E), Mr JB Brown (G) Mr AA Adie (St A) race committee – and the stewards made their appearance they were greeted with great cheers.   The whole of the prizes for the first event on the card – hop, step and jump – for which there were six entrants, went to the Edinburgh team for GS Woodhead was first with 40 feet, while WSS Reid ranked second with only two inches less.   In throwing the 18 lb hammer, the second event, the Glasgow team came to the front, as Neil McDonald scored 56 feet 9 1/2 ins, being 2 feet 7 1/2 inches above the figures reached by HH Johnston, the Edinburgh champion.   In the quarter mile race E Woodhead reached the goal in 57 4-5th seconds, about a foot ahead of WW Beveridge, the representative of the Western team.   On the finish of the long leaping, which was the fourth event, the two Edinburgh competitors were found to have left the other three far behind, JBS Greathead having registered 19 feet 5 1/2 ins and CS Woodhead 15 feet  10 1/2 ins.   The Glasgow team re-appeared as victors in the fifth event – the 100 yards flat race for which five entered, as R Williamson covered the distance in 12 3-5th seconds ahead of E Woodhead who represented the Edinburgh team.   In the pole-vaulting, G MacPherson,(Glasgow) was first with 9 feet.   The half mile flat race – for which there were five entrants – was secured to the Edinburgh team with all the honours, as RJS Henderson completed the distance in 2 mins 15 sec, while J O’Reilly was not more than a second later.   It had been arranged to run the hurdle race in three heats, and in the first of these H Moncrieff of the Glasgow team gained the chief position; while in the second J Montgomerie of the Edinburgh team was the winner.   The deciding heat was won by J Montgomerie after a sharp contest.   In the high jump the Edinburgh team outstripped all the other competitors, WSS Reid being first with 5 feet 5 ins and EH Hummel second with 5 feet 3 ins.   The principal award was also secured to the Edinburgh team in putting the 16 lb cannon ball by HH Johnston with 34 feet 3 ins which was two inches before WCC McDonald of the Glasgow team.   In throwing the cricket ball, the eleventh event, the Edinburgh team once again gained both prizes as J O’Reilly was first with 94 yards and EH Hummel second with 10 yards less.   The twelfth and last event was possibly the most important, being the one mile race but only three of the six intending competitors entered the lists  – RJS Henderson and Simpson of the Edinburgh team and P Hutchison of the Glasgow team.   On the pistol being fired, Hutchison shot ahead and maintained the lead for some time, but he was passed by Henderson when about half the distance had been accomplished and he ultimately retired.The race was continued with great spirit by the two Edinburgh representatives but when the goal was reached Henderson still held the leading position though only a few steps in front of Simpson, the time of the winner being 5 min 9 4-5th secs.   Of the prizes which consisted of 12 silver and 12 bronze medals, exactly three fourths were secured by the Edinburgh team who not only won the whole of the honours in one half of the twelve events, but obtained besides three first and three second prizes.  The remaining third of the prizes went to the Glasgow team, and the St Andrews team failed to take any of the honours.”

The fact that there were only two medals awarded for every event is highlighted in the above report as is the fact that there was no gold on offer!   In any sense of the word – they were amateurs, insofar as any sportsman of the time was an amateur by present standard – so no coin was involved and there were only silver and bronze medals.   Note that the Edinburgh team contained two Woodheads and one Greathead.

In 1879 the Sports, referred to in the Glasgow Herald headline  as the Inter-University Games, were held on 22nd March.   The report in that paper read: The Scottish Inter-University Sports took place on Saturday at St Andrews and drew together a good field, all the universities being represented, excepting Aberdeen.   The great portion of the prizes were carried off  by Edinburgh, the local university being next.   The weather was particularly favourable and the path in good order.   Dr JW Moir acted as judge, Dr Burns Murdoch timekeeper and Mr R Henderson starter.   There were in all fourteen events which were contested with much spirit.   The following is the prize list:

100 yards flat race:  1st JW Parsons (E) 10 3-5th secs; 2nd WW Beveridge (G).

