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Click to go to  Kenny Phillips: the runner

This interesting section is not really only about Kenny himself: it concerns the running of athletics in a locality, any locality although this one is in Beith.   It illustrates the difficulties that beset any voluntary organisation and all the problems that arise from raising the funds to the occasional unsympathetic official and relations with the governing body.   

Kenny returned from Lancashire to Stewarton in 1962 and replaced Harry Maxwell as Secretary of Beith Harriers with Mattha Barr and Hugh Walker as Chairman and Treasurer.   The Ladies Section was at a standstill as they had lost the use of the Backburn School but they were thanked for helping with the teas at the New Year’s Day Race and for organising the Bus Run.  Members subscriptions were raised from 15/- to £1 for Seniors and from 1/6d to 2/6d for Boys.  The District Council was to be asked to organise a Sports Meeting.  Harry Maxwell and Kenny were appointed as Representatives to the Ayrshire Harrier Clubs’ Association.   The Committee was authorised to spend up to £100 to make the Clubhouse watertight.  During his annual report for 1962-63, Kenny congratulated the cross country runners, despite the difficulty in getting sufficient numbers, of being second in the Ayrshire and SW Relays and first in the Ayrshire and SW 6 miles.   During the track season, Beith members won prizes at almost every sports meeting but he complained that no team events were entered, training was done individually instead of in groups, the Clubhouse was neglected and the Ladies Section did not meet.   The only summer club activity was the Bus Run to Balmaha.   Outstanding individuals were:

Ian Harris, who won the Scottish Marathon and was in the Army Cross Country Team which won the Inter-services Cross Country Championships.

Danny McFadyean, who won the Navy, then the Inter-services Cross Country Championship and, the following day, was 12th in the Scottish Cross Country Championship.

Tom Cochrane, who won the Ayrshire 6 miles, SW 6 miles, Club Championship, 9th in the Scottish Cross Country Championship, represented Scotland at San Sebastian, won the Ayrshire 3,000m and 3 miles Championships.

Tom Findlay, who was first in the Boys Ayrshire and second in the SW races.

Jim Millar, who won the Ayrshire 1 mile and was 3rd in the Ayrshire 1/2 mile.

Dave Shedden, who was 2nd in the Ayrshire 100 yards and long jump and in the Scottish Junior Championships was 2nd in the long jump, 3rd in the 100 yards and 220 yards.

*

In 1966, Kenny, along with Harry Maxwell, when representing Beith Harriers at the Ayrshire Harrier Clubs’ Association, were appointed as Secretary and Treasurer of the AHCA.  The Chairman was former Clydesdale Harrier Ernie Thursby who was good at getting others to do the work.   Harry arranged 12 Ayrshire sports meetings in the winter at Ayr, Kilmarnock,  Stewarton, Harriers Vs Cyclists at Irvine, Dundonald, West Kilbride, Beith, Cumnock, and Girvan.  He invited teams from schools and youth clubs and, as the Commonwealth Games would be held in Edinburgh in 1970, he asked for anyone interested in forming a new club, helping at races or attending courses for Coaches, Judges, Timekeepers, etc.

The total funds of the AHCA received by Kenny as Treasurer amounted to £16 in cash and the former officials were horrified when Harry and Kenny decided to spend it all at the first track and field event at Irvine Meadow’s football ground.   The meeting was a financial and athletics success and set the pattern for future events.

Kenny wrote to the 16 Town Councils and all the factories in Ayrshire asking for sponsorship and the £5 and £10 donations soon mounted up.  Some of the Town Councils promoted Gala Days, for which the AHCA provided Officials and helpers.

Harry, in conjunction with Ayr County Council’s Community Development Officer, arranged  a series of meetings in the winter in Kilmarnock to train Coaches and Officials under the tutelage of experts such as Dickinson of Jordanhill College, Chapman of the Scottish Council for Physical Education, and then in the summer at the Dirrans, Kilwinning, under Anderson, National Coach.    Coaching certificates were issued by Ayr County Council to all those taking part.  At its peak, 500 competitors took part in the Ayrshire track & field championships, 800 at the Cumbrae 10 miles road race and 800 at the Stewarton cross country races. At a later time at the Largs Inverclyde Centre, Frank Dick gave further instruction and led discussions about coaching and administration of athletics under the new Scottish Athletics Federation.   Frank was not happy when Harry and Kenny disagreed with some of his suggestions.    When Harry arranged a Coaching Exam, all the Ordinary Coaches passed but the only 2 applicants for Senior Coach, Harry and Kenny, were failed by the examiners,  Frank Dick and Alex Naylor.

1n 1973 some Ayrshire athletes proposed the amalgamation of all the harrier clubs in Ayrshire in order to field a stronger team in the League.   This found general favour but Beith Harriers suggested several conditions:

1 The club should promote athletics for all athletes, whether competing for fun or at higher levels.

2  The headquarters and centre of activity should be Irvine.

3 The club should start on a sound financial basis, say, £200.

4 The Community Development Service should be brought in with the aim of appointing a full-time professional sports administrator, similar to that at Grangemouth.

5  Negotiations should start with the Director of Education, Ayr County Council, and Irvine Development Council to get a Stadium-Sports Centre at Irvine with full-time administrator.

6 There must be a working committee, meeting at least every two months, to avoid the club relying entirely on the Secretary.

At the Beith Harriers Annual General Meeting on 3rd March, 1974, a discussion took place on whether all the members should join the Ayrshire Athletic Club.  Some members felt that the proposed constitution and organisation of the new club would be to the detriment of young athletes, existing sports meetings and the maintenance of the Beith Harriers Clubhouse. Those members who wished to join Ayrshire AC then left the meeting.

On 1st July, 1974, Beith Harriers Committee allocated the use of the Clubhouse to:

Karate Club, Monday, Thursday and Saturday morning; Ayrshire AC, Tuesday; Beith Harriers, Wednesday.

Each section to contribute £25 per annum and the Karate Club to get a 5 year agreement in writing.

On 11th September, 1974, it was reported back that Beith Harriers were now the only member of the Ayrshire Harrier Clubs’ Association, as all the other clubs had joined the Ayrshire Athletic Club, which in turn refused to join the AHCA.  Harry Maxwell and Kenny Phillips were authorised to take control of the AHCA and organise the Ayrshire Championships at Beith.  In 1975, the SAAA declined to investigate the AHCA but Jim Young former Secretary of the AHCA agreed to hand over the books to Beith Harriers for administration.  Ayrshire AC no longer wished to use the Beith Clubhouse and it was agreed to share the costs of maintenance with the Karate Club as before, viz, £25 each.

