Author: Admin

Dunky Wright Correspondence

Posted on by

The DM Wright/Dunbartonshire Cup Saga 

When Dunky Wright resigned from Clydesdale Harriers in 1923 he took with him the Dunbartonshire Cup.   There is a whole series of letters, claims, etc that are detailed to some extent in Colin Shields’s book “Whatever the Weather” but much more completely on the linked page on this website/ 

The correspondence here covers the ‘end game’ of the quest for the trophy with Dunky having the final say in a funny letter – part bitter, part humorous – bringing the sage (it lasted for four years +) to an end.  It is however clear that he was not happy in being ‘found out’.   Mr Millar, referred to in the letters and postcards is Tom Millar, club secretary.

…

 

 

 

 

/

 

JF ‘Ginger’ Wood

Posted on by

Scottish team, 1930 British Empire Games

1930 Scottish Empire Games Team

JF ‘Ginger’ Wood on left of front row.

James Fraser Wood was born in West Calder in 1905 and, as a runner for Heriot’s AC he won championships on the track, represented Scotland internationally on track and country and also ran in the Empire Games. Games.

His track distances were 4 miles and 10 miles.    At 4 miles he never won a Scottish title but was third in the AAA’s championship in 1929 and 1930, and then in 1931 finished second just ahead of Anglo-Scot RR Sutherland of Birchfield Harriers.   Also of course a good three mile runner, he broke Johnny McGough’s Scottish record with 14:44.6 in Glasgow on 1st August 1931.   In 1930 he was part of a Scottish team that went to the Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario, and finished fourth in the Six miles.    Scots generally did well at these Games with Dunky Wright winning the marathon and Wood, Robert Sutherland (three miles) and Roy Hamilton (220 yards) finishing fourth.    (Incidentally, the first ever European Championships were held that year in Turin but Britain did not send a team).

In general though, the further he went the better he got.   Wood. described by Keddie as “a diminutive ‘one paced’ runner”, won the SAAA Ten Miles title twice – in 1931 (54:15.0) and in 1932 (52:31.0)   The high point, however, was when he won the  AAA 10 Miles Championship on 22nd April 1932 with a time of 52:00.2, and en route set a Scottish record for Six Miles of 30:34.0 which was to stand for 20 years.   This was the last time that a Scot won the AAA’s ten miles.   The event was previewed in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ thus:   ‘There will be considerable interest this side of the Border in the AAA’s Ten Miles Championship at Perry Barr, Birmingham because of the fact that included in the field is JF Wood our own national distance champion.  Wood has had several experiences of running in English championships and always with distinction.  His chances of winning are not negligible but his task is a severe one, as JW Winfield, last year’s winner, T Evenson the international cross-country champion, JH Potts of Saltwell, and JS Holden of Tipton Harriers are in the field.   Win or lose, Wood will uphold the prestige of Scottish distance running.’

The report on the race itself was in the issue of 25th April when, under the heading ‘JF Wood Wins 10 Mile Championship’ the report read:   ‘The 10 Mile Championship which was held on Saturday at the Birchfield  Sports was won by JF Wood (Heriots FP AC), the Scottish cross-country champion.   Wood led thrughout with the exception of a few yards in the ninth mile.  His time was 52 min 0 1/5 sec.   The second place was taken by JA Burns (Elswick Harriers) who was  30 yards behind in  52 min 5 3/5 sec.   He wrested the lead from Wood twice between the eighth and ninth miles but could never hold it for many yards.  They were over 300 yards ahead of the third man, JT Holden ( Tipton Harriers).

There were fourteen starters, and Wood Burns and Holden, together with GW Bailey (Salford Harriers) quickly left the rest of the field but Bailey dropped out before the halfway stage.   The holder, JW Winfield Derby) was a non-starter. ‘    It can be seen from the report that it was not an easy victory over a poor field.

In the course of his relatively short track career he set records for Three Miles, Five Miles (25:12), Six Miles and Ten Miles.

JF Wood 1931

Winning the SAAA 10 Miles in 1931

Over the country, ‘Ginger’ Wood represented Scotland four times – in 1928, 1929, 1931 and 1932 – although Colin Shields says in ‘Whatever The Weather’ that he was ‘primarily a track runner’ although he did win the four vests.   He is first mentioned in the book as winning the East District Championship in 1927/28.    That season he was in the Scottish team for the international cross-country at Ayr where he was a counting runner in 21st place.   In the following year, Wood was one of those who failed to start in the National but he was nevertheless selected for the International.    The race was at Vincennes in France and he was 26th and again a scoring runner for the team which finished fifth of the ten countries participating.

In 1931, Wood was seventh in the National Championships which were won by Suttie Smith and again selected for the International.    Held in Ireland at the Baldoyle Racecourse in Dublin, Wood finished thirteenth.   His best run in the International however was in 1932.   The National was held on 7th March at Hamilton in an exciting race won by John Suttie Smith.     The following extract from Ggroe’s report in the ‘Daily Record’ said:   “Suttie’s commanding win – his fifth in succession – shows that the Dundonian has not only recovered his best form but even excelled himself by smashing the strong opposition including Robert Sutherland (Birchfield and Garscube Harriers) and JF Wood (Heriot’s) by 220 yards.   The race between Sutherland and Wood was most exciting and it was only on the post that the Anglo-Scot got the bulge on his rival. ”   The times were 54:16, 55:02 and 55:03.    Colin Shields describes the race as follows:“273 runners from 23 clubs lined up for the start.   James Wood (Heriot’sCCC) surprised his rivals with the fastest start ever seen in a National race, and the SAAA 10 miles champion led for the first three miles with Suttie  Smith and Henry McIntosh (Edinburgh Northern) closing the ga.   Suttie Smith went into the lead at 5 miles with Robert Sutherland chasing Wood who was an isolated second.   The Dundee runner strode away from his rivals for a 250 yard victory over Sutherland to record a fifth consecutive win.   The Army runner held off repeated challenges from Wood over the final 200 yards to take second place for the second successive year by the narrow margin of just one second.”  

The international team was picked and all three were selected for  the team to go to Brussels.   Colin reports on the race: “Suttie Smith and James Wood were always up with the leaders  and, though tiring at the end of a fast run race finished seventh and eighth respectively.”    This was Wood’s last international with his highest ever finish in the event.    

David Scott Duncan

Posted on by

50 David S Duncan

David S Duncan (Royal High School) was secretary of the SAAA from 1885 to 1925 – quite remarkable in itself.   He was only the second man to hold this post succeeding AS Paterson (1883-1885); he was also treasurer from 1898-99.   As a runner he won the inaugural SAAA Championship Mile in 1883 in 4:35.0, won it again in 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1891.   He set records for the Mile in June 1886 (4:32.2) and 4:28 (1888), for the Two Miles (9:48.2) in 1887 and for the Three Miles (15:32.8) in July 1888.   Like many of the sportsmen of his day, he was not a one-sport man, he was multi-talented, and away from the track he was also a scholar and successful journalist.   We can start his profile with the tribute paid to him in “50 Years Of Athletics” which was the Jubilee history of the SAAA in 1933.

David Scott Duncan, who for many years prior to his death was looked upon as the “father” of amateur athletics in Scotland, was born in Monkton House, Inveresk, where his father had farmed for many years .   Aftre a short term in Musselburgh Grammar School, he became a pupil in the Royal High School, Edinburgh, where he remained till he left for the University with a view to qualifying for a legal career.   While in the RHS he was looked on as a sound scholar, and left with a very good grounding in Latin, Greek, English and French.   He was proxime acessit for the India prize, and in this competition was awarded a special prize on account of the high standard reached.

While at school he competed successfully at the Annual Sports; but it was not till 1880 that he took up distance running seriously.   During the following eleven years, he won over 150 prizes, and in addition to winning the Scottish Mile Championship five times, he was runner-up three times and held for a short period record for two and three miles.   He competed in the AAA Championships and while never a winner, did faster time at Stamford Bridge than he had ever done in Scotland.   His record for the Mile (4 min 28 sec) stood for some years.

After a short business career in Leith he became the Scottish representative for The Field and continued in this capacity till the Great War.   He was a born journalist; his marvellous memory and intimate acquaintance with all branches of sport gave him a pre-eminent place in the journalistic world; indeed it could truly be said of him that in these islands for many years he stood without a peer in all-round knowledge of athletics.

Two years after the founding of the SAAA he took over from Mr AS Paterson, Advocate – a distance runner of distinction – the duties of secretary, and for the long  period of forty years, guided the destinies of the Association.   His legal training, scholarship and above all, his retentive memory fitted him in a high degree for the duties of secretary, and whether in furthering the athletic contest with Ireland, or in conference with sister countries he worthilt upheld the interests of his own.

