Author: Admin

The four minute mile by a Scot was in 1970 and a long battle it was, but the half distance in half the time – a half mile in two minutes – is rarely if ever referred to.  The runners on this page were the men who hacked the time down after T Moffatt of Montreal AC set the first official Scottish record of 2:00.75 in June 1883.   

R Mitchell (St Mirren FC and Clydesdale Harriers)   W Malcolm (Morton FC and Clydesdale Harriers)

RS Langlands (Clydesdale Harriers)

Another good standard half miler of the time was   MCC Seton 

Picture from Alex Wilson

Mitchell’s first season at the top was that of 1888/89 and in the Kilmarnock FC Sports on 4th May, 1889, he won the half-mile and the Glasgow Herald had this to say: “The half mile race proved an interesting event, Mitchell (St Mirren) kept his distance all round, and slightly increased it in the straight.   Blane, scratch, was second. ”   He followed this with  victory in the Abercorn Sports 880 yards (confined to the district of Paisley)  one week later in 2:13.4.   He continued to run well and in the SAAA Championships at Hampden Park on 22nd June, he won the  880 in 2:01 for his first major title. 6th July saw Mitchell in action at the Rangers and Clydesdale Harriers Sports at Ibrox and running in the 600 yards: “Great interest was centred on this contest as it was given out that Mitchell  would attempt to break the record.   This he failed to do and for that matter failed to finish at all.   When three men made their efforta great race ensued for 100 yards, but Mitchell could not stay the pace and gave up 40 yards from home.   Logan and Blair ran a punishing race, the Vale man winning by a yard from Blair.”   The result as published:  1.   J Logan, Vale of Leven; 2.  T Blair, Queen’s Park;  3.  R Mitchell, St Mirren.  Time: 1:19.6.   

A week later, 13th July, and Mitchell was competing in the half-mile at Falkirk FC Sports at Brockville.   Result:  1.  R Mitchell (champion, St Mirren FC and CH);  2.  A Marshall (ex-champion, DAFC);  3.  GM Thomson (CH).  Time: 2:07.6.   The St Mirren FC Sports were held over two Saturdays with the first session being held on 20th July and was largely a day of confined events plus the preliminaries of the four a side football tournament.   However the event of the day was another 600 yards race with the principals being Logan, Blair and Mitchell.   On his home turf of Westmarch in Paisley, Mitchell was a different runner to the one who had failed two weeks earlier.    The report on the race read: This event did not come off until after the finish of the football competition.   When the three well-known athletes – Logan, Blair and Mitchell – came out, there was considerable excitement among the crowd which was unusually large for a preliminary day.   As they toed the mark, the men were loudly cheered.   The inside of the track was secured by Logan.   Blair went to the front at once, and passed the post for the first time leading by two yards, Mitchell second and Logan last.   In the back stretch, Logan passed Mitchell,   On entering the straight all three were together, and then Mitchell dashed to the front and led home, easily six yards in front.   Blair was second and Logan third.   Time:- 1 min 16 3-5th sec.   This is the second time that Mitchell has covered the record.   He received a fine ovation from the crowd, and was carried into the dressing room.”   A prolific racer, Mitchell contented himself with winning the confined 100 yards at the second day of the St Mirren Sports the following week where, running from scratch he was timed at 10.4 seconds.   The reason for the easier week might be found in his performance on 3rd August at Ibrox in the joint Rangers/Clydesdale Harriers meeting where he broke the 600 yards record.   The comments in the Glasgow Herald’s Notes were that the day had suited him – the air was on the sultry side – but he ran a magnificent race and “but for the task imposed upon him by the handicapper, he would not have broken record; it drew him out as he has not been drawn in any of the scratch races with Blair and Logan.   In this race the handicapping was very fine, the finish being so close and exciting that those who saw it are likely to refer to it for many a day to come as an historic race.   Mitchell only wants to be drawn out in the half mile as he was in the 600 yards on Saturday and he will beat the record established by Moffat of the Montreal Athletic Club some years ago.   For weeks, Mitchell ha studiously avoided running in the western district half mile handicaps.   The last handicap he took part i in the district was an evening meeting at Hampden Park; and though he then considered the task beyond his powers, he romped home a winner by 20 yards.   Mitchell should bear in mind that handicaps were instituted for two main purposes – firstly to give all a chance; and secondly, to make good men accomplish good time.”   As for the race, there were eleven starters, first across the line was J Russell (Clydesdale Harriers) off 26 yards, second was Mitchell (scratch) and third was John Blane (CH, 13 yards).   Blane had been a cyclist and football player who set a Scottish record (4:30.2) for the mile in 1888.  

One week later in the Morton Sports at Cappielow, Mitchell qualified for the final of the 100 yards with  a time of 10.4, but was unplaced.   He then went on to win the half mile from scratch from J Logan of the Vale of Leven (15 yards) in 2:02.2.   On 19th August he won both heat and final of the 100 yards at the West of Scotland Sports – the latter from JR Gow of Rangers in 10.8 seconds.   Passing up on the 880 yards, Mitchell ran in the second Heat of the 440 yards handicap where “when passing the pavilion stand he collided with another of the runners and could not persevere.”   

We can leave summer 1889 there – it had been a good year for Mitchell with his first SAAA title and a Scottish record to his credit when he went into winter ’89/’90 heading optimistically for 1890.

Comment has been made on his busy racing programme and this is evidenced by the entry by his name in the Clydesdale Harriers Handbook at the end of the season.   After noting his address in Ferguslie Street, Paisley, it noted that he had won 13 first prizes, 2 seconds and 2 thirds.   He had also won a silver medal which the club gave to members who won a championship racing under the club’s name and another for running 2:01 for 880 yards. 

