Category: Track and Field

There were many important sports meetings in Scotland without which the sport would never have developed or progressed as it did.   One of these, possibly the most important to begin with, was that held by Queen’s Park FC.    There was a wider contribution made by football clubs to the sport  and all the major clubs had their own sports day – Rangers, Celtic, St Mirren, Clyde, Heart of Midlothian, Falkirk and many others had annual sports, but QPFC was the first of these two and to some extent set the tone.   Athletics coaches work backwards ( set the target then decide how to get there!) and we are following that precept here.   The 30’s first and then back to the 20’s and so on.   The last of these meetings I could find was that of 1937 so we stop there – for now!

Queen’s Park FC was a wonderful sports club –  always a football club,  it promoted other sports such as rugby intermittently and athletics consistently for decades.   Like all the  early football clubs, it had many very good athletes whom it encouraged to compete during the lengthy close season.  Our purpose on this page is to look at the athletics in the 1930’s and then work backwards through the decades.  The last meeting I could find was for 1937 but 1938 and 39 might yet turn up!   The meeting almost always took place on the first Saturday in June and was part of the athletes’ progress towards the SAAA Championships always held at the end of the month.   It was an integral part of their plans.

In 1930, the event took place on 7th June and the report read

“GOOD TIMES REVISITED

The annual meeting of the Queen’s Park Football Club was held at Hampden Park on Saturday afternoon in fine weather and before 5000 spectators.   Performances and times were good throughout, Donald McLean, W McLaughlin and FW Brown putting up the outstanding efforts among the backmarkers.    McLean finished first in the Two Miles team race, McLaughlin was second in the 220 yards, and Brown third in the 100 yards.   James Crawford and R Hamilton, the Scottish short distance champions, took part in the sprint but did not survive their Heats.   In the High Jump, KM Smith cleared 5′ 8″ but did not get in the prize list.   At the close the prizes were presented by Mrs Logan, wife of Mr H Logan, ex-President of the club. “

That  short report shows already several differences from the present day – Imperial measurements rather than decimal, handicaps which are rare in the present day, prizes awarded publicly at the end of the meeting rather than being collected by the athlete but there is one similarity in the importance being attached to the prizes.   Results:

100 yards:    1.   AD Turner (Maryhill Harriers 4 yards);   2.   RM Rintoul (Shettleston Harriers 7.5);   3.   FW Brown (West of Scotland Harriers  2).   Winning Time: 10.0.   Won by a yard.

220 yards:   1.    W McRoberts (Maryhill 18 yards);   2.   W McLaughlin (Springburn Harriers 5);   3.   JJ Cameron (Glasgow Police AC 14).   22.6.   Won by inches.

880 yards:   1.   JR Donaldson (Edinburgh Northern 40 yards);   2.   J Mackell (Springburn 38);   3.   I Hamilton (Canon ASC 53).   1:58.0   Won by inches.

One Mile:   1.   SK Tombe (Plebeian Harriers  70 yards);   2.  ME Anderson (Shettleston Harriers  130);   3.   AC Montgomery (Springburn Harriers 123).  4:23.6.  Won by 5 yards.

Two Miles Team Race:   1.   Maryhill Harriers (D McLean 1, WH Calderwood 3, T Blakely 7);   2.   Plebeian Harriers (WJ Gunn 2, PJ Connolly 10, A Ingram 13).   e 9:39.6.   Won by 5 yards.

Road Race:   1.   D Wright (Maryhill Harriers) 1:15:13;   2.   D Robertson (Maryhill) 1:17:40;    3.   J Winnie (Hamilton Harriers)  1:19:03.   

There was also a 120 yards hurdles race, an inter-city relay, a high jump, an obstacle race and a 100 yards for Youths, as well as the almost obligatory 5-a-side football tournament which was won by Partick Thistle who faced Celtic FC in the Final.

Walter J Gunn, Plebeian Harriers.

On a year and the traditional ‘first Saturday in June’ date was taken over as the climax of the Glasgow Civic Week celebrations with a big sports being held at Ibrox Park.   Queen’s brought their fixture forward a week and it took place on 30th May, 1931, at Hampden.   The big race was the Two Miles Team and Individual Race in which the rivalry between Maryhill Harriers and Plebeian Harriers always produced a good hard race and close finishes all down the field.  It was the third such contest in eight days between the teams.   The attendance was estimated at 4000 on a dry but dull afternoon.

QUEEN’S PARK FC SPORTS

THIRD VICTORY FOR WJ GUNN

FURLONG CHAMPION IN FORM

At Hampden Park on Saturday, despite the heavy rain on Friday, the track was in excellent condition, a fact that is clearly shown by the times recorded in the 100 yards, half mile and both mile events.   Even time in the sprint, 1:58 in the half mile, and 4:21.2 and 4:22.2 in the two mile races indicates the task faced by the backmarkers had they been out.   The keen rivalry that exists at the moment between the  evenly matched teams of the Maryhill and Plebeian clubs is tending to elevate the two miles scratch races for harrier clubs into the chief events of each programme on which they appear.   At the Monkland Harriers meeting last Saturday, at Firhill Park on Monday, and again at Hampden Park on Saturday the racing in this event transcended everything else on the programme.   This was due as much to the personal duel between WJ Gunn of Plebeian Harriers on the one hand, and WH Calderwood and Donald McLean on the other, as to the struggle for supremacy between the clubs.   In all three races run between the clubs during the past ten days, Gunn has had the measure of the ex-Scottish champions, and as each of the three has been run through in different fashion, the Plebeian Harrier can claim that, both in the matter of tactics and of pace, he is the best man in the district at the moment over the distance.

His victories at Coatbridge and Firhill were of the narrowest, but on Saturday he defeated Calderwood by a good five yards, and at the finish was travelling as fast as at the beginning, a tribute to his stamina as his opponent carries as powerful a finish as any of our distance runners.   Gunn’s time, 9:38.8, is the best he has done in  public so far.   Under something of a cloud last season owing to a physical handicap, he is improving with every appearance.   The result of the team race was close, Maryhill winning by 11 points to 13 and they now have two victories to one over their rivals.   

The late arrival of JF Michie, an accident to AW Lapsley, and the somewhat indifferent form of the others, made the high jump disappointing.   On paper it looked like a championship rehearsal but the best jumps were only 5′ 6.75″  by J Alan Wilson, the old Glasgow High School boy, and 5′ 5.75″ by L Higney, the Universities champion.   Roy Hamilton and Ian Borland both ran in the hundred, the former failing in his heat, and Borland falling in his semi-final.   Hamilton did not survive his heat in the furlong either, but Robin Murdoch upheld the prestige of the back markers, for after taking third place in a particularly hot hundred yards final, he ran magnificently to win his heat in the furlong in 22.8 sec, the fastest  time of the series.   He did not, however, touch the same time in the Final, being slow off his mark and leaving himself an impossible task in the finishing straight.’

Something that seems to have fallen out of fashion in the twenty first century is the sight of the top men racing against each other.    When Scotland was at its best in athletics, the top runners used to compete against each other frequently throughout the season with the Two Mile team races being a feature of many meetings up to the end of the 1970’s and medley relay races through to the late 60’s.   They not only added excitement to the meetings but hardened the competitors to tough competitions as a regular part of their competitive diet.   This meeting was no exception with Gunn, Calderwood and McLean going head-to-head in a scratch race at Hampden for the third time in ten days.    For the sprinters the appearance of the opposition was not enough, there were the handicaps to contend with – no one had it easy.   A look at the winning margins indicates hard races almost all the way through the programme -100 yards won by a yard; 100 yards Youths won by a yard; 100 yards women won by a yard and a half; 220 yards won by inches;  Half-Mile won by two yards;  Mile (first class) won by a yard; Mile (second class) won by a yard;  120 yards hurdles won by inches; Two Mile team race won by 5 yards and Inter-City Relay ‘won easily.’

Tom Riddell

The Sports were held on 28th May in 1932 and the two top men were the internationalists Tom Riddell and John Suttie Smith.    On a showery afternoon and before 5000 spectators, records were set by Riddell over three-quarters of a mile and by Suttie Smith who took a whole three seconds from the record set at Ibrox the previous year by JF Wood.   Among the other winners were Rab Forman (100 yards) who went on to become one of Scotland’s best and best known officials and Robert Graham (Mile) who was another of the country’s best endurance runners.   From the report on the meeting:

“The first of these (records) fell to T Riddell, the Scottish mile champion, who crossed from Belfast to run at the meeting.   Running from scratch in the three-quarter mile handicap, he covered the distance in 3 min 6 1-5th sec, this being 3 4-5th sec faster than the previous record made by himself at the evening meeting of Shettleston and the West of Scotland Harriers on the same track three seasons ago.   Riddell ran a magnificent race,caught his men a furlong from home and went on to win by 15 yards.   He finished so fresh that the impression was left that had he been pushed in the last quarter his time would have been even better.   He returned 59 sec in the first quarter, 63 in the second and 64 1-5th in the final lap.   Riddell’s races have been comparatively few on the Scottish track during the past three seasons, but  on each occasion he has demonstrated the loss sustained by Scottish athletics when he took up permanent residence in Ireland.