He was a golfer of more than average ability, being a “scratch” player when he captained the RHS Golf Club, but he had a somewhat unorthodox style in driving; indeed his method drew, on one occasion, from a champion golfer and friend of his own, the following remark: “Man, David, if you hit the ball on the back swing, you would be the longest driver in Britain!”   For a time he was the captain of the ancient Royal Musselburgh Golf Club.   In the royal burgh by the sea members of the Club still recall his eloquence, fine diction, and humour when he presided at their annual dinner.

The Golfing Annual of which he was editor, stands as a memorial to his research and hard work.   In laying the foundation of his work, he met most of the great golfers of his time, many of whome became his fast friends.   But he was at his best during his visits to Ireland with the Scottish international athletics team, and while always anxious for a Scottish win, never failed to congratulate an Irish opponent on a brilliant performance.   As a timekeeper and judge he excelled, and one recalls his indignation when in 1908 at the Olympic Games in London an apparently pre-arranged attempt to shoulder Captain Halswell off the track in the memorable 400 metres race was made and failed.   It is no secret that in this race, which Duncan judged, it was he who broke the tape when he saw the foul, and “no race” was unanimously declared.

50 DS Duncan

Among all the areas in which he was involved, there were several that were very significant:

1.   Following several abuses of the amateur code, particularly by the cyclists who were represented by two unions – the Scottish Cyclists Union, set up to promote and foster amateur cycling in Scotland, and the National Cyclists Union, which had been founded in England.  The SAAA had set up joint championships with the NCU and this led to friction with the SCU and many meetings between the three followed.   The rather fraught situation led to many examples of dishonest practice including financial.   This will be covered in the Amateurism section of this website.    In 1893 a sub-committee was set-up to enquire into the various alleged abuses in Amateur Athletics and DS Duncan was the secretary of this body.

2.   He was one of the main men behind the setting up of the Borders AAA.    There had always been athletics in the Borders but they were professional gatherings.   The situation was described by JK Ballantyne in the book referred to above as follows: “Fifty, or even forty, years ago amateur athletics did not exist in the Scottish Borders.   Between Edinburgh, Berwick and Carlisle, the triangle that roughly includes the territory now administered by the SBAAA not a single amateur athletic meeting was held; professionalism had the field to itself.   Annual Games were, and still are, held in most of the towns and villages of the Borders, but it was only the pervading holiday spirit and the fun of the fair that made some of them even tolerable.   The presence of bookmakers shouting their cramped odds, and the fact that a few shillings might sway the result of a race, did not tend to hold the interest of the looker-on; nevertheless these games were the onlyoutlet for the budding aspirations of the young athlete, and whatever his first ambitions as to athletic glory might be, there were likely to become subordinate to the sordid consideration of £.s.d.   Many resented this but in the total absence of amateur meetings they were helpless, and drifted into the professional ranks    

Therefore in 1895, when Mr DS Duncan first cast his eyes on the Borders, as a prospective field, the ground was really ripe for some amateur effort.   What perhaps was at the back of the Scottish Secretary’s mind was the strengthening f his own Association, between whom and the seceding body, the SAAU, the quarrel was now at its height.   …   The meeting at which the SBAAA was formed was held in the Tower Hotel, Hawick on Saturday, 18th January 1896.   Mr Duncan himself took the chair and successfully launched the new venture.   There was a fair attendance and several of those present did yeoman service for the cause in the early days of the Association.”

The territory at that point included the counties of Berwick, Roxburgh, Peebles, Selkirk, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigton.   The entire article on the topic is well worth reading, but the involvement of DS Duncan was crucial in the setting up of the Association.

3.    The series of international fixtures with Ireland was also assisted on its way by the work of DS Duncan.   The original proposition was put b the Irish AAA in 1891 and a special meeting of the SAAA was held to discuss it.   The invitation was declined at that point despite the Irish offering to host it, provide the officials and the prizes.   The idea was felt to have merit and DS Duncan was instructed to open negotiations with them for the establishment of an international contest covering the championship events.   In December 1894 the IAAA again put forward a proposal, this time for a meeting on the lines of the annual Oxford v Cambridge contest.   This was readily accepted by the SAAA on these conditions:   (1) The first contest be held in Scotland;   (2) That a guarantee be given to the visiting team to cover their expenses;   (3) That the events should be the Scottish Championship events with the exception of the ten miles and that each country should have two in each event but three in the four miles;   (4)   That in Scotland the shot and hammer be thrown in the Scottish style, and in Ireland under Irish rules.      The contest took place on 20th July 1895.  The series ran unbroken until 1913 with Ireland winning eleven and Scotland seven.

4.   Inter-scholastic sports were organised by the SAAA in 1900 largely through the enthusiasm of the President of the SAAA, EJ Comrie Thomson, and of course the Secretary DS Duncan.

Various people and committees were of course involved in making all of these notable events a reality, but the real driving force on most occasions was DS Duncan.   No other single person was as active over the long period of his tenure of office.

Dunky Wright: the Clydesdale Years

Posted on by

Dunky R

Duncan MacLeod Wright was universally known as Dunky Wright.   No matter how many titles or medals he won nor how many roles he filled within the SAAA he was still the same Dunky.  A very controversial character, there were differing views within the club about him and I spent a lot of time wondering whether to include him here or not but in my time there was no animosity towards him from respected club men such as David Bowman or James P Shields and this decided me.   In the course of his career he ran for Clydesdale Harriers, Shettleston Harriers and Maryhill Harriers.  Older members had divided opinions about Dunky – some were even divided within themselves about him.    Between Shettleston and Maryhill he tried with the assistance of WS Unkles (who had a well established and very successful fishmonger’s business) to found a club of champions to be called Caledonia AC.    After his running days were over he became an official and spent a lot of time on the Coaching Scheme of the ruling body; he also worked as an administrator and was manager of the Scottish team at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970 where the team coach was Frank Dick.   The mascot for the team was a teddy bear dressed in Scottish colours and called Dunky Dick.  It was carted on to the track whenever a Scot won a gold medal.  Having started his career with Clydesdale he was always interested in the club’s progress and spoke at the club’s 90th Anniversary Dinner in 1975.   I will limit this section to his membership of the club rather than go into his long and distinguished career in its entirety since it is dealt with in detail elsewhere.

He joined the club towards the end of the First World War as did Jock Semple but although they were contemporaries they were very different.   Jock said in a letter to me “I received my first advice on distance running from Dunky Wright who was running for Clydesdale Harriers back then in 1917.    He was in the same Department as my father (Gauge Shop) with the Singer Co. and he and Alex McGregor, who I think was in charge of all activities at Singer’s Hall when it was built, influenced me to join the club.”  At the first AGM after hostilities ceased Dunky was elected captain.  Unusually there were three nominees – two established international runners from before 1914 (R Frew and SS Watt) and Dunky.   The club minute reported that “Mr Wright had a clear majority.”   Jock Semple was elected Junior Captain at the same meeting.   Dunky was always said by the old timers to be interested in what he could win and in that context the following exchange might be instructive (equally it may be misleading!)   After being elected captain and various items of business dealt with    …

“Mr D Wright raised a point in connection with a note on the programme of runs during the 1918-1919 season when the club was running unofficially.   The note referred to reads:- “No club trophies will be competed for during the continuance of the War and during this period, no prize winners will lose their Novice status.” 

Mr Wright stated that he had won prizes in Open Cross Country Races outwith the club’s jurisdiction during the period referred to and asked if this deprived him of his eligibility to run in the Novice Handicap.   Ex-President Gardiner in giving opinion stated that the above note only referred to competitions within the club and that Mr Wright has forfeited his Novice status.   Mr Wright disagreed and considerable discussion took place but no decision was arrived at the majority of the members having to leave to get their train connections.” 

The ‘rule’ referred to is shown below as it appeared on the back page of the war time member’s card

Dunky Rules

                 

Dunky did not let it lie there because at the next Committee Meeting he brought it up again but the verdict was against him.   Given that a novice runner was one who had won no prizes he was clearly out of that category.   There were no bad feelings and he continued to race on the club’s business and to take an active part in the running of the club.    Nevertheless his running did not suffer – he was second in the West District Championships at Rouken Glen Park.

The 1918/19 season ended with two handicap races at IbroxPark and was reported as follows: “Clydesdale Harriers finished their winter season on Saturday afternoon at Ibrox Park with two handicap races, one for junior members over a mile and a two mile one for seniors.   In the junior race the two scratch men, Wm McIntyre and John Semple gave starts up to 80 yards and an excellent race resulted as follows: 1st Robert Patterson (30 yards); 2nd: John Semple (scratch).   Time 5 mins 14 secs.   The winner showed good judgment and should do well in future.   The senior handicap was also a  great success.   Duncan Wright, virtual scratch off 20 yards conceded starts up to 380 yards.   A fine ding-dong battle between Andrew Mair and Wright finished thus: 1st Andrew Mair (50 yards); 2nd Duncan Wright (20 yards).   Time 10 mins 22 and 1/5th  seconds.   A social evening was held in the evening when the prizes won during the season were presented.   These included a special gold medal for meritorious performances during the season won by Duncan Wright who is rapidly coming to the fore in distance racing.”   This race is commented on elsewhere – the prizes at the function were presented by John Mellish.   Dunky was always well treated by the club: his good performances were recognised and the club always took hid part in any dispute such as the following.

