Uncategorized – Page 33 – Anent Scottish Running

1930 Empire Games

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Admin

The first British Empire Games were held in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada between 16th and 23rd August in 1930 with a total of 400 competitors. They were a great success and many of their innovations were adopted by the Olympic movement which watched this new competition with interest. eg there hd never been a podium for the awards to be presented while the flag was unfurled for the winner. The Olympics had the flags, but no podium and they first used a podium in 1932. Where did the British Empire Games come from? What were their origins? My main source for what follows in “the Commonwealth Games” by Brian Oliver, although other sources have also been consulted.

Bobby Robinson, above, was born in Peterborough, Ontario in 1888 and was an important figure in the newspaper business and a well connected businessman. He was known as a dynamic and aggressive campaigner who in 1929 first set out his plans for the Games. He and a fellow businessman, Howard Crocker, had been discussing ways to get their athletes more and better competition and Crocker had mentioned the Festival of Empire held in London in 1911 for King George V’s coronation; he also mentioned the ‘Pan Britannic Festival of Culture and Sport’ dreamt up by J Astley Cooper in the early 1890’s. Robinson liked what he had heard and is said to have begun planning from then for the Empire Games.

He was further spurred on by the perceived treatment of Canadian athletes at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. Mainly by the Americans and Germans. When Percy He was interviewed by the Toronto Star writer Lou Marsh who reported that “as a result of the dominance, real or imagined, by Germany and America at the Olympic meet, … Robinson finally boiled over and, after consultation with other Canadian officials, met representatives of the other British teams.” Among his complaints were the Williams incident mentioned above, the fact that the Americans were allowed to train on the Olympic track while the Canadians were not, a disputed verdict in the women’s 100m which was given to the Americans when Canadians thought it should go the other way, and a direct insult by Avery Brundage of America to a Canadian official. These comments of course only added fuel to the fire of rivalry between the two nations, and , maybe unfortunately, the official correspondence preceding the Hamilton meeting has been lost.

However, in January 1929, Robinson asked the Hamilton city fathers for $25,000 to run the Games and a further $150,000 to build the stadium and other facilities. Other countries came on board, not without difficulty and the main supporters of Australia, England and New Zealand all stated their intention to be present. In the event, there were 11 nations present.

The sports included athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, and wrestling. The opening ceremonies and many events were held at the Civic stadium in east Hamilton. The games were opened by the Governor General of Canada, Lord Willingdon on the 16 August. As at the Olympic Games, the competitors all marched in behind their national flag but the whole parade was led in by the Union Jack as an indication that they were all part of the British Empire. the oath taken by Percy Williams, on the flag, on behalf of the athletes was “From many parts of the British Empire, we are here assembled as amateur athletes to compete in friendly competition. We pledge our best endeavours to uphold the honour of our country and the glorious traditions of British Sportsmanship.”

Once the games started, Scotland won 17 medals – 2 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze which placed them fourth behind England (61), Canada (54) and South Africa (17) but ahead of New Zealand (9) and Australia (8). Not bad. There was only one athletics medal – gold for the marathon by Dunky Wright. There was also a gold, a silver and a bronze from boxing, bronze from bowls and finally two silvers and three bronzes from swimming.

The team at departure

Events and Scottish placings John Astley Cooper

Willie Carmichael

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Admin

Willie Carmichael

Willie Carmichael was very influential in Scottish athletics for several decades and yet his name is hardly known in current sporting circles. His career in the sport began in 1921 as a member of Edinburgh Northern Harriers before helping set up Canon Amateur Sporting Club in 1922. He was also a a champion wrestler who went on to manage the Scottish team at the 1934 Empire Games, and such was his involvement with that movement that he he was honoured with an OBE in 1971. He had energy in abundance, a vision equalled by few and was a great servant of Scottish athletics.

1922, Hawkhill. W Carmichael of Edinburgh Northern Harriers

In 1922 at the age of 17, Willie, who had started in athletics a year earlier in 1921 with Edinburgh Northern Harriers, was a founder member of Canon ASC . Although a runner, he was also already a committee man and, representing the club, he was the second man to hold the post of secretary of the East District Cross Country League (which was established in 1924) from 1926 . It was a post he held until 1928 when he went off to India to work. On his return two years later, he became League President from 1930 t0 1934, still as a member of Canon. 1934 was a significant year for Willie: when Canon ASC became Edinburgh Eastern Harriers he was a founder member; and in that same year he was manager of the Scottish wrestling team at the Empire Games in London. The Scottish Amateur Wrestling Association was formed in 1931. By 1938 Kenneth Whitton was President and Willie Carmichael Secretary of SAWA and they were joint team managers at the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney, Australia. (Kenneth Whitton was also an athlete and athletics historian who made several contributons to the official 50th anniversary history of the SAAA). Willie was very active in both sports simultaneously and by 1938, at the age of 36, already had experience of three Empire Games.

Final, Thomas Young Cup. W Carmichael v J Cropper (winner) 1932

As an elected member of the SAAA, he was automatically on the East District Committee of which he was Secretary from 1937 to 1951. President of the Scottish Cross-Country Union in 1937/38, he is better known for his work with the cross-country side of the sport before the War in 1939. The War started in 1939 and athletics was the least of anybody’s problems with the sport on a back burner until 1946.

Even the War couldn’t hinder his interest in the sport. Betwen 1944/45, while Director of Salvage for Northern Ireland, he was a member of the NIAAA committee and chaired the meeting of North and South which formed the Irish Amateur Athletic Board.

Medal for winning the Canon ASC v Kirkcaldy YMCA 2 Miles.

After the War Willie is better known for his work in track and field athletics. He remained on the East District and SAAA Committees and hard as he worked there, he still found time to serve the sport in a multitude of ways. For instance in August 1947 it was decided to publicise the ‘Enterprise Scotland Exhibition’ by organising an Edinburgh to London Relay. There were 26 runners involved and it was a mammoth undertaking – the logistics of providing transport, food, lodgings, etc were difficult enough but there were the added complications of ‘glad handing’ local dignitaries in every town and city they passed through and feeding information and publicity to the Press. The team manager was Willie Carmichael. He wrote about it in the ‘Scots Athlete’ magazine of October/November 1947 where, although he does not make it sound exceptional, it really was a first class piece of organisation and management.