“The three Mile scratch race was in some respects the best event of the afternoon, as it provided the man-to-man duel that is always acceptable to the people on the terracing.   J Suttie Smith and JF Wood were the central figures and it was the rivalry between the pair that enabled Smith to slice 3 sec off the 14 min 44 1-5th sec recorded by Wood when running against Paavo Nurmi at the Rangers meeting last August.   During the past two seasons Smith has been somewhat overshadowed but on this occasion he was at his very best, running with an easiness and a poise and a confidence that was impressive.

” He was content to let Wood do the pacing throughout  practically the whole journey, but when the final lap was entered upon he was withing striking distance, and getting on terms halfway down the back straight passed Wood to win by a good 10 yards.   Wood ran up to form; he equalled his own record time but  for the afternoon he had met his master.   The revival shown by the Dundee man was a welcome one and a great race is promised when D Sutherland and Wood meet in the Scottish Championship a month hence.”

WH Calderwood was second in the three quarter mile and Maryhill won the three miles team race although their first man home was Tom Blakely in sixth position.    Good racing was again a feature of the programme – Rab Forman won both 100 yards and hurdles races and Bobby Graham again took the Mile.

The 1933 meeting was held on 27th May and this time Blakely was no bit player, Riddell was beaten and Plebeian Harriers won the three miles team race.

ANOTHER SCOTTISH RECORD FOR BLAKELY

Laidlaw Defeats Riddell

The conditions which prevailed at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on Saturday afternoon during the whole course of one of the most successful sports meetings ever held by Queen’s Park Football Club were conducive to good performances.   The track was fast, there was little or no wind and the temperature was of a level that brings the best out of a runner.   The somewhat moderate crowd that graced the terracing was not disappointed, for in almost every race the times ruled fast and one new Scottish record was created.   This was by Tom Blakely in the Three Miles which he covered in 14 min 33 sec, 5 1-5th sec faster than his own time set up at Celtic Park a year ago.   This was his second record of the week, as he had set up fresh figures of 9 min 19 4-5th sec for the Two Miles.   These two performances within six days of each other stamp the Scottish Champion as a really good runner.   Saturday’s time was only 5 4-5th sec outside Alfred Shrubb’s all-comers record for the distance.   Blakely is a stylist and gets his effects with such apparent ease that the future holds distinct possibilities of more records.   

His chief drawback so far has been a modesty that bred a distrust in his own abilities.   These two performances should have improved his confidence.   He took the lead at the end of the first mile and remained there until the end.   The first mile was covered in 4 min 45 sec and the second in   9 min 42 sec.   JC Flockhart was second, 100 yards behind.   There was a keen struggle between Plebeian and Maryhill Harriers for the team honours   LKed by Max Rayne, the former packed well and finished in fourth, fifth and seventh places to gain victory from their rivals by a single point.

TM RIDDELL BEATEN

The first appearance upon a Scottish track this season of TM Riddell, the Mile champion, was awaited with interest.   Riddell, as usual served up a good race in the 1000 yards special event but was eclipsed on the afternoon by JP Laidlaw who, running from 10 yards, not only won the race with comfort, but actually returned better time over the distance than did the champion.   The Edinburgh man has won three races within eight days, and all three over different distances.   Last Saturday he secured first place at the Monkland Harriers over Two Miles, on Monday he won Maryhill Harriers’ half-mile, and then on Saturday he again broke the tape.   He has thus amply realised the promise of last season, and in addition to pace, he possesses a high sense of track tactics.   He was content to let Riddell do the forcing work in Saturday’s race, but never allowed himself to be far away.   When the champion went to the front in the back straight Laidlaw was only a couple of yards behind, and when he made his effort 100 yards from the tape, Riddell could not hold him and was beaten by a good five yards.   

Laidlaw’s convincing time for the race was 2 min 15 3-5th sec and, running out the full distance, was returned as doing 2 min 16 4-5th sec, 4-5th sec outside Duncan McPhee’s record.   Riddell’s time was returned as 2 min 17 sec.   If, as has been hinted, Laidlaw’s ambition is to secure the Scottish mile honour, a stern struggle is promised in the champion ships between the pair and possibly another record-breaking performance.   Riddell will be fitter then and will not accept defeat lightly.”

The above extract from the ‘Glasgow Herald’ report on the meeting covers the top two races on the programme but the excitement did not stop there.  Maryhill Harriers won the half-mile Relay from Glasgow University by four yards and the Inter-City Relay went to went to Glasgow where WH Calderwood faced Laidlaw on the opening half-mile stage where Laidlaw despite the earlier race against Riddell, won by five yards.   There was a fairly full programme of Open and Invitation events with no disappointing events among them.

The quality is all over the meeting – Laidlaw, Riddell, Flockhart, Blakely, Gunn and others in the distance races with Robin Murdoch, AD Turner and PW Brown in the sprints.

Jackie Laidlaw

The 1935 sports were held on 1st June, in fine weather and before an estimated attendance of 5000, and Laidlaw and Riddell were again involved in the afternoon’s events.  The ‘Glasgow Herald’ reporter went as far as to say that “the class of competitor was the best that Scotland can produce.’    Riddell ran in the special (read ‘invitation’) mile where he ran 4:18.4 which was regarded as a good time for the windy conditions.   Behind at the bell, he moved ahead in the back straight and won by eight yards.    Ten years earlier he had had a hard race against Donald McLean but this time McLean was well back and did not feature at the finish.   Laidlaw won the three miles, defeating W Sutherland and was said to be concentrating on that distance for the Scottish championships.    Withe seven open events, seven invitation events plus the inevitable five-a-sides it was an interesting programme.   Results of the invitation events are noted.

440 yards (Eric Liddell Trophy):   1.  C France (Bellahouston Harriers  10 yards);   2.   CF Campbell (Springburn Harriers  15);  50.6 sec.   Won by 4 yards.

One Mile:   1.   T Riddell (Shettleston  scr);   TM Armstrong (Garscube 85 yards).    4:18.4.  Won by 8 yards.

Half Mile Relay (Women):   1.  Edinburgh University;   2.   Glasgow University.   1:53.8.   Won easily.

 Three Mile Team Race:  1.   Shettleston Harriers (W Sutherland 2, JC Flockhart 3, JC Ross 11);   2.   Edinburgh Northern Harriers (JP Laidlaw 1, W Hinde 7, U Stewart 10).

 Individual Places:  1.   JP Laidlaw;   2.   W Sutherland;   3.   JC Ross.   14:59.4.   Won by 5 yards.

Inter-City Mile Relay Race:  1.   Edinburgh (W Botha, Edinburgh University; T Littlejohn, Edinburgh Harriers; AG Clark, Stewart’s College; RR Wylde, Edinburgh University);   2.   Glasgow (R Graham, Maryhill Harriers; AD Turner, Maryhill Harriers; B Murdoch, Atalanta; WM Murray, Glasgow University).   3:35.4.   Won by 2 yards.   

The inclusion of the women’s relay is also of interest – the Scottish Women’s athletic scene had really started to take off at the start of the 1930’s with clubs such as Dundee Hawkhill Harriers,  Clydesdale Harriers, Shettleston Harriers and Maryhill Harriers all producing strong teams.   Queen’s Park mght not have had the big budgets of Rangers and Celtic but their old established sports were still giving the paying public what they wanted: quality sport with talented competitors.

*

6th June, 1936, saw a change in the entries for the meeting.   There were several athletes from south of the border present to add an extra challenge to the domestic competitors.   No Riddell, no Laidlaw but another great day of sport for the spectators.

“W ROBERTS’ FINE VICTORY

Attractive Meeting At Hampden

Queen’s Park Football Club Annual Sports at Hampden Park on Saturday were for the first time favoured with the presence of outstanding English athletes, but only 3500 people turned out to watch the sport.   The weather was dry, but not by any means suitable for good times, yet W Roberts (Salford) and  AW Sweeney (Milocarians) acquitted themselves with distinction.   The sprinters were helped along with a strong following wind, and though the distance men had little assistance from it down the back stretch they found themselves with head winds of unusual velocity up the home straight.  

