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This [age has mainly milers – of course since so many of  the runners featured ran a wide range of distances, it does not include all the mile champions.   For instance Duncan McPhee and WR Seagrove are featured on the half milers page.     There are more to come here too.

Willie Robertson

Inaugural ICCU International, Hamilton Park.   Robertson arrowed.

JOHN McGOUGH

Scottish Mile Champion 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1910

John McGough

McGough, Stockholm, 1907

McGough (1) with the 1912 Olympic Team

McGough beats McNicol, 1907

HT JAMIESON

SAAA Mile Champion 1908, 1909

The Edinburgh University team of 1908 – just look at the names.

DOUGLAS McNICOL

Scottish Mile Champion 1911, 1912

Douglas McNicol

TOM RIDDELL

SAAA Mile Champion 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935

THE GEORGE FOX CLASSIC

15th October

Jim comments on the races: What a day- races were moved up 2 hours which meant we had to scramble to get across the mountains in time to race.   Reason – big storm in the pacific which blew in while our kids were racing – great xc weather – winds gusting to 50mph, rain and mud – we lost 2 tents.

Like many runners of whatever generation, Hugh had his heroes – in this case he and I agree that Herb Elliott was top of the list.   Any list, any time, Herb was The Man.   His coach Percy Cerutty was/is a legendary figure.   The picture below needs no caption.  Herb watches as Perce works on the bar.

All coaches have their wee sayings to motivate their athletes: don’t know how some of today’s athletes would take this challenge!

Percy conducts a ‘warm up’ wrestling match!

Coach and athlete enjoying each other’s company.

Lennart Strand with Herb Elliott and Percy Cerutty.

A remarkable photograph: the six athletes pictured set 50 world records and won 19 Olympic medals between them.

Standing:   Paavo Nurmi, 16 world records and 9 Olympic medals; Hannes Kolehmainen 6 and 5; Ron Clarke 19 and 1; Marcel Hansenne 1 and 1; Laurie Lehtinen 2 and 2; Robert Pariente (journalist).

In front: Robert Bodin – Jazy’s coach, Michel Jazy 6 and 1.

Although Scotland’s records do not go as far back as the Tailtean Games in Ireland, yet what we have prove the love of athletics among the Picts, Scots and the gregarious Celts.   From the chief downwards, athletics was the joy of the Gael, indeed the chief was often the most accomplished.   At his door lay the ‘clachneart’, literally the stone of strength or the putting stone and on the arrival of a guest he was asked as a compliment to throw it.   The chief’s followers, and those of his guests engaged in all manly sports, and as the honour of the clan was at stake, it is surmised that in the strenuous contests more heads than records were broken.   The Fraser chiefs were noted athletes, and the father of the late Lord Lovat – an excellent sportsman – was an expert stone and hammer thrower.

In a manuscript lately come to light entitled: ‘Ane breve cronicle of the Erles of Ross’, an account is given of how an earldom was gained by prowess in wrestling.   At the coronation of Edward I there was among those attached to his court in London a famous French wrestler from Normandy who was considered invincible.   But during the gay doings, he was challenged by Farquhar Ross from the North of Scotland, a vassal to the Scottish king Alexander II, and to the amazement and delight of the Scottish king, his wife and a sister of Edward , and the Scottish guests, Farquhar overthrew and signally vanquished the unbeaten champion.   So delighted was King Alexander over his countryman’s ‘notabill vassalage’, as he called it,  that he conferred the Earldom of Ross upon him.   To celebrate his victory and to carry out a vow that he had made, Farquhar erected an abbey, now no longer in existence, but its successor in Kincardine, Ross-shire is still used as the Parish Church.

At the great royal hunts which took place at Braemar and which often lasted for a fortnight, many chiefs with their followers took part.   Malcolm II started at one of these ‘hunts’ the first recorded ‘Games’ by offering as a prize a sword and a purse of gold to the first man to reach, in a race, the summit of Craig Choinneach.   Two McGregor brothers were favourites, but a third and younger brother, who was late in starting won after a terrific struggle.