In 1921 the Committee was incensed that he had not been selected for the international cross country fixture and the following appeared in the club minute: “Scottish International Team: Re Duncan Wright: The feeling of the meeting was that the NCCU Committee had acted unjustly in not selecting Duncan Wright for same and it was agreed to write that body regarding same.”   Came the Half Yearly General Meeting in April that year and after Matthew Dickson had presented the prizes to the cross country award winners, Dunky proposed a series of weekly training races or runs on the points system at Scotstoun for the Western members and at Airdrie for Eastern members.   (The club was in two sections at that time one based in Dunbartonshire and one in Airdrie and they were referred to the Western and Eastern Sections.)   First (gold) and second (silver) aggregate prizes were to be given in each district.   The Committee agreed and a committee of Wright, Semple, McIntyre, Lamond, McElroy and Bowman was appointed to organise it.   It went well although neither Dunky nor Jock won any of the awards.

His first real cross country victory was in the 1923 Scottish CC Championship over a 10 mile course at Bothwell.   Colin Shields in the Centenary History of the Cross Country Union comments that ” it is worthy of note that Wright in his assiduous chase of individual and team medals, was a member of four different clubs during a short five year period.    He ran for Clydesdale up to 1923, for Shettleston in 1924/25, for the short lived, ill fated Caledonia AC in 1926 and finally joined Maryhill in 1927”.

Back to 1923, the course was over three 3 mile laps with flags at important turning points and he won by 100 yards.   On 7th February the club agreed to award a special badge to Mr D Wright for being first man home in the National Cross Country Championship.

He worked well in the post of President for most of the year and then the Minute of 17th October contained this comment under the heading ‘Mr Wright’s resignation’: Mr Wright’s resignation was submitted and accepted.   Mr A McGregor was appointed President and Mr W Ross Vice President.”    That was it – saying a lot in a little.   Less than two months later the matter appeared in the 5th December Committee Meeting Minute.   “Arising out of a few letters received by the secretary from Mr Wright our late president he maintains that although he resigned the presidency he still holds office on our Committee.    After some discussion on the matter Mr Bowman moved that we ignore these letters.   There was no seconder.   Mr Ross moved that we inform Mr Wright that he having resigned the presidency, he no longer holds a position in the club.   Mr McCormick seconded.” 

Whatever the content of the letter, and we will never ever know, the upshot was that Dunky Wright had severed his ties with Clydesdale Harriers.   I, and many others, asked him several times why he left the club and never ever got an answer – I usually got a laugh, a smile and a joke but no answer.   Always leave them laughing, seemed to be the motto.   Some in the club when I joined were still bitter about him leaving when he did.   Jock Semple who had left for America shortly before the resignation and knew Dunky well thought Dunky was wrong to leave.   He said when asked that he thought Dunky did not get on with the McGregor brothers who were on the Committee at the time.  According to Jock they basically ran the club between them.  Alex McGregor was President for three years (1924, 25 and 26), secretary for two (1918, 1919) and treasurer in 1913 when war broke out.   He served on all committees and was representative to the governing bodies.  Even after his active period in the club he was able in his position of Sports Superintendant at Singer’s to assist with training facilities and holding meetings for special occasions.   He also supplied the paper trimmings for the paper trails used in the Hares and Hounds runs still held at that time.   He was still coming about the club at the 50th anniversary in 1935.   He had a brother who was also on the Committee and was a sergeant in the Glasgow Police Force.   Although not as active as Alex he nevertheless served two years as Assistant Secretary (1927, 1928) and one as Secretary (1930).

 Jock was always very bitter about poaching, a bitterness which seemed contrary to his nature – he wasn’t bitter about anything else.  He kept telling club runners to stand by the club and gave them tangible incentives to do so.   George Cowieson who was a club member at the time, spoke about Dunky’s departure to Shettleton and the Caledonia AC club.   He wrote about it in a letter to me in these terms: “This club (Caledonia AC) was started by Mr WS Unkles, a Glasgow fishmonger. He recruited top class runners from different clubs.   Wright and Freshwater went from Clydesdale.   But the club did not last long and that was when Wright went to Shettleston………..   The striped singlet that Jock Kirkland is wearing in the club photograph was the club colours for a while.   Wright somehow persuaded the Committee to adopt them.   Then he sold us the singlets.”     It is an interesting letter – WS ‘Sans’ Unkles was a very well known football player as well as a fishmonger and he would certainly have had the wherewithal to help start a new club; the striped vest/jersey appears in several photographs but not in races: it might have been used for training and I can’t find any record of a change of uniform in the club minutes.   Charlie Freshwater was a very good runner who ultimately ran for West of Scotland Harriers and picked up two Scottish International Cross Country vests.   The talent lost at this time was considerable!   No wonder Jock was so anti-poacher.

But the club was not yet finished with Dunky!

There was the unfortunate affair of the Dunbartonshire Cup to sort out.   In the Minutes of 4/10/26 the following appears:

“The question was asked regarding the Dunbartonshire Cup.   Hon President stated that he had met D McL Wright and that D Wright promised that he would come down and see the President, and asked permission that it be left in his hands.   Failing Mr Wright not turning up he would instruct Secretary to write to him.    This was agreed to.”   It next appears in the Minute Book for the Meeting of 1st November 1926: “Hon President moved that as D McL Wright had not come to see him as arranged, the Secy should be instructed to write to Mr Wright very strongly on this matter.   This was agreed to.”    On the 27th December it came up again: Pres asked if Sec received any word from D McL Wright regarding the Cup.   Sec replied that he had now written to Mr Wright five times stating in last letter that the Club intended taking other action but had not received a reply to any of them.   Mr A McGregor moved  that Sec write NCCU regarding Cup and that our delegate bring it up at next NCCU Meeting.  This was seconded by A Gailey.”       

 

The trail can next be picked up in Colin Shields Centenary History of the Cross Country Union of Scotland “Whatever the Weather” as follows: “In January 1927 General Committee received a letter from Clydesdale Harriers requesting assistance in gaining the return of the Dunbartonshire Cup from Duncan Wright.   Wright had not returned the cup in spite of repeated requests from the cup owners.   A letter was received from Wright acknowledging possession of the Cup but stating that’ he had inadvertently packed the Cup in his luggage for a trip to visit relatives in Australia and had left the Cup by mistake in Australia on his return to Scotland,’   He agreed to contact his relatives in Australia to arrange the return of the Cup but, to this day, Clydesdale Harriers have never regained possession of the Cup.”    The Union replied and the Club Minute for 1st April recorded the following: Question was asked re Dunbartonshire Cup.   This was stated to be in Australia.   NCCU were dealing with it.”   The important phrase here is ‘Wright acknowledging possession of the cup’.    Otherwise Colin was basically wrong.

9th September 1927: “Western District Committee Report: J McNamara reported that when a letter was read from Secretary Millar re Dunbartonshire Cup he was asked to say something on the matter and after having what he had to say combined with the information they already had, the Committee decided that D McL Wright must return the cup to Clydesdale Harriers within two months from the date of first General Committee Meeting or pay £5.   At an Executive Meeting of the NCCU both J McNamara and D Wright were present.   “J McNamara reported on a meeting in connection with the Dunbartonshire Cup.   Mr D McL Wright was also present.   The latter denied all knowledge of the cup and the NCCU Committee did not think that Clydesdale Harriers had brought forward sufficient evidence against Wright.   The matter was passed over until the next meeting when we are expected to provide further evidence.”   This reads rather strangely to me following his earlier remarks about packing it for Australia, etc.   The change of tack by the NCCU is also baffling.