One of the best performances of an extremely attractive programme was the quarter mile victory of W Roberts in the Eric Liddell Trophy race.   Pulled out by eight of our best runners, the Englishman set out about his task in business-like fashion.   He was forced to run wide at the last two bends into the finishing straight.   and despite a determined challenge by young CF Campbell, Springburn Harriers, who was set on 20 yards, Roberts held on to win with a yard and a half in hand in the fine time of 49 3-10th sec.   Charlie France who was expected to give Roberts a warm challenge did not finish, owing to his having run a splendid ‘quarter’ for Glasgow in the inter-city relay race.

AW Sweeney, the English 100 yards and Empire sprint champion, ran in the heat and semi-final of the open 100 yards besides appearing in the 120 yards.   Throughout he showed how superior he was to all on view.   He won his 100 heat from scratch in 9 8-10th sec, but went out in the semi-final.   The sprint, by the way, fell to JE Creegan, Uddingston, who conquered Sweeney in the cross tie and won the final in 9 6-10th sec from his mark of 6 yards – probably the fastest sprint ever run at Hampden.   

Sweeney qualified easing up in the second heat of the 120 yards in 11 6-10th sec, equalling RE Walker’s South Africa all-comer’s record of 27 years ago.   He just failed to hold RTE Littlejohn, Edinburgh Harriers, from four yards, in a tremendous finishing burst, also in the same time as his heat.  Robert Graham, Maryhill Harriers, turned out in the special one mile handicap and disappointed by only reaching fourth place, finishing about 30 yards behind the winner, G Andrews, Plebeian, in 4 min 27 4-10th sec.   Of course a strong breeze militated against fast times in this race.   In the inter-city one mile race, Glasgow beat Edinburgh by six yards in the slow time of 3 min 46 2-10th sec.

The other performance of real merit was the win of Jack Gifford, Bellahouston in the three miles.   He beat JC Flockhart in a great race  by three yards in the splendid time of 14 min 49 6-10th sec.   Maryhill Harriers took the honours in the team race with seven points to spare from Bellahouston Harriers.     The Scottish Women’s Select Team were fine winners of the women’s 4 x 110 yards relay race.   They returned the fast time of 52 8-10th to beat Bellahouston by ten yards.”

  It was quite a detailed report of a meeting that had six invitation events and eight open events plus two cycle races and a five-a-side tournament with all six Glasgow clubs (Queen’s Park, Rangers, Celtic, Third Lanark, Clyde and Partick Thistle) competing.

John Emmet Farrell

1937 was the first time that John Emmet Farrell appeared on the programme at Hampden – he ran in the Three Miles individual and team race where he finished second behind Laidlaw and led the Maryhill squad to victory.   No English runners this time, but there were lots of close finishes.   The following race descriptions are from the ‘Glasgow Herald’ of 7th June, 1937.

“The three miles was a keen race and the lead fluctuated many times.   First, JC Flockhart, the international cross-country champion, set the pace, and others took their turn leading the field, but the actual winner JP Laidlaw (Edinburgh Northern Harriers) waited until 60 yards from the tape and challenged JE  Farrell (Maryhill Harriers).   Runing on strongly, Laidlaw won with five yards to spare.   He held the three miles championship two years ago but sustained a serious injury last season and could not defend his title which was won by Jack Gifford (Bellahouston Harriers) .   Gifford never showed any signs of winning Saturday’s race and was a poor fourth although he will undoubtedly do better on championship day.

Result:   1.   J Laidlaw;   2.   JE Farrell;   3.   WG Black (Plebeian Harriers).   Winning Time:  14:56 2-10th.   Team Race:  1.   Maryhill 17 pts;  2.   Plebeian 17 pts.

One Mile Inter-City Relay.   Exceptionally fine form was shown by the competitors in the one mile invitation inter-city relay race between Glasgow and Edinburgh.   Murdoch’s injury weakened the Glasgow team, and W Millar of Ayr, who also has a connection with Maryhill Harriers, had to take his place.    Over the first part of the race, a half mile, Robert Graham, the Scottish mile champion and record holder, ran for Glasgow and his opponent, in the absence of JC Stothart, who was present but not fit enough to run, was Olaf Hoel, an upstanding Norwegian who is attached to Field Events Club.   Hoel accepted the task of pace-making and made the speed comparatively slow, while Graham allowed him to keep in front until the last bend.   It was there that Graham made his effort, but although he drew away momentarily, Hoel challenged powerfully, and the pair enjoyed a thrilling neck-and-neckl struggle up the back straight.   Whatever small advantage the Glasgow runner had was destroyed when JD MacKenzie took the lead against W Millar at the change-over.   MacKenzie ran out strongly,    and passed the baton to J Wilkie five yards ahead.   

DM Pearson, the Scottish champion, ran for Glasgow over the next furlong, but he made no impression on the Eastern man and WMO Rennie, the noted Glasgow University quarter mile champion, was fully five yards behind HG Giles when he started over the last lap.   Rennie now challenged his rival, however, and although Giles tried to match his pace in the straight, Rennie wore him down easily to win by six yards.   

The winning time was 3 min 39 1-10th sec.

There were only four invitation events in 1937 including a 4 x 110 women’s relay which was won by Bellahouston Harriers from Edinburgh University in 53 6-10th sec.   The Eric Liddell Trophy was won by JC Carson (Springburn Harriers) in 49 8-10th seconds.   He was off a mark of 22 yards.

*

John McGough wins the 1920 Mile from DF McNicol

The Decade between 1910 and 1919 was as we all know seriously disrupted by the War and many careers were ruined – even those that were not – eg Duncan McPhee and TR Nicolson – were severely affected and left us asking … “What if ….”   or   “If only …”    All we intend doing here is to summarise the championships and leave the questions to the reader.   They are really too big to be tackled in such coverage,   Let’s start with 1910.

The SAAA Championhips in 1910 were held at Powderhall Grounds, Edinburgh on 25th June, a cloudy day with North-West winds and there was an element of deja-vu about them..   TR Nicolson won both throws for the second time, the hammer by a margin of over 20 feet, RC Duncan went one better than in 1909 when he won both sprints, Burton (880), McPhee (Four Miles), Jack (Ten Miles) and Quinn (Three Miles Walk) repeated their success of the previous year and in the four and ten Jack and McPhee repeated their second places as did Justice in the Walk.   Ten men filled the same position as 12 months earlier and to add to the element of familiarity McGough won the Mile again.   A few words about some of the winners might be appropriate at this stage.

George Sandilands

Robert Campbell Duncan was born in Glasgow in 1881 and was a former pupil of Glasgow High School and ran for West of Scotland Harriers.   He won the SAAA 100 in both 1909 and 1910, and the 220 in 1910 and 1911; he  won the 220 at four Scoto-Irish International matches and is still the only Scot to represent GB in both 100 and 220 at two consecutive Olympic Games in 1908 and 1912.

Robert Burton was a member of Berwick and Teviotdale Harriers who won the SAAA half mile in 1908, 1909 and 1910 and won the Irish International in 1910.   He set a Scottih half mile record at Celtic Park in August 1910 and went to the Stockholm Olympics in 1912.

There is an excellent article on Nicolson, who was the undoubted star of the day – indeed one of the all-time greats of Scottish athletics in any discipline, at http://kylesathletic.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/thomas-rae-nicolson/

Results:

100 yards:  1.  RC Duncan;  2.  G Sandilands.  Time: 10.2 seconds.   220 yards:  1.  RC Duncan;  2.  W Tod.  Time: 22.8 sec.

440 Yards:  1.  GRL Anderson;  2.  R Burton.  Time: 53 sec;   880 yards:  R Burton;  2.  JT Soutter.  Time: 1:59.6

Mile: 1.  J McGough; 2.  DF McNicol.  4:32.8;  Four Miles:  1.  A McPhee;  2.  T Jack.  20:35.

Ten Miles*:  1.  T Jack;  2.  A McPhee.  53:46.4.   Three Miles Walk:  1.  R Quinn;  2.  A Justice.   22:10.4.

120 yards hurdles:   1.  GRL Anderson;  2.  GS Brock.  16 seconds

Broad Jump:  1.  FG Buchanan;  2.  G Stephen.   Distance: 20′ 11″;  High Jump: 1.  DG Campbell;  2.  J Docherty.  Height: 5′ 7.75″

Putting the Weight:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  F Macrae.  42′.   Throwing the Hammer:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  RH Lindsay-Watson.  159′ 10.5″

* Decided on 2nd April at Hawkhill Grounds, Edinburgh.

CBP in Three Miles Walk; 220 yards and 120 yards hurdles equals CBP.

