We have only just heard of Chris’s death and Colin Youngson has written this tribute to a man liked and respected in equal measure.

Chris Leck was a very valuable team man for Spango, contributing to medal-winning successes in all three major winter relays. In the Scottish cross-country relay, Spango finished third in 1983 and second in 1986. The E to G (which Chris ran eight times in succession between 1980 and 1987) added ‘most improved’ awards for 7th place in 1981; and bronze in 1984. The Scottish Six-Stage Road Relay produced three bronze medals in 1983, 1985 and 1986.

Chris 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 but had some outstanding runs in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay.

“SPANGO VALLEY AAC (excerpt) by Cameron Spence

Spango Valley AAC was formed in September 1973 when a group of IBM employees decided they would like to form an athletics club. 

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.”

In the Scottish National Cross Country Championships, the club’s best performance was fifth in 1985 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.

In the West District Cross Country Championships, Spango Valley’s 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 Ed McKee 37th. 

Robert Quinn (former Scottish Cross Country Champion) and many more of Chris Leck’s Facebook Friends expressed great sadness at his sudden death. Chris was widely considered not only a very talented runner but more importantly an extremely popular and valued friend. Sincere condolences.