At the Committee Meeting on 5th December 1927: “J McNamara asked it there was no communication re cup in the hands of G Inwood, late secretary.   After a great deal of discussion and determined voice from each member it was proposed by T Thursby seconded by A Gailey that a committee be formed to enquire into the case.   J McNamara moved a direct amendment that we drop all proceedings regarding the cup.   There was no seconder for the amendment and a sub committee was accordingly formed as follows:  A Gailey, G McQuattie and J McNamara.”   Exactly one month later the matter appeared again on Committee Agenda.   “Dunbartonshire Cup: The convener of the committee, G McQuattie, stated that they had questioned the various officials who were in office at the time of the disappearance of the cup but nothing definite had been gathered.   However the secretary from information received had written to Mr Geo. Malcolm, E.S.H., who was supposed to know something of the cup.   So far no word had been received.   Finally it was decided that should the opportunity occur at the next meeting of the WD Committee our representative should place the rest of our fresh evidence before them.”   After the meeting on 9th January 1928 the committee agreed to await the results of correspondence entered into on the matter

 

Then came the bombshell meeting on 5th March 1928:

“Dunbartonshire Cup:   The Secretary reported that this cup had been recovered and was now in his possession.   He detailed correspondence, etc, leading up to the cup’s recovery and stated that he had notified the NCCU on the subject.   Satisfaction was expressed at the settlement of this long drawn out case.   J McNamara moved, seconded by E Cavana, that Mr JCA Bogie, Chairman of the NCCU should see the letter sent by D McL Wright to the Secretary.   It was agreed to do so on condition that Mr Bogie took no steps to re-open the case but considered it a private matter.”   At the meeting on 2nd April it was asked whether Mr Bogie had returned ‘the famous Wright letter’   but Secretary stated that he did not have it but would write to him.   The affair ended quietly at a meeting on 4th June 1928: “The president and Mr J McNamara reported in a very concise manner the recent ‘Bogie’ case meeting.”  

The trophy was eventually collected from Maryhill Baths, Dunky having written to the club in a friendly, jocular and affable fashion advising them to collect it therefrom. 

The trophy was awarded again in 1928 and has been in every year since.

Dunky’s athletic achievements while in the club were considerable: The major victories were:

 

Club Championships

1920:   Championship Challenge Cup;        1921:   Championship Challenge Cup

1922:   Championship Challenge Cup;        1923:   Championship Challenge Cup

Scottish Cross Country Championship    :   1923

International Cross Country Championships:

1920    22nd         

1921    9th

1922    11th

193    24th

 

However the main point in the affair is the disappointment of club members at the departure of the one talent since 1919 who could bring back the ‘glory days’ again.   He was the club star and a very personable one at that – everybody liked Dunky and when he had won the championship four times, was serving a second term as President and had won the National Championship he looked like a fixture.   He could have been a good ‘recruiting sergeant’ for the club and the departures in the 30’s would have been fewer in number.  His departure was very ill timed – if he had to go, doing it at just that point was rather ill judged.   Whatever the reason – a fall out with Alex McGregor and family, or whether as Colin suggests and some others say out loud, Dunky was just a pot hunter and other clubs were winning more than Clydesdale at that point – it was not a good day for any of the parties concerned.

At the end of his athletics career he was always telling us he was still a friend of Clydesdale Harriers and he certainly helped us on several occasions.   He was present at notable club functions and in 1972 he presented the Dunky Wright Trophy to the club for annual competition in an open road race.   It is a race that has always attracted a very high class of athlete and Dunky was delighted that the first race was won by Clydesdale Harrier Allan Faulds from marathon internationalist Pat McLagan of Victoria Park AAC.   The club also won the team race.   There are several Dunky Wright Memorial races on the calendar now but ours is the only one for which Dunky himself donated the trophy.

 

 

 

David Bowman

Posted on by

David Bowman was a member of Clydesdale Harriers from 1935 until his death in 2007.   He held every important office on the committee and outwith the club he served on many national bodies.   At one point he was president of four athletics organisations at the same time.   David was my great hero in the club and there were two things he felt important: you always did what your club needed you to do, and the club should take its place in the wider world of Scottish athletics.   One of the best ever clubmen in any club in the land, what follows is a profile that I wrote as part of a book of club profiles.

David Bowman

David Moir Bowman joined Clydesdale Harriers in 1935 – exactly 50 years after the formation of the club and has had an unbroken membership since then with only a spell in London from 1937 – 1938 when he ran with Queen’s Park Harriers to interrupt things.  He had initially been invited to train with a group of runners from half a dozen clubs from the YMCA in Peel   Street in Partick in Glasgow with the large plunge bath in the basement as an added inducement.   The building had originally been part of HyndlandSchool and before the bare concrete bath was built in the basement four or five at a time would cram into an ordinary sized bath and scrub each other’s backs.   Eventually a wrap around shower was added to the big bath.    Starting as a sprinter, David gradually moved up through the distances until eventually specialising in the marathon.   He raced at County, District and National Championships as well as at all the local meetings and Highland Games at Shotts, Cowal and Strathallan.

It was in the mid-forties that he started ‘a wee bit of road running and this led to running in the Greenock to Ibrox Marathon in 1949 on the advice of Jock Semple.   On one of Jock’s visits they were out on a run when the good advice was given.   In the race itself he was sixth of twenty four finishers, defeating the club road race expert, Eric Paton.  The 1950 Scottish Marathon Championship was held at Meadowbank and was won by Harry Howard of Shettleston Harriers in 2:43:56 with David being tenth in his first marathon in 3:02:51.   The times were all slow by today’s standards but it should be kept in mind that apart from shoe technology, diet and clothing being much less well developed, the course organisers tended to look for tough courses in keeping with the marathon’s tough man image.   The Isle of Wight Marathon was notorious and the Scottish Marathon from Westerlands in Glasgow out to the Vale of Leven and back was a series of long difficult hills and climbs.   The 1952 SAAA Championship went from Methven to Dundee with the start being ‘beside a telegraph pole in the middle of nowhere ‘ according to the ‘Scots Athlete’ magazine.   In a star studded field including CD Robertson (the winner), Joe McGhee (from Hadleigh AC), J Paterson of Polytechnic Harriers, Emmet Farrell and others.

 

David was eleventh in 3:02:49.   The 1953 marathon from Laurieston to Meadowbank was his best where he was fifth in 2:48:18 – ten minutes behind the winner.   1955 saw the race go from Falkirk to Edinburgh with Joe McGhee winning by almost ten minutes in 2:25 and David finishing tenth in 2:52:22.  He picked up standard medals for the marathon on no fewer than six occasions and as an athlete is best remembered for his road running which included the Helensburgh to Clydebank road race – much harder than the more familiar Clydebank to Helensburgh version since it included the long drag and climb up from the start at the Pier Head in Helensburgh to Dumbarton.

From the club point of view, David was the ideal club member and official.   He was a first class ambassador for the club and the sport and great example to all members. He filled in wherever necessary and held every office on the Committee.   He was President for ten years and treasurer for twenty two.   He turned his hand to whatever the club needed whether the need were expressed or not.   For many years he produced on his own initiative a single sheet containing the list of Committee Members, trophy winners, fixtures for the coming year and any significant dates in the coming season.   This was neatly handwritten on a single sheet and folded to a size that would fit into a pocket diary.   At presentation time he would personally collect the club’s many trophies, take them to the engraver and collect them in time for the presentation.   In the 1990’s he added to the number by donating the David and Evelyn Bowman Trophy for the club’s top Field Events athlete.  He had already presented the Janice Moir Wright Trophy (in memory of his daughter) in 1978 for the top Youth/Junior in the National Cross Country Championships.   He also chauffeured many, many athletes to and from meetings and generally did as much as he could, often much more than could be expected, for the club.  A remarkable record but arguably his biggest single contribution to the club was his work with Andy McMillan and others on the war time committee.   The club had completely shut down during the 1914-1918 war for the duration of hostilities and lost out when the fighting was over because they had to start up again practically from scratch.   The war time continuation committee from 1939 to 1945  kept the club ticking over while the action was taking place and met officially to start up again on the cessation.   David was Vice Captain in 1945, Captain a year later and went on to be one of the longest serving of Committee Members.

 

YEAR

POSITION

YEAR

POSITION

1959

President

1973

Treasurer

1960

President

1974

Treasurer

1961

President

1975

Treasurer

1962

President

1976

Treasurer

1963

President

1977

Treasurer

1964

President

1978

Treasurer

1965

Treasurer

1979

Treasurer

1966

Treasurer

1980

Treasurer

1967

Treasurer

1981

Treasurer

1968

Treasurer

1982

Treasurer

1969

Treasurer

1983

Treasurer

1970

Treasurer

1984

Treasurer

1971

Treasurer

1985

Treasurer

1972

Treasurer

1986

Treasurer

1988 President

1989 President

1990 President

1991 President

Thirty two years in two of the big two positions in any club!   Quite exceptional and it is doubtful whether anyone will ever again hold the Treasurer’s post for quite as long.   He also held other offices in the club such as Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Captain and Vice Captain.   While president in 1960 he had the honour of replying to the Toast of ‘The Clydesdale Harriers’, proposed by Admiral Sir Alexander Cunninghame Graham, KBE, CB, Lord Lieutenant of the County at the club’s 75th Anniversary Dinner at the Grand Hotel.   In the course of his time in the club he attended the 60th, 70th, 75th, 90th and of course the Centenary Dinner where he proposed the Toast to ‘Kindred Clubs’

At National level he was recognised as a top class administrator and organiser.   He was on the Committee of the Scottish Marathon Club for fifteen years, a member of the DAAA Committee where he held the offices of President and Vice President and he also chaired the Inter-Counties Athletic Association.   At one point he was President of Clydesdale Harriers, the DAAA, the Scottish Marathon Club and the Inter Counties Association at the same time.  As President of the Marathon Club he was responsible for helping organise the SAAA Marathon Championship for a number of years producing superb maps of the courses with a chart of climbs and descents along the way directly below the relevant part of the map.   This championship was held separately from the Scottish Championships for many years and it was while David was President that it was re-incorporated into them.   It should be said that the Secretary, Jimmy Scott of the Glasgow YMCA, was the real driving force of the SMC but he and David made a very good team backed up by an excellent Committee.