James Soutter

Hampden, last used for the championships in 1902, was back in favour for the 1911 championships, held in heavy rain throughout, on 24th June.   Nicolson had his third double  success but the only other competitor to retain a title was RC Duncan in the 220 yards, otherwise it was all change.     The reason was hinted at right at the start of the ‘Glasgow Herald’ report:

“Reluctant as we are to admit the fact, it is nonetheless true that in athletics as in other sports,the Anglo-Scot is playing a very important part in making history.   Five out of eleven events were captured at Hampden Park by Scots who have gained all their athletic experience in England, and had GRL Anderson and FC Buchanan, both of Oxford University, come north to defend their titles, the number would more than likely have been increased to eight.   This is scarcely flattering to home based Scots.   Among the any meritorious performances, DF McNicol’s mile in 4 min 26 2-5th sec stands out conspicuously.   Considering the weather and track conditions this is a brilliant  effort, and we hope that it is bur a prelude to a still greater effort in the English Championships at Stamford Bridge this week.   McNicol had to make his own pace after the first quarter or the time, excellent as it is would have been several seconds faster.   He is a worthy successor to John McGough whose record of eight victories in ten years will take some beating.   The intermediate times in the Mile were:- Quarter 60 seconds;   Half mile: 2 min 7 4-5th sec; three quarter: 3 min 20 sec; and mile 4 min 26 2-5th sec.

GLC Wallach is another Anglo-Scot who had a comparatively easy win although he did not show up the deficiencies of his contemporaries to the same extent as McNicol.   He had a clear lead of 24 yards in the Four Miles over J Duffy of Edinburgh Harriers, but the general impression was that he could greatly have increased his lead if he had liked.   Wallach has a great cross-country reputation, but this is the first track title that he has won.   The holder, A McPhee, jnr, was ill and could not run.   Duffy receives a standard medal as his time was 20 min 46 sec.  

The Anglo-Scots had much greater difficulty in winning the other events.   WA Stewart (London Hospitals AC), for instance, just managed to beat RC Duncan by inches in the 100 yards; there was scarcely daylight between RA Lindsay (Blackheath Harriers) and EA Hunter (Edinburgh University) in the quarter mile, while in the three miles walk the finish in which D Trotter (Ashcombe AC) and R Quinn (Bellahouston Harriers) took part, was extremely close for a competition of the kind.   WA Stewart who won the ‘dash’ is a very quick beginner and, paradoxical as it may seem, it is nevertheless a fact that he won the race at the start.   RC Duncan, lost it at the starting point, he being slower than usual in getting into his stride.   although when he did settle down, if such a term be permissible in this connection, he tore along at a great pace, and with another yard to go might have won.   In the 220 yards he ran beautifully and had a clear advantage of three yards over WR Sutherland, the Hawick Rugby player, whose championship debut  gave promise of greater things in the near future.    ….  GRL Anderson’s absence robbed both the quarter and the 120 yards hurdle race of much of their charm.   Last year Anderson won the hurdles in 16 sec and the quarter in 53 sec.   Lindsay’s win was very popular as he had previously taken part in the 100 and 220 yards without success – he declared he was “bored” in the latter and was on the point of lodging a protest.   The half-mile was not the great race that had been expected.   It was handsomely won by JT Soutter (Aberdeen University) in 2 min 00 1-5th sec.   Burton the holder did not run with the wisdom he sometimes displays or he would never have allowed Soutter to get so far ahead.   However he had been taught a salutary lesson from which he will doubtless profit.   Even in the quarter mile the ex-champion was a little disappointing.

TR Nicolson  added to his long list of honours two more championships, and if the putting was scarcely up to the mark, the hammer throwing was quite good.   The jumping was below the standard, although by way of extenuation it should be remarked that in the broad jump the competitors were up against a strong wind, and to make matters worse, the running stretch was soaked with rain.   J Cattanach, who covered 20’11″at the Inter Varsity sports, could only spring 19′ 6″ at Hampden and can only attribute the fact that while he had the help of the wind at Anniesland, he had to face it at Hampden.   George Stephen, who lost the jump competition last season to FG Buchanan, regained it on Saturday.   In 1908 he covered 21′ 11″, and in 1909 21′ 4″, while on Saturday he was credited with 19′ 6″.   If there was nothing of a “sensational” nature in any of the events, the sport all round was most interesting and highly creditable when one bears in mind that the conditions were not helpful but rather the opposite.”

So was there such a large number of Anglos there to justify the comments at the start of the piece?   Let’s look:

the first four in the 100 yards were from London Hospital AC, West of Scotland Harriers, Edinburgh Harriers, and Blackheath Harriers.

in the mile the winner was from Polytechnic Harriers but the next three fro, domestic clubs,

the quarter was won by Lindsay of Blackheath from three Scots,

the four miles was won by Wallach in Greenock Glenpark colours from three home Scots,

From furth of Scotland there was a South African in the Shot and Hammer, GS Brock winner of the hurdles was listed as Indian Medcal Service but was originally a Clydesdale Harrier from the famous Dumbarton family,

all first four in the 220 yards, 880 yards, high jump, broad Jump, were from Scotland.

Although there were some Anglos in the heats who did not make it through to the finals, the numbers hardly seem excessive.   It is maybe the refrain that the good ones come up and win titles but are never seen up here at any other time.   The team for the Irish International contained 23 athletes of whom 5 were from English bases and Brock (India) and MN McInnes (Johannesburg Wanderers) were Scots who had been very active athletes before going abroad.

Results:

100 yards:  1.  WA Stewart;  2.  RC Duncan.  Time: 10.4 sec.   220 yards:  1.  RC Duncan;  2.  WR Sutherland.  23.4 sec

440 yards:  1.  RA Lindsay;  2.  RA Hunter.  53.4 sec.   880 yards:  1.  JT Soutter;  2.  R Burton.  Time: 2:09.4

Mile:  1.  DF McNicol;  2.  JT Soutter.   Time 4:26.4.   Four Miles:  1.  GCL Wallach;  2.  J Duffy   Time:  20:41.4

Ten Miles*:  1.  SS Watt;  2.  A Kerr.  Time: 54:56.4.   Three Miles Walk:  1.  D Trotter;  2.  R Quinn.  22:41.8

120 yards hurdles:  1.  GS Brock;  2.  EFWMackenzie.  17 seconds

Broad Jump:  1.  G Stephen;  2.  J Cattanach.   Distance: 19′ 9″   High Jump:  1.  DG Campbell;  2.  JA Conochie.    Height: 5′ 6″

Putting the Weight:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  MN McInnes.  Distance 41′ 8″.   Throwing the Hammer:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  D Rose.   Distance:  160′ 8″

* Decided on 7th April, Hampden Park.

Sam S Watt

Glasgow provided drier weather for the 1912 Championships, held this time at Ibrox Park on 15th June where there were four double event winners – Stewart in both short sprints, Soutter in the 440 and 880, Jack in the four and ten miles events and, inevitably, Nicolson in the throws.

“There have been better championship meetings than the one at Ibrox Park on Saturday, and there have been worse, if that is any consolation to the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association.   Nothing of a striking character was, in fact, developed in any of the events.   There were no records nor anything approaching record making, and the public were in consequence perhaps less appreciative than they generally are at these functions.   Allowance must of course made for the atmospheric conditions, which were of a slightly depressing nature, while the cinder path, soaked as it was owing to the overnight rains, was not conducive to speedy racing, and, to make matters worse, there was a troublesome breeze.   Taking all things into account therefore the day was the reverse of ideal for championship requirements.   The two short distances were captured by WA Stewart, who made his debut at Hampden Park 12 months ago, winning on that occasion the only race in which he had entered.   In the interval the London man has cultivated the furlong and it was patent from the comfortable way in which he beat the holder, RC Duncan, that he has made the most of the interval since the last Scottish championships.   Considerable interest was taken in HM Macintosh’s sprinting for two reasons – first because he is an old Scotch Public School boy; and second because only a week ago he was unanimously chosen by the AAA to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games.   Macintosh, in a word, confirmed all that has been written about him in English University publications.   He was only inches behind Stewart in the final of the 100 yards, the time for which was only a yard worse than  “evens” which is excellent travelling.   About the same size as JB Sweet of Glasgow University, the old Glenalmond boy is a very neat sprinter and has a vigorous finish.   

Another double winner in the flat events was JT Soutter of Aberdeen University AAA.   He had the better of R Burton for once in tactics in the half mile, while in the quarter-mile he ran the most “brainy” race that stands to his credit.   Burton, it appears, had been off-colour all week, and it is just possible that on that account Soutter had an easier task than he might otherwise have had.   All the same the Aberdonian scored two very popular victories.   The third double winner was TR Nicolson, West of Scotland Harriers, who won both Hammer and Weight.   This, however, is no novel experience for that accomplished athlete.   His powers are as virile as ever , and there is no athlete anywhere who can show a record of championship successes like that of the Kyles amateur.   T Jack, President of the SAAA, signalised his reign of office by winning the four miles in brilliant fashion.   This is the second time he has won this event, the first being in 1908 when his time was 21 min 52 2-5th sec.   Jack, it should be mentioned, was reluctant to turn out on Saturday, and it was only on the pressure of his friends that he did so.   David Trotter won the Walk for the second time and a similar distinction fell to DF McNicol in the Mile, one of the features of which was the finishing sprint of J McFarlane, of Glasgow University, whose form in this event was a revelation to many.   The jumps were not particularly good.   JHD Watson fouled his best effort, 22′, and with a sounder “take-off” it is just possible D Campbell would have cleared more than 5′ 8″.   The absence of GRL Anderson of Oxford University in the 120 yards hurdles race was a source of keen regret, for it had been fully expected that he would have given historic significance to this meeting by lowering the existing record.   