1890 and Mitchell did not take part in the first session of the Abercorn Sports on 10th May: he must have run in the second session on 17th but we only know because he won the Consolation Race at the end of the meeting from TW Young, a very good sprinter from Clydesdale Harriers.   He was uncharacteristically quiet for several weeks and a hint of why that was case appeared in some comments on the Queen’s Park FC Sports of 7th June, 1890:  “the 600 yards scratch race was looked upon as one of the events of the meeting.   Both Mitchell and Logan had kept themselves fit for it, and as Mitchell held the record it at 1 min 15 3-5th sec, the contest excited great interest.   The race was run at a due pace throughout, Blair of the QP winning on the tape by a few inches, but the time was 5 1-5th secs slower than Mitchell’s record.”   The finishing order was Blair, Mitchell and Logan “after a desperate struggle.”   They were clearly well matched over that distance with all three having won a close fought scratch race.   The SAAA Championships were held at Powderhall on 21st June and Mitchell faced miler John Blane in the 880 yards.   The race went as expected with Blane taking the pace out hard, Mitchell sitting in and coming past to win by six yards in  2:03.2 for his second consecutive championship victory.   

One of the high-spots of Mitchell’s career came on 19th July when in the first day of the St Mirren FC Sports, he won a half-mile race, confined to Paisley, in which there were ten runners  and won in a new Scottish record time of 2:00.4.   The previous record was recorded by T Moffat of Montreal AC who in Edinburgh in June, 1883 ran 2:00.75.   There were several very good half-milers in Scotland at this point and the chase for the sub-two half mile was on.   Hopes were high for an improvement on this at the second day of the club sports a week later and, in the handicap 880 yards, two watches were kept solely on him.   He finished fourth in exactly the same time as the previous week which as the report said, “established his new record.”   With the championships over, a new record for the half mile set and equalled, his season was pretty well over.   He did compete at the Celtic FC Sports on 9th August where he won his Heat of the 100 in 10 seconds but did not feature in the results of the final.   

Another good season and anther Scottish record.

1891 The Glasgow Herald on 11th May in their column headed ‘Special Notes on Athletics’ began:  The popularity of football knows no bounds.   Despite the many counter-attractions , fully ten thousand persons assembled in Celtic Park on Saturday to welcome the Renton who made their first public appearances since being reinstated.   The amnesty granted by the Scottish Association has been fully taken advantage of, and as on Saturday there were three of Renton’s old slaves – Hannah (Everton), Lindsay (Accrington) and Harvie (Sunderland) –  in the team that faced the Celtic.   The village lads stripped on the field …”   Football always comes into the question but there were several athletic meetings that day – the Glasgow Police Sports, the Glasgow Academical Sports and the big one waas the Clydesdale Harriers Sports.   Here there were 21 runners in the half mile and Mitchell, running from scratch could not “collar his man” and finished third.   A week later, at the second day of the Abercorn FC Sports Mitchell was out in the 220 yards where he won his Heat in 24.4 off 7 yards and finished second in the Final.   In the West of Scotland Sports on 23rd May he ran in the half-mile (won by Walter Malcolm) but he was unplaced.   

June is always the big month for athletes with the SAAA championships looming towards the end of the month.   The traditional start in June was the Queen’s Park FC meting but Mitchell was not to be seen there.   Indeed he was not seen until the 20th of the month when he won the 880 yards at the Scottish championships to make it three-in-a-row with the only trouble coming from Walter Malcolm who was comfortably beaten in the end.   Wining time was 2;03.2.     In the first day of the St Mirren Sports on 18th July, he ran in the confined 880 yards but could not get through the field.   The following week at the second day of the Sports, he did not compete at all.   The first Saturday of August was the Rangers Sports and the comments were that he had run in the 880 yards smoothly and with more ‘dash and gameness’ than at any time in the season.     However, although unplaced he was timed at 2:03.4.   

In 1892, he appeared in the first day of the Abercorn FC Sports on 16th May where he ran in the 880 yards confined to Paisley and won from scratch in 2:06.   The following week, 23rd, on the second day of the Abercorn Sports, he ran in the open 440 yards handicap and although he qualified from his Heat, was unplaced in the final.   Then on the final Saturday of June, he was second in the open 440 yards handicap, running from the same 6 yards mark as the previous week,  at the Vale of Leven Sports.  This led up to the SAAA championships held at  Carolina Port, Dundee  on 25th June.  Mitchell won the half mile for the fourth consecutive year in  2:05.2 from Walter Malcolm.

The Clydesdale Harriers Sports were held on 2nd July in 1892 and Mitchell entered and won the 440 yards handicap from 6 yards in 52 seconds, while Malcolm won the 880 yards.   In the St Mirren Sports first day on 22nd July, Mitchell won the 440 yards confined, but although he started from scratch and was clearly the best man in the field of 15, he gave up entering the home straight.   The first two were running for 45 and 68 yards respectively.   A week later, on the second day of the sports, he won the 100 yards confined to the club, but the anti-climax for the spectators was the open handicap half mile.   Read on “About 40 competitors came out.   The race had the novelty of the appearance of R Mitchell, the champion, and his great rival Malcolm of the Greenock Morton club.   The two rivals, who started from scratch, were soon in the crowd of front men, but it was absolutely impossible to get through them.   In the second half both half milers gave up, Malcolm retiring first.   The result:- 1st Hugh McCabe, Beith FC, 58 yards;  2nd Abraham Russell, Maryhill Harriers, 46 yards; 3rd James Quate, Ayr FC and CH, 30 yards.   Time:- 1 min 58 1-5th sec.”

In the Rangers Sports on 6th August Mitchell ran in the 440 yards handicap where he finished second in his Heat ( 6 yards) and was third in the final.   The report on the Celtic Sports the following week began:“The opening of the new ground f this powerful athletic organisation marks a new epoch in the athletic prowess of Scotland.”  New ground  opening = top class runners.   That was certainly the case for the 100 yards with Willie Maley himself running (7 yards), Hugh Barr (6 yards), and Mitchell (9 1/4 yards) and a total of 10 heats.   Mitchell was unplaced in the final which was won by Bradley of Huddersfield and Salford Harriers.   There was quality all the way through the meeting which was peppered with invitation events for runners and cyclists alike.   The Morton FC Sports were held on the third Saturday in August but Mitchell did not turn up at that one and the season was over at that point.   