It was not however till 1832 that the first organised Braemar Gathering took place.   Queen Victoria was keenly interested in these sports, and in 1889 invited society to Balmoral.   Later the Duke of Fife gave the present Princess Royal Park where the meeting is now held.   The clansmen gather at the spot where the Jacobite standard was unfurled in 1715 – which event is commemorated in ‘The Standard on the Braes o’Mar’ – and march to the sports ground.

Since the year 1314 without a break, except during the Great War, the Ceres Games, founded to celebrate the return of the victorious Fife villagers from the Battle of Bannockburn, have been held annually.   It is remarkable that the name of the Fife agricultural village, Ceres, is that of the Latin goddess, Ceres, the protectress of agriculture and in whose honour great sports were instituted.

Carnwath in Lanarkshire holds annually a meeting of great antiquity.   The Red Hose race is the principal event, and local and popular tradition has it that in the event of the Carnwath estate becoming heir-less, the latest winner of the ‘Hose’ would become proprietor!

Under the shadow of the Duke of Argyll’s stately castle at Inveraray, a gathering of the western clans’ representative pipers, strong men and runners has been held for centuries.   Running was a feature of this meeting, for the chiefs of old encouraged their ‘gille-ruith’, or running footmen, to excel in the Geal-ruith, or running and leaping  games.

Among great athletes in Scotland, the two whose names were, and still are, in the mouths of everyone, were Captain Barclay of Ury and Donald Dinnie.   The former was a great and up-to-date land proprietor in Kincardineshire.   Sprung from an ancient and physically powerful family, he lived during the later part of the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth.   Educated at Cambridge, he early joined the army and served as ADC to the GOC of the ill-fated Walcheren Expedition.   He was though of little more than average size, possessed of a great strength, speed and remarkable powers of endurance.   Of the latter his great feat of walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours – that is one mile for every hour, was a record to his stamina.   Others who tried this feat broke down at an early stage, but he continued for a period of 42 days and though he lost much weight was at the finish wonderfully fit.   He was a great runner, walker, wrestler and stone-thrower,  and thus resembled Dinnie, who was born in Aberdeenshire in 1837.   Strange to say, Dinnie’s best performances were done when he was approaching forty years of age, and when fifty eight years old was the recognised all-round champion of New Zealand.   Dinnie was undoubtedly the best athlete of his time, and in addition to being heavy-weight champion, excelled in wrestling, leaping, vaulting, running and dancing.

Over a century ago, the Borders had a remarkable man, Will o’Phaup, so called for his farm in the Ettrick valley.   Like Dinnie in the North his name was a household word.   His tombstone at Ettrick Kirk records that for feats of strength and agility, he was not excelled in the kingdom.

In pre-amateur days Scotland was famous for its distance runners, and many feats of endurance are recorded in books dealing with origins and history of Scottish Highland Gatherings.”

Historical Survey

From Hamish Telfer:

My first recollection of Bill was as a young athlete in the 1960s. Very much his own man with a clear vision, he developed a string of international as well as good club level athletes. He appeared to me at the then tender age of about 15/16, to be quite a daunting individual with an intense look and very much doing his own thing. What was very clear however was the admiration and respect in which Bill was held by both athletes and coaches. His sessions were well run and he simply got on with the job in hand. A no nonsense approach then. He produced good athletes!

After I left to work in England I next encountered Bill when Scottish Athletics decided to put in place a Scottish Coaches Commission. The Commission was elected by the coaches of Scotland and I, along with about eight to nine othes were duly elected. Bill simply stood out in terms of respect and status as the natural Chair of the Commission. Somewhat reluctantly he agreed to chair the meetings but managed to contain the somewhat bizarre and eclectic minds that made up the Commission. It was during this time that I got to know Bill better and as his Vice-chair we developed a good working relationship.