On 3rd September, 1975, in the Beith Harriers Clubhouse, an Open Meeting of the AHCA  was held of all people interested in the promotion of athletics in Ayrshire.  Seven events were proposed, Ayrshire Relays at Beith, Harriers Vs Cyclists at Irvine, Stewarton Cross Country, Ayrshire Championships at Cumnock, Kilmarnock Youth Panel at Kilmarnock, New Year Races at Beith and Carrick Youth Panel at Maybole.  A Management Committee was formed consisting of President – H Maxwell, Secretary – K Phillips, Treasurer – T McCulloch, Affiliated Club Beith Harriers – 2 members, T Cochrane, J Sloss, Sponsors 1 member – A McMaster Maybole Community Association, R Ballantyne Stewarton Sports Association, W Fulton Irvine Recreation Club, I Turnbull Kilmarnock Youth Panel.

However Ayrshire AC gradually broke up and the individual former clubs regained their independence and rejoined the AHCA.

At the Beith Harriers Annual General Meeting on 29th April, 1977, it was agreed not to affiliate to the SAAA but the members would run for the newly formed Longbar AC for a season.   Affiliation to the SCCU was agreed for the coming winter season.   Amalgamation of Beith Harriers and Longbar AC was proposed on 9th September, 1977.

At the reorganisation of Local Government in 1975, Kenny applied for the post of Director of Leisure and Recreation of the newly formed Cunninghame District Council.   He was selected for the short leet of three.  One applicant coached international swimmers in Aberdeen and withdrew at the interviews as he wanted to continue coaching his swimmers.   One applicant was a weight lifter and Kenny had 29 years experience in local government and athletics.   A prominent Strathclyde Regional Councillor, known as the Silver Fox, had met Kenny some time before in the Ayr County Buildings canteen and told Kenny that he had been taught his Marxism by Kenny’s father.   Before the vote, the Silver Fox, now a District Councillor,  blackballed Kenny by telling the other councillors that they would not want a Communist as a Director.

On 23rd December, 1978, it was agreed to sell the Clubhouse to Beith Karate Club for the sum of £2,000, to be paid over 5 years.

In 1984 Inland Revenue appointed a Tax Inspector in Ardrossan specifically to collect Corporation Tax.   Cunninghame District Council had printed a small handbook for the benefit of the public showing all the clubs and recreational organisations in the district.   This Tax Inspector classed all these clubs as Corporations and sent them tax forms to complete showing any bank interest credited and any assets acquired or disposed of in the past two years.   Only two clubs, Beith Harriers and Dreghorn Boxing Club took the trouble to fill up the forms. A member of the Dreghorn Boxing Club visited the Tax Inspector and warned him that if he received any more such demands he would return and punch in his head.   Beith Harriers were then plagued with further demands for details of the interest from 1980 to 1985, the cost of the clubhouse in 1934, details of the actual sale, date of sale and full postal address of the Clubhouse.  The Tax Inspector refused to cease his demands despite explanations about the struggle for 60 years to build and maintain the clubhouse and develop athletics in Ayrshire, When the maintenance of the clubhouse become too much, it was offered to the District Council and Regional Council for recreational use but they declined and suggested offering it to the Karate Club.   Any income was ploughed back into the sport for prizes and events for the benefit of the local community.   Advice was sought about obtaining charitable status and a Covenant to pay Ayrshire Harrier Clubs’ Association the sum of £200 per year for 10 years for the purpose of promoting Amateur Athletics in Ayrshire.  The Tax Inspector was prepared to accept that no Capital Gains arose on the sale of the Clubhouse to the Karate Club but he issued assessment notices for sums ranging from £33.90 to £76.   A request to delay any Sheriff Office or Court proceedings was refused. and a further tax of £60 on the Covenant was demanded.  Help was requested from the Scottish Sports Council, Cunninghame District Council, the 4 Ayrshire MPs, pointing out that the covenanted £200 was liable to £60 tax and that the £200 received by AHCA made them liable for Corporation Tax returns.  Instead of saving tax, athletics in Ayrshire would be worse off.  No member of staff of the Finance and Accountancy Department of the Glasgow College of Technology was willing to help and advised that an accountant should be employed at commercial rates.  William McKelvey, MP, wrote to Nigel Lawson, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and received a reply on 8th May, 1986, explaining that Clubs such as Beith Harriers were liable for Corporation Tax and that there was no case for singling out this kind of body for favourable tax treatment.  The complicated tax returns would be avoided by the intention to apply tax deduction at source. Mr McKelvey was “sorry not to have been more helpful but an incoming Labour Government is committed to ensure that truly non profit making organisations are able to flourish more readily.”

Kenny wrote on 12th March 1987 to George Younger, MP, requesting him to have another word with Nigel Lawson, as Beith Harriers were still being persecuted by the Inland Revenue, despite the letter from the Inland Revenue Operations Division confirming the redeployment of 850 staff to catch tax evaders and almost apologising for the fact that in the Ardrossan District these staff had decided to concentrate on the voluntary youth organisations etc instead of proper businesses involving larger amounts of tax.   These threats had caused the resignation of the President, Secretary and Treasurer of Beith Harriers and the club was faced with the prospect of folding up. James Swindale wrote to the Inland Revenue Solicitor on 5th July, 1988 …”Beith Harriers is a non profit making body and all income is ploughed back into the sport.  Following the reduction in our membership, in recent years there has been a net loss but it appears that this can not be offset against profits, unlike proper Corporations which can afford to employ accountants.  Our funds are now reduced to about £132 and we shall have difficulty in paying our annual subscriptions to the Scottish Cross Country Union, £35, Scottish Amateur Athletic Association, £37, Scottish Women’s Cross Country and Road Racing Association, £20, Scottish Women’s Amateur Athletics Association, £42, Cunningham District Sports Council, £5, Garnock Valley Youth Panel, £3, and Ayrshire Harrier Clubs’ Association, £2-50.  In addition, each year we promote and sponsor local sports meetings, viz. Beith New Year Races, Beith Civic Sports, Dalry Civic Sports and Bigholm Road Race.  I trust you will give this matter your careful consideration and use a modicum of common sense instead of continuing the action of the Tax Officers who have a duty to follow the rules of the Tax Laws once the bureaucratic machinery is set in motion”   Further demands and threats of poinding goods and chattels were issued until James Swindale wrote to the Inland Revenue Solicitor on 8th February 1989 that “the three temporary office bearers have been unsuccessful in their struggle to keep Beith Harriers going.  When the funds were exhausted, it was impossible to continue and the Club was disbanded.”

It has taken 30 years for the Government and Inland Revenue to treat Sports Clubs, etc. in the same way as Charities for Tax purposes and Clubs can now claim back tax in respect of membership fees.