It is obvious from what happened at Ibrox Park on Saturday that the SAAA sooner or later will have to take up the subject of ground management, and it is for them to say whether the conventions of 10 or 20 years ago are suitable for today’s requirements.   We say they are not, but  this is a subject to which we hope to revert on an early date.”

Results:

100 yards:  1.  WA Stewart;  2.  HM McIntosh.  Time: 10.2 sec.   220 yards:  1.  WA Stewart;  2.  RC Duncan.  Time: 23,2 sec

440 yards:  1.  JT Soutter;  2.  RA Lindsay.   Time: 51.8.   880 yards:  1.  JT Soutter;  2.  R Burton.  2:01,8.

Mile:  1.  DF McNicol;  2.  J McFarlane.  4:31.8.   Four Miles:  1.  T Jack;  2.  GCL Wallach.  20:45.

Ten Miles*:  1.  T Jack;  2.  A Kerr.  55:21.4.     Three Miles Walk:  1.  D Trotter;  2.  CEJ Gunn.   22:19.6

120 yards hurdles:  1.  IA Clarke;  2.  W Weir.   Time:  17 seconds.

Broad Jump:  1.  JL Reid;  2=  TJ Meikle + DG Campbell.  Distance: 20′ 9″;  High Jump:  1.  DG Campbell;  2.  JA Conochie.  Height: 5’8″

Putting the Weight:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  K Maclennan.  Distance:  42′ 2″;   Throwing the Hammer:  1.   TR Nicolson;  2.  D Rose.  Distance: 158′ 3″.

* Decided on 6th April at Hawkhill Grounds, Edinburgh.

Tom Nicolson

The 1913 championships were held in Glasgow for the third successive year – and at the third ground in the time as well.    They were hosted by Celtic Park on 28th June with weather at least dry – cloudy with a strong west win read the report.   Nicolson was again in action with two doubles, as was GCL Wallach.   Nicolson and DG Campbell (high jump) were the only men to retain their titles.   There was a new event – the Tug-of-War which was won by St Rollox Surfacemen’s AC    when no other team entered.   How do you win a tug o’war when you are the only team?   The equivalent of a walk-over on the track, I assume.   It was on the programme the following year when at least two teams took part.

“As a result of the 31st annual championship meeting of the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association at Celtic Park, Glasgow, nine of the twelve honours changed hands, only the high jump and the two heavy events being retained by the previous holders.   WA Stewart, the holder of the 100 and 220 yards championships, elected to remain in London for the London Athletic Club’s meeting, and the other absent champions were T Jack, President of the SAAA, who has retired from the track, holder of the four miles, and JT Soutter of Aberdeen University AA, the quarter and half mile champion.   In throwing the hammer and putting the weight TR Nicolson had no difficulty in retaining his titles and it is recalled that his first Scottish championship was won (in the former event) on the last occasion when the championship was held at Celtic Park in 1902.   His consistency and superiority are shown by the fact that he has held the hammer championship ever since, and that he won the weight for the eighth time on Saturday.   Perhaps the most remarkable incidents of the meeting were the victories over the holders of the mile and the three miles walk by Duncan McPhee and Alex Justice respectively.   McPhee is a young runner who has recently come to the front, while Justice has gained his ambition after many years of non-success.  

In the absence of the holder it became obvious in the heats of the 100 that it would be won by HM Macintosh of Cambridge University.   Although at the time he was less than a yard ahead of JSG Collie of Aberdeen University AA he was so strong and fresh as to justify expectations of his eventual victory; but in the final he was hard pushed by RC Duncan and WR Sutherland.   This race proved to be the best of the day , Macintosh, Sutherland and Duncan running together till within six yards of the tape, when the winner’s reserve power told in his favour, bringing him home a foot in front of Duncan with whom Sutherland just failed to tie.        Collie who had run brilliantly in the 100 and 220 yards at Aberdeen a week previously, hardly justified expectations, but his failure was due at least partly to a bad start from which he never recovered; and it is possible that he also suffered from nervousness, knowing that much was expected of him.   HJ Christie was unfortunate in having to run in Macintosh’s heat, which was won in the fast time of 10 seconds, and he failed to qualify for the final.   The 220 yards in which there were only six starters instead of eleven,   was also a good race, ending in a win for WR Sutherland.   Prominent on the path for several years past, this is Sutherland’s first national honour, although he was runner-up to RC Duncan in the furlong championship two years ago.    He was chased home by RA Lindsay of Blackheath Harriers and London Athletic Club who subsequently won the quarter mile in fine style.   The hurdle race was somewhat disappointing.   Ian A Clarke, the holder, was absent and WL Hunter, Edinburgh University, would probably have won had he not taken the last hurdle too finely when he had a comfortable lead.   The finish between Patterson and Weir was very close, but  the time, 18 1-5th sec, was slow – the slowest in fact registered in the championships since 1896 , when the race was run  against a strong wind whereas on  Saturday the breeze was favourable.   It should be added however that the times generally were slow on Saturday, the one exception being the 100 yards,w which for the first time in the West of Scotland, was run on cinders.   

Though displaced in the mile, DF McNicol exchanged one title for another, by winning the half mile in which he had a margin of about 10 yards at the finish.   There were 12 starters out of an entry of 15, and the two heats were combined, the result being that the line was over-crowded at the start.   In the mile an early lead was taken by WM Crabbie who kept in front until half-distance when he was supplanted by J Lindsay, Bellahouston Harriers.   J McFarlane, who ran second to McNicol last year, was the first to cut out from the field.   The holder was in third position and McPhie with a great effort got in front of McFarlane.   McNicol dashed after him and for nearly two hundred yards the pair ran with only a foot between them but McNicol was unable to close the gap.    GCL Wallach looked like the winner of the four miles all the way, leading at each mile and eventually winning by about 50 yards.    His most formidable opponent was A Craig of Bellahouston Harriers who stuck to Wallach for fully half distance but could not maintain the pace set by the ten miles champion.   D Trotter, the holder of the walking championship, made all the pace but in the last lap Alex Justice, who had held second place all the way, spurted magnificently and won by 25 yards, WE Brown being a considerable distance in the rear.   In the broad jump A McLean, Glasgow University AC, tied with the distance registered in 1910 by FG Buchanan, Oxford University AC, and in the high jump, DG Campbell, Edinburgh University, retained the title by equalling last year’s performance.” 

The result of the walk is maybe of some interest.   The event was only re-introduced as a championship in 1904 and Robert Quinn made it his own and basically re-wrote the record books for the event.   He won the SAAA Championship every year from 1904 to 1910 inclusive with his main rival being Alex Justice of Clydesdale Harriers who was runner-up every year from 1906 to 1910 inclusive – ie five years in succession!  In 1912 he was third but in 1913 he finally won for the first time.   He was to repeat the feat the following year before the war broke out.   A third after the war in the 1919 championships made it two firsts, five silvers and two bronze medals for Alex Justice.

Results:

100 yards: 1.   HM Macintosh;  2.  RC Duncan.  Time: 10.2 seconds.   220 yards: 1. WR Sutherland;  2.  RA Lindsay.  Time: 24.4 sec

440 yards:  RA Lindsay;  2.  WR Reith.  Time:  53 seconds.   880 yards:  1.  DF McNicol;  2.  R Erskine.  Time: 2:04.8

Mile:  1.  D McPhee;  2.  DF McNicol.  Time:  4:34.   Four Miles:  1.  GCL Wallach;  2.  A Craig.   Time:  20:44

Ten Miles*:  1.  GCL Wallach;  2.  A Craig.  Time:  53:01.   Three Miles Walk:  1.  A Justice;  2.  D Trotter.   Time:  23:01

120 yards hurdles:  1.  RW Patterson;  2.  2.  W Weir.  Time:  18.6 seconds

Broad Jump:  1.  A MacLean;  2.  G Hamilton.  Distance:  20′ 11″.   High Jump:  1.  DG Campbell;  2. WL Hunter.  Height  5′ 8″

Putting the Weight:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  D Rose.  Distance: 40′ 6″.   Throwing the Hammer:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  D Rose.  Distance:  156′ 8″

Tug-of-War:  1.  St Rollox Surfacemen’s AC.   (No other team competed.)