Long Leap:  1st GA Russell (St A) 19′ 9″; 2nd EH Barclay (St A);

Throwing the Hammer:  1st HH Johnston *E)  85′ 5″; 2nd E Morrison (St A);

Quarter Mile Race:  1st WW Beveridge (G) 58 1/2 sec;  2nd GA Russell (St A);

Putting the common ball: 1st WG Duncan (St A) 35 1/2 feet; 2nd JF Cameron (St A);

Pole Vaulting:  1st J Thomson (E) 8′ 6″; 2nd JSS Reid (E); 

Half Mile Flat: 1st AS Paterson (E) 2 min 11 sec; 2nd GA Russell (St A);

Hurdle Race: 1st JW Parsons (E); 2nd E Clegg (E);

Hop, Step and Leap:  JW Parsons (E) 51′ 5″; 2nd JF Cameron (St A);

High Jump:  1st JSS Reid (E) 5′ 4″;  2nd JW Parsons (E);

Throwing the Cricket Ball: J O’Reilly (E) 113 yards 3 feet; 2nd JF Cameron (St A);

One Mile Flat Race:  1st AS Paterson (E); 2nd DM Moir (St A);

Golf Competition: 1st JF Cameron (St A)  91 strokes; 2nd FW Marshall (E). 

The only venue that ever had a Golf Competition as part of their own annual sports, also had it as part of the inter varsity sports, and that venue was St Andrews.   And they won it.   Note the versatility of some of the competitors – JW Parsons (pictured below) who had 4 first places, went on to become a Scottish champion long jumper and record setter.

This time the sports really did go into abeyance but the ‘Glasgow Herald’ of  20th March, 1899 has a report on the meeting to re-introduce the inter-university champs.   Ir is reproduced here as it gives an insight into what prompted the move and what it was hoped would be gained from it.

“If we except football, athletic life at our Scottish universities is not as healthy as it might be; indeed, there was ,ore activity and more genuine interest in general athletics at Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews ten years ago than there is now.   It is common to represent these centres of intellectual light as given up almost wholly to the worship of athleticism, but it is scarcely necessary to say that this is a delusion.   Athletics have a fairly reasonable hold at Edinburgh but it might easily be stronger and more general without interfering in any way with the intellectual development of the students.   This is evidently being felt, as a proposal, emanating from the capital, is on foot to establish inter-university sports, and a meeting of delegates from Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Aberdeen is to be held shortly at Dundee to discuss the scheme, and, if at all possible, bring off a gathering this season.   Glasgow students seem to think the idea will take practical shape, as on Friday several confined races were decided at Hampden Park. and though the performances were not of much account, there was enough merit to justify the expectation of better things.     We may mention that many years ago, inter-varsity sports were held under the auspices of the Edinburgh University AC, but for some reason or other the event lost its charm, and was eventually dropped altogether.   We hope the contemplated scheme will be carried through as the commonplace character of athletics at our universities is not only a reproach to those institutions as centres of intellectual and physical activity, but it is also a reproach on the prestige which we as a nation enjoy for athletic achievement.”

Alastair Wood was one of Scotland’s greatest ever distance runners – Scottish and British international runner, multi champion over a range of events – with talents that  stretched from the mile and steeplechase on the track via cross-country triumphs to world class road running.   It is difficult to think of another Scottish runner with such a comprehensive record.   However there were times when he found himself in the middle of a dispute or controversy not of his own making and two of these are tackled here by Colin Youngson, using new material from the Scottish Marathon Club Minutes starting with a look at why he was not selected for the Empire Games in 1966.   

1966: Why was Alastair Wood overlooked for Empire and Commonwealth Games Marathon selection; and his European best time never accepted by the Scottish Marathon Club or the Scottish Athletics Association?

Alastair Wood’s profile on this website under Marathon Stars starts as follows.

“Alastair Wood came to marathon running with a record of athletic achievement at all levels of the sport that might have justified him in retiring or stopping.   Instead he went on to become one of the great figures of Scottish and British distance running.

