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JFA Wood, Stewart’s College, winning the quarter-mile at the 1924 Inter-Scholastic Sports

The numbers continued to rise and in May, 1924, at Inverleith in Edinburgh there were 33 schools contesting the events with well over 400 pupils showing off their skills although the crowd could have been bigger.   Among the newcomers were Kelvinside Academy, Dundee Harris Academy, Hamilton Academy, Alloa Academy, St Mungo’s, Coatbridge and Hyndland High Schools.

The meeting started at 2:30 pm and entry fee was £1, the stand being double that and boys and girls half price.   The purchasing power of the £1 in 1924 would be £50 in 2023.     That maybe goes some way to explaining the disappointing attendance.   The report on the event in the ‘Edinburgh Evening News’ began as follows.

“Though there was only one record broken at the inter-scholastics at Inverleith, there were some performances which must rank among the best ever seen at this meeting.   It is safe to say that no one will ever run a race like JFA Wood did in the quarter-mile and not break a record.   From an Edinburgh point of view his success in this race was the most gratifying of the day, for he was disappointing in other events in which he was expected to shine.   Despite the fact that the number of entries for the quarter-mile warranted the race being run in heats, it was decided to start some 20 runners at once and get the event over.   As in former years the limited accommodation of the track was much in evidence and someone had to suffer.   Wood’s position was a most unenviable one and for him to win the race seemed an impossible task.   Three times he tried to burst through and three times he failed.   When at last he did manoeuvre into position he was yards behind Piggott of Bellahouston Academy who was leading.   Wood however put in a great finish and got home by the narrowest of margins.   His success was a most popular one and but for his unfortunate experience he would probably have beaten A McKay’s 1923 record of 54 1/5th seconds.   As it was Wood was only 2 seconds out.   His exertions here prevented him turning out in the high jump.

“It was interesting to note the way in which some of the fancied candidates were beaten by the ‘dark horses’.    A McLean, Dunfermline High School, upset calculations in the sprint, by beating C Harrison, Eastbank Academy, in a fast final.   The Dunfermline boy is a fine runner capable of good finishes.   Wood, the Stewart’s champion had to be satisfied with third place. “

The report concluded with a report on the record breaker.   “It was left to D Honeyman, Dunfermline High School, to set up the only new record.   In the 300 yards Under 14 he covered the distance in 38 1/5th thus beating A McGeorge’s 1919 record of 39 seconds.   Honeyman also won the 100 yards and was the outstanding boy in his class.   In the Under 16 events, WG Wylie, Hutchesons Grammar School, caught the eye in the sprint and should be heard of again though the standard in this class has often been better.   

“As a result of the Sports, Stewart’s carried off the honours with four firsts and two seconds, while Heriot’s had three firsts and two seconds.   Dunfermline High School also did exceptionally well having three firsts and winning both relay races.”

Results from the ‘Scotsman’ of May 19th, 1924.

Summary of winners:-

Open Events

Under 16

Under 14

11 schools provided event winners, there were 19 schools listed in the more detailed results above, and the Dunfermline High School seemed to have a conveyor belt of sprinters – 1100 yards and relay in the Open category, 100 and 300 yards plus relay for the Under 13’s.   

Twenty five schools taking part in 1922 was very good but even more – twenty nine to be exact – took part on 19th May, 1923.   The meeting was held at the Rugby Union Fields in Edinburgh with 345 pupils taking part before a smaller crowd than the event merited.  Looking back at the meeting the ‘star’ of the show was TM Riddell of Glasgow High School who won the Mile, an event’he never looked like losing’ by 40 yards.   He went on to be a multi title holder in SAAA championships and prolific record setter.

Among the schools taking part were Allan Glen’s, Ayr Academy, Boroughmuir, Broughton, Dalkeith Academy, Dalmuir HS, Dollar Academy, Dundee High School, Dunfermline High School, Eastbank Academy, George Heriot’s, Glasgow High School, Gordon’s College, James Gillespie’s, Kilmarnock Academy, Leith Academy, McLaren HS (Callander), Rothesay Academy, Royal High School, Shawlands Academy, Stewart’s College, Trinity Academy and Waid Academy.  This prompted the reporter for the ‘Scotsman’ to say that “the successes gained by the Dundee, Kilmarnock, Boroughmuir, Dunfermline and Rothesay representatives indicates a progressive movement in connection with provincial school athletics.”    A wee bit patronising perhaps?    The results below are as printed in the ‘Scotsman’ of 21st May 1923.

The results are summarised below, starting with the Open Events

Under 16

Under 14

The number of competing schools continued to rise, the number of boys competing also rose and the geographical spread of the schools widened with every meeting.   

The numbers of schools competing had grown every year since the War and 1922 did not break the trend.   The ‘Scotsman’ of Tuesday, 16th May, 1922 gave the list as below and it easily and quickly seen that there is a fine mix of schools, state and private, north south, east and west – included.    

Not just schools from Glasgow and Edinburgh and their environs: Inverness, Dundee, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Rothesay, Perth and Dumbarton were all present.  Only error was Whitehall for Whitehill and nobody seemed to know whether it was a High School, a college or an academy, but it did nor stop them winning medals.  