***

Kenny organised and promoted many athletics events over a long number of years and as an Office Bearer of the Ayrshire Harrier Clubs’ Association he served as judge, timekeeper and  referee at track & field events and laid trails for cross country races.  When he retired he was able to help during the day with indoor schools, university, blind & deaf meetings and kept himself up to date by qualifying as a Level 2 Field Judge Official and Cross Country Official.  When he came to renew his UK Licence, an ex-policeman had been appointed as Welfare Officer and refused to accept the application form as Kenny refused to tick a box consenting to the information being passed to other Government organisations and law enforcement agencies.   Kenny knew a Housing Officer, who worked at weekends as a Special Constable and boasted that he could get into the Police files to gather information about his housing clients.  A Government Minister had left a dossier of confidential files on a public park bench.

The following three letters from Kenny give a fuller explanation:

29/2/08

D Brown, CBE

Athletics Welfare,

Sale.

Dear Mr Brown,                      Disclosure Scotland – Officiating

I thank you for your letter of 6/62/08 formally requesting me to complete a Disclosure Scotland enhanced disclosure check.

I have no objection to the Police making such a check and, in fact, it is their duty to do so if they have any suspicions.  They have already checked all the adults in my street before the safe housing of at-risk young persons in my street by the Social Work Department for East Ayrshire Council.

What I object to is the box in Part E of the application form consenting to the information being passed on to other Government organisations and law enforcement agencies and the payment by Scottish Athletics of £10 per form to the Police.

In my opinion the present Government has a fixation with ID cards and DNA data and plans to enforce it with underhand methods, such as passports, driving licences, job applications, student bank accounts and loans, housing benefit, etc.  Disclosure Scotland is just one of these ploys.  Four million people are already on the DNA database.

It is wrong to collect such data for everyone instead of targeting offenders as it attacks the liberty and basic dignity of the citizen and it is a waste of  Police time, who at present can not cope with terrorists, murderers, burglars and fraud.  The privacy of such date is notoriously lax and misused in many ways.

I have been involved in athletics for 60 years and I find that Disclosure Scotland is depriving clubs of leaders, parents and helpers, who can not be bothered with all the needless red tape.

Yours sincerely,

Kenneth Phillips.

12/9/2008

1. Brown, CBE,

Athletics Welfare,

Sale.

Dear Mr Brown,                                  Disclosure Scotland – Officiating

I refer to your letter of 10/9/08 informing me that UK Athletics Case Management Group had withdrawn my Technical Official’s Licence on 10/9/08 and that UK Athletics will notify all relevant organisations and accompany the written notification with photo identification after the 14 days period of Appeal.

I expected you as an officer responsible for Athletics Welfare to be aware of the Starting Rule, “Do not jump the gun”.

My club, Beith Harriers, and the Ayrshire Harrier Clubs’ Association, of which I am Vice-Chairman, were notified in July and instructed not to use me in any official capacity.

I wrote to you on 29/2/08 explaining my reasons for not completing the Disclosure Scotland form, mainly because of the lack of security with confidential and personal data but you have confirmed and exacerbated my concerns by threatening to notify “all relevant organisations” and publish it on the UKA website with photo identification.  This contravenes the Data Protection Act and I expressly forbid you to disseminate such information.

I still have no objection to the Police making such a check and, in fact, it is their duty to do so if they have any suspicions.  You have a right to withdraw my Licence but no right to pass on my data without my consent.   As you have withdrawn my Technical Official’s Licence, there is no longer any need for you to hold any information about me and I instruct you to destroy it all immediately.

Yours sincerely

Kenneth Phillips

8/10/08

David Brown CBE

UK Athletics Ltd

Athletics Welfare.

Dear Mr Brown

I do not agree to you publishing any information about me on the UKA website, either as originally proposed or as amended.

The facts are:

1  I have for many years been a “Responsible Athletics Official” and complied with the “Terms and Conditions”,

2  I have no objection to a Police or CRB check and Cameron Ewing of Scottish Athletics told me at a meeting in East Kilbride that he would arrange that.  Everyone in my street has already passed a Police check in connection with Social Work affairs.  What I object to is the dissemination of such information among public bodies.

3  Nothing has changed since you issued my Official’s 3 yearly Licence in 2007.    None of the circumstances in 5.1 for the withdrawal of a Licence applies.  Nonetheless, I willingly give up my Licence if you insist on your need to disseminate people’s personal details.

4  You have not supplied me with the Information Commissioner’s formula, which is intended to deal with “offences”.  The Information Commissioner’s primary duty is the protection of personal information.

5  You now agree that UKA is not treating this matter as disciplinary and that I have not committed any offence.  Anything therefore published on the website would be vindictive and without justification.

In the event of any such publication, I shall hold both you personally and UK Athletics liable for damages and I again expressly forbid you to do so.

Yours sincerely

Kenneth Phillips

***

When the Scottish Athletics Federation was formed it was funded with £500,000 per annum and the Chief Executive’s main job was to attract more funding from sponsors.   Kenny objected when his successor on appointment proposed that that a full-time person should be employed to deal with the sponsorship to enable himself to travel around Scotland visiting all the clubs.  Most of the £500,000 appears to be spent on the salaries of a large number of staff but clubs are still expected to do all the work involving sports meetings.  The number of staff appears grossly excessive when compared to the work done formerly on a spare time basis by Ewan Murray, Secretary of the Scottish Cross Country Union.   Simple but essential things like the venue and starting times of sports meetings on the website fixture list are often missing.  Kenny also complained about the Health & Safety aspects of the Finish Gantry at the National Cross Country Races during windy weather and the expectation that the Ayrshire 70 year old Volunteers would drive in 3 miles of fencing posts for the Edinburgh events.   He suggests a better expenditure  of the £500,000 would be to offer clubs, say, £200 to organise local, district and national events for all age groups, male and female.

That was the report in its entirety for the first meeting of the decade.   There was to me a wee bit of condescension in the first two sentences but the public clearly didn’t feel put off if we judge by the attendance which was bigger than it would be in most years thereafter.   The absence of big names such as could be drawn to compete at the Rangers FC and Celtic FC Sports did not affect the quality of competition on a meeting which at this point came the week after the SAAA championships and clashed with the AAA’s in England.   Later in the decade it would settle into a slot the week before the SAAA Championships and would prosper because of that.

Results

100 yards:  1.   H Blair (Olympic Harriers  7 yards);   2.   J Williamson (Dumbarton AAC  8).   10.2 seconds.   Won by Inches.

220 yards:   1.   H McDowell (Paisley YMCA 15 yards);   2.   H Harvey (Shettleston Harriers 13 yards).   23.8 seconds.   Close finish.

440 yards:   1.   HJ Christie (West of Scotland  15 yards);   2.   J McAlpine  (Bellahouston H  12 yards)   51.8 seconds.  Won by a foot.

