There are many great pictures of athletics history from all over the world that inspire us, entertain us, remind us and just make us feel good about our sport. These first ones are all from Hugh Barrow and are a real wander down memory lane as well as reminding us of the start of the sport in Scotland.
Under the Stand at Ibrox
In the days of the Rangers Sports at Ibrox, athletes changed in a huge space under the stand with a galvanised iron tank of cold water for ablutions. The top athletes changed elsewhere and came into the ground for the race. Above is the area where the invited athletes gathered for their event.
Hugh’s hero – actually the hero for most of a generation: Herb Elliott with Percy Cerutty. The friendship, trust, affection and mutual respect shows through in this one.
The programme cover from Hugh’s big race: when he set the world age group mile record
Some of Hugh’s friends and rivals
It was a great time to be a runner and the New Zealand runners were universally respected and admired. Arthur Lydiard was every bit as famous at Cerutty and his schedules were followed by even more athletes.
Nearer home: the route for the Edinburgh to Glasgow as shown in the programme
Some ways are better than others to sell tickets!
A First World War Photograph before the charity match between Rangers FC and the Rest of Glasgow
Now two interesting, old cuttings …
and, from Rangers Sports, 1959 –
lots of good Scots based, Scottish athletes facing the best in the world and not coming off second best,
More to come