In brief, winners, schools and performances:

OPEN EVENTS

UNDER 16 

UNDER 14

There were varying fortunes in the age groups – Allan Glen’s won 5 events out of the 9 in the open age group, Dumbarton took 2 out of 5 in the Under 16’s while Dunfermline won 3 out of the 5 at Under 14.   The winnings were shared by 9 schools of the 15 who took part although 19 schools in all shared the medals (ie in the first three in the event: Allan Glen’s. Ayr, Bell Baxter, Dalkeith, Dollar, Dumbarton, Dundee HS, Dunfermline, Heriot’s, Kilmarnock, Inverness, Leith, Perth, Rothesay, Royal HS, Stewart’s, Trinity, Watson’s and Whitehill.

The event continued to grow with the 23 participating schools of 1920 becoming 24 in 1921.   No list has been found but among the first three in every event we find 16 schools, named below, sharing in the spoils.   They came from Glasgow, Edinburgh Dollar (now Dollar Academy after starting out as Dollar Institution and few years when both designations were used) and Dunfermline.   They were – Allan Glen’s, Ayr Academy, Battlefield, Bellahouston Academy, Bell Baxter HS, Dollar Academy, Dumbarton Academy, Dunfermline HS, Heriots, Hillhead HS, Leith Academy, Perth Academy, Royal High School, Stewart’, Trinity and Whitehill.   It was a healthy scene with numbers growing, records being eclipsed at every meeting and a spread of the rewards among all sorts of schools.    

The ‘Scotsman’ report reads as below.

OPEN EVENTS

UNDER 16

UNDER 14

Among the winners, Allan Glen’s had 5, George Heriot’s had 4, Ayr Academy had 3, Dollar had 2, Leith had 2, Stewart’s had 1, Trinity had 1, and Whitehill had 1.

The numbers of participating schools in the inter-scholastics had been gradually increasing but the entry in 1920 was outstanding – the previous best of 18 establishments was well below this year’s 23 schools taking part.    It was a very good mix of schools too.  The ‘Scotsman’ comments on the meeting read:   

For the twenty first annual inter-scholastic sports held on Saturday at the Scottish Football Union Field, Inverleith, the weather was of a highly favourable character.   A large gathering was present and as the proceeds were in aid of the funds of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, this institution should as a result benefit greatly.   There was an unprecedented entry of twenty-three schools, and all through the events were keenly contested.   LJ Dunn of Watson’s College, the Scottish hurdles champion, set up a new record for the inter-scholastic hurdle race (his time of 15 4-5th seconds equals the Scottish all-comers record set in 1905 by RS Stronach); GAD Young, who a fortnight ago created a new record for the mile at Dollar Academy games, had no difficulty in setting up a new record for the inter-scholastic mile; GA MacKenzie, Whitehill, added half an inch to the under 16 high jump record; while A Bradley, Dollar, and JS Boyd, Leith, both tied for the under 14 high jump, created a new record for this event.   

C Watt of Dollar failed to reproduce his own games form for the high jump and in consequence had to be content with an equal first with LJ Dunn.   The relay races which brought the meeting to a close proved exceedingly popular and exciting.   Mr T  Jack was referee; Mr TS McKerchar was starter; and Messrs J Bartleman, G Hume, D Taylor and DS Duncan were timekeepers.   The pipe bands of George Heriot’s School and George Watson’s College were in attendance.

The comments on LJ Dunn (Watson’s) were interesting – his career highlights, competing for Watson’s and then Edinburgh University, were as follows:

*won the SAAA 120 yards hurdles championship in 1919 [while still at school],

*been second in 1920, first again in 1921,

*won both hurdles and long jump in 1922,

*in 1923 was second in the hurdles and first in the long jump,   and

*second in both events in 1924 and was clearly an outstanding athlete.  

The ‘Scotsman’ report on the 1919 SAAA Championships read as follows:

He also competed for Scotland in the triangular international with Ireland and England being second in the hurdles and third in the long jump.    

Results:-

The summary of the winners, schools and times follows.

OPEN EVENTS

UNDER 16

UNDER 14

The table above is interesting in the number of schools named, ie the scatter of results indicates that no school had a monopoly.   The Open winners came from 6 schools (9 events), Under 16 had 5 schools represented (from 5 events) and the Under 14’s had 6 winners (6 events).   A total of eleven schools were represented among the winners: Allan Glen’s, Ayr, Bellahouston, Dollar,  Dumbarton, Leith, Perth, Royal High School, Trinity, Whitehill and Watson’s.   Other schools again were among the second and third places – Broughton, Dunfermline, Falkirk HS, Gillespie’s Heriot’s, Stewart’s – and this spread of awards indicates a very healthy state of affairs.   17 schools were represented in the prize lists.   