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1893 started with the Morton Sports on 29th April – Morton FC held sports meetings at either end of the summer season and they were very popular with the athletes.   At this one Mitchell ran in the 220 yards and qualified for the final where he was unplaced, and the 440 yards where he was third in the final after winning his heat.   At the Abercorn FC Sports on 20th May, Mitchell was once again competing in the 100 yards where he won his heat in 10.8 from 6 1/2 yards but was unplaced in the Final.   He was not forward in any other event that day.   Mitchell did not seem to be racing as much as in previous years for reasons that were never laid out in the popular Press – this was also true of the SAAA Championships held at Hampden ; on 17th June.   The half mile was won by Walter Malcolm from J Hindle by a yard and a half.   As far as club affiliation was concerned, the Clydesdale Harriers Renfrewshire Section had been given its independence but he remained connected to Clydesdale Harriers Headquarters District No 5.  He must have been paying the sub or he would have been struck off the list.   At this point he was CH for the Harriers Sports, St Mirren for the football club’s sports and Ch & StM for most other events!   In 1893 he did not compete in the St Mirren Sports at the end of July, the Rangers Sports at the start of August or the Celtic Sports two weeks after that.   His summer was effectively ended at that point.   

In 1894 on 19th May, at Abercorn Sports, Mitchell was out in the 220 yards where he was 1st in Heat (23.4) but only second in the Final On 2nd June, at the QPFC Sports,  his event was the 880 yards handicap which he won from 16 yards, half a yard in front of Robert Langlands (who would be the first Scot to break 2 minutes for the 880 yards, in 2:02.6 and also finished third behind the talented  Rodger of Maybole in the invitation 600 yards.   Came the SAAA Championships he was second in the 440 yards to  Downer.    The Glasgow Herald reporter commented that “Mitchell, who was fancied, was Downer’s strongest opponent, but he drew up six yards from the tape when he saw Downer was winning.”     He also turned out in the 880 which he won in   2:05.4  “R Mitchell Abercorn FC, easily put the half mile to his credit in 2 min 9 3-5th sec”   Note that he was listed this time as a member of Abercorn FC (another Paisley team) and not St Mirren: under the rules of the time he was still a Clydesdale Harrier and at times entered or was reported as such.   A single week later, 30th June,  running under the Clydesdale Harriers banner, he won the half-mile at the Clydesdale Harriers Sports at Ibrox Park in 2:01.6 by half a yard from Maybole FC’s J Rodger, running in the colours of West of Scotland Harriers.   It had been another successful year in terms of national medals won and opposition scalps lifted, but it was another short one, if we are to go by how often he appeared in the second half of the season.   In fact he did not appear in the prize lists of any of the major Saturday games or sports, as in the previous year nor only did he miss the weekend sessions of Rangers or Celtic Sports, he did not even appeara at the supplementary meetings.   And it was on to 1895.

The Scottish Amateur Athletic Association was very powerful in the east of Scotland but not so in the west.  Clydesdale Harriers was by far the strongest club in the west with five sections in Glasgow and affiliated sections in Lanarkshire, Dumbarton, Renfrewshire and other areas.   There was a dispute between the Association and Clydesdale and a parallel body to the SAAA, the Scottish Amateur Athletic Union, was set up with membership largely but not exclusively from the west of the country.   Each body had their own meetings and their own championships – Clydesdale was the main body in the Union and there had been a big meeting in Paisley on 18th May, as in other centres of population, where St Mirren, Abercorn and the other clubs in the area decided to follow the Union.   It was at their championships on 22nd June that Mitchell won his final national medal.   

The Glasgow Herald  preview of the meeting read – “If R Mitchell of Paisley enters for this event (220 yards), he stands an excellent chance of winning it, and as for the quarter there is no one within several yards of him; while if he were possessed of more body than he is, we would pin our faith in him not only to win these two events, but also to carry the half mile.” 

Mitchell did run in the half-mile but there were only two competitors, himself and RS Langlands of Clydesdale – and the pace set by Langlands was such that his opponent dropped out – Langlands went on to win in the time of 1:59.8 which was the first time that two minutes had been beaten in Scotland.   It was 0.6 sec faster than Mitchell’s best ever, and 0.4 sec better than Walter Malcolm, who had died earlier that year, had run.   Mitchell also ran in the 440 yards and finished third, the race being won by Roger of Carrick Harriers.       

His season was was really at an end, and in fact he would never, ever be as good as he was.   The countdown to the 2minute half mile had been begun by Moffatt of Montreal AC in June 1883 with 2:00.75 and Mitchell had brought it nearer with his 2:0.4 in July 1890.   The next baby step would be taken By Walter Macolm, Morton FC and Clydesdale Harriers.   Mitchell was a great competitor who had packed racing schedules in his early days with a range of events from 100 yards to the half mile, and ended his career with five SAAA titles to his name – by the Association’s centenary in 1982 only one man (Duncan McPhee) would have equalled it and none bettered it.

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 Unfortunately though his career ended in disgrace.   The SAAA was formed in 1883 and the Amateur code was very strictly enforced and adhered to.  The 1890’s were fraught with abuses of the rules and there were investigatory committees set up in 1893 and later to investigate these.   On 6th October, 1898, one such committee recommended that several athletes be disciplined: three for impersonating other runners in a meeting in Ireland, three for being involved in that offence and for betting  betting.and three including Mitchell, Roger of Maybole and Blackwood of Johnstone for betting.   As a result this excellent athlete was suspended indefinitely.   

Robert S Langlands from Dumbarton was one of four Langlands brothers who were significant club members at a local level.    The Langlands family is well known in Dumbarton and it is significant enough for their history to be well documented in the local Library.   His father George had come from Dundee to be Postmaster in Dumbarton and had four sons of his first marriage.   Robert, born 1870, was the oldest followed by Sam, 1871, George, 1874, and William 1876.   They all did well in life with Sam being Chief Inspector of Lighting for Glasgow Corporation and George being a notable marine engineer and manager of Beardmore’s in Dalmuir then of Barclay Curle’s.    Robert himself was a surveyor for Lloyd’s of London and worked in London and Cadiz – this would probably account for the shortness of his athletics career – he was 25 when he set the record and just setting out as a professional man.   RS Langlands first appears as a club member in season 1892/93 when his brother Sam  was local Assistant Secretary and George was local vice captain.   He is not recorded as having won anything that year    He started off running cross country and in February 1894 he was a member of the team which won the Scottish Junior Cross Country Championship at Hamilton; he was also awarded a time badge during the summer season although it is not clear from the records what it was for.  In 1894/95 his youngest brother William had increased the family membership to four.