880 yards:   1.   M Anderson (Shettleston Harriers  53 yards);   2.   J Pollock (Bellahouston  52 yards).   NTG

Mile:   1.   JB Craig (Bellahouston Harriers  100 yards);   2.   AB Lawrie (Garscube Harriers   105 yards).   4:30.8.   Won by two yards.

There were fourteen events in all plus of course a five a side football competition in which Rangers with 1 goal and 2 corners beat Clyde who only had 1 goal.  The close finishes above indicate a good afternoon’s sport with decent handicapping and there were several competitors who would be well known to future generations – I select only George Dalls who was third in the quarter mile (‘a good third’) and fourth in the half mile.

*

The 1922 sports were held on 1st July – a date which again coincided with the AAA’s championships in England and press coverage suffered because of that.   The weather was showery (for Glasgow in July, maybe to be expected) and a crowd of approximately 10,000 turned out for the event.   The reporter seemed more accepting of the meeting than in 1923 with fewer asides incorporated in the report.  The principal open results are noted.

100 yards:   1.   H Savage (Glasgow YMCA  10 yards);   2.   G Drummond (West of Scotland  4.5 yards).   10.2 second.   Won by half a yard.

220 yards:   1.   JK Braid (Shettleston Harriers  12 yards);   2.   J Brown (Maryhill Harriers  13 yards).   23 seconds.

440 yards:   1.   J Cromar (West of Scotland  18 yards:   2.   LS Barton West of Scotland  8 yards).   51.6 seconds.

880 yards:   1.   R Clark (Glasgow YMCA  50 yards);   2.   TH Hamilton (Bellahouston Harriers  46 yards.)   2:02

Mile:   1.   T McGill (Maryhill Harriers  135 yards);   2.   JJ Quinn (Shettleston Harriers   135 yards).   4:25 seconds.   A close finish.

Two Miles Walk:   1.   E McLeod (Shettleston Harriers  100 yards);   2.   W Armitage (Shettleston Harriers  155 yards);   3.   C McLellan (Glasgow Police & Shettleston).   Won by 10 yards, a similar distance between second and third.

The programme also included some races for ‘Youths’, field events, wrestling, tug of war and events confined to policemen.

*

On 30th June 1923, the Glasgow Police Sports were held, as usual, at Ibrox and the report began with some very interesting information on the history of the meeting.   It read:

The Sports Meeting of the Glasgow Police Athletic Club has now achieved venerable antiquity, the gathering at Ibrox on Saturday last being the 40th of the series.   For many years the meeting was a professional function, but latterly the organisers were persuaded to come under the laws of the SAAA and the sports have ever since been confined to amateur athletes.   The club have had little reason to regret the change, as is evidenced by the attendance of fully 10,000 at Ibrox.   As has always been the case, the sports combined the usual features of an athletic meeting with those generally associated with the Highland Games, the events including tossing the caber, piping and dancing, tug of war, and a variety of field and heavy events.  The outstanding feature of the meeting was the success of TR Nicholson, the Scottish champion, who secured first place in the three events in which he competed – putting the ball, throwing the weight and tossing the caber.    Duncan McPhee, the mile and half-mile champion, ran somewhat disappointingly in the former event, making little impression on the long start men, and he did not turn out in the mile having left for Edinburgh before that event was called.

CHAMPIONS BEATEN

In the Two Miles Walk Colin McLellan, the Three Miles champion, was unable to concede the starts asked of him.   The distance, as has been previously stated is too short to allow him to display his staying powers.   KM Smith won the high jump with a moderate performance buit he stood down from the pole vault owing to a recent injury.   Duncan McPhee at the conclusion of his heat in the half mile travelled to Edinburgh where he was no more successful than at Ibrox, the mile being won from 140 yards and the half mile from 35.   JG McColl the quarter mile champion is another champion who could not concede the handicaps although he did win his heat.”

In 1924, the meeting was held two weeks after the SAAA Championships which had been on 14th June with the AAA’s Championships on the 21st.   With established meetings such as the Queen’s Park FC Sports on the first Saturday and the Greenock Glenpark meeting on the second Saturday and many other meetings also on these weeks, the only way for the Police Sports to go was to the end of the month.   In poor weather conditions and with none of the really big names competing, the crowd was only an estimated 10,000.   Results of the confined events were as follows:

100 yards:   1.  J Crawford (QPFC 9.5 yards);   2.  AMorrison (GUAC);  10 seconds.   Won by inches.

220 yards:  1.   P Gardiner (Bellahouston  9 yards);  2.   P McIntyre (Maryhill H  9.5 yards).   23.2 seconds.   Won by a foot.

440 yards:   1.   JG McColl (GUAC  10 yards);   2.   W Neilson (Plebeian Harriers 32 yards)   53 seconds.   Won by 10 yards.

880 yards:   1.   JW Stepley? (Shettleston H  46 yards);  RR McIntyre (West of Scotland 13)   2:01.2.   Won by inches.

Mile:   1.   WH Calderwood (Maryhill H 40 yards);   2.   J Mitchell (Mauchline H 65 yards).   4:32.8   Won by a yard.

The report on the meeting of 22nd June, 1925 read: The Glasgow Police Club are to be congratulated on the success of their forty second annual meeting at Ibrox Park, as it was so admirably organised that the somewhat unwieldy programme was finished ten minutes inside the estimated time schedule.   The brilliant weather conditions also played their part with the result that few of the 20,000 spectators saw reason to depart before the programme was completed.   In the circumstances it was not surprising that times ruled very fast.   In the open sprint even times was clocked no fewer than six times in the Heats and semi-finals, and in the Final of the same event the winner, JNK Clarkson, of Edinburgh University was returned as having run 9 4-5th seconds.   As he was running from the 10 yards mark, the old Watson’s College boy seems to have been generously dealt with.   The feature of the sprint however was the strong running of J Crawford and R McLean.    The first named, although unplaced in the final, won his heat and dead-heated in the semi-final in even time, and as he was running from the three-quarter yard mark, these efforts indicate that EH Liddell will have to travel to retain his title at Hampden.   McLean who finished second, a yard behind Clarkson, also returned evens in his semi-final.

Clarkson almost brought off a double, being beaten only by inches in the final of the furlong, and another Edinburgh competitor, JS O’Hara, a Navy man who runs in the colours of  Edinburgh Northern Harriers, captured the open mile in 4:23.      

The meeting in 1926 was a success – if you call an attendance of 16,000 and a new Scottish record a success, that is.   Held at Ibrox in dry but dull weather, A Smith set the new record for the shot putt with 32′ 8″which added 1′ 11″ to his previous best set at the SAAA Championships the previous year.   There were six confined events with the half-mile being won by Donald MacLean from Greenock in 2:04 from scratch, the report read “won easily.”    It was an enjoyable meeting but none of the recognised ‘;stars’ were in action in any of the 13 open events.