Edinburgh Eastern Harriers, winners of Heriot Athletic Trophy

‘Braw Lads’ Challenge Shield for Mile Relay Race at Galashiels.Braw Lads Sportr

Willie Carmichael, President

That magazine made a point of covering the top athletics meetings of the day in detail – the Rangers Sports, the Glasgow Police and the Edinburgh Highland Games being the major ones. In the June 1947 issue, below the accompanying photograph, it noted:

“William Carmichael (Hon Sec, Eastern District, SAAA) is doing his utmost to make Edinburgh a great centre for amateur athletics. He is responsible for the big 14th June meeting at New Meadowbank, and Edinburgh Corporation Highland Games on Saturday 19th July at Murrayfield.”

Willie worked for the Lighting and Cleansing Department and had organised, among other things, the Edinburgh Lighting and Cleansing Department Open Meetings. When the Edinburgh Highland Games started out in 1947, who better to organise them than Willie Carmichael: I quote from the September, 1949, issue of the Scots Athlete:

A Bouquet for Edinburgh

W Carmichael who was the guiding light in this promotion once again proved his great flair for organising and it was grand to see such a resounding success. The hard-working Eastern District Secretary has the gift of imagination and believes in doing things on a big scale. For instance the appearance of Arthur Wint and Fanny Blankers-Koen would alone have drawn the crowd. But an invitation was also extended to a select British team of athletes and cyclists; and what a team Jack Crump had with him. ………….. But at the end of the day in attempting to recapture once more the highlights of the meeting, perhaps the most striking feature of all was the magnificent enthusiasm of the spectators. The warm sportsmanship of the Edinburgh audience remains a fragrant memory”.

Willie was not just an administrator either although he organised the Edinburgh Games for a total of 31 years. He was a Grade One Judge for all three disciplines of track, jumps and throws and officiated latterly as referee at meetings big and small. eg he officiated at the Rangers Sports from at least 1950 to 1962. In 1948 he worked at the London Olympics as a track judge and as a wrestling judge. He thus officiated as a Judge or official at Scottish open, District, National and International events on the track and over the country. He also officiated on the Edinburgh to Glasgow eight-man road relay. As a reward for his work with the SAAA he was elected President in 1953.

Mr Carmichael centre with Local Authority officials from the North of England

Not only was the man active on the Scottish stage, in 1952 he was a Scottish representative on the British Amateur Athletic Board – this was a three year appointment and it coincided ith his election as President of the SAAA.

So far Willie had had a good career in athletics, but the best was yet to come for Scottish athletics from Willie Carmichael. SAAA triple jump champion Graham MacDonald recalls that as a young competitor in the 1960’s, ” I remember Willie when he was competing in the East District Championships at what was then called New Meadowbank. That was the track constructed next to the Meadowbank Speedway Track used by Edinburgh Monarchs. All gone of course when the Commonwealth Games stadium was built for the 1970 Games. I didn’t know who he was but he looked very dapper and important in his Blue Blazer with a Commonwealth Games badge and wearing a soft hat. Later I realised who he was and at one meeting I overheard him saying to another official ‘we can do it you know’. I guess he was referring to the 1970 Games and I think that he was a driving force if not the main driving force behind Edinburgh’s bid.”
At that time Willie had been Chairman of the the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland from 1950 to 1955 and followed that with Secretary of the Council. He would hold that post from 1956 to 1979. Willie was General Team Manager for the Vancouver Games in 1954 when Joe McGhee won the dramatic marathon and Bannister defeated Landy in the Mile. There is a little-known story of delay of the return home flight while repairs were carried out to an engine and Willie took the whole team to the pictures. ‘Three Coins in the Fountain’ was the film. would probably inspire many and probably sharpened Willie’s desire to have the Games in Scotland. The ‘hard-working East District secretary with a gift of imagination’ and who ‘believes in doing things on a large scale‘, as Emmet Farrell had it in 1947 was about to tackle his biggest task yet.

The Commonwealth Games in 1970 was an undertaking the likes of which had never been seen in Scotland before: there had been two Olympic Games held in London in times of genuine austerity when Britain took on the Games at short notice, and the Empire Games had been held in London in 1934 and Cardiff in 1958, but they had never been held in Scotland. Willie and Lord Provost Herbert Brechin fought hard to get the Games to Edinburgh. It was not just one bid that they tendered. I quote from the ‘Official History of the IXth British Commonwealth Games’:

“Scotland’s wish to be considered as a host country was presented to the British Commonwealth Games Federation in General Assembly at Melbourne in 1956, at Cardiff in 1958, at Rome in 1960, Perth, Australia, in 1962 (when Scotland was defeated in its quest by Jamaica by a vote of 17 to 16), at Tokyo in 1964, and eventually, successfully, by 18 votes to 11, over New Zealand at Jamaica in 1966, for the 1970 or IXth Games. There the case for Scotland was presented by the Rt Hon Sir Herbert Brechin, then Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and Mr W Carmichael Honorary Secretary of the British Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, and supported by Councillor Magnus J Williamson (Edinburgh Corporation), and Messrs P Heatly, GA Hunter and DM Wright (Council for Scotland).”

Statisticians Colin Shields and Arnold Black say in their book

“This was not at all just some happy accident. Nothing was left to chance. The meticulous planning began even before Edinburgh beat Christchurch for the right to host the Games at a vote at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, and the man responsible for so much of it was Edinburgh citizen Willie Carmichael. “More than any other single person, Carmichael brought the Games to Edinburgh,” Colin Shields and Arnold Black write in The Past Is A Foreign Country. “He was Scotland’s wrestling team manager at the inaugural Games at Hamilton in 1930 and had always had the guiding dream of bringing the Games to his native city. “Carmichael not only brought the Games to Edinburgh but organised them as well, acting as full-time director of operations. On a budget of £670,000, he produced the most thrilling and successful sporting extravaganza that Scotland had ever seen. His undoubted talent for organisation and stylish presentation resulted in the Games being judged an overwhelming success both in organisational and sporting terms. “It was by far the largest Games ever held, with 1,383 competitors and 361 officials from the record 42 countries taking part. Meadowbank Stadium, the host for the athletics events, had been constructed especially for the Games at a cost of £2.4 million, including a government grant of £750,000.”