The Commission from the outset had an uphill task. While we achieved some small gains, we all felt that we were frustrated in our efforts to put coaches and coaching at the forefront of the agenda. With some of the commission more volatile than others (!), Bill was a superb Chair, negotiating his way through some very turbulent meetings with the then CEO, David Joy. What I can remember of those meetings was both a heady mix of strong views amongst the members of the commission as well as some hilarious moments as ten or so egos bounced off each other. Bill’s ability to handle this was outstanding and on some occasions where he felt he wished to make a stronger contribution to the discussion, he would ask me to chair to allow him to advocate on behalf of the issue at hand.

It wasn’t always plain sailing however. On one occasion I remember getting a telephone call to tell me Bill had taken ill while at an athletics meeting in England and since I lived in the Lakes, I was asked to pop in to the hospital and make sure he was ok ‘since I was nearest’. I remember the anxious conversation with his wife on the phone as it seemed it may have been a suspected heart attack. When I arrived however, Bill was sitting up in bed, had his laptop out, his papers all around him on the bed and had the nurses running around after him. I then got a list of things he wanted me to do for him ‘if I got the time’. Just typical of Bill and this typifies his approach to his athletics.

When the commission eventually folded after a mass walk out of coaches after our repeated requests were blocked, Bill remained in essence in post to wind the affairs of the commission down. It had lasted merely a few years. However in those few years of working closely with Bill, I came to see a man of immense talent and vision; of intensely stubborn conviction mixed with a hugely enquiring mind and above all a warm and generous nature once he got to know you.

Bill is an immense talent who has never been fully recognised either in terms of his commitment and contribution to athletes, but also coaches and coaching. I have been lucky in my own coaching having served in a coaching capacity at GB level in three different sports, and seldom if ever have I come across someone for whom I have awe, admiration and respect and can also count as a good close colleague. It is also seldom that I can say that he is one of the most talented coaches I’ve seen. I hope he reads this and believes it, since I know I’m not alone in this view …. and he owes me a lunch anyway!

Hamish Telfer

From Eric Simpson:

Bill Walker is one of the most respected coaches in the country,a man who over the years has consistently produced quality athletes. A man who only last year was given an award for his services to British sprinting. Like many great coaches Bill does not suffer fools gladly and over the years has crossed swords with politicians and sports administrators who have chosen to make decisions detrimental to the sport he loves,athletics.

When I first started coaching I knew of Bill Walker, I had seen him coach and watched his no nonsense approach. It didn’t matter what level you were at Bill was the boss. I had heard him on various coaching courses and knew of his achievements . I had watched the documentary “No Easy Way” and realised that he was indeed a very special guy. I remember early on in my coaching life crossing swords with Bill at Grangemouth and saying that I had an athlete who was going to beat one of his. He expertly shot me down but continued to support my efforts. As the years went by I used Bill as my sounding board along with John Anderson both who gave of their time and knowledge unstintingly. Over the years Bill and I worked in tandem with him having input with Katie Skorupska and Stephen Payton. When I worked in Edinburgh it was just round the corner from Meadowbank and Bill and I would work together at night over quite a few winters. He was the quiet one, me as usual was the loud one. We had a a few years together in a loose partnership till I moved on work wise. I passed athletes on to Bill and he to me. He has always been a part of my coaching and personal life has he has for quite a few people.

 This may come as a shock to his present squad , but he has actually mellowed, though I would advise that you don’t upset him, but definitely mellowed.. Even today Bill has an absolute wealth of knowledge and expertise that few people tap into. I watched him at the Scottish Schools Day recently and was still amazed by his ability to put over his point to a group of young sprinters who he was working with, none of which I suspected had heard of him or knew his pedigree.

 I consider Bill Walker as one of the great coaches that Scotland has produced his knowledge and commitment to athletes and his sport is second to none. Young coaches, sit with Bill have a talk about your aspirations and allow him to help you and your athletes to future success. He’s not so dour when you get to know him.