On 18th June 1927, the crowd was a bit smaller and the report read:  “The 44th annual sports meeting of the Glasgow Police Athletic Club was held at Ibrox Park, Glasgow on Saturday afternoon in showery weather and before an estimated attendance of 14,000.   The sport, especially in the flat events, was always interesting and the performances were of a  fair level.   Outstanding were Donald MacLean’s successes in the confined half-mile and in the mile.   The latter event was run in two sections, first class and second class, the first embracing all runners under 95 yards, and the second those with concessions of 100 yards and over, and the experiment can be judged a success.   AC Nicolson’s putt of 42′ 6″ and JF Mair’s pole vault of 10′ 3″ were the other individual performances of merit.   A parade by the pipe bands taking part in the pipe band contest lent a picturesque touch to the proceedings.”  

What constituted a fait standard in 1927?   First two places in the open events are noted:

100 yards:   1.   P McIntyre (Maryhill Harriers 6 yards);  2.   A Mackintosh (Glasgow Harriers 9.5 yards).   10.4 seconds.   Won by inches.

220 yards:   1.  WG Lawn (Bellahouston H 9 yds);   2.   J McColl (Bellahouston Harriers 9 yds)   23.8 seconds.   Won by inches.

440 Yards:   1.   TJ McAllister (Beith H  18 yds);   2.   R Davie (Springburn H  26 yds).   52.2   Won by a yard and a half.

880 yards:   1.   JR Orr (Glasgow YMCA 60 yards);   2.   KA Smith (Glasgow YMCA  37)   2:01.8.   Won by three yards.

Mile (first class):   1.   D MacLean (Maryhill H  25 yards);   H Boyd  (Bellahouston H 65 yds).   4:27.8.   Won by 10 yds.

Mile (second class)   1.   J Dobbie (Garscube H  130 yards);   2.   SC McKenna (Plebeian H   130 yds)   4:27.6.   Won by four yards.

Interesting to note that the handicapping produced almost identical winning times for the two Mile races and to speculate on how they would have finished had the fields been amalgamated.

The event was held on June 16th in 1928 and the fairly common complaint about the length of the programme surfaced again.   “As the years go on the programme submitted at the Glasgow Police gala grows bigger and bigger, and after Saturday’s experience it may be well in the officials responsible curtailed it somewhat, or held eliminating trials which would obviate the proceedings lasting inordinately long.   Five hours of athletics, even of the variety  submitted on Saturday, is too much for the ordinary individual, and while recognising that the police draw their support from persons who are more interested in themselves than in the sport, and have to cater accordingly, a little more consideration would enable their meeting to follow the proceedings in a more enlightened way.   Nevertheless the sport, especially in the flat events, was always interesting and good.

The strong contingent from the Dublin Civic Guards who were competing met with success in good measure, and one of them, M Glynn, had the rare experience of winning three handicaps in one afternoon.   Glynn won all three events – 100 yards  and 220 yards confined and 100 yards open – with ease, and if, as we understand, his handicap at home is one yard more than he received on Saturday the standard in Ireland must be much higher than it is here.   A compatriot, MM Abader, occupied second place in both confined sprints, and also took second place in the open furlong, so that he too had a good afternoon.   In contrast W Shannahan, the Irish high jumper, would have had to clear 6′ 4″ to win the high jump, and his 5′ 10.5″ did not even find a place in the prize list.

A KEEN RELAY

Because of Saturday’s Scottish Championships, the racing in the mile relay attracted most attention.   Here quite a number of potential candidates were in opposition, the half-mile leg bringing D McLean and JD Hope together.   The Maryhill men had distinctly the better of Saturday’s argument handing over with fully four yards in advance of the present half-mile champion, and it may be that with weak opposition promised at his own distance, the mile, McLean will have a cut at the half-mile also.   With HC Maingay added to the field, this would be a race worth seeing.   With this advantage Maryhill looked winners, but   with PW Brown holding his own against WP Andreoli and the two last West of Scotland men putting in a bit extra, the expectations of the crowd were upset.   The final quarter was thrilling.   Clark got away with actually a two yards lead, lost it to DE Duncan, Maryhill’s last man, in the back straight, yet had enough stamina left to deliver a challenge in the home straight that Duncan could not resist.   The open half-mile, won by J Hood, a Shettleston Harrier, who has dropped from nowhere to the 20 yards mark, showed that we have here a winner of quality.   He mastered his field in stylish fashion, and had reserve enough left to turn out later to win his heat in the quarter mile, and finish second in the final.   D MacLean turned out in the first class mile, but as he had already run two fairly fast half miles earlier in the meeting he contented himself with a view of the leaders at the finish.”  

The field events were reported to be not up to the standard pf some of the past meetings with the exception being GE Mitchell in the Hammer who threw 111′ 4″ which beat his own record of the previous year.   Winners of the open track races were

100 yards:   1.   M Glynn (Dublin Civic Guards  2.5 yards);   2.   JC Blossom (GUAC  7.5.   10.4   Won by two yards

220 yards:   2.   R  Hamilton (Lenzie RFC 12 yards);   2.  MM Abader (Dunblin CG 13 yards);   22.8 seconds.   Won by inches.

440 yards:   1.   EJ Wheeler (West of Scotland 32 yards);   2.   J Hood (Shettleston H  12)   50.6.    Won by two yards.

880 yards:   1.   J Hood (Shettleston Harriers  20 yards;   2.   J Hawthorn (Shettleston H  52 yards).   2:01.   Won by five yards.

1 Mile (First Class).   1.   WJ Gunn (Plebeian Harriers 65 yards);   2.   SK Tombe (Plebeian Harriers 70 yards)   4:27.6.   Won by two yards.

1 Mile (Second Class)   1.   PJ Connolly (Plebeian Harriers 125 yards);   2.   WH Bremner (West of Scotland 130 yards)   4:29.1.   Won by ten yards.

The following year, the Police Sports were held on 15th June, again at Ibrox Park and before a crowd of  15,000 who had turned up on a dull day.   As ever it was the week before the SAAA Championships and the report made great play of this:

“The fact that the Scottish Championships are to be decided this week lent more than ordinary interest to the meeting of the Glasgow Police Club held at Ibrox Park on Saturday afternoon, for with so many contenders for honours in opposition, it was felt that fresh light would be thrown upon their chances at Hampden Park five days hence.   Particularly so was this the case in the 100 yards where RA Robb, the present holder, James  Crawford  and Ian Borland were all entered.   Robb and Crawford ran from scratch, Borland from a yard and a half and when all three won their heats it looked as if we were to have a full dress rehearsal of next Saturday’s more important event.   Fate, however, in the person of JS Smith, the old Govan High School champion and at present a student at Gilmorehill, interposed in the semi-finals where he defeated Crawford in even time by two yards.