Having learned something at all of these meetings and venues, the bid was sharper every time and by 1966 they must have had known exactly what was required. The voting had been 18 votes for Scotland against 11 for Christchurch, New Zealand. They now had the Games for Scotland. In December 1967 the Appeal Fund was set up with the aim of raising £200,00 towards the costs of organising the Games. Who better to oversee this mammoth task of previously unseen dimensions with the certainty of unexpected problems than Willie Carmichael. The first task was to set up the overall organising structure and it appeared like this:

Willie was the Director of Organisation. Oversight of everything, ex-officio on every committee and committees were set up to deal with Accommodation, Appeals, Catering, Ceremoinial, Queen’s Relay, Communications, Finance, Legal and Concessions, Main Stadium, Medical, Pool, Press and Public Relations, Sports Technical, Tickets, Traffic, Transport, Village, VIP Hospitality and Welcome. 19 sub-committees in all. All had to be staffed, all had to be accountable and all had the responsibility of ensuring that Scotland was portrayed in a good light. All of Scotland’s sports clubs were involved, all interested in sport were involved and every local authority in the land was involved to a greater or lesser degree. It was a massive undertaking. Ultimately though, Willie Carmichael was at the heart of the whole structure.

The Village Committee below was only one of those set up to oversee the various aspects of organisation.

The success of these Games is legendary – from Lachie Stewart winning the 10000m in the rain from Australia’s Ron Clarke on opening night right the way through to Ian Stewart and Rosemary Stirling on the last day of athletics it was a triumph and the competitors from all over the Commonwealth reflected the exuberance of the Scottish hosts. The same tale could be told from all sports – cycling, weight lifting, wrestling, etc all had their moment in the sunshine.

They had been the biggest Games with 42 countries taking part, and they were the first Games to be called the Commonwealth Games. Scotland was fourth on the medal table behind the big countries of Australia, England and Canada.

1970 was run by sports people for sports people and captured the imagination of the whole country, of those interested in sport and those who had never attended a sporting event in their lives. There is a piece of film at

https://scotlandonscreen.org.uk/browse-films/007-000-002-473-c

which shows various key moments of the Games. The description from Scotland on Screen says: “This film features amateur footage from the IXth Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh in 1970. In the film we see a number of key events from the ceremony, opening with pipe bands marching in front of crowds at the stadium, and the arrival and reception of Prince Philip. There is then Highland dancing, followed by the march past of the attending Commonwealth nations, before an athlete presents a scroll to Prince Philip and doves are released into the air. Various events follow, including a medal being presented to a female athlete. The first race takes place. Scottish athletes, Ian Stewart and Ian John McCafferty, take silver and gold in the 5000 metres. During the closing ceremony, we see the Queen going around stadium in horse drawn carriage before the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne are shown on the scoreboard.”

For those who wish a detailed look at the Games in print, there is a good paper under the title ‘A Spectacular Tableau’ at

https://aspectaculartableau.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/the-edinburgh-1970-british-commonwealth-games-representations-of-identities-nationalism-and-politics/ .

It is an academic publication, includes some gentle criticism and is worth at least a look.

Lachie Stewart (317) tracks Clarke and Taylor in the 10000m

For his part in the winning and organisation of the Games, Willie Carmichael was deservedly awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1971 with the citation saying simply ‘Director of Organisation, 1970 Commonwealth Games.’ Commandant of the Scottish team at the Games in New Zealand in 1974, he oversaw a very successful team performance that had clearly fed off the superb 1970 teams. The team was just ovcer 60 strong and Carmichael announced at a dinner in October 1970 that it would be at a cost of £40,000. In twenty first century terms of medals per pound sterling, it was one of the most successful ever!

Officials and administrators for the 1974 Games team

He was also in action in 1978 – his last Commonwealth Games as an official – in Edmonton, Canada and afterwards stepped down from the International Committee. By then he was Honorary Vice-President of the Federation with Prince Philip filling the President’s post.He remained Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Council Scotland until 1979. His interest in wrestling continued right into the 70’s.

But the Games was undeniably the summit of Willie Carmichael’s career in sport – everything he had done beforehand can be seen as preparation for it.

Experience of managing sports teams at the Empire Games from the very first meeting
General Team Manager at the 1954 Empire Games
Experience of m ore than one sport at international level
Administration of domestic championships
Organising big international meetings such as the Edinburgh Highland Games
Albeit on a smaller scale, the multi-faceted and complicated logistics of the Glasgow to London Relay

Although the Games of 1970 were the undoubted apogee of his career in sport, he did not do, as many would have and some did, retire at the top of his game. He stayed with the sport – was he not Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland until 1979? He officiated at many meetings thereafter simply because his love of sport was part of his character. Above all he remained involved with Scottish athletics. At the 1974 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand, he was team commandant, and he was also with the team in 1978 – the year before he stepped down as Council Secretary.

Publicity shot for 1978 Games in Canada

Scottish athletics were lucky to have had him as one of its more faithful servants. When I stepped down from the SAAA Committee, Willie Carmichael was an Honorary Life Vice President having been elected as such in 1958. Even without the 1970 Commonwealth Games he would have had a wonderful career. The work done before during and after made it a totally unique career in the sport.

Some links to extra material: Willie Carmichael’s Commonwealth Gallery : Some photographs from Willie’s career plus several Games pictures

Extract from the History of the Edinburgh Games, 1970: 1. Tasks facing the organisers once the Games were won and

2. Drawings from the various venues. As an indicator of the difference between these wonderful Games and thc current bloated affair

Finally, thanks to all those who helped with this task: Alex Jackson and Graham McDonald who helped get it started and Karl Magee and Ian Mackintosh in the Archive Department in the Stirling University Library. If you are at all interested in the Commonwealth Games of any era, they are a great source of information. Thanks, folks.