* Decided at Celtic Park on 5th April.   Also – CBP and Scottish Native Record.

WR Sutherland’s International Cap

In 1914 Powderhall was the venue, 27th June was the date, and the weather on the day was bright with only light winds.   The athletes obliged with one Scottish Native Record (broad jump) and four Championship Best Performances.  There was a triple winner in WL Hunter who took both jumps and the 120 yards hurdles, Nicolson of course had a double win (what would he have done had there been a discus as well as shot and hammer?) Lindsay won 220 and 440 yards races, McPhee won the half and the mile, and Hunter won both jumps.   Five titles went south of the border including all three sprints.

“As a result of the 32nd annual meeting of the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association held at Powderhall Grounds in Edinburgh on Saturday seven of the 13 events on the programme changed hands.   Six of the previous holders, however, did not defend their titles, the only champion actually beaten during the afternoon being GCL Wallach who in the four miles was obliged to finish second to James Wilson.   This number of events mentioned includes, it is necessary to mention, the tug of war.   Last year, when this competition was instituted, the St Rollox Surfacemen had a walk-over, the Leith Police AC and FC team failing to appear.   On Saturday the latter club, in the absence of the holders, enjoyed the equivalent of a bye in the first round and later defeated the Edinburgh University Irish team by two pulls to nil, after the Western Amateurs had succumbed to the local men by a similar score.

In the 100 yards, HM Macintosh, Cambridge University AC, who won the event for the first time at Celtic Park last year, had little difficulty in retaining his title.   A close race between Macintosh and JSG Collie of Aberdeen University AA was anticipated, but the Anglo-Scot proved the better runner all the way, finishing almost a yard ahead o Collie.    For third place there was a hard struggle between RN Gibson, Edinburgh University AC, and AH Goodwin, Maryhill Harriers, and the officials were reluctant to decide between the pair.   The race was run against a strong wind which accounts for the slow time of 10 4-5th seconds, and it is possible that under different weather conditions Collie , who at the Inter-University sports the previous Saturday was returned at 10 1-5th sec, might have done better.   Collie defeated Macintosh in the second heat of the 220 yards, but by virtue of being the fastest second in the heats, the 100 yards champion qualified for the final, in which however he could only finish in third place, the race being won by RA Lindsay in the excellent time of 22 4-5th sec.   Collie who finished second, had the better of the argument for 200 yards when Lindsay’s staying powers prevailed, the Blackheath and London Scottish man gaining the verdict by half a yard.   There were 12 competitors in the quarter mile, which was divided into two heats.   Times were slow in both heats the first of which was won by FG Black, a runner who made a favourable impression at Craiglockhart; while the second heat provided an easy win for HJ Christie, Bellahouston Harriers.   JM Davie, Stewart’s College, who ran second to Black in the heat, made the pace in the final, being followed by RA Lindsay who was third in his heat.   As in the furlong Lindsay proved his powers in the straight, getting home two yards in front of Davie with Black third.   

Duncan McPhee, West of Scotland Harriers, gained his second Scottish championship in the half mile, in which he was two yards ahead of Ralph Erskine, (Glasgow University AC and Clydesdale Harriers), with another Glasgow runner, G Dallas (Maryhill Harriers) third.   DF McNicol, the holder was an absentee and of the 10 programmed runners, only six turned out.   At half distance, McPhee , who had led from the start, was displaced by his clubmate W Anderson; but the mile champion stuck close behind and although subsequently challenged by CS Thomas of the the New Zealand  AAC and London Athletic Club, he got to the front in the straight, and won as stated.   All of the competitors were outside of the standard of 2 min 3 sec, the strong wind accounting for the slow times.   The first quarter occupied no less than 65 1-5th sec, the second being done in one minute exactly.   McPhee was again seen at his best in the Mile in which he stalled off the challenge of WM Crabbie, Edinburgh Academicals, and retained his title.  

Perhaps the most surprising result of the afternoon’s proceedings as that of the four miles race, in which Wallach was unexpectedly beaten by James Wilson.   Eleven turned out and the pace was made by Wilson, Wallach following.    The champion took the lead at the first mile, and retained the position most of the way.   Half a lap from home, Wilson drew level and in a strenuous finish, Wallach found himself unable to hold Wilson, who crossed the tape with a five yard lead.   The strong wind told against the pace in the three mile walk, in which Alexander Justice, Clydesdale Harriers, was successful for the second year, and in which he was without a serious rival.   At the championship meeting last year, Justice defeated the holder, D Trotter of Ashcombe AC by 25 yards, but on Saturday he had over a lap in hand at the finish.    

The broad and high jumps and the hurdles provided a triple victory for WL Hunter, Edinburgh University AC, who has not previously held a Scottish championship, but who is probably the most versatile of present day amateur athletes.    TR Nicolson, West of Scotland Harriers had no difficulty in retaining his titles.   His victory in the hammer made him champion for the thirteenth consecutive time, while in putting the weight  he had won the premier honours on eight previous occasions.”   

Reference has been made to Henry Maitland Macintosh in 1912, 1913 and 1914 and he had been called the best Scottish sprinter of the immediate pre-war days.   Born in Kelso in 1892, the son of an Episcopal clergyman, he went to Glemalmond and the to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge where his running career began to take off..   He won the Freshman’s 100 with 12.8 in 1912 and a year later was elected President of the Cambridge University Athletic Club.   He won the Oxford v Cambridge 100 in 1913 as well as the SAAA 100 that year and in 1914.   He had run on the Continent in 1913 doing 10.7 and 22.1 in Vienna on 27th July and a few days later ran 9.8 for 100.   His really big moment however had been at the Stockholm Olympics on 1912 in which as a member of the GB 4  x  100m team he won a gold medal.    He was one of many who failed to survive the war, dying of wounds received in action in July 1918.

Results :

100 yards:  1.  HM Macintosh;  2.  JSG Collie.  Time:  10.8 sec.   220 yards:  1.  RA Lindsay;  2.  JSG Collie.  Time:  22.8 sec

440 yards:  1.  RA Lindsay;  2.  JM Davie.  Time: 52.2 sec.   880 yards:  1.  D McPhee;   2.  R Erskine.   Time: 2:05.2

Mile:  1.  D McPhee;  2.  WM Crabbie.  Time: 4 min 37.2.   Four Miles:  1.  J Wilson;  2.  GCL Wallach.   Time: 20:30

Ten Miles*:  1.   GCL Wallach;  2.  G Cummings.  Time 52:48.6.   Three Miles Walk:   1.  A Justice;  2.  H Melvin.  Time: 23:45.2

120 yards hurdles:  1.  WL Hunter;  2.  JA Stegmann.  Time: 15.4 seconds

Broad jump:  1.  WL Hunter;  2.  LG Allan.  Distance: 23′ 2.5″;  High jump:  1.  WL Hunter;  2.  MP Inglis.   Height: 5′ 8.5″

Putting the Weight:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  JG McLeod.  Distance:  41′ 8″.     Throwing the Hammer:  1.  TR Nicolson;  2.  D Rose.   Distance:  161′ 8″

Tug of War:  1.   Leith Police AC and FC.   2.  Edinburgh University Irish AC

* Decided on 4th April at Hawkhill Grounds, Ednburgh’; CBP and Scottish Native Record.

Broad Jump: CBP and Scottish Native Record and Scottish Native Record

120 yards hurdles: CBP – following wind.

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NO Championship between 1914 and 1919

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Many thanks to Alex Wilson for almost all of the photographs on this page.

120 hurdles CBP

Powderhall Grounds: Venue for first two championships

The first Scottish Championships of the amateur era were held at Powderhall Grounds in Edinburgh on 23rd June 1883.   There was a total of 90 entrants  and “Fifty Years of Athletics” tells us that it was an athletic and financial success.   Top man on the day was WA Peterkin, a rugby international, of Edinburgh University Club who won both 100 yards (10 1/2 seconds) and 440 yards (51 3/4 seconds) and took silver in the Putting the Weight with 38′ 9″.   K Whitton (Edinburgh University) won the latter and also took second place in the Hammer (93′ 2″).   Other double medallists were J Smith who was second in the 100 yards and second equal in the high jump, T Moffat who won the half-mile (2:0.75) and second in the 440 yards and AR Don Wauchope (Fettesians and another outstanding rugby man) who was second in the 120 yards hurdles and in the Throwing the Cricket Ball (105 yds 2 ft 6 in).  DA Bethune of the Established Church Training College won the Broad Jump which he retained in 1884.   There were 12 events – 100 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards, One Mile, 120 yards hurdles, Three Miles Walk, Broad Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault, Putting the Weight, Throwing the Hammer and Throwing the Cricket Ball.