The 1970 Commonwealth Games

The high spot of his administrative career however was probably during the Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh in 1970.   He was Assistant Manager of the Scottish team with special responsibility for the marathon.   His vast experience as competitor and official were responsible in no small way for the smooth running of the event which turned out to be one of the most exciting events of the Games, won by Ron Hill with many very fast times being recorded.   He is pictured with Scotland’s Jim Alder in July 1970 after Jim had finished second to Ron Hill in the marathon.

 David was of the calibre to hold the highest offices in the sport nationally but chose instead to serve the club: a forward looking official and key man throughout his time on the Committee. Efficiency and David were synonymous: when the Clydebank Half Marathon had problems immediately before the first running of the event, the organisers turned immediately to David who had a panicky phone call less than twenty fours before the race asking for assistance.   Despite being the best man for the job and having been ignored by the organising committee up to that point, he was courtesy itself and quickly sorted out the problems.

 When the club held a tribute dinner to David and George White in 1994 for all that they had done for the club and the sport over the years, there were over one hundred in attendance including members of all the local clubs and the written tributes from those who could not be there were sound testimonial to all that they had done.   Some examples:

  • From Doug Spencer of Garscube Harriers: “Looking forward to an excellent evening,      tell George to keep his elbows to himself, David was too much of a      gentleman to involve himself in the fine arts of aggression in cross      country races”.
  • From Graham Everett of Shettleston Harriers (eight times Scottish Mile Champion, AAA’s One      Mile Champion): “A little dedication and determination is  all that it takes to have fun and enjoy      athletics.   However to give a      ‘century’ to the sport is a milestone that you have both easily passed.   It is a great honour that Clydesdale      Harriers are giving you for the service to the club and Scottish      athletics.”
  • John Emmett Farrell of Maryhill Harriers: “David is a great servant to your club and      to the sport at large.   He      epitomises the real spirit of amateur sport and a really nice guy.”
  • Alex Kidd of Garscube Harriers: “I can testify to David being an excellent      organiser as I was a humble steward at the ’70 Commonwealth Games Marathon and also to the ferocity of gentle George      as a competitor having been beaten by George and David over track, road      and country.”
  • Ewan Murray Secretary of the SAAA’s and former      President of the AAA’s: “David      and George represent all that is best in amateur athletics.  Their enthusiasm as competitors and      their work as administrators for the sport in general and Clydesdale      Harriers in particular have contributed greatly to the success of      both.   All done in humility and      without thought for the honour they brought to themselves and to our      sport.” 

And there were many more in similar vein. 

Another feature of David’s personality that stood out was his courtesy and sense of ‘the right thing to do.’   That sounds very po-faced but David wasn’t like that, he did like things done properly though.   If as a Committee Member, whether as President or as an ordinary member, he felt something was not right, then he did his best to have it decided democratically.  If he lost the verdict – and it didn’t happen often – then he accepted it and there was no ill feeling.   He never ever imposed a decision unilaterally.    One of the aspects of his personality that made him such a superb ambassador for the club and the sport was the fact that everybody got their place and no one was ever treated with less than respect no matter how badly they had behaved.   His demeanour exuded dignity, efficiency, respectability and honour.

 

 

IMM ‘Doc’ MacPhail

Posted on by

MacPhail_1

The ‘Reader’s Digest’ used to have a regular slot for ‘The Most Unforgettable Character I’ve Met’ and all sorts of people were included in the series.   My own subject would have been, without much if any doubt, Doctor IMM Macphail.   He was our history teacher at Clydebank High School but much more than that.   He was also the mainstay of Dumbarton AAC for many, many years to the extent that at one point they were referred to in jest as Macphail’s Navy (a variation of the TV programme McHale’s Navy).    A conscientious objector during the War he volunteered for the bomb disposal squad and that’s how he spent his War.   Before going on to talk about his time with Dumbarton AAC, I’ll quote from the flyleaf of his book ‘The Crofters’ War’.

“With the publication of ‘The Crofters’ War’, Dr IMM MacPhail crowns a long and distinguished career.   An eminent historian, teacher, genealogist, mountaineer and athlete, he has made his mark in many areas of Scottish life.   It is however as a Scottish historian that he is best known: his two-volume History of Scotland for Schools, published in 1954 and 1956, and welcomed as ‘the book that Scottish schools have been waiting for’ is generally regarded as the  history which first brought to the attention of a wider public an adequate treatment of the clearances and to the history of the Highlands and Islands.  Other publications by Dr MacPhail include ‘Modern Times 1880 – 1955’, published in 1961, ‘Modern Scots’ (1965), ‘An Introduction to the British Constitution’ (1967)  and  ‘The Clydebank Blitz’ (1974).   Books and articles on the history of Dumbarton where he lives, and its surrounding countryside, have greatly enhanced the knowledge of that part of Scotland.   He has also been an assiduous contributor to the ‘Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness’ of which he is a past Chief.  

An expert linguist, his knowledge of and love for the Gaelic language came from his Lewis parents, and was strengthened by the links with the island he has cherished all his life.  

Graduating from Glasgow University with Honours in History, he continued his studies in Czechoslovakia where he gained his Doctorate of Philosophy at Prague University.   He ended his teaching career as Principal Teacher of History in Clydebank High School.   His teaching career was interrupted by service in the Second World War, where he volunteered for bomb disposal, spending much of his service in the badly bombed ports of Southern England.”

Add in his sporting interests of running, rowing, hill walking and mountaineering and you have a very full life indeed.

His full name was Iain Murdoch Macleod MacPhail and his father was in the Army and moved around a lot with Dr MacPhail being born in Hamilton but was and is known as a real enthusiast for the Town of Dumbarton about which he wrote many, many books and articles.   As a genealogist he was very interested in his own roots which were in the Outer Hebrides: The MacPhails from either Harris or North Uist and the Macleods from Shawbost in Lewis but the strange thing is that he did not have any historical connection with Dumbarton at all.    Be that as it may, after his death the Lennox Heritage Society had a stained glass window to his memory installed in the Dumbarton Library.

MacPhail_2

Iain MacPhail joined Dumbarton AAC in season 1930/31 and paid his first subscription of 2/- on 8th May 1931.   Actually it was a half-subscription, full sub being 4/- because there was less than half the season left.   His address was given as Carman Hill in the Renton and his brother William was also a member.   On 5th December 1931 he competed in the club 5 miles Handicap where, with a handicap time of 2:30 he finished thirteenth of eighteen runners – the handicap was probably a ‘novice mark’ of 30 seconds a mile and it is the first record of him taking part in a race at the club.   A year later, off 3 minutes, he was fourteenth of seventeen but it was a better run – the year before he was tenth fastest scratch time, this time he was fifth quickest over the course.   By 1933 his handicap allowance was 3:30 and he was fifteenth out of twenty with the eleventh time overall.   It is clear that even early on he was not going to be a star athlete but he was persistent and took part in races over the country and on the road   He disappeared from the racing scene for a while but he was back again after the war and competing in club races but he soon became the regular handicapper and time-keeper.    His post-race remarks must have been interesting for instance at the club presentation in March, 1959, the note in the race book said, “The Prize Presentation was held in the gym at the Brock Baths.   Club President was in the chair.   After speaking on current affairs, he asked Baths Superintendent J Donaldson to present the prizes.”    But he will be best remembered as President and Chairman of the club for almost quarter of a century.   He held no official post on the Committee before the War but was part of a small committee of four who were tasked with organising the first post-war races.   His first official position was that of President.