Taken at a reception organised by Lothian Regional Council on 22nd August, after the Games which lasted from 3rd to 12th August, – and they’re waiting for a team photo to be taken. Names so far:

Left in shades John Graham; Jim Turnbull wrestler standing third left; Chris Black, hammer, back row with beard is talking to Peter Hoffman, runner;

Seated (2nd row): Drew McMaster, sprinter, left, Allister Hutton, runner, 2nd left; Paul Forbes, runner, 3rd left;

Third row: Jackie Hynd, weightlifter 3rd from right, Brian Burgess, high jumper 2nd from right ; Willie Wood, bowler, in second row on the right.

Ronnie Hurst, diver,bottom far right;

1970 Willie Carmichael’s Games Gallery

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Admin

[Show slideshow]

1970 Extracts: 2. Gate Money

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Admin

Among the really big differences between the Games of 1970 and those of the 21st century, is the difference in the money involved. What I have added here is the money taken at the various venues for the Games. It was of course possible to buy tickets for particular sports and particular days so that most of those attending were either involved in active participation in the sports or former participants or supporters. Anyway, below are the pages which deal with ‘takings’ at the various venues.

1970 Extracts: 1. Tasks

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Admin

The Official History of the IXth British Commonwealth Games was compiled and edited by Willie Carmichael and M McIntyre Hood and was a very detailed account of the Games from conception to conclusion. We have here extracts from the history and begin with Sir Herbert Brechin’s intrduction. He was Lord Provost of Edinburgh at the time and had played a major part in the acquisition of the Games for Scotland. He says:

“The Games in Scotland, within the ancient capital city of Edinburgh, have taken place and the 15 years of overall preparation have concluded in a spectacle of which the British Commonwealth of nations can be justly proud. In a previous message I said ‘In all those arrangements we look forwrad to the 9th in the series of the Games being reckoned as being one of the most memorable in the series.

Many tens of thousands are now able to judge for themselves whether our hopes were fulfilled. From the record number of counmtries participating, from the record number of competitors and officials taking part and from the wave of enthusiasm which pressed over the country, I am convinced that the IXth Games will long be remembered as one of themost successful of the series.

The facilities provided, including the new modern Sports Centre at Meadowbank, and the advanced design of the new Commonwealth pool, allowed the competitors the fullest opportunity to participate and give of their best in their many skills. A great measure of the success of the Games lay in the pleasure all had in seeing HRH the Queen, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, HRH the Prince of Wales and HRH the Princess Anne so happy in their midst. The Games were honoured in addition to the presence of the Royal Family by the way in which each participated. It was the first occasion in which HRH the Queen was present in person and the first occasion when the Queen presented medals in several of the Victory Ceremonies. Their obvious plesure and enjoyment during their visits quickly created that incomparable atmosphere which goes to create ‘The Friendly Games’, so aptly named by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

It would be impossible to detail completely all that was done to make the Games so memorable. The meticulous care and precision which went into the organisation and ceremonial of the Games, and which characterised these Games, was the result of perfect team-work by possibly the largest-ever team which operated over the four years of detailed organisation prior to the event. The British Government, the Local Authoprities of Scotland, the business houses in the commercial and industrial fields, the business people and individuals all combined in the accomplishment of this ideal.

The coming to Edinburgh and Scotland of so many thousands of people from so many countries of the world made the consummation of the final project possible by their presence. They rejoiced with us, they inspired us, and they left behind a fragrance of memory and happy association which will always stand high in the traditions of Scotland.

Sir Herbert Brechin

KBE, OL, JP, D Litt, FRICS, FRSE

As an example of the tasks that had to be addressed right at the start, extracts from pages 18 to 27 are copied below:

And so on with detailed instructions on the dates, venues and times of Royal visits to the many venues and events.

Queen’s Park Sports: 1907 – 1914

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Admin

The Queen’s Park Football Club Sports had been one of the best meetings in Scottish athletics as well as one of the first, they would also be one of the best athletic spectacles of the 20’s and 30’s, but there was a wee hiatus at the start of the twentieth century, for reasons to do with professionalism and corruption which are worthy of a separate page in their own right before the sports made their comeback in 1907. On this page we take a look at the sports after they started up again using only the Glasgow Herald coverage. Amateur athletics had been formally organised since 1883 with the founding of the SAAA and the first open athletics clubs appeared in 1885. There was continual friction between the two codes – amateurism and professionalism. There was no doubt about the corruption in professional athletics – and at times there was an overlap with prominent amateur athletes colluding with the pedestrians or even just emulating some of the worst practices.

The Glasgow Herald preview of the QPFC games in 1907 observed “Great changes have taken place in the Cathcart District since Queen’s Park last held sports. The residential population must be triple what it was in 1900, and with the amateur sentiment pre-eminent there is no reason why the Queen’s gathering on Saturday should not be as well patronised as any ordinary football match. It is no secret that there was a section of the mangement against holding sports, but on the other hand another section, perhaps the more progressive elements in committee, pointed out that the club, apart from fostering school football, did comparatively litle in promoting amateur sport, and in the long run it was agreed to revive what at one time was the most interesting function in the Scottish athletic season. The Queen’s are hopeful of having among their entrants several distinguished athletes, and JW Morton who is having a short holiday in Scotland, may take part in the two sprints.”

The sports took place on June 15th, 1907, and the report on them read as follows:

“QP SPORTS

If the revival of the Queen’s Park FC Sports failed to produce a renewal of public interest in amateur athletics the faultisnot theirs, for nothing finer in the way of competition has been seen at any city meeting this season. As a matter of fact the racing all round was exceptionally interesting, and at the same time was characterised by a keenness which must have recalled to many the earlier athletic festivals of our leading club. Amateur running has been largely cleansed of the excrescences which sullied it in the eyes of so many, and there is in the near future a beneficent career for this cult of athletics. The Hampden track was sodden, yet for all that the “times” in some instances were fast, and with careful handling and a little judicious expenditure there is no reason why the Queen’s ground should not be the home of athletic records.