One of many honours that were justly awarded to him was the Achilles Club gold medal.  The Achilles Club is an elite and exclusive athletics club composed only of former students at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.   Founded in 1920 it has added a great deal to the sport and is known and respected all over the globe.  Since 1949, the Achilles Club has awarded annually two gold medals, for the best performance by a club member on Track/Road and Field.   Recipients of the Track award include Roger Bannister, Chris Chataway, Chris Brasher, David Hemery and Richard Nerurkar.  The only Scottish athlete to obtain this prestigious medal was Alastair Wood (Oxford University and later Aberdeen AAC), who won it twice:

*in 1962 [when he was a close second (to that year’s European and Empire champion Brian Kilby) in the AAA Marathon; and a splendid fourth in the European Marathon];

*and 1966 [when the Achilles Club records state that Wood had run a marathon in 2.16.06; and set a new GB and European Best Marathon Time of 2.13.45 in the Forres marathon]. For some obscure reason, the latter time has never been accepted by the SAAA, but was ratified by the AAA in 1967, and is now recognised by the Association of Road Running Statisticians (www.arrs.net) as the fastest time of the year in 1966].   Alastair was also narrowly pushed into second by Jim Alder in the AAA championships in 1967, with 2.16.21.” As late as 1971, aged 38, he ran 2.16.06 in the International Maxol Marathon in Manchester, only 23 seconds behind Alder.

During every year in the 1960s, the SMC sent three prominent club members (for example Secretary Jimmy Scott, Vice-President Joe Walker and President Dunky Wright) to form part of the SAAA sub-committee that decided who should be awarded the Donald McNab Robertson Trophy as Scottish Road Runner of the Year.    Alastair Wood won the Scottish Marathon Championship in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968 and 1972.   He was chosen to receive the Robertson Trophy in 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1967. Previously, while concentrating on the Track, he had won the 1959 SAAA Crabbie Cup for best Championship performance; and the Coronation Cup as the outstanding athlete of 1962.

In the light of Wood’s high status as a marathon runner and a Scottish International athlete, what happened in 1966? Why was he ignored for Jamaica Commonwealth Games Marathon selection? Why was his Forres European Best Time never ratified by the SMC/SAAA?

The man himself, in an interview with Mel Edwards twenty years later (in 1987) remembered the situation as follows.
“Wood: The Commonwealth Games were in Kingston, Jamaica and I went for marathon selection.  The only trouble was that I couldn’t get any guidance on the selection procedure.  The Scottish championships were at Westerlands in early June and I asked John Anderson – who was the National coach and advising me on my training – if he could ascertain whether this was the race on which selection was to be based.  He couldn’t find anyone who could tell him but suggested that if the winner of the race was to be selected then I had to do it.   Anyway, I was in excellent shape and travelled to Glasgow.  However, it was extremely hot and the tar was running on Great Western Road.  No one would confirm that the winner would gain selection so, since the times were going to be slow, I didn’t run, as it would have done my chances of selection no good.
Edwards: The Polytechnic Marathon from Windsor to Chiswick was two weeks later on the 10th of June and Jim Alder and yourself went for selection in that one?
Wood: Yes,  Again, it was very hot but at least I knew that if I beat Jim I would almost certainly be picked.  We both suffered and Jim finished sixth and I was two minutes behind in ninth.   Jim deservedly gained selection and I was very ill with dehydration.   I was pretty demoralised and decided to retire.   This lasted all of ten days and, although I couldn’t face long runs, I got stuck into sessions like 60 x 200 metres.
About four weeks after the Poly I went North for the Inverness – Forres Marathon (on the 9th of July).   It was a cool day and I felt so good that I knew I was on a blinder. I reached ten miles in under 50 minutes and then slowed deliberately because I thought I’d blown it.  I still came home in 2:13:45, a European record.  There was considerable disbelief about the time but the course had been measured by surveyors and the North of Scotland AAA.   Anyway, the next year (1967) the course started 200 yards or so back from the previous starting line, and although I found this one much harder I still did 2:13:44.” (Actually, Alastair Wood’s memory was wrong in 1987, because in 1967 he won in 2.16.16; and the 2.13.44 win was in 1970, over a different course that was later found to be three-quarters of a mile short.)

Don Ritchie, the great world record breaking ultra-distance runner, was third in the 1966 Inverness to Forres Marathon, and later wrote: “It seems likely that the course measurement may have been done in a car; and therefore the ten mile point seemed a little early but the twenty mile point seemed right enough.  Add a following wind and AJW’s great form and his fantastic finishing time of 2.13.45 was explained.”