From Frank Dick:

Through times when sport, and particularly athletics, has been battered by a tsunami of damaging change it is imperative that coaches remain the bastion of values and of professionalism we need them to be. Bill understands this and not only lives highest values personally while instilling them in those whose lives he influences, his coaching professionalism is persistently exemplary. Without coaches like Bill, Scottish athletics would be extinct. He was a key player in my coaching team through Scotland’s golden period.

George Hepburn, the old West of Scotland Harrier, has been winning Olympic trials in Canada, and was to take part in the elimination trials, particulars of which will be to hand in a few days.   Another old “West”! Harrier, H Green, is said to be on his way from Canada.

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HM Macintosh who was running in the Scottish championships at Ibrox on Saturday, has been appointed secretary of Cambridge University AC, and in the ordinary course will be President – a distinction which has not been held by many Scotsmen.

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The Glasgow Police AC are including a race for schoolboys in their programme of the 20th.   As their games are not under SAAA rules, boys who compete at this unregistered meeting will for ever be prevented from running at sports under control of the national Association.   We feel sure the matter only requires to be brought before the notice of the Police Committee to have the event deleted.

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Mr Lawrence Gemson will act as hon. secretary at the Ayr United Football and Athletic Club Sports in place of Mr H Murray who has resigned owing to pressure of business.   Mr Gemson has been well schooled in the intricate working of the position and should be an admirable successor to men like Mr Gavin Stevenson and Mr Murray.   The sports arrangements are well forward and the programme is to be the same as last year’s.

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Clydesdale Harriers, since they have decided to hold a meeting at Clydebank have received every encouragement from those who control football in that district, and it is just possible that the meeting on Saturday may be the forerunner of a long series of amateur gatherings at Clydebank.   Professional sport has had a hold there for years but there is a feeling in favour of a change, and if Clydesdale Harriers succeed in hitting popular taste this week, amateurism will get a footing that the other “ism” will not be able to move.   There is great scope for missionary work in and around Clydebank and Clydesdale Harriers therefore will be watched with interest.

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The London Athletic Club are holding a summer meeting at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening, and no doubt many of those going to the Metropolis for the AAA championships will enter for this function.   The open events are 100 metres and 600 metres scratch, 100 yards handicap, two miles handicap, high jump, broad jump and hop, step and jump.   There is a 50 yards handicap open to members, and sons and brothers of members under 15 years and a relay race – London AC  v  The Rest.

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As far as we can learn TR Nicolson is the only Western amateur who has entered the AAA Championships at Stamford Bridge on Saturday of this week.   He will travel South on Friday morning, returning again on Saturday evening so as to catch the steamer on Sunday for the Kyles.    Nicolson is a familiar figure at the AAA Championships.   His first win was in 1903 with 142′ 7″ and he has the honour four times since – 1904 with 157′ 5 1/2″, 1905 with 155′ 10 1/2″, 1907 with 158′ 9″ and 1909 with 154′ 3″.   In 1903 he also won the 16lb weight with 40′ 7 1/2″.   Nicolson has held the Scottish hammer continuously since 1902, and the weight he held in 1903, 1904, 1905, 1908 and ever since; he has in fact more championship medals than any amateur in Scotland.

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We have just heard of a rare example of “old time” graciousness which is a credit to Scottish athletics.   Before starting for Australia last year, Quinn of the Bellahouston Harriers, who held the SAAA walking championship for several seasons,  sent a letter to the Association stating the great pleasure he had had in competing under their auspices, and thanking them for the many courtesies he had received from the officials and committee from time to time.   And what made the communication so touching, was the simple, yet sincere, language in which it was couched.   Needless to say the Association replied in language that was equally sincere and and appreciative of Mr Quinn’s disinterested efforts in the cause of amateur sport in Scotland.   This is so unusual a proceeding that we think it deserves to be made public as a fine example of the reciprocal good feeling that exists between the Association and its competitors.