Local support would be pleased when PR Grant, an old Queen’s Park back, won the 100 yards in 10 3/5th off 8 yards, the handicap mile was won by AB Hepburn with John McGough a yard behind, the schools relay was won by Allan Glen’s, the relay by Bellahouston Harriers. Judges reckoned that on a dry track with a clear run, McGough’s time would have been worth 4:20. The sports had returned and were a sporting success if not a financial one.

The QPFC Sports were held on 20th June 1908 and built upon those of the previous year, The Glasgow Herald report read as follows:

“Hampden is a fast track. This was made abundantly clear at the Queen’s Park Sports on Saturday. And were the same care and expense lavished on it that are lavished with no stinted hand on other parts of this great enclosure, it might be the fastest path in Scotland. Lieutenant Halswell placed an athletic record to the credit of Hampden on Saturday; in other words he invested new Hampden with the glory that circled old Hampden, as it was there that AR Downer rean 300 yards in 31 2/5th sec. Halswell reduced this by a fifth of a second. This looks rather mean in cold type, but its value is best measured by the fact that Downer’s time has held the field since 1895. That Halswell is a commanding personality in the athletic realm is now well known; he has given amateur pedestrianism a romanticism that it has not possessed since Downer was on the scene and it is the firm conviction of those who are versed in these matters that he will ere long gild his name with world’s record over the 300 and 440 yards distances. Last Thursday at Parkhead he won the quarter invitation handicap in the West of Scotland Harriers in 49 4/5th sec, this coupled with his all-comers record on Saturday constitutes great work.”

“Another fine performance was J Fairbairn-Crawford’s half-mile in 1 min 58 1/5th sec which is a second worse than his record in the Irish International at Ibrox two seasons ago. But in that race there was no one to interrupt his progress, whereas at Hampden he had to plough through a field of fifty. The fact is that Crawford would have run the race of his life on Saturdy had he been permitted to move freely. The race was won by Adam Turnbull (Clydesdale Harriers), 29 yards in 1 min 56 3/5th sec which is the finest display of running he has ever given

“Then the mile was the fastest – 4 min 21 4/5th sec – that has been run in Scotland this season. D Rutherford was the winner and , like Turnbull, he exhibited resources that few had credited him with. John McGough was not seen at his best; as a matter of fact it was obvious to all that he was running under physical disabilities. …. There was some very fine sprinting in the 100 yards and 220 yards. RC Duncan, a member of Queen’s Park, won the former from scratch in 10 2/5th sec, and the latter was captured by M Neilson, West of Scotland Harriers, 12 yards, in 22 4/5th secs.

The report was a bit longer and is worth reading, but these were the main results from a well organised meeting which also contained cycle racing and finished by saying

“The Queen’s Park may not have made a princely sum off their meeting on Saturday but they have the satisfaction of knowing that they have given the cause of athletics a much-needed lift in public favour.” The lack of a princely sum was maybe more significant than the report knew.

John McGough

Whatever the success of the 1908 meeting, 1909 turned out to be a disappointment – maybe for good reason. The Glasgow Herald of 7th June 1909 carried the following note: “Desirous that nothing should interfere with the success of the Australians visit to Partick Queen’s Park have abandoned their sports on June 19th. A proposal to this effect was submitted by the sub-committee entrusted with the arrangements and needless to say the General Committee cordially assented. Sports Meetings are everyday fare but cricket such as the Australians provide is a luxury.” In the cricket match on the 19th, the Australians of course won easily but the event was a great success. It is however a sign of the times that a football club would forego its athletic sports in favour of a cricket match.

Tom Jack

In contrast to the verdict in 1908, the report on the meeting of 18th June 1910 began: “Hampden Park will not be complete until the cinder path is in better order than it was on Saturday. Far too little attention has been given to this necessary and vital equipment but now that the Queen’s Park have come to recognise that it is part of their mission to foster amateur athletics it is just possible they will overhaul the track before another season comes round.”

As far as the performances were concerned: “While there was an absence of what one might term sensational performances at Hampden Park on Saturday, there was from the point of view of the student of athletics, what is perhaps more satisfactory, a pretty general excellence , exhibiting alike a highly creditable standard of efficiency and keen competitive emulation. Those features kept the spectators engrossed all the time and viewed therefore from whatever standpoint, the sports of the Queen’s Park Football Club were quite a success.”

The sports themselves had 100, 220, 880 yards races, one mile, two miles team race, schools relay race, obstacle race, highjump and several cycle races. The standard was high despite no records being broken –

eg Tom Jack, seven times Scottish 10 miles champion and cross country internationalist, won the half-mile and Mile,

Alex McPhee, SAAA four miles and cross-country champion in 1909, ran in the two miles,

RT Duncan, SAAA 100y and 220y champion and internationalist was off scratch in the sprints.

And an interesting competitor was Ralph Erskine of Allan Glen’s who was second in the high jump – he would go on to win the SAAA half mile title, become world lightweight boxing champion after winning the itle bout in New York before tragically being kille in action in January 1918.

1911 was the year of the Great Exhibition, a mammoth event encompassing all aspects of a civilised society. The Festival of Empire, or Great Exhibition, was held at the Crystal Palace in London from 12th May to celebrate the coronation of King George V. Wikipedia tells us thata pageant, organised by ‘Master of the Pageants’ Frank Lascelles, dramatising the history of London, England and the Empire was held. The first performance of the pageant was on 8 June 1911; in four parts, performed on separate days, it celebrated the ‘magnificence, glory and honour of the Empire and the Mother Country’. Music was provided for The Pageant of London by 20 composers including Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Frank Bridge, Cecil Forsyth, Henry Balfour Gardiner, Edward German and Haydn Wood. This was performed by a military band of 50 players and a chorus of 500 voices. As part of the festival, an Inter-Empire sports championship was held in which teams from Australasia (a combined team from Australia and New Zealand), Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom competed in five athletics events (100 yards, 220 yards, 880 yards, 1 mile and 120 yards hurdles), two swimming events (100 yards and 1 mile), heavyweight boxing and middleweight wrestling. This is regarded as a forerunner of the British Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games), held from 1930.