WA Peterkin: winner of the inaugural 100 and 440 yards

1883 Results

There had been what were called championship events before this organised by bodies such as the various Highland Games and Gatherings of various sorts and of course the longest continuous sports meeting on the calendar (certainly in the west of the country), the various school sports: Royal High School 1864, Merchiston Castle 1866, Glasgow Academy 1868 and Fettes College 1874.   Several Scots had competed in the English Championships but they were almost all from the University or Old Boys clubs that were to be founders of the SAAA.  The meeting of 1883 was the first of a series of official championships that is still running.   For a brief period the dispute with the Clydesdale Harriers led to parallel championships being held in 1895 and 1896.

Hampden Park: Venue for 31 Championships and 21 out of 22

The second championships were held at the same venue but with  one fewer events, the Throwing the Cricket Ball having been dispensed with.    Titles were retainedby DS Duncan (Mile), J Harvie (Walk), DA Bethune (Broad Jump), G Hodgson (Pole Vault)  and K Whitton (Putting the Weight).   Conditions were described as “Light easterly wind.   Fast track.”   “Fifty Years of Athletics” tells us that Best Championship Performances were set in five events.   The Putting the Weight winning distance of 41′ 9″ was a CBP; the 120 yards Hurdles time of 16 3/5th seconds was equalled in 1889 but lasted longer than that; the Three Miles Walk time of 23 min 16 sec was a CBP and a Scottish Native Record ; the 440 yards time of 51 1/5th sec was a CBP and a Scottish Record and the 100 yards time of 10 sec was a CBP (equalled in 1895) up to 1913 and a Scottish Native Record from 1913 (it was equalled in 1924, 1925, 1929, 1930 and 1932).   The winner of the 100 yards, James John Milroy Cowie, had been born in Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, but his family moved to Kent when he was three.   By 1883 he was already a top-class runner: a meber of London AC he had won the AAA’s 100 yards and 440 yards in 10.2 and 51.0 seconds.   His Scottish record stood for 51 years.

1884 Results

The Championships came to the west of the country on 27th June, 1885, when they were held at Westmarch, Paisley.   Westmarch was the home of St Mirren FC from 1883 to 1894.   St Mirren of course was one of many football clubs that organised their own annual sports.   Westmarch was said to have two pitches, a grandstand and a pavilion so it would have been eminently suitable for the championships.      Conditions were described as being warm with light variable winds.   DS Duncan won the Mile (5 min 01 2/5th sec) for the third successive year and in the field events K Whitton had his hat-trick of Putting the Weight victories (41′ 6″).   He was also the only competitor with two golds, winning the Hammer with 100′ 5 3/4″.    There was only one CBP and that was in the Broad Jump where JW Parsons leapt 21′ 9 1/2 “.  Parsons was also second in the high jump with 5′ 6″.     Parsons had been competing for many years as a member of EUAC and Fetessians-Lorettonians and had medals at the AAA’ sChampionships inaugural meeting but his real big day was in June 1883 when he won the AAA’s High Jump with  6′ 0.25″  but also won the Long Jump with 23′ 0.25″.   Wonderful performances but he didn’t catch the Scotish record which was set by Tom Vallance (Rangers FC and later Clydesdale Harriers) in 1881 at 21′ 11”.    RH Morison won three medals in 1885 – third in the 100 yards, second in the 440 yards and second in the 880 yards, won by J Logan in 2 min 03 3/5th sec.

JW Parsons: Broad Jump Champion, 1885,  Broad Jump and High Jump Champion, 1886

1885 Results

There was one change – Clydesdale Harriers had been founded on 4th May, 1985, just over a month beforehand and that was to have an efect on the future of the championships.

Augustus Grant Asher: winner of the Pole Vault 1885, 1886

There was a new event added to the championships in 1886, the ten miles championship.   For obvious reasons it was not held at the championships proper but included in a meeting at Powderhall Grounds on 28th June – two days after the championships which were also at Powderhall.   The results of the championship first.

1886 Results

The winner of the new event was AP Findlay of Clydesdale Harriers who was the reigning Cross-Country Champion.  He came from Ayr and was a notoriously tough competitor.   He was the only finisher in the event.   There were other Clydesdale Harriers competing – T Blair, J Caw, A Brown, A Vallance, JT Ward were among the first three in their events.

DS Duncan: winner of five SAAA Mile titles, including the first four-in-a-row!

Yet another event was added in 1887 – the Four Miles Championship which was decided on the day of the actual championship meeting.   The meeting was held on25th June at Hampden Park and the Ten Miles was he;ld just two days later in Edinburgh at Powderhall.   AP Findlay, the stonemason from Ayr  won both.    The championships were now becoming established but there were several differences that a modern spectator would notice straight away.   First of all, only two medals were awarded instead of the now customary three and the only time given was that of the winner.   Some of the biggest differences were in the field events.   In the Pole Vault for instance, the pole was of ash or hickory wood, rigid and often broke – as it did in the first championship.    It was very poorly supported and intially only appeared in the championship for seven years before being dropped after there were no competitors at all in 1890.    John Keddie in his centenary history of the SAAA describes the high jump technique as follows: “Jumpers like Parsons would approach the bar straight on, tuck their knees up to their chest and thus, hopefully, sail over.    By this method quite lng distances were also jumped!”    The Hammer was at that time thrown from a 9′ circle rather than from the 7′ circle that was used from the early 20th century.

That open athletics had arrived was indicated by the number of Clydesdale Harriers among the medallists – Logan, Findlay, Henderson, Brown, McCulloch and Ward all being members of the club.

 1887 Results

*Decided on 27^th June at Powderhall

Having all the championships in the one weekend is nearly always a good idea but when you see Findlay racing a four miles on the Saturday in Glasgow and then travelling to Powderhall two days later for the ten miles, you maybe have to wonder.   However the situation was soon to change and in 1888 the ten miles was held in April.

John Blane

In 1888 the championships took place at Powderhall on 23rd June when conditions were fairly good – dry with a slight wind.

1888 Results

*Decided on 7^th April at Powderhall

Clydesdale Harriers were by now the biggest club in the land – Edinburgh Harriers had followed their example and appeared on the scene in September 1885 and were followed a year or so later by West of Scotland Harriers but Clydesdale was the biggest by far.   The winners of the threedistance events – They were particularly prominent in the distance events with Blane, Logan, Findlay and Hannah being significant athletes.    Blane was a Kilmarnock man who was a successful racing cyclist before he turned to athletics where he had a short but outstanding career winning championships and setting records at National level.    1888 was his best year when he was one of three men attempting to break the 4:30 barrier for the mile but his best attempt was 4:30.2 in July before DS Duncan cracked it in September  with 4:28.   Findlay won the Ten Miles for the third successive year and DS Duncan had two seconds, in the Mile and in the Ten Miles – but he had not yet finished winning the Mile championship.

1889 Results

The 1889 Championships were held at Hampden Park on 22nd June when the weather conditions were reported as Warm with light breezes.

* Decided on 12th April at Hampden

 It was a good championship at least insofar as records were concerned – the Mile, Four Miles, 120 yards hurdles and Pole Vault were all CBP’s and Four Miles and PV were both Scottish Native Records.    The distance races were the preserve of Clydesdale Harriers members with Mitchell, Pennycook, McWilliam and Hannah all being club members but two names stand out in the list of winners – K Whitton and JL Greig in the jumps.

Kenneth McLennan Whitton was a footballer with St George’s FC and later on joined Edinburgh Harriers. He was the first Scot to putt beyond 13 metres.   He had competed in the 1883 championships and won it again in ’84 and ’85 before coming first again in 1889.   After his competitive career was over he became President of the SAAA in 1932 and a life vice-president until his death in 1947.   He was also first Scottish record holder in the Hammer which he threw 100′ 5.75″ in 1885  which he improved to 103′ in 1890.   James Lewis  Greig was another Fettes man who was very versatile, competing successfully in the sprints, the hurdles and the jumps.   He won the hurdles and long jump twice for Cambridge in their annual contest with Oxford but his most unusual feat was in 1889 when he won three events at the SAAA Championships.   Never setting a Scottish record for any of the events, he was second best ever when he long jumped 22′ 7.75″.   Charles Pennycook was another very ineresting character who went on to become President of the SAAA.