In the final Smith again ran strongly to win from Borland by a bare yard with Robb fourth.  It is rare that Glasgow University has provided three of the four finalists in an open sprint of any importance, nut it is consistent with public performances this season, as results have shown the present standard at Westerlands to be an excellent one.   The riddle of who will be this season’s sprint champion will not be solved until Saturday.   Crawford, who is apparently running as well as ever, is favourite in some quarters for the double event, and he has undoubtedly a great chance.   On the other hand, Robb and Borland must be able to gauge their chances fairly accurately with their home running against W Wright and JS Smith both of whom have won open handicaps this season.

TWO NEW RECORDS

Two new Scottish records were created in the 56lb weight and the relay.   In the weight, Alexander Smith of the Glasgow Police improved upon his own record of 1927  with a great throw of 35′ 1.5″, an advance of no less than 2′ 0.5″ , an excellent performance and one which it is questionable if any of our professional heavyweights could improve upon or even equal.   The Edinburgh students returned 3:37 in the relay which is 3 sec faster than their time of 1922, when Eric Liddell was a member of their team.   This accomplishment was mainly due to the fine running of HC Maingay in the half mile and D Paton in the first of the furlongs but both RL Howland and FP Reid contributed their quota to the victory over Beith Harriers and the other Western clubs.   Maingay clearly showed that he has lost none of his running since last year, and in his public appearances this season he has been running well within himself.   Opposed by J Calder of Beith who has shown himself to be the best of Western half-milers, the Yorkshireman let himself go and was timed as doing 1:59.  He was some eight yards in front of Calder which shows that the Beith man ran a good race.   The advantage gained at the handover was enhanced by Paton and the race was practically over when Howland took  the baton.   There is sure to be some discussion on the latter’s inclusion in the Edinburgh team as he has taken part in several competitions this season for the Achilles club.

A SUCCESSION OF DOUBLES

J Seton had a double first in the confined sprints, TJ Goldie a similar experience in the open half-mile and the first class mile, Alex Smith won the Caber in addition to the Weight.   Goldie ran with fine judgment in both his races and thoroughly deserved his victories.   In the Mile, WJ Gunn of Plebeian Harriers was the most prominent back-marker.   He ran into second place and may well give some of the more fancied candidates something to think over when it comes to the championships.   Donald MacLean won the confined half mile from scratch, but in the opinion of many, was favoured in getting the opinion of the judges.”

Results of Principal Open Events

100 yards:   1.   JS Smith (GUAC 5 yards);   2.   J Borland (GUAC 1.5 yards).   10.2.   Won by a yard.

220 yards:   1.   J Bryans (Glasgow Harriers  19 yards);   2.   W Sinclair (Glasgow YMCA  14 yards).   22.4.   Won by two yards

880 yards:   1.   TJ Goldie (Shettleston Harriers  46 yards);   EM Young (GUAC 48 yards).   2:02.5   won by 5 yards.

Mile First Class:   1.   TJ Goldie (Shettleston  95 yards);   2.   WJ Gunn (Plebeian Harriers  40 yards).   4:25.4.   Won by 5 yards.

Mile Second Class:   1.   D McSwein (Greenock Wellpark  115 yards);   2.   J Gardner (Bellahouston H  130 yards).   4:26.2.   Won by three yards.

Third in the second class mile was David Brooke of Garscube Harriers – along with Duncan McSwein who won the race he would also become one of the country’s top officials for a long time after th1 9139 – 45 war.   Those of us who only see men like George Dallas, Duncan McSwein, David Brooke and more recently men like Rab Foreman as officials tend to assume that they were never competitors themselves.   Many of them were – and they were better, more insightful, more understanding and more sympathetic officials because of it.

Robert Burton

Robert Burton’s name is often seen as RH Burton, but he was born Robert Burton in Hawick on 11th April 1885.   When he was a runner he lived in Tweedmouth and worked in the timber trade as a timber merchant’s clerk, later moving back to Hawick and taking over as head of the Tweed Saw Mills.   He was a member of both Teviotdale Harriers and Berwick Harriers.   “First Hundred” by John L Coltman writes that the Hawick Press described him in 1909 as “The best half-miler Scotland has yet produced, his strong finishes being a special feature of his running.”   …. “The climax of his illustrious career on the track was his selection for the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm.   However writing home he said, ‘I turned out in my heat in the 800m but could not do what was asked of me.’ ”     It also says “Six times between 1908 and 1912 he ran for Scotland in the half-mile, five of which were against Ireland, the other an Irish-American team; he won the Scottish half-mile championship in 1908, 1909 and 1910; and added to this as the Border quarter-mile championship for four successive years from 1910.”

Alex Wilson comments that he was certainly a top class runner and Scotland was fortunate at this point to have two excellent exponents of the event, James Soutter from Aberdeen being the other.   Their paths would cross often over the years and each would have his share of victories.   With the major statistics readily available via the standard history books, he should be better known than he is.

***

Burton was born on 11th April in 1885 in Aberdeen     One of the first British athletes to experiment with using oxygen during training.

His first Scottish title was won in 1908.  In the ‘Glasgow Herald’ of 22nd June, 1908, the comment was made in the preview of the SAAA Championships on 27th June at Saughton that ‘there is a dearth of talent in the half-mile and mile events this season, more so than for some years, and it is therefore expected that John McGough will again have the honours to himself.‘   When it came to the event itself however, things were a bit different.   “Of the flat events, it is hard to sat which aroused the greatest interest ….. each contest was more exciting than the other.   John McGough through a weakened tendon Achilles had to stand down.   The half-mile was won by Burton in 2 min 02 sec.   Turnbull might have troubled the leader more had he made his effort earlier.”   The actual race report read:   “The holder who is suffering a strained tendon, acting on doctor’s orders, did not run.   GW Young, Bellahouston, was leading at the bell from Burton who went into second place 300 yards from home.   Responding to Young’s challenge, Burton was a winner all the way and won by six yards from Turnbull.   JM Bruce, Edinburgh University was third, close up, and just finished outside record time.   The winner ran practically untrained and is a grand natural runner.   He won the Berwick quarter-mile cup the last two years and has only to win it again this year to make it his own property.”  

As a result he was chosen for the international against Ireland on the evening of Saturday,11th July, along with Turnbull with Young as reserve.   He ran well enough to be second in a close finish: “A Turnbull (Clydesdale) made the running from Morphy until halfway down the back straight, when the Irish champion went to the front with the Scottish champion in close pursuit.   It was a neck0or-nothing race up the home straight with Morphy getting the verdict by inches.    1.   GM Morphy, Dublin University;   2.   R Burton, Berwick and District Harriers.   2:00.8.”