Doctor MacPhail became President of Dumbarton AAC at the AGM of 3rd September 1946 when the minute read, “Mr IMM MacPhail was nominated to the position of President on the motion of Mr Geo Stewart, seconded by H Smyth.”   Further down the list of elected members was a note that he, along with Jack Brown, was nominated as one of the club’s representatives o the NCCU (the National Cross Country Union)   The nominees to the latter post were not always nominated n the minute of the AGM but he was still a rep in the 1960s.   A note:   He might have been Doctor MacPhail to the world at large but he was Mr McPhail to the club and appeared as such all the time he  was on the Committee.    He stayed in the role for 23 years and resigned at the AGM of 28th August 1969.    The minute of the meeting read “Next came the news which we were all sorry to hear.   After 23 years a President of the club he had decided to call it a day, so that he could  devote more time to one of his other interests in life, namely the writing of books and, as he would be away for long periods at times, he had very reluctantly decided to give up the chairmanship of the club which he had held since 1946.   In doing so, he wished DAAC every success in the future.”   He was however prevailed upon to remain as a member of General Committee but his attendances were not as regular as heretofore.   What kind of President was he?

He was one of the most active of Presidents imaginable.    If look at some of the references in the club minutes during the middle years of his presidency we get the following.

16th September 1956:   Mr MacPhail suggested that a special effort should be made when negotiating fences, etc so that no damage would be caused to the wire or to the gates.

1st December 1956: The general feeling of the club was that we didn’t receive the full value of the extra fee imposed by the SAAA last year.   Mr MacPhail then intimated that Mr J Gardiner of the Vale of Leven AAC would bring the matter up at the next meeting.     [The SAAA had imposed a special ‘coaching fee’ on all clubs in membership and then the national coach, Tony Chapman, resigned and moved on but the fee continued to be levied and most clubs were more than a bit disgruntled.]

Messrs MacPhail and McMenamin were asked to revise the constitution.

12/1/57:   Messrs Timmins, MacPhail and Walker were asked to recce a trail for the club 8 miles championships.

23/3/57: Prizes for the club championships: It was agreed by the committee that an additional £3 be spent on prizes, thus bringing the total up to £12.    Once again our very generous donors, Messrs MacPhail and McMenamin, intimated that they would provide the prizes for the hill race.

Doc MacPhail was also asked to write to Dumbarton FC to ask for the same training facilities to be granted as last year.

28/8/57: Mr MacPhail said that he would draw up a list of fixtures for the committee’s approval.

“The chairman then read out the basis for the new constitution which had been drawn up by a club committee.  He said  copy would be pinned on the club notice board for members to see and any alteration they thought fit would be brought in at the next AGM”

30/11/57: Lapel badges to be ordered and he was asked to write to a firm which did “that type of work.”

15/1/58:   There were not enough members to fill a bus to Hamilton and he was asked to contact the Vale of Leven about sharing a bus.

19/2/58: No one had asked the Baths Superintendant or a representative from Vale of Leven to the club presentation and Mr MacPhail said he would attend to this.

28/8/58:   AGM.   There was a complaint about the cost of race entries when some of the runners did not turn up or even know they had been entered.  The chairman’explained’ that this was probably true but in most cases it was unavoidable as there were runners in the forces who always hoped to get home for these events, then there were the members who did not come along on club nights and they were not always available to ask.

Then “the money spent on the track did not justify itself.”    The chairman said that that was maybe right but lots of the club did not take advantage of it and anyhow it was a good medium for recruiting.

4/9/58:   Advertising for open races – Mr MacPhail said that this part of the business could be left to him.

30/11/58: Fund raising cards – Mr MacPhail to get them.

29/8/59: Re-nominated as club rep to the NCCU (with Jack Brown) and to the DAAA.

30/1/60: The chairman had now taken charge of the football cards from Mr J McMenamin who had a change of employment.   Boghead was not available for training, Mr MacPhail agreed to write to the Education Department and to the Vale of Leven FC.

10/9/60: On the subject of equipment the club agreed to buy a discus and ‘Mr MacPhail said he had purchased a 12 lb ball as his own property but he was quite willing for the club to use same.   This was appreciated by these present.’

‘Mr Brown moved a vote of thanks to Mr IMM MacPhail who had more or less run off the track season on his own.   This had proved a big job, especially with the added inter-club fixtures but Mr MacPhail had proved equal to the task.     Members duly responded.’

24/9/60:   Open races: Mr MacPhail let it be known that he had notified local schools and also sent them a poster.

2/3/61: In a discussion about the handicap system used within the club, he offered to investigate how other clubs organised their handicaps.

15/9/62: Officials: Our chairman said that he had had a talk with Mr D McL Wright who was upset at the shortage of officials for various events and he asked Mr McPhail to try to get some of the club interested.   After some discussion it was felt that we could not do too much as most of our lads were still active members.   Mr MacPhail agreed that his name should be nominated.

MacPhail_3

I have noted these particular items to indicate the range of things which he was asked to take on, and which he volunteered to take on, for the benefit of the club.    Laying trails for races, attending meetings of governing bodies, providing prizes for races, organising the track season and applying for lets, writing to politicians and officials, investigating the handicap system, posters to schools, drawing up fixture lists and letting his name go forward for training as an official are all noted in the extracts quoted.     Remember that these were in addition to his other interests of hill walking, mountaineering. writing, teaching, etc.   Furthermore they were usually carried out by various other committee members – letters by the secretary, handicaps and trail laying by the captain, etc.  Some of the club work took up considerable amounts of time and in addition to the committee attendances, he represented the club for a time at the SAAA and well as for many years being their man at the DAAA and the NCCU meetings.    His commitment over the period was astonishing: it is normal for a new president/chairman to dive in and work really hard for a few years – but Doc was the same right through to the end of his 23 year stint as President.

Standing left watching the Dumbarton runners in the Springburn Cup race, early 1960’s

He also tackled some big issues for the club – access to track facilities being one.   I note the minute of 28/3/61:

Mc MacPhail then read out a letter he had submitted to the Parks Committee via the Town Clerk asking them what they intended doing about a running track.   He pointed out that he had a letter from a previous Town Clerk pledging his support, and although this had been a number of years ago, we still awaited action on this matter.   He then went on to explain that neighbouring towns were better equipped and how some of the local athletes travelled there regularly to take advantage of the better facilities provided, and in some cases were lost to the club.   He also reminded them that this state of affairs was prevailing all over the country, and was no doubt responsible for Scotland’s poor representation at the recent Olympic Games.

And he followed this up with face-face-meetings with local officials and politicians.   eg “5th March 1964: The Chairman has done a lot of research on this matter – the suggested locations had come down to 1.   The Common; 2.   St James’s Park; 3.   Postie’s Park.”    1st September 1964 “we kept breathing down the neck of the council”    August 1966:  “track unlikely for the next two years.”   21/9/68: “The chairman explained the obstacles which had met the club’s proposals that the track should be sited on the Common.”   Various other sites were suggested.

It would be totally wrong to give him sole credit for the negotiations – such a big item for any athletics club has to be the work of the entire committee but what seems to come through from the Minutes is his efforts in investigating venues, writing and badgering those in positions of power and keeping it high on the agenda.

Although he resigned at President in 1969 (the same year as he retired from teaching at Clydebank High School after 20 years there) he was working for the club for many years after that.   For instace, the minute of 18th April 1974 said “Point to Point: The run went off very successfully, largely due to Dr IMM Mac Phail who had laid a very well marked trail.”    The trail was from the Whangie on the Stockiemuir Road, over the top of the Kilpatricks down into Dumbarton.    Not bad for a man in his seventies.

Doctor MacPhail was an energetic man who walked quickly with a lift in his step.   He always looked at the person he was talking to and fairly often when he was explaining something to any athlete or to the committee he is reported to have asked, “Now, d’you follow me?”   The energy seemed almost boundless and Dumbarton AAC and Scottish athletics possibly got more than its fair share.

MacPhail window 2

The stained glass window in Dumbarton Public Library

 

QUEEN’S PARK AND ATHLETICS

Posted on by

Hugh Barrow sent the following report suggesting that it might feature as a tribute to the efforts of our sporting forebears and I agree that it gives an insight into the Scottish athletics heritage that the athletics authorities seem reluctant to acknowledge.   Reasons for this on a postcard – why don’t the annual award ceremonies make an award for sports historian of the year, or just for services to researching/publicising/writing about the beginnings of the sport, after all there are many categories of award that seem to duplicate each other.   Anyway, grouse over, read the following which comes, he says from ‘The History of Queen’s Park, 1866 – 196 by Richard Robinson.   It is an interesting topic to pursue and a time when all sports supported all others – Clydesdale Harriers had cycling sections plus members from football, cricket, rugby, hockey, swimming and they even had a world amateur boxing champion.   The QP badge is below – there is no prize for the translation of the motto (although it would be interesting to see how many young’uns got it) on the assumption that readers are all familiar with and fluent in Latin.    Hugh has asked that we note our thanks to Robert Paterson and Queen’s Park for the following.