His claim to fame was that he was the first Scotsman to run under two minutes for the 880 yards.   As with all these barriers, there were many who were attempting to be first including his club mate Robert Mitchell, a St Mirren FC football player from Paisley who was the main rival.   Mitchell was a considerably good athlete He won five SAAA 880 titles between 1889 and 1894, only missing out in 1893.    He established a Scottish record of 2:00.4 at the St Mirren FC Sports in 1889 and the same year he set a Scottish record for 660 yards in 1889 of 1:15.4.   In 1894 he won the Scottish 440 yards in 51.8 seconds and the 880 yards in 2 minutes 9.6 seconds in the championship meeting at Powderhall, Edinburgh in June 1894.   On 22^nd June 1895, the SAAA championships and the SAAU Championships were both held in Glasgow on the same day.   At Ibrox Park the SAAA event was won by MCC Seton in 2 minutes 5.4 seconds but at the SAAU Championships held at Hampden Park, Langlands won in the time of 1 minute 59.6 seconds – the first time that the two minute barrier had been broken by a Scotsman.     The race is reported in John Keddie’s Centenary History of the SAAA thus:

“It was another Clydesdale Harrier, Robert Langlands, who finally broke through the 2 minute ‘barrier’ in Scotland.   He achieved this at the breakaway SAAU Championships at Hampden Park on 22^nd June 1895.   His winning time was 1 minute 59.6 seconds and apparently the pace was so shattering that no other competitor finished the race!   It is perhaps odd to think of a 2 minute barrier today, but one can picture the excitement created by such an occasion.   This was a real milestone.”

Milestone or no, the local ‘Lennox Herald’ headed their coverage

 “A Dumbarton Pedestrian Breaks a Scottish Record”

the article continues “The first championship meeting under the auspices of the new Scottish Amateur Athletic Union which was formed recently following a split in the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association, took place at Hampden Park on Saturday.   The most noteworthy performance of the meeting was the breaking of the Scottish Half Mile Record by R Langlands, Dumbarton.   Rodger of Maybole did not turn out and Langlands’ only opponent was the previous holder of the record, R Mitchell of Paisley.   The pace set had apparently been too much for the Paisley man who dropped off after covering nearly two thirds of the distance.   Langlands continued to run in splendid style and finished inside Mitchell’s record by four fifths of a second.   The performance was a capital one and as Langlands has youth on his side and probably something to learn through further experience we look to him eclipsing Saturday’s feat before long.   His brother George ran very pluckily in the Mile race at the same meeting and finished second to W Robertson of Clydesdale Harriers.”  

Where Mitchell had been a 440/880 runner, Langlands was championship material at 880/Mile distances. It is interesting that the pace set by the stronger man was too hot for the 440/880 runner with the Scottish record for 600 yards.   Mitchell had joined the club before any of the Langlands family and in season 1888/89 he had won 13 first prizes, 2 seconds and 7 thirds.   He was a seasoned campaigner before Robert came on the scene.   Unfortunately his career ended in disgrace: In 1898 he was permanently suspended for betting as part of an investigation carried out by the SAAA.     The last word on Langlands in the club records is in season 1899/1900.   As indicated above his career as surveyor then took him to London and Cadiz in Spain.   Nevertheless he was the first inside two minutes and

“This was a real milestone.”

 Langlands was coached by the Celtic trainer Danny Friel.   Friel had been born in Bonhill in about 1860 and was also one of the founders of the Celtic Harriers club.   His relationship with Langlands is remarked on in several places.   For example in the “Scottish Referee” of 24^th June,1895, – when Langlands set the record – the report on the race read:

When Lanaglands was going for the SAAA 1000 yards record the following week, Friel again came into the picture –

Picture from Alex Wilson

In the quest for the two minute half mile, Malcolm was a key figire.   Mitchell had brought the record to 2:00.4 and Mlcolm took it a fifth of a second nearer with his pb of 2:00.2.   Unfortunately he died very young just when he was in his prime as a racer. The following obituary appeared in the Glasgow Herald on 29th April, 1895:

“Athletics are considerably poorer by the death of Walter Malcolm of Greenock Morton FC.   When he was but 19 years of age he won the Clydesdale Harriers Mile Novice handicap and three years later was the half-mile champion of Scotland.   Such rapid progress has few parallels even in these days of athletic phenomenons.   Though he often figured in 220 and 440 distances, it was in longer distances that he excelled and has left his mark in the records of Scottish pedestrianism.   He holds the native records for the half mile and the 1000 yards.   His time for the latter is 2 min 31 sec.   Both Rodger and Mitchell once or twice attempted last year to reduce it but failed.   Whether Malcolm indulged too much in athletic exercise we do not care to say, but it is noteworthy that just as he was at his height, he contracted an illness which developed to such an extent that he was compelled to give up the idea of ever running again.   It was thought with care he might recover, but this was not to be and he died at the age of 34.   He wore his honours most unobtrusively, and his whole bearing on the track and off it was in consonance with his chivalry which is naturally associated with amateurism.   He was widely popular among all connected with athletics.”