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The Territorial Sports at Parkhead tomorrow evening should be interesting from the point of view of variety, while the friendly rivalry between the different Corps should give a spice of excitement to the proceedings.   The “Greys” as they are still called despite modern nomenclature, have been doing a lot of training for the march route, in which it may be remembered they gained a place in the prize list at the Territorial championships in London two years ago.   They were beaten by their old friends the London Scottish and, disappointed as they were on that occasion, they would have felt the reverse keener had it been accomplished by any other corps than the London Scottish between whom and “The Greys” there is a long and cherished friendship.   Perhaps at Edinburgh next month positions will be reversed.   As tomorrow night’s programme is a lengthy one, competitors are requested to be forward in good time.   It is the duty not only of loyal Territorials but also patriotic citizens to support this meeting, the objects of which must appeal to all who have the welfare of their country at heart.

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The Olympic arrangements at Stockholm are well advanced, and it is expected that everything in the stadium will be ready for for the royal visit on Saturday, July 6th, which is to be dedicated to the opening part of the athletics part of the programme, which after all constitutes the prime part of the Games.   The order of events is given below and it will be seen that the Swedes have no Sabbatarian prejudices as on July 7th and 14th – both Sundays – there will be no break in the continuity of the proceedings.   It is surprising that the Olympic Committee at this end consented to such an arrangement.   The English Football Association has set its face against Sunday football on the Continent, and so have the English, Scottish and Welsh Rugby Unions.   It is all very well when in Rome to do as the Romans do, but we now for a fact that there is no universal satisfaction to run on a day which Britons hold as sacred.   The list is not to be regarded as final in every detail.   Second rounds are certain in the 200 and 400 metres and will probably be held on the morning of the finals.   It is also probable that the same need will apply in the 800 metres, in which case the final will be carried over to the Monday which, as will be seen from the following, is clear:-

July 6: 100m flat race heats

July6:   800m flat race heats

July 6: 10000m flat race heats

July 6:   Throwing the javelin (Best Hand)

July 7:   100m flat race heats

July 7:   800m flat race second round

July 7:   10000m flat race Final

July 7:   Running High Jump heats

July 7:   Pentathlon

July 8:   Relay Race, 400m  heats

July 8:   Walking Race 10000m heats

July 8:   Running High Jump  Final

July 8:   Standing Broad Jump

July 9:   1500m flat race heats

July 9:   5000m flat race heats

July 9:   Relay Race 400m Final

July 9:   Throwing the javelin  Right and Left Hands

July 10:  200m flat race heats

July 10:  1500m flat race final

July 10:  5000m flat race final

July 10:  Pole Jump

July 10:  Putting the Weight  Best Hand.

July 11 :  200m flat race final

July 11:  100m hurdles race heats

July 11:  Walking race 10000m final

July 11:  Putting the Weight (right and left hands)

July 12:  400m flat race heats

July 12:  Team race, 3000m heats

July 12:  100m hurdle race final

July 12:  Running Broad Jump

July 13:  400m flat race final

July 13:  Team race 3000m final

July 13:  Standing high jump

July 13:  Throwing the Discus (right and left hand)

July 14:  Marathon Race

July 14:  Relay race 1600m heats

July 14:  Throwing the Hammer

July 14: Decathlon first day

July 15: Relay Race 1600m final

July 15:  Cross-Country Race

July 15:  Hop, Step and Jump

July 15:  Decathlon second day.

The Irish Amateur Championships will be decided at Ball’s Bridge, Dublin, today, and some outstanding performances are expected, as in view of the Olympic Games several of Ireland’s leading amateurs have been assiduously employed in perfecting their form.   The Championships tomorrow are to be regarded as Ireland’s trials for Olympic purposes and that fact endows the meeting with special significance.   Whit Monday is almost universally given up to athletic functions in England, and several Scottish runners have gone South to try their luck.