In the Glasgow Herald of 15th May, 1911, the following appeared in the ‘Sports Miscellany’ column. “Queen’s Park FC have resolved not to hold sports this season. ” The date would be given to Paisley Harriers Juniors who were trying to raise the profile of the sport in their area but a week later, in the Herald of 22nd May, the Sports Miscellany reported that “It is just possible that the Queen’s Park Sports may come off after all. A proposal has been made by the West of Scotland Harriers which has found favour in influential circles, and the matter will be considered one of these days by the committee of the Queen’s Park. There has been considerable comment of an adverse kind at the decision of the Queen’s Park to abandon their meeting because of the opposition of the Exhibition, and it is now being felt that, all things considered, there was no justification, or at all events very little for cancelling the meeting. Should the proposal being made to the Queen’s Park result in the sports taking place, there will be general satisfaction in athletic circles as, after all, the amateur traditions of the old club carry with them a significance of which few, if any, other city functions can boast.”

The Paisley Junior Harriers meeting on the third Saturday in July was successful and the forecasts by the club and the Press were that they would continue to use this date which had hitherto been the property of the Queen’s Park. From reports, it would seem that unfortunately the QP sports did not in fact take place that year.

1912 did not look too promising either when the following appeared in the Herald: “The Queen’s Park FC have intimated to the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association that the new committee have decided not to hold sports on June 22nd – a date exclusively reserved for them by the Association. This means that the recommendation, if not the reasoned decision, of the old committeee has been rejected, and it also means a regrettable departure for the time being, if not for all time, from the line of policy in regard to amateur athletics which has won for Queen’s Park the admiration of all broad-minded sportsmen.”

The following week it was announced that on 22nd June, later than usual, Allan Glen’s School would hold their school championships at Hampden. This seemed to put the kybosh on any amateur sports s for 1912 sponsored by the football club at Hampden. By July the stuation had altered slightly and it was announced that the Queen’s Park FC confined sports would be held at Hampden in August. It is an interestingconcept – would it translate to present day football??? However, the Glasgow Herald of 15th July, 1912, had the following

“Queen’s Park FC are making an interesting departure early in August in connection with their own confined sports; they will include either two or three handicaps open to all-comers. It is just possible that the meeting will be sandwiched between the Rangers and Celtic functions, with the hope, no doubt, of getting one or two of the big guns who are coming to Glasgow for these meetings to show their paces. The Queen’s Park, to the great regret of many of their warmest supporters dropped their meeting in June, and it is by way of compensation for that disappointment that they are including a few open races at their club games next month. If the American and other Olympic competitors are in Glasgow during the first ten days of Augustit will be interesting to see if they are allured by the Hampden bait.”

On July 29th – “The Queen’s Park will run two open handicaps – 100 yards and 880 yards – in connection ith their club sports on Thursday first.”

It was at least a gesture, a move that the club did not have to make, but one that was welcomed by the sports loving public. The actual event wasn’t reported in the Herald which is hardly surprising give that it was at a very busy time of the year – ir Rangers Sports on the first Saturday and Monday of August and Celtic Sports on the second Saturday and Monday, as well as several well established meetings (eg Strathallan)
The club’s interest in athletics was still in evidence in 1913 when it was anounced that the Glasgow High School spots were to be held at Hampden. “This is a step in the right direction as Scotstoun is not very well adapted for school games. Besides there are interesting associations springing up between the High School and some of the older officials of the Queens Park club, and the closer the relations the greater the benefit both to the school and to QP.” (Herald, April 28th, 1913)

The sports were previewed on June 2nd, and after looking at some of the events, particularly the relays, it ended with a comment that “Mr Charles Stewart, who does a lot more for athletics in a general sense at the High School than most people are aware of, is again responsible for the arrangements and these, with the help hewill receive from members of Queen’s Park FC, should add to the enjoyment of the proceedings.”

The meeting was held the following Saturday with several, nor many, running events, some field events and several such as the drop kick, sack race (one each for former pupils and ‘open to school’), and 300 yards in football costume (confined to Glasgow High School FP FC).

Very interesting and the note on 28th April about relations with the High School is encouraging – but there is no note in the Herald of any sports meeting – open or confined – organised by Queen’s Park that year.

1914 saw the outbreak of War but a whole season was carried through before hostilities commenced. It was however another season without a Queen’s Park FC Sports meeting. They were involved in amateur sport throughout the season – The Queen’s Park School Sports were held at Hampden free of charge on 6th June, Allan Glen’s School sports were held on 20th June and then on 29th June it was reported that as hosts to the upcoming International between Scotland, England and Ireland, – QP are lavishing a deal of care on their cinder path at Hampden in view of the triangular athletics match there on July 11th. It already has one record – Halswell’s 300 yards- and there is no reason why it should not have more.”

With war looming, the August 224th Glasgow Herald announced that Queen’s Park had donated £250 to the Glasgow War Fund with a promise that more would be contributed if required. There had been no promoted meeting, but there had been a continuing presence of Queen’s Park in amateur athletics from schools sports to international fixtures.

We know that there were sports held by the club throughout the 1920’s but the on-again/off-again nature of the event in the period from 1900 to 1914 was strange in view of the other events reported at the time. The Queen’s Park was famous for its staunch adherence to the amateur code – a fact remarked upon in 1907 and 1908 when they were started up again. But the situation in Glasgow was not quite as clear cut as the SAAA might have us believe. For instance, the Glasgow Police Sports were accused of “Profesionalising Schoolboys” by having schools relays and sprint in their meeting on July 11th, Clyde FC were said to be “whole hoggers” when it came to professional athletics, indeed pre– and post-amateur athletics, there were weekly professional meetings at Shawfield with big crowds, biggish money prizes and quality professional athletes competing and there was a prominent note on “pedestrian development at Shawfield.” Even Celtic FC put on some mid-week professional athletic meetings. In such an atmosphere it might have been thought that Queen’s Park FC would have made a point of flying the amateur flag. There were hints of disagreements within the club committee on the merits of holding athletic sports and at the time of the start o the war, there had been none for two years.