Walter Malcolm first appears as a Clydesdale Harrier in season 1890/91 when he won two first prizes, two seconds and two thirds.   This was the first year that there was a Greenock Section as opposed to a more general Renfrewshire Section, and he was appointed the Local Captain of the club.   It was fitting there for that he won his first race of the year in the Greenock Morton Sports on 25th April when took the half-mile handicap.  Nearer the SAAA Championships, on 23rd May in the West of Scotland Harriers Sports at Hampden, he won the half mile (13 yards) in 2:02.6.  The second placed man was off a mark of 46 and Malcolm ‘won by a breast’, ie on the tape!   Two weeks later, June 6th, he was not quite sharp enough from 10 yards to catch JB Morrison of Edinburgh (18 yards) and finished second, beaten by a yard.   Then came the big one: the SAAA championship held at Hampden on 20th June.   He was unfortunate to come up against Robert Mitchell of Clydesdale Harriers who had won the title in each of the previous two years and was going for the treble.   Given that Malcolm, although very talented, was a comparative novice, he was beaten by Mitchell who ‘won well’ in 2:00.4 which was a Scottish record – one which Malcolm was destined to break two years later.      A fortnight later, on July 4th, at the Clydesdale Harriers Sports, Malcolm was second again – this time to a Dunfermline Football Club man, JG Mackie off 46 yards.  There was another second in a handicap sports when he competed at Kilmarnock on 25th July off 5 yards and just could not catch Alex Mitchell of Clydesdale who was running from a mark of 46 yards.   He did not appear the Rangers Sports at the start of August, nor at the Celtic Sports on 8th August – reason?   The Greenock Morton Sports were held on the latter date and he was very busy there.   He ran in the heat (1st) and final (unplaced) in the 100 yards, was third in the 440 yards running from Scratch, third in the Mile (Scratch) and there was no half-mile on the programme.   He had started the season running as a Clydesdale Harrier and changed to running under the Morton name from the Scottish championships.   It was not unusual for athletes or other sportsmen to have several clubs: no sport demanded exclusivity at that time and it was possible, as, for example, John Blane was for a time to be listed as CH, AFC and KC for Clydesdale Harriers, Ayr FC and Kilmarnock Cycling Club.

In season 1891/92 he had improved competitively insofar as he won five first prizes, six seconds and four thirds over the summer 1892 season: he did not ever appear in the cross-country results and probably spent the winter playing for Greenock Morton FC.   As in 1891, his first meeting was on 30th April and was the Morton FC Sports.   He ran in their colours.   In the 440 yards open, he won his heat in 56.4 sec, but was unplaced in the Final.   On 21st May, at the Abercorn FC Sports in Paisley, he was back racing the quarter nile distance and finished third .   The Queen’s Park Sports on 3rd June were interesting.   The final of the half-mile was won by R Mitchell, running from scratch under the St Mirren banner, with Malcolm, also from scratch, and J Ball of West of Scotland tie-ing for second.   The places were decided then by the toss of a coin which placed Ball second and Malcolm third.   They were only two yards behind Mitchell.   Then in the SAAA Championships held at  Dundee Mitchell again won the half mile, making it four in a row, with Malcolm second.   The winning time was 2:05.8.     Malcolm’s big moment of the season came however on 2nd July in the Clydesdale Harriers Sports when he was second in the 880 yards, running from scratch in 2:00.2 for a new Scottish record.   The winner was running from 36 yards.   Mitchell and Malcolm came head to head over 880 yards again on 30th July in the St Mirren Sports at Paisley.   There wre 40 men started in the race with both Malcolm and Mitchell starting from scratch.   Itr didn’t take them long to get into the crowd (Glasgow Herald description) in front of them, ‘but it was absolutely impossible to get through them.’    The winning time was 1:59.2, neither was in the first three who started respectively from 55, 45 and 38 yards marks.   In the Rangers Sports on 5th August, Malcolm won his Heat of the 440 yards but was unplaced in the Final.   On 20th August the Morton Sports were held at Greenock and this time the only race that Malcolm ran in was the 880 – Mitchell was absent.   Of the 17 entrants, there were only nine starters and Malcolm was quickly in among them: the race was really between him and JJ Watson, of Ayr FC (18 yards), and Watson won by a few yards from Malcolm and Jack Wright, Clydesdale Harriers off 22 yards.   Winning time: 2:02.4.

The following year, 1892/93, Walter Malcolm won the same total number of prizes as in the previous summer (15) but were notably upgraded to six  firsts, seven seconds and  two thirds.      The season started at the Morton Sports on 29th April with a double victory: he won the 880 yards handicap 2:06.4 and went on to win his Heat and the final of the 440 yards in 54.8 (Heat time 55 seconds).   A month later at the Abercorn FC Sports in Paisley on 20th May, he won both Heat and Final of the 440 yards off 8 yards in 51 seconds.   XX At the West of Scotland Sports at what must have been his favourite track (Hampden) on Monday, 12th June,  Malcolm broke the national 1000 yards record with a time of  2:21.o.   He now held two Scottish records as he headed into the SAAA Championships.   They were held at Hampden on 17th June Malcolm fulfilled expectations when he won in  2:01.8 after trailing Hindle of St Mirren FC until 50 yards from the tape to win his first national title.      Finally, in the Morton Sports at Cappielow, Greenock, on 12th August he ran in the 600 yards scratch invitation race and finished second to J Rodger of Maybole FC – a very quick 440/880 runner who had never got the beating of Malcolm in any half mile race.   

He raced in summer 1894 and was awarded a Clydesdale Harriers gold badge for a good performance but his racing career was basically finished by then and he died early in 1895.    He had been an excellent athlete and had played his part in hacking the 880 yards time down to the two minute barrier.

 ndrew Hannah was at his peak one of Scotland’s most outstanding track and cross country runners.   Born in East Kilbride, he was brought up in Langside.   In 1887 he joined the Cathkin Cycling Club and in the same year tried the One Mile race at Cambuslang Sports.   He did not win there but also ran the event at the St Mirren and Royal Albert Sports.   He won both of these and joined the Clydesdale Harriers in winter 1887.   He remained a club member until his death in 1939.   A popular competitor he was reportedly renowned more for his grit than his pace.   Although equally good over the track his particular love was cross country running where he won the National title five times – a feat only equalled by Nat Muir in the 1980’s.   On the track his favourite distances were the one, four and ten miles and over a three year period he had 35 first places, 24 second places and 21 thirds in all races!   ie at least 80 track races in three years.   He won the SAAA Four Miles championship four times between 1889 and 1896 and in the same period took the ten miles championship seven times.      In the latter event he was the first Scot to run under 55 minutes.   In 1896 he broke all existing records from five to ten miles with his time of 53:26 – a record that stood for twelve years.   He retired from competitive running that same year.   He called his athletics career to a halt after his fifth National win but stayed in the sport as an official and administrator until his death in December 1939.