The war was now over and things were getting back to normal – for the Inter-Scholastics however things were better than normal with eighteen schools taking part and four records being set in the one afternoon.   With mixed weather on the day, the prospects for the future were bright.  The ‘Glasgow Herald’ told us that there were 18 schools taking part – two more than the previous best.   The introductory comments and result below are from the ‘Scotsman’

That the boys competing were of a high standard, is self evident but the results of the SAAA Championships in June that year featured some of the athletes who had already turned out for their school in the inter-scholastics.   The following remarks are from the ‘Scotsman’ report on that meeting about the former Dumbarton Academy boy who had won events in the inter-scholastics as follows:

1916 as an Under 16, won 100 yards, 120 yards hurdles and Broad Jump

1917 in the open events, won 100 yards, high jump, broad jump, cricket ball

1918 won the 100 yards, 440 yards, 120 yards hurdles.

1919 won the 100 yards, broad jump and throwing the cricket ball

In his first year as a senior in the SAAA championships (1920) the following comments were made:   

The winners of the individual results are summarised below.

OPEN EVENTS

UNDER 16

UNDER 14

McGeorge in the Under 14 age group easily won all event with three being meeting records although the reports only named two was such.  It was also encouraging to see no fewer than nine schools sharing the spoils – Ayr Academy, Dollar Institution, George Heriot’s, Leith Academy, Royal High School, Trinity, Stewart’s, Watson’s and Whitrehill.

The event took place for the third time in Edinburgh for reasons set out below in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ Notes on Sports column. on 18th May in 1918.   

Several of the names mentioned above – Dunn, Bell McPhee will be familiar from past years but more detail is contained in the Herald’s results coverage.   Points to note:   (1) Sixteen Sxhools took part – a record number;   (2) Schools like Trinity Academy and Leith Academy were present but only one Glasgow school – had the meeting been held in Glasgow, the attendance might have been smaller but the number of competing schools might have been bigger;  (3) Note too the return of Dollar Institution.  (4) Introduction of Relay racing.  The results:- 

Note that 16 schools were represented three more than previously and a signal that the event was becoming more popular despite the abstinence of some of the supposed ‘top’ athletics schools in the country.

Summary of event winners:-. 

OPEN EVENTS

UNDER 16

UNDER 14

The War continued and the exigencies felt by the population were biting but children had to be educated, schools had to continue to cater for their pupils physical needs as well as their intellectual.   The inter-scholastics continued to be held and sponsored by the SAAA.   Held on 19th May in 1917, the sports were held at Inverleith with a decent sized crowd, if the ‘Scotsman’s’ brief report can be believed.   Their short description of the afternoon’s athletics is below.

The growing attraction of the event is seen, even in this short piece, when we note that the Vale of Leven Academy (geographically not far from Dumbarton Academy which had been involved for several years) was taking part.   There was much more about the meeting and in the way of results in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ which begins with some philosophical thoughts.

The number of schools mentioned in the prize lists above is six but there were actually thirteen schools involved – one of the highest totals since 1890.

The brief list of winners and their schools is here.

OPEN EVENTS

UNDER 16

UNDER 14

No doubt there about the school with most winners, Watson’s with 10 firsts topped that table, Dumbarton had three and Trinity, and Allan Glen’s had two apiece.   As noted above. Bell of Dumbarton had a range of talents that included sprinting and field events.

There was no doubt about the number of establishments contesting the 1916 inter-scholastics – the ‘Glasgow Herald’ told us it was eleven, and even named them.   From Glasgow there were Allan Glen’s, Bellahouston Academy, Hutchesons Grammar,  with other schools from the west being Ayr Academy and Dumbarton Academy; from Edinburgh there came Edinburgh Institution, George Heriots School, Royal High School, Stewart’s College and Watson’s College with Kirkcaldy High being the only other school from the East.   Maybe the Edinburgh venue for the event on 20th May was part of the reason but regardless the number, for such an event to be held in wartime, was gratifying.

The view from Edinburgh as reported in the ‘Scotsman’ was slightly different, pointing out the return to the festivities of Watson’s college, and read 

The winners are summarised with their schools in these tables.

OPEN EVENTS

UNDER 16

UNDER 14

Some of the athletes who had been competing in these events matured into SAAA champions and internationalists.  eg JB Bell of Dumbarton Academy who who in 1919 was 1st  in 220 yards and also in 440 yards; in 1920 he was  2nd  in the 440 yards;  and in 1921,  3rd 220 yards, 2nd 440 yards.   That is one athlete from the 1916 athletics season.   

The War continued, coverage was extensive and there were lists of casualties on land (mainly) sea and in the air.   

The 1915 Inter-Scholastics were held in Glasgow at Celtic Park on May 15th amid many reports on the War and with reports of Scottish sportsmen already fallen.   The Glasgow Herald had  a page and a half of casualties listed in the same issue as the report on the games.  Their report however read as below.

The winners and their schools are noted in the tables below.   THere was a schools competition and this was wwon by Allan Glen’s with 10 points, Aye Academy second with 4 points, Dumbarton Academy had one first and one second each.   (Two points were given for a first and one for a second)

OPEN (ie Over 16) EVENTS

UNDER 16

UNDER 14

There is no list of the schools taking part but from the results that we have there were at least 9, these being Allan Glen’s, Ayr Academy, Dumbarton Academy, Edinburgh Institution, George Heriot’s, Hutchesons Grammar School, Morrison’s Academy, Royal High School.