The thread will be picked up in another post.

Potted Profiles: Fred Evans

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Admin

There are always particular officials that athletes know well and know well for a variety of reasons. For instance athletes competing in handicap events in the 50’s and 60’s were familiar with handicappers McNeillie and Nangle for very obvious reasons. Fred Evans however was known to several generations of athlete as a master starter, easily recognised and much respected. Barry Craighead speaks very highly of him and his influence on his own development as he followed in Fred’s footsteps. First the facts.

Born in 1885, the year that the first open athletic clubs in Scotland were established, he did not retire as a starter until 1975 in his 90th year. Fred was a kenspeckle figure, easily recognised and beginning in 1929, was official starter at the SAAA Championships for over 40 years In addition to his officiating at meetings, Fred trained up new starters including other well-known figures such as Charlie Meldrum and Barry Craighead. When Barry started out as a starter, Fred was ‘the man’ – no one argued with him and what he said was law. There was no written component in the training of starters. It was all intensely practical; beginning starters were told where to stand to get the best view of the runners, to make sure that they could be seen by the timekeepers and how to get everything right. He carried on through the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh by which time he was 85 years old and was one of the team of starters from all over the British Isles operating. Longevity? The Gourock Highland Games website tells us that he was for instance the starter at Gourock Highland Games from 1956 to 1975, in which year the programme announced his retirement “in his ninetieth year.”

Very highly thought of, he was awarded an MBE “for services to athletics”, the only Scottish starter ever to gain such an honour.

The competition situation was very different when he was in action at tracks all over the country. With no all-weather tracks and surfaces of grass or cinders, the scene was different scene from today if only because the starter was in complete control of events. He, or whoever the official starter on the day was, decided if there had been a false start and took the responsibility for the decision whereas in the current situation the guns are wired to computers which tell us if there has been a false start. And Fred was always ready to stand by his decision. It has been said that the younger athletes were a bit frightened of him, but he was, by universal opinion, a very nice man, a man with a nice sense of humour. Neil Donachie remembers a story about taking his guns through security at the airport on the way to an Empire Games causing some problems, even then before the whole terrorism scare.

Despite a reputation for a strict, no nonsense approach to the job, and an air of authority that no one questioned, he was scrupulously fair. Barry Craighead, who took up starting under Fred’s guidance in 1959, reports that if the starter or official did not do everything they could for the benefit of the athletes under their control, he told them about it in no uncertain manner. A testament to how highly thought of he was, is the fact that he appeared at the same meetings, many in the west of Scotland, year in and year out. Although in great demand by championship organisers as we have noted, he officiated at highland gatherings, local sports and open meetings all over the country, including at the New Year Sprint where he officiated for many years.

Starters are not like most other officials – they need to pay from their own pocket for the firearms license, for the safe in which to store the gun and ammunition and for the ammunition. Here again Fred led the way in demanding, and getting, £2 per meeting towards these expenses as well as travelling expenses to the meeting with the rest of the officials. The special treatment for starters continues to this day.

The illustration below is from the programme of the 1961 SAAA Championships and he is there among many legendary names such as Willie Carmichael, DM Duncan, Dunky Wright, Ian Ross, Gordon Cain, Tom Drever, David Keddie and Fred Graham.

SAAA Championships, 1961, Officials

Fred often worked with Dick Littlejohn – and here he is again as Chief Mark Steward

1883: September

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Admin

September, 1883, started with reports of matches held on the opening day of the month with Shawfield Grounds topping the reports. The meeting there featured a 10 mile race for a £30 purse between William Smith of Paisley, and D Livingstone of Tranent. Smith had a 25 yards start. By the end of the seventh mile, Smith had almost lapped Livingstone, starting the ninth mile they were running side by side with Smith exactly one mile ahead. He won in 53 min 11.75 secs. There was also the second round of a 120 yards handicap. Barrowfield Park was the scene of another track meeting, ‘got up by Mr James McLeavy of Alexandria’ and the main race here was a One Mile Handicap. There were other races and although there were no comments on prize money, the report concluded that ‘Amateur contests were also advertised to take place but as it was contrary to the rules of the association, to compete with professionals, the events did not fill. ‘

The remaining fixture on 1st September was the Beith Annual Sports which had sprints, middle distance events, quoiting and ‘penny pitching’. It was not said what ‘penny pitching’ was – but surely not pitch and toss???

There were three fixtures on 8th September – the Shawfield started with a 200 yards dog handicap. For two-legged competitors there was a half-mile handicap with prizes of £10, £1:10:0, £1, 10/- and 5/-. The Dunfermline Cricket and Football Club’s annual amateur athletic sports took place before a crowd on 5000 spectators and included most running events, including hurdles, selected field events, shying at wickets and lawn tennis. Competitors came from Queen’s Park FC, Royal High School, Glasgow University and similar University and School FP clubs. Finally there was a small meeting in Hawick with running and cycling handicap events.

September was a slow month for the sport – athletics tended to finish at the end of August but, nevertheless, came 22nd September and the Shawfield Grounds fixture had a 120 yards sprint and a One Mile Handicap with prizes of £14, £2, £1 and 15s. The odds for the betting were also listed in the Glasgow Herald and if you were interested in running, it was a good meeting, but if you were a committed amateur, forget it. Both meetings that day were professional. At Powderhall the match was a head to head between Clark of Portobello and Albert of Edinburgh for £10 a side. Run over 880 yards with runners starting from scratch, they were evenly matched and running side by side into the final straight, Clark stumbled and fell yards from the tape and Albert won.

The summer was pretty well over and what do we know from it? Having looked at the programme for every Saturday, we see that there were many meetings for amateurs, organised by works, by individuals, by local authorities, by football clubs, by cycling clubs, by cricket clubs most weeks so that there was no shortage of access to the sport for those interested.