He joined the club in 1887 and his career bears examining in some detail.   By 1890/91 he was on the club’s General Committee as ‘A Hannah, Junior’ and also appeared on the Advising Board & Business Committee   as well as being the HQ District Leader for District Number 4 (Hutchesontown, Gorbals, Cathcart, Shawlands and Pollokshaws – for more on the Sections look at the ‘section’ on Andrew Dick).   His address at this time was at 2 Lindore Terrace in Langside.   Over that winter he won a Five Mile Open Handicap at Renfrew, won the breakaway SHU Championships and the SCCA Championships and although suffering from a severe cold travelled to the English Cross Country Championships where he was ninth.   In the summer of 1891 he won the 4 miles and the 10 miles championships and set a 2 miles record of 9:43.4.   1891/92 was a good year for the club at home with an average attendance at HQ Section runs of 57.8 runners.   The club awarded gold badges for specially good times and three were awarded with Andrew Hannah being one of them.   He won the SCCA Championship again and the annual report said:

“Ex-captain Hannah’s performances, especially in the early part of the Season call for Special Mention, amongst others the 10 Miles flat Championship in which he created records from 5 miles upwards.”    For his efforts on the club’s behalf he was presented with a safety bicycle at a smoking concert held in the club rooms in Dundas Street.   1892/93 was not his best year – he was still on the Committee but had moved his address to 5 Holm Place, Cathcart which was still in the Number 4 HQ District.   He won the club 10 miles open and club championship over the country but was only second to Charles Pennycook in the National.   Came 1893/94 and as well as being on the General Committee he was again Captain and a  member of the Advising Board & Business Committee.   That year he had 17 first places, one second and no third places.   He again won the clubs Open and Championship 10 miles at Cathcart.   He also won the 7 Miles contest and the National Cross Country Championship.    A novelty this year was an inter club race at Newcastle on 29^th July 1893.   A team of four ‘Messrs Hannah, Robertson, McLaren and Russell took part and victory rested with the CH representatives who won handsome Gold Badges for each member of the team accompanying a Silver Challenge Cup put up by the Newcastle club.’

He was again Captain in 1894/95 and his running was better then ever.  He won the 4 Miles race at Cathcart and the won the 10 Miles Open and Championship for the fifth successive year and then won the 7 Miles at Pollokshaws.   He won the National Championship again and in addition to the usual trophy and medal, he won the Dick Cup for the second year.   The Dick Cup had been donated to the club by former secretary Andrew Dick, resident in Mombassa the previous year for annual presentation to the club runner who finished first for the team in the National Championship.   Then there was the Inter Club Challenge match against Newcastle Harriers at Newcastle which had been run the previous year for the silver challenge cup.   Clydesdale won the trophy for the second year and under the terms of the meeting were allowed to keep it.   The runners were Andrew Hannah, William Robertson and Andrew McLaren, and Peter McLean.   On the track he won the Scottish 10 Miles Championship breaking all existing records from 6 miles to 10 miles inclusive.   A month later he won the Scottish 4 Miles Championship.   The Annual Report commented: “At many of the Sports Meetings held during the summer months the contests between Hannah and Duffus will long be remembered.”   At the end of the year he won with the special badge for most prizes won – he had 59 points against W Robertson’s 55.   And of course there was another performance badge for times run.  

In 1895 he became club president for the first time and as such was also on the Finance Committee as the Advising Committee was no called.   His running went from strength to strength.   In the 5 Miles Open Handicap at Whiteinch he was first man home, in the 7 miles team race at Pollokshields he was also first man home.   The club handbook contained the note that “it has been thought advisable to sever our connection with the SAAA and become affiliated to the SAAU, a new body that has come into existence owing to the strained relations existing between the SAAA and the SCU.”   So he just won the SAAU Championship 10 Miles breaking all Scottish records between five and ten miles inclusive.   He was elected president again in 1896/97, remained on the Finance Committee and was also the Committee’s representative to the Coatbridge Section.    The handbook announce “At the beginning of the season we introduced an innovation as far as Scotland is concerned, in the shape of a Cross-Country Handicap open to all Amateur Athletes.   ……….Andrew Hannah being first man home…..”   As he was in the 7 Miles HQ Handicap and the 8 Miles Open where he won the Handicap race and was also first man home!!!

The Handbook also comments that “The Club Championship was won by Andrew Hannah and the Dick Cup is now his property, he having won it three times”   He had won it three times within four years of its initial presentation (William Robertson won it in its third year by being one place ahead of him in the National Championship which doubled that year as the Club Championship).   He again won the 10 Miles Championship in the summer of 1897 and was part of the team that won the Davidson Trophy at the Heart of Midlothian Football Club’s Sports for the second time with Stuart Duffus, William Robertson and James McLaren being the other runners.

Andrew Hannah: 1890

As a runner he was very popular.   A profile in the ‘Scots Umpire’ said that he was “lithe and lion hearted’, distinguished for his staying powers rather than his pace and “in the home run he runs gamely, giving his head a characteristic lift to the side when he means to be in at the death.   He is not easily shaken off and when he makes up his mind to do a thing, funk and fear fly away and he spanks gamely home.”  

In 1997/98 A Ross Scott was club president but Hannah remained on the Committee and became the representative on the SAAA Committee and along with Ross Scott had been representing the club on the SCCU Committee so starting a long career as an administrator and official.   He had been elected Vice President of that body at the AGM in September 1896.    He had moved address again and by now was staying in Braeside Street off New City Road in Mayhill.   His competitive career was now at an end, he having retired after his fifth cross country championship victory in 1896.   In the next two seasons he was still on the Committee (by now also on the Handicapping Committee) and represented the club on both National Bodies along with A Ross Scott.    In 1900/91 he was still on the Club Committee and the Handicapping Committee, and representative to the Airdrie Section but was also representative to the SCCU.   The pattern was established – he was a working Committee Member but also with his deep love of the sport and long involvement at the highest competitive levels becoming a member of the national establishment.  