We understand D Macmillan, the crack Cambridge University sprinter, is coming North for the Scottish championships in June, and as he will be accompanied by HM Macintosh, the old Glenalmond boy who is regarded as “the find of the season” there should be such a display of sprinting as is rarely seen at a meeting in Glasgow.   Macmillan is such  resourceful and powerful sprinter that it is just possible that he may win three events – the 100 yards, 220 yards and 440 yards – in which case his name will  be bracketed in history with AR Downer who had the distinction of winning these races in one day.

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GC Wallach of Glenpark Harriers and JD Murphy of Edinburgh Harriers are among those whom the National Cross-Country Committee have chosen to represent Britain in the cross-country races at Stockholm.   The team is as follows and the names are in the order of merit:-

W Scott  …..Salford Harriers

FN Hibbins ….. Thrapston Harriers

GC Wallach ….. Glenpark Harriers

F O’Neill ….. Connaught Rangers

E Glover ….. Hallamshire Harriers

SC Greenway ….. Banbury Harriers

WJ Tasker ….. Reading Athletic Club

J Murphy ….. Hallamshire Harriers

FC Neaves ….. Surrey Athletic Club

C Vose ….. Warrington Harriers

J Hughes ….. Dundalk Athletic Club

JM Broad ….. Durham City Harriers

JD Hughes ….. Edinburgh Harriers

B Holbrook ….. Warrington Athletic Club

R Stanton ….. Birchfield Harriers

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The conference of athletic bodies held last week at Manchester last week to consider the arrangements for the Olympic Games or, to be more ccurate, to bring under critical review the athletic wealth of Great Britain, was a very harmonious affair, Scotland being represented by Mr T Jack, president of the SAAA; Mr Walter Crichton, vice-president; and Mr DS Duncan, hon secretary.   The list of names published in Friday’s “Herald” is provisional , and therefore subject to revision.   Much may happen between this and the English Championships.   Athletes now in the perfection of form or nearly so, may fall off , while others may improve as the crucial period for final choices draws near.   It has been decided to send a team of 70, though possibly when the time comes for making a final selection that number may even be reduced.   The Scottish representatives are:- RC Duncan (West of Scotland Harriers), J Soutter (Aberdeen University AC), R Burton (Berwick Harriers), WM Crabbie (Edinburgh Academicals), T Jack (Edinburgh Southern Harriers), Dr Campbell (Edinburgh University AC) and TR Nicolson (West of Scotland Harriers); and the Anglo-Scots are:- D McMillan (Cambridge University AC), HM Macintosh (Cambridge University AC), FG Black (Cambridge University AC), GRL Anderson (Oxford University AC), DF McNicol ( Polytechnic and West of Scotland Harriers) and GCL Wallach (Bolton and Glenpark Harriers).

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Glasgow University are holding their annual sports at Anniesland tomorrow afternoon, and the first and second in each event will represent their Alma Mater in the inter-Varsity Games, which take place at St Andrews this season.   Of those who will figure in tomorrow’s sports JB Sweet, the old High School boy, is confidently expected to win honours in the 100 and 220 yards, while George Findlay and T Barrie Erskine, both Clydesdale Harriers running under their Varsity colours, are strong favourites for the distance events.     Neil McLeod and J Warren should do well in the middle distances, if a chill caught during training practice does not prevent the latter from entering, and there is the possibility of seeing Ralph Erskine, the amateur lightweight boxing champion trying his luck at the high jump.   Although the organised systematic training which goes to the making of an efficient athletic team is quite lacking at our university, a good afternoon’s sport, thanks to a few enthusiasts is assured, and at the inter-Varsity Sports by individual efforts a few trophies may fall to Glasgow.   Edinburgh University will bring off its ‘trials’ at Craiglockhart on Saturday and there will be the usual keen competition for the Rosebery Cup, to possess which, even for the limited period of 12 months, is the ambition of every athlete at the metropolitan Varsity.   It is said that there is less outstanding talent at Edinburgh University than there has been for several years but the odd thing is that while we hear the same ‘tale’ every year the Eastern star is very much in the ascendant on the day of the inter-Varsity Sports.

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