It is surprising that, in Olympic year with many Olympians from several nations competing at Rangers Sports on both Saturday afternoon and Monday evening meetings, there was no sign of Burton’s name among the prize winners or indeed any indication that he had competed there.   It may be that living in the south of the country, and being rather inexperienced in the sport he found it difficult to attend such meetings.

His second SAAA championship victory was on 26th June, 1909, at Ibrox in Glasgow where he won the 880 yards in  2:00.4.   He won the title by a yard from Adam Turnbull of Clydesdale Harriers and was selected for the international against Ireland on 17th July.   He had been badly spiked in the process of winning the championship and could only manage three days training before the match at Balls Bridge in Dublin on 17th July.   It was not a match in which the Scots covered themselves with glory, winning only 3 events out of the 11 contested, but Burton ‘showing rare judgment’ went one better than the previous year and beat Morphy of Ireland by two yards in 2:00.8.

1910 saw his third successive victory in the national 880 yards championship.   This was held on 25th June at Powderhall and Burton raced in both 440 yards and 880 yards.   The 880 was his fastest yet, the winning time being 1:59.6 – but it was the first time he and James Soutter had come up against each other in the championship.   Burton was also second to GRL Anderson in the quarter mile with George Dallas third, the winning time being 53 seconds.   The result of the half mile was that Burton and Soutter faced the Irish in the international held at Ibrox on 9th July.   Burton went faster still when he won from Soutter in second in 1:58.8.   He was again second to Anderson for a Scottish 1-2 in the 440 yards, won in 50.8.   Anderson was a student at Oxford who was both AAAand SAAA hurdling champion and although Burton was a 440/880 type of half-miler rather than a 880/Mile type he would always have a sharper finish than Burton.   The report on the half-mile read: “The first lap was practically a parade, though a very fast one, the time being 58 2-5th sec.   Hill led at half distance, Harrison following close on his heels.   It was in the second and concluding quarter that that the competitors collected their wits as well as their pace.   With 300 yards to go, Burton went to the front, of which he was robbed by Hill, whose lead in turn was only momentary as Soutter, with a fine turn of speed, shook off the Anglo-Irish runner.   Burton likewise disposed of Hill  and a great struggle between the two Scottish representatives ended with the champion winning by a foot, there being three yards between Soutter and Hill.”    In the quarter Burton was defeated by a single yard.   The big thing however was that the 880 yards time equalled the Scottish record.

Having equalled the record in July, he did even better on 13th August 1910 when  he broke the record with 1:58.4 at Celtic FC Sports.   Sometimes everything goes right and that Saturday at Celtic Park was just such a time.  ” The weather was charming, the huge crowd were in excellent spirits, the running was always interesting and often exciting.”   The report on the race read: “In the invitation half mile Burton, the SAAA champion, lowered native record from 1:58.8 to 1:58.4.   The race however was won by JC English (Manchester AC) in 1:57.2.   He had a concession of 20 yards and won by three from JH Rodger (West of Scotland Harriers), 12 yards, who from a time point of view acquitted himself with just a little less distinction than Burton.”    

    Robert Burton in 1910

Photographs from Alex Wilson

The SAAA Championships in 1911 took place on 24th June at Hampden, and the preview of the race read: The half-mile is expected to be the best race of the day.   R Burton, the holder, has been putting in a number of trials and no doubt will retain the honour.   Strong opposition, however, will come from JH Rodger (West of Scotland Harriers) and JT Soutter (Aberdeen University AC) , the latter of whom it will be remembered ran a great race at Powderhall last June with little or no training.   Soutter is a natural runner, as also is Rodger, while Burton as we all know has accomplished over the half mile what no other Scottish amateur has done.   Therefore with three such fine half-milers there is a great treat for lovers of pedestrianism at Hampden Park on Saturday first.”

The day came around, and we read that  “The half-mile was not the great race that had been expected.   It was handsomely won, however, by JT Soutter in 2:00.2.   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 has been taught a salutary lesson from which he will doubtless profit.”    and the actual description of race said:    “MacDougall shot to the front first, and held a slight lead for the first quarter.    Then Soutter went away with full sail and won by nine yards, Burton at no time looking a winner.   Rodger was a poor third and Unkles and MacDougall had a little dust up all to themselves for fourth place.”      

 The rivals were both chosen for the Irish international at Balls Bridge, Dublin, on 9th July.  Before then however Soutter ran ‘ as he had never run before’ in the AAA’s championships returning a time of 1:57.1 .    Burton never raced in the AAA’s at any time in his career however and came into the international fresher than Soutter but without the morale boost that the Aberdonian must have had by the race in England.   The result was that as in the SAAA event, Soutter reversed the 1910 result, taking first place from Burton in second.   Winning time was 1:59.4, with Burton second.

1912 was Olympics year and the two rivals were among the best in Britain and both had excellent chances of selection.   On 18th Mau at Celtric Park, the West of Scotland meeting had eight events entitled Olympic Trials and one of these was the 800 metres and Burton and Soutter were both forward.   “There were only two out of the six who entered who finished.   George Dallas, who was  running well at the time, had the misfortune to get badly spiked, thus ruining any chance he had, while WM Crathie and KR Macdougall could not stand up against the breeze.   Soutter made the pace at the end of the first quarter.   Burton was close behind the Aberdonian and on entering the finishing stretch, both made their effort, the Hawick man excelling every step and  winning hands down in 1:59.6.”

The Scottish championships were held at Ibrox on 15th June and this time Soutter had the edge.   “JT Soutter of Aberdeen University was a double winner in the flat events.   He had of R Burton for once in tactics in the half mile, while in the quarter mile he ran the most ‘brainy’ race which stands to his credit.   Burton, it appears, had been off colour all week and it is just possible that Soutter on that account had an easier task than he might otherwise have had.   Nonetheless the Aberdonian had two very popular victories.”     “The first lap was covered at an easy going pace (60.8), and it was only when the back straight was reached that there was any running worth speaking of.   Macdougall shot out and at the pavilion was leading by several yards, but first Burton and then Soutter pulled in the West harrier and there was a keen race for the honours between these two.   Burton was in front 30 yards from home but Soutter, nerving himself for a supreme effort, passed the Berwick representative and won by a big yard in 2:01.8.”  

Both were chosen for the international with Ireland on 20th July, but more importantly, both were selected to run for Britain in the Olympic Games at Stockholm.   The heats of the 800m were on 6th July with the Final on 7th July: should a second round be required, it would be on the 7th with the final held over.   Similarly the 400m heats were on 12th July with the final on 13th unless a second round were required.   Soutter was chosen for both events and Burton for the 800m.