Now that interview was a long time after 1966, and it could be that Alastair’s version of events is open to a degree of doubt.  But assuming that the Scottish selectors had enough cash to send two marathon runners to Jamaica, which it seems they did, why not, as well as Alder, select Wood, with his fine record as an international marathon runner?

The selection procedure was indeed unclear.  On the 28th of May, Charlie McAlinden (Irish but living in Glasgow) won the uncomfortably hot 1966 Scottish Marathon Championship in 2.26.31, with Gordon Eadie second in 2.28.19. Neither was selected for Jamaica.

The 1966 Commonwealth Games Marathon was run on Thursday 11th August, so there was plenty of time for Wood to be selected to travel to Jamaica and race. (Indeed, the main Scottish team had not been selected until July 4th.)  It seems very likely that he would have had an excellent chance of winning a medal.

CAN THE SMC MINUTES BOOK CAST LIGHT ON THIS SCENARIO?

Alastair Wood became a member of the Scottish Marathon Club in May 1964.

In August 1965 there was a mention of the 1966 Scottish Marathon Championship probably being run at the beginning of June. (In actual fact it took place on the 28th of May 1966, along with the District Track and Field Championships.)   What follows is from the SMC Minute Book which is quoted directly.

March 1966. At the last meeting of the British Empire and Commonwealth Games Council it was announced that Mr D. McL. Wright had been appointed Commandant of the Scottish Team for the 1966 Games in Jamaica.  (Dunky was always chosen as the SMC SAAA representative; and had been President of the SAAA in 1959.  He was a high-profile influential official.)

20th June 1966. Mr Wright took the opportunity to apprise the meeting of the circumstances in which J. Alder had been chosen to represent Scotland at the Empire Games in the Marathon.  Tradition was that our Marathon Champion usually goes but it had been known that AJ Wood and AF Murray, with other possibles, had decided to run in the AAA Championships instead of the Scottish because of the closeness of the dates.   It was considered inadvisable to run in both events and it was their opinion that better performances were likely to be shown in the British Championship, when competing at this standard. The Selection Committee, aware of this, decided to wait for the result of the British Championship and, if a Scot finished in the first 6, to select him as our representative. Jim Alder did in fact finish 6th. AJ Wood finished 9th. AF Murray was unable to compete due to cartilage trouble.

15th August 1966: Gordon Eadie became SMC club champion again. Jim Alder had won for Scotland the Empire Games Marathon. Alder was voted to be an Honorary Life member: joining Dunky Wright, Joe McGhee and Dale Greig.

There followed a discussion in which the question was asked why only one competitor was entered for Scotland, and not 3, in view of the wealth of talent available.   The method of selection was the point in question, and it was the unanimous opinion of the Committee to deplore the tendency of some Scottish runners to bypass the Scottish Marathon Championship in favour of the AAA event in certain years.  It was agreed that we should strive for all competitors to take part in the ‘Scottish’ and that this race should be the only qualification for Empire Games selection.

The Donald Robertson trophy, by 5 votes to 4, was awarded to Gordon Eadie rather than Jim Alder. A casting vote by the Chairman (D.M. Bowman at this meeting) decided this debate.

21st November 1966: Gordon Eadie (also the Robertson Trophy recipient in 1960) had won the 1966 Liverpool to Blackpool race, beating Bernard Gomersall (a London to Brighton winner) by nearly ten minutes.  Then he had won the Edinburgh to Glasgow Race (42 miles) in a new record time of 4.41.21.

Competent Business: Mr Wright referred to the discussion at the 20th June meeting on selection of men for the Empire Marathon. If A Wood had run and won the SAAA marathon, he would have been selected.   The selection committee decided to await the result of the AAA marathon two weeks later and if a Scot finished in the first 6 he would be chosen.  In the event, J Alder finished 6th and was chosen. A Wood finished 9th.   Time was of great importance.

(CJY: What on earth did that mean? Surely 2.13.45 should have been a time that mattered!  On this occasion, Mr Wright may not have lived up to his surname.)

AGM 30th March 1967. Competent Business: Inverness to Forres Marathon. Mr Goodwin mentioned the record time by A Wood in 1966 as being the 3rd fastest in the World. Mr D Wright replied that, so far, no claim had been made to the SAAA by either Wood or the promoters for its recognition and until this was done the SAAA could do nothing in the matter.