Andrew Hannah

1890 Results

 * Decided on 4th April at Powderhall

This championship was held on 21st June, 1890, at Powderhall Grounds on a day said to be warm with south to south west breeze.   The following report in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ is commendable for its brevity, its attention to the actual facts of the matter and coverage of the entire event:

100 yards Challenge Cup: Holder RA Taylor, EUAC, Scottish record 10 seconds.      First Heat.   1st NC Macleod, GUAC, 2nd EE Maley, Celtic FC.   Times 11 sec.   Run in the teeth of the wind, won by two yards from Maley who in turn  beat GH Allan, St George’s FC by a yard.  The other starter was GW Cullen, GUAC.   Second Heat.   1st T Blair, QPFC, 2nd GT Ward, CH, time 11 2-5th secs.   Also ran R Wilson, EUAC, KF Thomson, Larchfield AC, D Wright, Abercorn FC, won by a yard and a half.   Final: 1st Macleod, 2nd Blair.   Considerable delay was caused through Macleod’s restiveness.   At length the pistol was fired.   Macleod had such a distinct advantage that he had no difficulty in breaking the tape first, but the start was deemed so unsatisfactory by Mr Davidson that no race was declared and the men were ordered to run again later on.   On the second attempt the starter again had difficulty in getting his men away.  Macleod’s strength and pace pulled him through, the Glasgow University man coming away twenty yards from the tape and winning by a yard and a half, a half yard separating Blair from Maley who was third.”

All events were covered in similar fashion.

JD McIntosh

1891 Results

 * Decided 2nd April at Hampden

The championships in 1891 were decided in Glasgow at Hampden on 20th June.   One to watch was James D McIntosh of the West End Amateur Rowing Club and Edinburgh Harriers who would go on to win the Hammer event six times and the Shot six times as well, doing the double five times!    He was to set a record of 117′ 03″ in 1897 throwing from a 9′ circle.   Andrew Hannah would ultimately have seven ten mile titles to his name as well as four four miles championships.   For the championships, DS Duncan won the Mile for the fifth time.   It will be noted that there was no Pole Vault this time and the event was dropped after several years of little support, no competitor took part in 1890.    The high jump must also have been at some risk – one competitor in 1890 and none in 1891 was not a good sign.

1892 Results

 * Decided on 24th March at Powderhall

The championships were held in 1892 in Dundee – at the Carolina Port Grounds which had been opened in 1891and was the first major venue in the city.   It was the home of Dundee FC for a number of years.   A quick glance at the results indicates that there was a new event on the schedule – the 220 yardsmade its appearance and, if we substitute the three miles for the four, then the track events are starting to look more like the modern championships.

Hugh Barr, Clydesdale Harriers winner of the Long Jump 7 times as well as the 100 yards once.

The 1893 championships were spectacular in terms of the quality of the champions – including the new champions – who appeared at Hampden on 17th June.   the great Alf Downer who was to do the ‘triple triple’ (three sprints every year for three years), Hugh Barr who went on to win the broad jump seven times, Andrew Hannah who won the Mile, Four Miles and Ten Miles, John Gow of Rangers FC and Clydesdale Harriers who won the hurdles and JD McIntosh in both throws events.   The following report is from the ‘Glasgow Herald’ of 19th June.

“Gathering together the outstanding features of Saturday’s championship meeting, we first of all come to the triple victory of Mr AR Downer of the Edinburgh Institution in the 100 yards, the 220 yards and the quarter.   This is a unique achievement.   In 1891, BC Green, London Athletics Club, won the 120 yards hurdles and broad jump, and while these performances no doubt represent greater versatility than Downer’s, still the latter’s triple victory over graduated distances is in our opinion the more meritorious.   Downer would have done good time in the 100 and 220 yards had he been pressed; as it is, his performances are very creditable, and there can be no doubt that he is head and shoulders the finest sprinter Scotland has yet turned out.   D McCulloch was weak in the 100 yards, weaker still in the 220 yards – a distance over which he was supposed to be invincible – and he threw away the quarter in a by a display of judgment unpardonable in a runner of his years and experience.   Downer will make a capital quarter miler with some additional training.   So also will HA Mollison, Glasgow University AC.   He ran well on Saturday and were he trained on the same scientific principles as Downer he would easily become as great a runner.   Strong physical assertiveness is the distinguishing characteristic of Downer’s running, and that, combined with boundless confidence, has given him the high position he now holds.

The half-mile was the best race of the day, and both Malcolm and Hindle distinguished themselves.    It was a close finish, and the time – 2 min 1 4-5th sec – is consistent with their handicap running all season.   AR Muir finished inside standard, 2 min 3 sec.   Andrew Hannah carried off two championships, the one and four miles.   In the former, he beat Milroy in the sprint and in the latter, he shook off Robertson the same way and won, the times being 4 min 36 and 21 min 36 sec.   If Milroy could only sprint, he would be the best mile runner in Scotland.   By next year perhaps this defect will be put right.

The walk is played out and should be abolished.

One of the best performances of the day was AL Graham’s high jump of 5′ 8″.   Only once has this been surpassed and that was in 1886 when JW Parsons, Fettes College, did 5′ 8″.   The long jumping was disappointing.   Guthrie was reported to have done 22′ in practice, while Hugh Barr, Clydesdale Harriers, on Thursday did 21′ 9″.   The former fell off terribly as all he could do was 19′ 4″; Barr however covered 20′ 0.5″ and thus won the championship, while AL Graham was second with 19′ 4.75″.   It should be kept in mind that all the jumping was done in the face of a stiffish breeze.   The Saturday previous Barr did 20′ 3.5″, a performance which in face of the fact that he had no ‘previous performance’ to give, we felt justified in characterising as a remarkable jump for one who was ostensibly a beginner.   We are informed however that Barr was quite  entitled to rank as a novice, as he had not jumped since he left school, not even once in practice.   JR Gow’s hurdle win was very popular.

Only one record was broken on Saturday and that was in the matter of attendance, the gate and stands realising £233.   Two years ago when the championships were held at Hampden, the gate and stands yielded £120.  

It is an interesting fact, and one that we have more than once commented on, that the sport at evening meetings is more inspiring than that witnessed at Saturday gatherings.   This easily explained.   Our athletes do their training after business hours, and it therefor comes more natural to them to run in the evening than in the afternoon.   A careful analysis of athletics bears out the fact that better performances are done at evening meetings than at Saturday gatherings.   At the West of Scotland Harriers Monday meeting of last week for example, W Malcolm did a capital 1000 yards performance breaking a record which had stood since 1890, his time being 2 mins 27 secs or 2 1-5th secs better than McMichael’s record.    The half-mile too produced an excellent finish, about a score entering the home straight in a cluster, and the winner’s time, though fast, might have been accomplished by both Malcolm and Hindle had they not preferred to husband their strength for the extra 120 yards necessary to complete the 1000 yards.   The 100 yards heats were closely contested , Hugh Barr winning the first prize very cleverly; while the quarter mile running was the best we have seen for some time.”

It’s a long report and covers the meeting of the previous Monday but I felt that it gave an interesting insight into the athletics of the period.   Incidentally, the comments on evening running being more natural and therefor better in quality, raises the question – why not hold the championships in the evenings???   The results:

* Decided 27th March at Hampden Park 

Hugh Welsh: Mile and Half-Mile champion in the 1890s

The 1894 championships were held on 23 June at Powderhall on a rainy day – the first since the event had begun in 1883 – and the Three Mile Walk had been taken from the programme.   Tha made it three events removed from those contested – throwing the cricket ball, the pole vault and now the walk – and three had been added – the 220 yards, the Four Miles and the Ten Miles.    The results from 1894 were

 * Decided 2nd April at Powderhall

Downer won his second triple and, despite the comments the previous year, McCulloch took three second places, McIntosh took both throws and Hannah won both long distance races.   The ‘Glasgow Herald’ was now reporting the championships in detail and it makes interesting – on Downer for instance it says, “As we pointed out last Monday, sprinting at present provides little interest compared with what it did some time ago, because at present only one man is prominent and he alone was expected to carry off last Saturday’s events.   AR Downer came up to expectations.     He repeated last year’s performance by putting the triple event to his credit.    He had both short races in hand all the way, and won easily. … Great excitement attended the quarter mile race.   Downer having captured the other two events, some anxiety existed as to whether he would repeat his form of last year.   He used great judgment in his effort, allowing the rest to make the pace, until the half the distance had been covered, when he came away with a great finish nd won easily.   R Mitchell, who was fancied, proved his strongest opponent but drew up six yards from the line when he saw Downer was winning.”

The results in the table show a Mile time which was one whole minute – fifteen seconds a lap – slower than the previous year.   The average lap speed being 84 seconds, almost exactly the same as lap times for the Four Miles!   In reality they were going slower than that – the last lap was run in 54 seconds so the first three must have been in 94 seconds each.   The report tells us that the winner had previously run 4:31.4 at the West sports, and also comments that Duffus led through the first mile in the longer race in 4:59.2 “which was 36 4-5th faster than Rodger took in the Mile.”

Fortunately the crowd was ‘a mere handful’ because of the weather because the report ended with the comment that “viewed as a whole, the sport of Saturday cannot claim an important place in the annals of Scottish championship meetings.”