 QP CREST

There is much truth in the statement that among the founders of the Queen’s Park Football Club in 1867 were many north-country men, who brought to Glasgow the inherent love of athletics possessed by every Highlander, particularly as regards muscalar events. Mr. J. C. Grant is strong on this point, and his testimony, that the Highland section, who had migrated from Strathbungo to the Recreation Ground at Queen’s Park, where better facilities were available, indulged in hammer-throwing, putting the ball, pole vaulting, and tossing the caber, and first learned the football game from the Y.M.C.A., is correct. The club had only been a very short time in existence when, 29th April, 1869, the advisability of holding athletic sports in connection with the Queen’s Park Football Club was considered, and ” it was finally agreed, after a great deal of reasoning and warm discussion, to defer the matter until a month or two, when it could be entered into with greater confidence to bring about a more successful result.” At this meeting a proposition was made to provide a ball and hammer for the general use of “the members of the Q.P.F.B.C,” but an amendment was carried to the effect that this matter “should be deferred until a future period, as the club at present was not in a fit state to incur any extra expense.” However, on 8th July, 1869, “after considering the state of the funds, it was agreed to purchase 121b. and 161b. hammers, and 16lb. ball, for the general use of the club.” It was announced, at the annual meeting held on 14th April, 1870, that, with a view to present additional attractions and amusement for the members, the club had been provided during the year with balls, hammers, and vaulting poles, which had proved valuable auxiliaries in keeping up the interest in the club. The necessity of procuring another set of flags and goal-posts was brought before this meeting by the secretary, and after a little deliberation—it was a serious expenditure at the time—the treasurer and secretary were commissioned to provide flags and stumps, same as before, with goal-posts eight feet high, and all to be painted white. It was further decided to raise a fund for the purpose of holding amateur athletic “games” in the month of September, 1870. Great undertakings were to be accomplished during the winter months (they played summer football in early days), and ” an endeavour made to turn the football club into one of the best gymnasiums in the kingdom.” A lofty ambition truly, and probably the outcome of the quite recent visit to Hamilton to play the local Gymnasium Club. It has been ascertained that horizontal bars, etc., had been erected at the foot of the vacant piece of ground, used then by this Hamilton club, now built upon, and other forms of athletics practised. The club was an athletic development centre. It was, however, many a long day before this laudable ambition of Queen’s Park was gratified, certainly not until 1889, when the pavilion at second Hampden Park was raised a storey, a gymnasium added, and a competent instructor installed. The month of August is the period in which the great Highland gatherings or “games” are held, and the first Saturday in September was for several years consecrated to the Queen’s Park open sports. It is quite reasonable to suppose that the northern element had a say in fixing this date. There was “a good deal of deliberation on the subject of the date, etc., and whether it could not be possible to hold them—the sports—this year, 1869.” Messrs. Lewis Black and W. Klinger were the authors of this proposal. Mr. Gardner, at the annual general meeting, April,. 1870, said, ” that with a view to present additional attractions and amusement for the members, the club had been provided during the year with balls, hammers, and vaulting poles, which he was glad to see had proved valuable auxiliaries in keeping up the interest in the club.” The contemplated sports, however, did not take place in 1869, nor for that matter until 1872, and only after a letter was read from Mr. II. N. Smith, the president, proposing an athletic competition. Messrs. J. Taylor and A. Rae were appointed a committee, with power to add to their number, ” to manage the whole affair.” On 2nd October, 1872, “Mr. Rae, for the athletic sports committee, reported that the sports had been very successful—Mr. James J. Thomson took the first, and Mr. Joseph Taylor the second prize”—so that the sports would appear to have been a sort of all-round club competition. This was the first sports meeting held by the Queen’s Park Club, and was the precursor of a series of confined meetings held for the encouragement and entertainment of the members. In addition to Messrs. Thomson and Taylor, mentioned above—the former being an athlete in every sense of the word, while the latter shone in the sprints—Messrs. Edmiston and M’Hardy were two strong men, who figured prominently in the ball and hammer throwing. Mr. Charles Campbell too, joining the club as he did in 1870, came in at an opportune time, and was a frequent prize-taker with the hammer, and above the average as a quarter-miler. He, however, did not compete at open sports, devoting his attention to the confined events of the club. Mr. P. M’Hardy, who had only become a member 12th August, 1873, was appointed Second Eleven captain at the annual general meeting in April, 1874. He was one of a sub-committee with Messrs. J. B. Weir and W. M’Kinnon to inquire after suitable “athletic implements” for the general use of the members. They recommended, May, 1874, that a putting ball (161b.), one vaulting pole, and one horizontal bar be got, and they were authorised to procure these at a cost not exceeding £3 sterling. It having been intimated that Mr. M’Hardy intended leaving his set of throwing-hammers in the house for the use of members, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded that gentleman for his kindness. Mr. M’Hardy resigned the captaincy of the Second Eleven, March, 1875, and though asked to give his reasons for doing so, he declined to furnish particulars, and desired the matter should be passed over without further notice. He was re-elected captain of the juniors at the annual general meeting, 1875, which position he did not accept, and also to the match and ground committees. Mr. M’Hardy had a long connection with the Queen’s Park. He resigned 3rd June, 1884. J. D. Finlayson, admitted 17th April, 1873, was an amateur pedestrian who played in the Second Eleven, and obtained distinction on the track until he removed to Inverness. George Philips was also a great rival of Finlayson as a half-mile and mile runner. H. A. Watt, late member of Parliament for the College Division, held the champion-ship of Scotland, being invincible as a hurdle jumper. John Harvie had the honour of being walking champion of Scotland. Many famous athletes competed at open athletic meetings in the colours of the Queen’s Park. No reference is made in the minutes regarding sports, from the first confined meeting until 6th June, 1876, when the club decided to hold its first open athletic meeting. It was agreed at this meeting to have club sports, and the date was fixed, 9th September, 1876, and the secretary was instructed to make it public through the newspapers, and to advertise as thought fit. A scroll list of events was drawn up, and remitted to a strong sub-committee of seven to carry out all the arrangements. Open and confined events were included on the programme, and the list was printed and circulated among the principal clubs in Scotland and England. A number of leading gentlemen in Glasgow and district had been communicated with to secure their patronage, and had already signified their willingness to grant it. In the confined events, on the motions of Messrs. Weir and M’Neil, a 150 yards race was substituted for 200 yards, and the challenge cup half-mile was not to be handicapped. A grant of £30 was given to defray the preliminary expenses. The total sanctioned for prize money amounted to £92. The first grand stand on any football ground in Scotland, costing £237, was erected in time for, and first used at, this athletic meeting. The challenge cup referred to was to become the property of any winner lifting it twice.” The source from which it came is not stated. Messrs. Campbell, M’Neil, M’Kinnon, and Taylor (captain) were to represent Queen’s Park in the four-a-side competition. The other clubs that competed were Eastern, 3rd Lanark, and Dumbarton. There were also a place-kick event, a dribbling race (members), and tug-of-war between football clubs. This is the first reference to this contracted football game, which became popular at sports meetings afterwards. This initial amateur meeting, though the receipts amounted to £213, yet showed a loss of £55—the prizes were handsome, and cost £129. The sports had been ” highly satisfactory as regards the competitions and turn out of spectators, but from a financial point of view had not come up to the anticipations of the committee.” Stock had been acquired to the value of £25, which reduced the loss to this extent. Thus began the series of important athletic meetings held for many years under the auspices of the Queen’s Park Football Club. As the knowledge of athletics spread and developed, the balance was frequently often substantially on the right side; but should the financial result be adverse through bad weather or other causes, the club was in no way deterred from furthering amateur sport of this character. The modus operandi in connection with its first athletic meeting was exactly followed on all subsequent occasions, men of athletic experience being selected as a sub-committee to make and carry out all arrangements.

The Queen’s Park amateur athletic sports stood for years one of the most important in the kingdom, and maintained their position until the introduction by other clubs in the city of the subsidised amateur, who received his expenses, and often the expenses of his trainer, together with a certain sum for appearance money. With this system the Queen’s Park, in its decided abhorrence of everything bordering on professionalism, would have nothing to do. Those great performers who have appeared on the “classic slopes” from time to time had no monetary inducement given them. Members of the club were only too glad to entertain and house them while in Glasgow. It was against all the principles of the club to do more. However, great stars coming from all parts of the kingdom to other local meetings provided attractions which the public, asking no questions, was not able to resist, and the system paid. The strict amateurism of the Queen’s Park was not remunerative, and gradually the club, disheartened, dropped out of the active athletic arena in quite recent years; but now, after the war, more activity is being displayed, and sports were held 6th June, 1920, and, we are glad to relate, proved to be one of the most successful ever held by the club. The prizes set for competition were always of the handsomest description, which the winners could retain with abundant pride to the end of their days, not Brummagem stuff, manufactured for the purpose, so often to be seen now in shop windows. Everything the Queen’s Park undertook was carried out in the best manner possible. The evil of subsidising amateurs became so flagrant that the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association had to intervene and hold an investigation. The efforts to suppress the scandal were only partially successful. When both sports promoter and competitor are in collusion, it is difficult to prove an offence, the consequence being so serious to both parties.