21st August 1967. A Wood had won the Scottish Marathon Championship again.  Inverness to Forres Race: The Secretary (J.R. Scott) drew attention to the time credited to Alastair Wood at Forres in July 1967 of 2.16.16 compared with his 1966 time of 2.13.45 which had been the subject of much speculation. The Secretary had checked the course himself and it appeared to be the full marathon distance as his speedometer agreed with the marked points on the course. Any discrepancy could be on the actual ground (Grant Park) at the finish. It was agreed that he should write the Forres secretary for confirmation of the course.

AGM 27th March 1968. Mr Goodwin asked about the Inverness to Forres Marathon won by AJ Wood in a time now recognised as a British Record. Mr Wright said the SAAA were still awaiting information from Forres, and Mr Joseph Walker supported him in this and said that the SAAA had asked for this and nothing had come back.  It was agreed that we write the Forres Secretary again for details, certifying the distance and asking for the names of the timekeepers.

20th May 1968: Discussion about measuring the SAAA Marathon route, already contested in 1967 and due again in 1968. Mr Walker had used a wheel which had 228 turns on the Grangemouth 440 yards track. They had then measured the marathon course by quarter mile stages. Apparently, the Shettleston Marathon course had used a cycle rev counter which was acceptable.

COMMENTS ON THESE CONTROVERSIAL EVENTS

Back in 1966, marathon course measurement was in its infancy, especially in Britain. The fact that in 1967, Jimmy Scott, a most experienced organiser of distance races, was happy to use his car to remeasure the Inverness to Forres Marathon course (the same route as 1966), and to find it accurate, tells us that measuring wheels and bicycle rev counters were not yet normal practice.   The Polytechnic Marathon in Southern England, on which several world records had been set, always seemed suspiciously fast.   Was it ever considered short?  Or was the fact that Wood’s 2.13.45 was set in Northern Scotland – not even in Edinburgh or Glasgow – the problem?   When in 1967, Alastair Wood’s 2.13.45 was accepted as a GB (and former European) record, the last laugh seems to have been on the SAAA; and indeed on one or two stubborn officials in the SMC, who may have been partly responsible for the unclear, badly organised  marathon selection procedure.

Alastair Wood had won the Scottish 3 Miles track championship in 1957 and 1959; and gained the 6 Miles title in 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961, before securing his first Scottish marathon title in 1962. Traditionally, the 3 Miles was held during the marathon and, after his own victories, Wood remembered seeing Harry Fenion (1957) and Hugo Fox (1959) running to marathon victory on the track.  Alastair, a clever outspoken man with a satirical tendency, considered them “funny little men in sandshoes”!   In addition, he had a combative relationship with officials, no doubt including the eminent Dunky Wright, who may have been the original ‘funny little man’, despite his impressive record as a marathon runner. Perhaps Dunky was not at all fond of Mr Wood!    The SMC minutes certainly suggest that the unamused Commandant was unsympathetic.

In 1958, Alastair Wood had run on the track for Scotland in the Cardiff Empire Games.  In 1962 he had taken part in the Empire Games marathon in Perth, Australia; as well as representing GB in the European Marathon.  By 1966, although he had certainly aimed for marathon selection, Alastair said that he was far from keen on participating in “Big Games” since he objected to uniforms, certain officials and hanging around for days before the marathon on the last day.

In the 1990s, Alastair stated correctly that in July 1966, after his non-selection and his startling Forres Marathon record, a newspaper had wished to pay his expenses to Jamaica, but he suspected that Scottish officials wouldn’t select him, and, in any case, he was not keen to compete in another ‘Big Games’ so he turned down the offer. Was he unpopular with certain influential Scottish officials? Ming Campbell, who was Britain’s best sprinter in 1962, once referred to Alastair in an article as being “the sardonic Alastair Wood”. This may have been not entirely inappropriate – but what a fine runner he was! Alastair went on to: break the World 40 miles track record in 1970; smash the London to Brighton best time in 1972; and become World Veteran Marathon Champion in 1974. I knew the old hero well and am, of course, prejudiced in his favour – and certain that he couldn’t have cared less about the 1966 controversies.

Colin Youngson