In 1903/04 the club handbook reported: “A cup, value £10, has been presented by Mr Andrew Hannah, to be competed for by Members of Clydesdale Harriers.   The Race will be run on the Track during the Cross-Country Season.   The Winner will also get a medal and hold the cup for one year.   The distance will be Three Miles.”   This was to be the Hannah Cup which has been competed for since – the latest valuation put it at approximately £6000.   He had offered to put the trophy, valued 10 guineas and there was some discussion as to how it would be awarded.   One suggestion, followed the following year was that it be awarded for a points competition over the club’s four open races.   The report on the first race was as follows:    “The Contest for the handsome Cup kindly put up by Andrew Hannah was a Three Miles Flat Race, decided at Meadowside, Partick and resulted in James Reston winning, with Saml. Stevenson close up and MF Dickson third”.   The three runners are worth commenting upon in their own right: James Reston was a Scottish International cross country runner who emigrated to the United States and was the father of James “Scotty” Reston of the Washing Post newspaper – a. internationally renowned reporter and journalist; Samuel Stevenson is dealt with elsewhere but he went on to become an Olympic athlete and MF Dickson is also written about elsewhere but was one of the longest serving of Clydesdale Harriers and SAAA administrators.   The race for the Trophy had its designation altered twice thereafter (in 1913 it was again altered to be for the first man home in the Western District Championship) and is currently for the fastest time in the club’s annual cross country handicap race.  This was as a result of a motion at the September 1927 Committee Meeting by T Kent seconded by J McNamara that it be awarded to the runner with the fastest time in the 7 miles handicap.  This has been the designation for almost of the trophy’s existence – ie the past 80 years.

If we look at his track championship record in tabular form, it is maybe even more impressive.

The Cross Country Record is well enough known not to need re-emphasising.

As an official, he was appointed vice-president of the SCCU in 1896/97 and elected president the next year.   Not only was he president of the SCCU in 1897 but was also elected secretary of the West District Committee of the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association.   He held this post for twelve years until his elevation to the position of SAAA President.   His administrative qualities had been recognised in 1908 when he was involved in the organisation of the London Olympics and in the Games itself he was one of the timekeepers.  

Like all the former athletes at this time he was an active club member and was prominent at all the major gatherings of the club including AGM’s.   In April 1928 for instance he presented the prizes to the winners of the cross country season and made a donation to the club.  He attended the 50^th Anniversary Dinner in 1935.   There is a story originally told I believe by George Ferguson, one of his contemporaries, that well after his racing days were over, he was attending a Dinner in Glasgow when he was challenged to race a cab across the city.   He took up the challenge and set off in evening dress, bow tie and all, against a horse drawn cab across the city from St George’s Cross to the Maryhill Baths.  

He died in 1939 and the club AGM Minute of October 1939 recorded it as follows: “Mr Middler announced the death of Mr Andrew Hannah a founder member of Clydesdale Harriers and also one of the earliest Scottish Cross Country Champions.   Up to the time of his death Mr Hannah was an Honorary President of the club and still had an interest in same.   A Wreath would be sent by the club.”   He died having ensured his place among the greats of Scottish athletics as competitor, administrator and official.   His devotion to the club was constant and he should be remembered as probably the greatest Clydesdale Harrier of all time.

From ‘The Scottish Referee, 7^th July 1890 

Andrew Hannah: Captain Clydesdale Harriers

 Grit is the quality in a man that makes him and it is this striking feature in the character of this popular pedestrian that has contributed in no small degree to his success on the cinder track.   Born in the upland heights of East Kilbride, he spent his youth in Langside.   He joined the Cathkin Cycling Club in 1887.   He raced ‘in vain’ in the One Mile at Cambuslang and then won the Mile at both the Royal Albert and St Mirren meetings.   This encouraged him to join CH in winter 1887.   Lithe light and lion hearted he is noted for his staying powers rather than his pace.   In 1888 he won the Scottish 10 Miles Cross Country Championships and twice since then.   At the Scottish Championships he has made three appearances being twice second in the Four Miles and once first in 21 mins 3 secs.   His qualities are not seen at their best in the Mile where he has a best time of 4 mins 33 secs.   In three years he has 33 firsts, 24 seconds and 21 thirds.   Last Saturday in the joint CH/Rangers Meeting he beat DS Duncan’s record for the two miles by 5 seconds when running 9min 43 and a fifth secs.   There is no more popular competitor for he is both modest and honest and never shirks his work.   His style is modelled on the great McLeavy.   He lifts very neatly and has a fine free movement.   In the home straight, he runs gamely giving his head a characteristic lift to the side when he means to be in at the death.   He is not easily shaken off and when he makes up his mind to do a thing, funk and fear fly away and he spanks gamely home.”

William Wilton, Rangers Manager from 1899 to 1920.

The Rangers Sports are well known.   Not only did they have the very best of international athletes competing, but they held open handicap events alongside the star studded international spectaculars.   The service this did in raising the standard and motivating domestic athletes was incalculable.   It is impossible to envisage a meeting organised by any body in Scotland which involved invitation events for international athletes alongside open events for Scottish athletes.   However the club did more than host the annual amateur meeting on the first Saturday in August.   Several formats were tried such as the professional highland gatherings held in the early 1900’s.   

The following notice appeared in the Club Notices column of the ‘Scottish Referee’ and other newspapers in mid-June, 1903:

RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB

GRAND NATIONAL

AND

HIGHLAND GAMES

(under distinguished patronage)

IBROX PARK, Saturday 27^th June at 2:30 pm

—

GREAT WRESTLING MATCH

For the Mixed Style Championship of Great Britain, between ALEX MUNRO, Scottish Champion, and MATT STEADMAN, of England

—

PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST

__

GRAND EXHIBITION SHINTY MATCH

Glasgow Cowal, (League Champions)  v

Kyles Athletic  (Holders of the Celtic Society’s Cup_

—

PIPING, DANCING, THROWING THE HAMMER, PUTTING THE BALL, TOSSING THE CABER, JUMPING, VAULTING, WRESTLING, RUNNING.