The Queen’s Park committee, having carefully considered the situation, decided, after the athletic meeting in September, 1886 – the sports had been held in September now for ten years–to hold future meetings in June, commencing the following year. The change was made ” because September was considered too far on in the season for sports to be successful, the football season being too close at hand, and the majority of athletes then stale and out of training.” This change of date proved at first very successful, both athletically and financially. In the late ‘eighties and early ‘nineties there was a great influx to the club of athletic and •cycling members, who found the conveniences of the Queen’s Park track met a much-felt want, and these took full advantage of its amenities. The club at first was reluctant to take such men into full membership, as its first and last business was football. Permits were issued for training on the track, with full use of the pavilion and trainer to non-members. It was a great satisfaction to the club to find its efforts in this direction so fully appreciated. The track was constantly being improved, widened, and the banking brought up to the latest speed requirements.

On more than one occasion professional peds. have, under the disguise of amateurs, competed at the sports of the Queen’s Park. In the ‘seventies a famous professional miler ran against George Philips, a noted Queen’s Park amateur miler of the time, to settle some dispute in betting circles as to which was the better man at the distance. The professional won, but did not come forward to claim the prize, having apparently no criminal intent, bar the deception. The case was different at the September sports in 1878 with John Harvie, then Scottish champion walker, as the professional who won walked off with the prize. Mr. Harvie called the attention of the committee to his unfortunate position, but, of course, they had no responsibility in the matter, so he had to content himself with the second prize.

BETTING Betting at athletic meetings caused considerable annoyance to the Queen’s Park, and other sports-holding amateur clubs, in the early ‘nineties. As professional pedestrianism had fallen on evil days, brought about by this same betting, and the chicanery associated with it, the scene of operations was transferred to the amateur grounds. This was a state of affairs which the Queen’s Park could not contemplate with equanimity. It was against all the principles of amateurism, and might eventually lead to the ruin of a then healthy pastime. This club was, therefore, the first to take action in the matter, a position which naturally fell to it.

Mr. William Sellar, writer, who was at this date president of Queen’s Park Football Club, took the matter up strenuously, and communicated, on behalf of his club, with the Town Council, May, 1897, regarding what steps the police authorities proposed to take to put down open betting at athletic meetings in the city. The Council remitted the matter to Mr. John Lindsay, then interim Police Clerk, now Sir John Lindsay, Town Clerk of Glasgow, for an opinion. The whole question rested on what was “a place” within the meaning of the Betting Act, 1853, the force of which was not extended to Scotland until amended in 1874. After quoting various decisions of the English and Scottish Courts, Mr. Lindsay gave the following opinion for the guidance of the Town Council :—

As all the meetings of the various athletic clubs of the city are held within closed grounds which are generally known by a name, and are certainly capable of reasonably accurate description, and to which persons from time to time, or on particular occasions or occasion, resort, it, in my opinion, necessarily follows that the areas of those athletic meetings are places within the meaning of the foregoing statutes, and that therefore the provisions of those statutes, prohibiting the using of such places for betting by professional betting men, can be enforced by the police, and thereafter at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal, or of any person, by process in the Sheriff Court.

Mr. Sellar in his letter referred to the decision by Mr. Justice Hawkins in the Dunn case. The learned judge laid it down that an inclosed racecourse was ” a place.” In 1885 the Court of Session, on appeal in the Henretty case—the defendant having been convicted in the Glasgow Sheriff Court tor betting at Shawfield—quashed this conviction ; but Mr. Lindsay was of opinion, notwithstanding these contrary decisions, that though the Procurator-Fiscal, in face of the final issue of the Henretty case, might refuse to prosecute, if that official, or any private person, prosecuted, and the case taken to the High Court, it is very probable it would be heard and disposed of by a full bench of judges.

In face of this decision in the Court of Session, the evil was allowed to continue. It was not until five years later that the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association concluded to move. On 19th May, 1902, a letter was received by the Queen’s Park committee from the honorary secretary of the Western District (S.A.A.A.), intimating that the Association had been in communication with the Chief Constable of Glasgow with a view to stopping the nuisance of betting at sports, and requesting the attendance of one or two delegates from the Queen’s Park Club to co-operate with the Association in the matter, at a meeting fixed by the Chief Constable. Messrs. Geake and Liddell were appointed. No prosecution followed against any bookmakers frequenting Hampden Park or elsewhere. Action was confined to posting notices prohibiting betting at the various grounds, and increased activity on the part of the police stationed there, to see that bookmaking was not carried on. By perseverance, and the invaluable assistance of the Chief Constable, things were made so uncomfortable for the bookies that they ultimately found the game did not pay, and withdrew from this new sphere, where their presence was not wanted. This satisfactory result must be mainly attributed to the initial action of Queen’s Park. One would have thought the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association would have been the first to move in the matter, but such was not the case.

Coupon betting had by January, 1914, become a curse to the game, and, indeed, is so still. Horse racing having been permitted only to a limited extent by the Government during the war, had driven the bookies to other fields to exercise their talents, and one which proved most lucrative was betting by coupon on football matches—an illegal practice which was carried on under various subterfuges. The Continental bookies were compelled to come home, or be interned, and found their occupation abroad gone. Many efforts were made to suborn players to sell matches, and it is painful to relate that some players, not many, accepted the tempting bait offered them. The evil is more rampant in England than in Scotland. Consequently the Football Association has been more active in its attempts to suppress these insidious attempts to ruin the game, and several English players have been severely punished, when direct proof has been forthcoming that they have been guilty. So far the Scottish Association has not been called upon to prosecute, though it has kept a watchful eye on what is occurring in regard to coupon betting in Scotland. No case of the kind has come before it, which proves that Scottish players are practically immune, and have the interests of football, which are also their own, at heart, and play the game in a clean and honourable way. The Scottish League, however, thought at this period, 1914, probably because the professional player came more directly under its control, that it would be advisable to indicate its position on the subject. A circular was issued to the clubs, copies of which were to be hung in the players’ dressing rooms, the referee’s room, and the committee rooms, at each ground, condemning coupon betting. In this way the warning against the evil would be perpetually before the players and the clubs.

After a conference with the Scottish League, who stated coupon betting had become acute, the Scottish Association also took up the matter, and in January, 1916, passed the following resolution:—

Any director, official, player, or other person connected with football management w<h© participates directly or indirectly in betting upon the results of football matches shall be expelled from the game.

Further, in May, 1916, at an extraordinary general meeting of the Scottish Football Association, this resolution was added to articles of association as a new article, and all clubs were compelled to post in their pavilions a copy of the resolution as a warning to players and officials. Still the practice goes on. Only quite recently an English player was imprisoned (March, 1918) for trying to induce certain players to sell a game at the instance of betting men, who themselves escaped punishment.

The Queen’s Park was one of the first members of the Scottish Amateur Gymnastic Union. When the club was approached by the secretary of the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers Athletic Club (Gymnastic Section), the committee appointed Messrs. D. C. Brown and Stewart Lawrie to represent the club at a meeting held on 6th June, 1890, to form this Union. Before August, 1891, the Union was in debt to the extent of £30, and appealed to the club to assist it in its difficulties. The Queen’s Park agreed to pay its just proportion of the indebtedness, on the understanding that its resignation be accepted afterwards. The club formally resigned from the Union in September, 1891. Mr. Stewart Lawrie, Queen’s Park, was the first president of this Union.

In the autumn of 1890 baseball teams were giving exhibitions throughout the country, of the American national pastime. Mr. M. P. Betts, secretary of the National Baseball League, made application for the use of Hampden Park on a week night, in an effort to popularise the game in this country. Baseball did not appeal to Scotland, nor, for the matter of that to England. All the efforts to introduce it into this country were still-born. Another attempt was made to interest football clubs in the game—November, 1906—when a meeting of clubs in and around Glasgow was held in the George Hotel to consider the advisability of starting a Baseball Association, but the the proposal met with small support. The Queen’s Park committee did not entertain the project. In 1918 another exposition of the game was given on Hampden Paris, between teams drawn from the American Navy, and the Canadian soldiers, who had come over to take part in the war. Played in the cause of charity, it proved a variation, no more.

The idea of a gymnasium for the members seems to have originated with Mr. James Lawrence, who was president of the Queen’s Park for three seasons. At the annual general meeting in May, 1889, he drew attention to the want of variety in the system of training, running being really the only form of exercise members could avail themselves of. The chairman, Mr. Stewart Lawrie, said that the erection of a small gymnasium had been thought of, and, as a substantial balance was in bank, the idea would probably take definite shape very shortly. It did take shape when the pavilion was enlarged in 1889, and a spacious gymnasium was built at the back, with Mr. Benson, Glasgow University Gymnasium, as instructor.