Lining up at the start of the SWCCU Champs, 23rd February, 1985, at the Fleet Grounds, Rosyth 

Alastair Shaw’s photographs already on the site have deservedly elicited many complimentary remarks.   He has covered track and field championships. Commonwealth Games and a whole set of very good pictures of officials – the unsung heroes and heroines of the sport (don’t confuse them with the administrators) – and the Glasgow Marathon.   The photos here are of the Scottish Women’s Championships held at Rosyth on 23rd February 1985.

Rosyth and Pitreavie always had a special place in SWAAA/SWCCU athletics.   When I started in athletics at the end of the 1950’s, the SWAAA Championships were always held at Pitreavie, and when my daughter took up running, she ran in the Cross-Country Championships at Rosyth.  They were not always held there but the men never ran their championships over that course.   The course itself was a tough, testing course.   Just look at the faces and body language of the women as they come up to the crest of the hill and you can see the effort required.

This was a tough race between two of Scotland’s best ever cross-country exponents.    They had many a hard battle over the years on track and country.   Both Olympians, Lynne won this time.   A short report on the race is attached at the end.  Thanks Alastair for a great set of pictures telling the story of the race.

 

Early on, Yvonne and Lynne are clearly seen, and Chris Haskett’s Dundee vest can be seen between Yvonne and Lynne

Pitreavie girls were well up on their home course

Lynne and Yvonne crest the hill: the effort shows on  their faces but their running action gives nothing away – look at the height of their feet above the ground 

Janet Higgins working hard at the top

A great picture showing how steep the hill is: see how high Lynne has climbed up in such a short distance

Look at the determination on the face of the winner who is now in the clear 

Yvonne, in second place and still almost sprinting.