—

Gymnastic Novelties by The Marzelos

—

The following champions will compete:-  TOM KEANE (America’s Champion Sprinter),  JAS FERGUSON, Dundee, who recently defeated Callum of Cardiff, FRED E BACON (1 to 10 Miles Champion), CHAS THOMAS,( half mile champion.)

—

UNIQUE      INTERESTING      PICTURESQUE

Admission  6d;                             Stands  6d extra

*

It was a new venture for the Ibrox club and the previews were all favourable – it was expected to be huge success, the club directorate were showered with praise and, it was said, there was enough talent to be seen for three meetings, never mind one.   The Scottish Referee promised that if the sports were as brilliant as they promised to be, then it would be another red-letter day in the Rangers FC history.   

Unfortunately, the weather did not do its bit to promote the meeting:  “the 27th was as dreary, disappointing and as disgusting as a November fog.   The worst of Saturday’s cruel experience was that it was somewhat unexpected, for the morning opened gloriously, the sky giving little or no indication of the rain which was stored up behind its azure shade.”  …  “the rain pitiless and pelting fell upon rich and poor.   The finest of fine millineries, the blaziest of blazy ‘bashers’, the daintiest of the dandy ‘dudes’, and the ‘prawest’ of the ‘praw’ Hielantmen who, in the garb of ‘Old Gaul’, paraded at Ibrox Park in the Rangers grand Highland fetes – all had their share of water.”

In brief it rained buckets.  The rain and its effects was mentioned in almost every paragraph of the reports – but the meeting went on and one of the most stirring events of the day was the wrestling match between Munro and Steadman.   “Regarded as magnificent specimens of our race, the two champions, apart from their ability, are a treat to look upon.”    As a battle between champions it was well received, and the victory of the Scot, Munro, was appreciated by all present.   He then further delighted the crowd by winning the caber tossing.   The piping and dancing?  A curtailment was requested by the press if they were to be included in future – there was just too much of each!   

The Scottish Referee recommended to other sports promoters that they take a leaf out of the Rangers book if they wanted to spice up their sports with shinty and the Marzellos, a group of talented acrobats taking turns in performing delighted the crowd.   The heading on the athletic results read:  MISERABLE WEATHER  –  CAPITAL ATTENDANCE  –  MAGNIFICENT WRESTLING

Results:   

120 yards handicap:  Five Heats.   Final:  1st J Howden, Edinburgh, 9 1/2 yards;  Time  12 seconds

Putting the Ball:  1st A Cameron, Partick, 44 feet 8 inches

Half Mile:  1st W Struth, Edinburgh, 18 yards,  Time 1 min 56 sec

300 yards flat race:  Four Heats.  Final:  1st WA Robson, Edinburgh, 21 yards.  Time: 32 sec.

Vaulting with Pole:   1st A Liddle, Glasgow

One Mile Flat:  1st D Morrison, Strathblane, 90 yards.  Time 4 min 23 3-5th sec

High Leap:  1st  A Liddle, Glasgow,   5 feet 5 1/2 ins

Tossing the Caber:  1st A Munro, Govan

The name of W Struth, Edinburgh, competing at Ibrox, immediately leaps out at us.   Not only did he win the half mile, but he was second in his Heat of the 300 yards.  Looking at some of the times, the question is – were the measurements accurate and/or was the timekeeper qualified?   It had been a successful weather despite it all and the club was encouraged enough to hold another the following next year.   

*

The man from Edinburgh was again in action in the half mile on 18th June, 1904, but could only finish second this time in what was again described a a very full programme.   But were the Games a success?   They were covered in a favourable light – not only by the Glasgow and West of Scotland Press but also by The Scotsman in the East.   They started their report as follows:

“The second of the Highland Gatherings so auspiciously inaugurated by the Rangers Football Club last season, took place on Saturday at Ibrox Park.   Although the weather was somewhat cold and the sun obscured by threatening clouds, the attendance was very good.   The principal contest in the wrestling was between Alexander Munro of Govan and Alfred Kramer of Germany for a purse of £25.   The match was decided by the best of three falls in Cumbernauld, Scottish and Graeco-Roman styles.   In the first style Munro won two falls, and the German one fall; in the catch-as-catch-can, the foreigner lost the first two falls, the first in 3 minutes 10 seconds and 6 minutes 10 seconds respectively.   Kramer however gave a much better account of himself in the Graeco-Roman style.   From the start he forced matters and succeeded in pinning Munro’s shoulders to the mat in 4 minutes.   Munro won the two remaining falls in 4 minutes and 30 seconds and 8 minutes respectively. “

That   was not the only wrestling on offer – WW Bain, described as the middle weight champion of Britain, undertook to throw six opponents in an hour, at the same time as conceding a stone over his own weight.”    He was successful.   

The results: 

120 yards:  Five Heats.  1st:  J Ferguson (Invergowrie)  6 1/2 yards:  Time: 11.8 seconds

Putting 16 lb Ball:  1st:  Charels MacLean (Fort William)  45 feet 3 inches

Half Mile Handicap:  1st D Butchart (Leith) 48 yards;  2nd  W Struth (Edinburgh)  16 yards.  Time:  1:58.2

Throwing 16 lb Hammer:  1st:  J Morrison (Partick)  113 feet 9 inches

High Jump:  1st James Buchan (Partick)  5 feet 7 inches

Tossing the Caber:  1st A Munro, Govan

300 yards: Three Heats:  1st T Keane (America)  scratch.  Time:  31.6 seconds

Vaulting with Pole:  1st C MacLean (Fort William)  9 feet 9 inches

One Mile:  1st D Butchart (Leith)  65 yards.   Time: 4 minutes 31 seconds

There were also dancing and piping contests – and of course, more wrestling (wrestling Scotch Style, under 12 stones)

It had been another successful meeting.   

*

and that may have been it – there were athletic events held at Ibrox on every Saturday between the end of May and the middle of July in 1905 but none of them were hosted by the Rangers FC and they were all amateur meetings too.   A successful experiment, well favoured by the Glasgow public and it seems to have lasted for just two years.