There were also many professional games – the weekly one at Shawfield grounds being the standout example. It was a time when the most luxurious method of travel to New York by Cunard steamer could cost only 18 guineas and the cheapest 21 guineas, Ballantyne’s whisky was 10 shillings a gallon and walnut bedroom suites were £23:10:0 so the money on offer at the professional games was really worth winning.

In addition every meeting had its own speciality – note that in this month alone there was quoiting, lawn tennis,shying at wickets and ‘penny pitching.’

Before the Clubs: 1883

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Admin

The first Scottish amateur athletic clubs to hit the scene appeared in 1885. Before that there was only an SAAA which had appeared in 1883 and catered for University clubs and private school old boys clubs. The other sports clubs – football, cycling, boxing, etc – provided athletes too but the scene before that is vague as far as most are concerned.

This page covers the events that took place in 1883 – it is a simple list of events Saturday by Saturday to indicate what the athletics public had to satisfy their interest. That there was such a public is shown by the number of spectators at many of the significant meetings and the regular professional meetings at Shawfield Ground in Glasgow.

Just click on the link to go to that month.

[ April 1883 ] [ May 1883 ] [ June 1883 ] [ July 1883 ] [ August 1883 ]

1883: August

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Admin

On 4th August, 1883, the Strathallan Games took pride of place, being the biggest, best attended and most longstanding of the meetings that day. The report began: “After the lapse of one year, these annual Games and athletic sports were held at Stanley House Cricket Ground , Bridge of Allan, on Saturday. The weather was favourable, only one slight shower falling during the afternoon and the concourse of spectators numbered about two thousand. Three grand stands were created, one for the accommodation of the general public, another set apart for lovers of “the fragrant weed”, while the third was reserved for private ticket-holders. ” There followed thirty lines of honoured guests who came from all over central Scotland. The Chieftain was Colonel Williamson of Lawers, his henchman was Mr J Mackison, and his champion Mr A Menzies. The meeting began at one o’clock with the confined events and went on until six o’clock. Running (including races for boys under 14 years old), jumping (including pole vaulting), piping, dancing, tug o’war, a ‘pitcher and water’ race and wrestling without shoes. The hurdles were over obstacles of 2′ 6″ and there was even a sack race over low hurdles. The band and pipes of the 51st Highlanders performed and all in all it was a very successful meeting.

On the same day, were the Inverkeithing Games where there were only seven events on the programme (including vaulting with the pole) and the other meeting that day was at Dumbarton, ‘held under the auspices of the Dumbarton Corporation’, and there was a large attendance. The band of the Dumbarton Volunteer Reserve was in attendance and played throughout the afternoon. The events were mainly running events – the report on the main events of the afternoon did not mention any field events at all.

On 11th August the principal event was the Garnock and Gowkhall Sports and took place ‘in a field near the village’ with competitors from all over Dumfries but also from Edinburgh, Dunfermline and Alloa. The Depot of the King’s Own Borderers at Berwick held their annual athletic sports in the Pier Field, Berwick. A full programme of athletic events were held while the depot band played a selection from their repertoire. This was the nearest to a modern sports day as we know it in August so far. Finally there was a sports meeting at Hamilton by the Academical Football Club which was the first of a two days sports meeting and as might be expected the 1st LRV performed well up to expectations with several prizes going their way.

Shawfield Ground had not hosted a Saturday event for over a month but they were back on 18th August with ‘a more than usually interesting programme’ . Although the runners turned out in great numbers the crowd was disappointing. Events included a quarter mile handicap (prizes a silver cup and 30/-, 15/- and 5/-), a half mile handicap (prizes as for the quarter), Boys one mile handicap (prizes 10/-, 5/- and 2/6d), two miles handicap, 220 yards consolation handicap, three quarters mile consolation handicap (prizes for consolation races 20/-, 10/- and 5/-) plus a competition for ‘the neatest running costume’ – all the competitors were very neatly dressed and the judges had a difficult job to decide!

There was a half-mile handicap at the Edinburgh Royal Gymnasium grounds where several hundred spectators turned bu but the biggest crowd of the day was at the second day of the Hamilton Academicals FC sports. Winners included men from HAFC, QPFC and DFC as well as members of several bicycle clubs, in addition there were a few athletes not attached to any club.

Finally on that afternoon there was the Corstorphine Gymnastic Games confined to the inhabitants of Colinton, Currie, Ratho and Corstorphine. It was an annual meeting and consisted of both running and field events. It would be interesting though to find out what the qualifications were for entry to the ‘Old Men’s Race.’

In the last week of August, 1883, there was the Shawfield Grounds meeting which had the first heats of a 130 yards sprint and a half mile handicap. One of the interesting features of the Maybole FC Annual Sports was the running of AP Findlay in the half mile from the scratch mark. Findlay would go on to be the first winner of the amateur cross-country championship of Scotland but one who was noted for his strength – on one occasion the etire field went completely off the trail on a snowy afternoon led by AP Findlay (who it is alleged) knew what he was doing! It would seem that he had the speed of the half miler – at Maybole he finished third conceding 80 and 60 yards respectively to the first and second finishers. The other meeting that day was ‘the popular sports’ at Crieff. Captain Henry Grant of Grant was Chieftain for the day although there was no report of him having a henchman or champion. In addition to the programme of athletic events, the Crieff Company of PE Volunteers went through their programme in a ‘very creditable manner’, and the Brothers Anderson, celebrated Scotch gymnasts, performed a series of daring feats on the English, Scotch and flying trapezes. There was also a horse jumping event (possibly show jumping?) and a trotting competition where several horses ‘broke the trot.’ It was reported to be a great success.

An interesting month with many ‘novelty’ events – wrestling without shoes, competition for ‘the neatest costume’, gymnastics – and bands with everything. Above all however was the athletics – many meetings had pole vaults, meetings were organised by local authorities (Dumbarton Corporation), football clubs (Maybole FC), military regiments (KOSB’s in Edinburgh) and private groups and individuals.