There were 26 countries taking part, including Japan which was the first Asian country to take part.   The 800 metres heats were on the sixth and unfortunately Burton did not qualify from his Heat, won by Edmundson of the USA in 1:56.5.   Soutter won his Heat in 2:00.4.   but was eliminated in the semi-final.   Soutter did have the consolation of a medal in the 4 x 400m relay.

Having been selected for the Scoto-Irish International on 20th July at Powderhall, Burton returned and won the 800m in 2:05.2, defeating the Irishman R Hales ‘comfortably.   The meeting ended in a tie with both countries having five and a half points.   Had all the Scots Olympians been competing (Soutter was one of those who didn’t, having injured himself in Stockholm) it would have been a win for the home country.

Burton did not compete again in the National and his career was effectively at an end.   He was a Lieutenant in the Postal Services during WWI and died on June 14th 1950 in Berwick.   With three gold medals and three silver at the SAAA Championships, three wins and three seconds in the Irish international plus an Olympic selection, plus a Scottish record equalled and then beaten it had been a remarkable five years for Robert Burton.

From the Berwickshire News of June 20th, 1950

Having received some interesting stuff via email, I’ll put some of the more interesting races and events from the early days up here – it will be updated every time I get something new (?).   First off we have this

An article from the June 11^th 1661 issue of Edinburgh’s Caledonian Mercury,):  “six brewster wives, great with childe, are to run from the Thicket Burn to the top of Arthur Seat,for a groaning cheese of one hundred pounds weight, and a budgell of Dunkel aquavitæ;   with a rumpkine of Brumswick mum for the second placed, set down by a Dutch midwife.  The next day after, sixteen fish-wives to trot from Muslburgh to the Cannon-cross (~7 miles) for twelve pair of lambs harrigals.”

‘Harrigals’ Harrigals refers in general to ‘entrails’; but reference to ‘pair’ of them suggests Lungs-and-Heart  or  ‘lungs and lichts’.  In other words, the main ingredient of haggis!

‘Thicket ‘Thicket Burn’, is ​probably the ‘Figgat Burn’, near Dunsappie Loch, bottom of Arthur’s Seat.

‘Brewster wives’, ‘Brewsters’ were publicans.These were their wives or possibly publicans themselves.

‘budgell’ is a bottle,  from the Gaelic ​ ‘Buideal.;

‘Dunkeld aquavitæ’ is of course whisky, presumably distilled and matured in Dunkeld.

‘rumpkine’ sounds like a measure, I don’t know how much. Possibly a quart?

‘Brunswick Mum’  for the runner-up. This might be Porter or ale, though why a ‘Dutch Midwife sets it down ’  I’ve no idea. Might  be related in to the pregnancies of the Brewster women?  Bit of a coincidence otherwise, – a midwife and six women  ’great with childe’.

‘groaning cheese of one hundred pounds weight’ was actually heavier than this appears.     Then, ‘one hundred pounds ‘ in Scotland equalled about  110 lbs Imperial.

Also then, the ‘lang Scots mile’ of 1976.5 yards was 216.5 yards longer than our current 1760 yards.  Hugh, I wondered if anyone had run a ‘Lang Scots Mile’ in under four minutes. So I tried to work it out, but reckoned that  El Guerrouj’s 3.43.1 – if he’d kept going at 7.8 yards/sec – would have taken him to about 1893 yards in 4 minutes, i.e. about  83 yards short.  I reckon we’ll need to wait until someone runs the mile in 3mins 33s, before we see the possibility of a 4 minute Scots Mile!!

By the way, the old Scots Pint (or ‘Joug’) was equal to nearly three English pints), so our drinking records would have appeared  rather a lot inferior to English ones!

Craig Sharp, who received the information from Peter Radford, sent it on to Hugh Barrow.   Word of these events, and others, is always welcome.

This first one is from John Anderson: you will have noted from Hamish’s remarks in the profile that he has a deep respect and admiration for John – John thinks equally highly of Hamish.

“I met Hamish when as a schoolboy he came along with his friend Cameron McNeish who I was coaching.   Cammy was a gifted long jumper who excelled in schools athletics and beyond and who subsequently went on to gain national and international acclaim as a hill walker and mountaineer.

Hamish did not display any special talent as an athlete but what he did have was an overwhelming desire to be the very best that he could be.   I decided to see if I could harness this ferocious energy and hard work and develop his potential as a distance runner.   His level of success unfortunately sadly didn’t match his driving level of hard work.

Hamish Telfer brought to his endeavours a level of commitment rarely surpassed.   I have coached very many national and international athletes who achieved outstanding performances.   Hamish might not have had their talent but he certainly tried as hard as any of them.

Whilst Hamish might not have achieved his goals as an athlete, he took his passion to helping others and became an outstanding coach.   His zest for knowledge and his ongoing determination to be the very best coach he can be has proved fruitful.

As an athlete he gave it everything but failed to achieve the highest levels.   Fortunately that energy and passion for knowledge has been redirected and has meant that he has excelled as a coach.”

Hamish (on the right) and Cameron McNeish

Photo from C McNeish

Cameron, Hamish’s long time friend says … 

I first met Hamish when we both joined the West of Scotland Harriers in circa 1964/65. The club was looked after by a lovely old gent by the name of Johnny Todd who took Hamish and I under his wing. 

West of Scotland Harriers was predominantly a cross country running club and although Hamish and I considered ourselves sprinters we were encouraged to become involved in everything that was going on at the club, no bad thing for youngsters. That included winter Saturdays at the Stannalane running track near the Rouken Glen where we went cross country running with some fine old timers whose names I’ve forgotten (Hamish will remember). Included in our group was another young athlete who went on to become a Scottish international 400 metre runner by the name of Ian Walker. Ian is now a fairly well known and established folk singer, and we all still keep in touch. 

Hamish and I have very fond memories of dank, wintry Saturday afternoons at Stannalane. We probably ran between 5 and 10 miles, mostly around the Barrhead waterworks, and on our return to the ‘pavilion’ – a basic wooden shack, we all had to share one shower to scrape all the cow shit off us! That was followed by a cup of tea and a tea biscuit for which we all donated, if I remember correctly, tuppence! 

It was all very Alf Tupper’ish and we absolutely loved it. At that time Hamish showed some promise as a cross country runner and he and I used to finish reasonably highly in Under-15 cross country events, although the lads of Shettleston and Springburn Harriers usually dominated. 

Despite our relative success we still considered ourselves sprinters and after the Tokyo Olympics we were both inspired by the gold medal performance of Lynn Davies of Wales. I went on to enjoy a long correspondence with Lynn which lasted several years and we eventually met at a Home Counties international in Leicester when I competed for Scotland and he for Wales. I seem to recall Hamish also corresponded briefly with Lynn but he came to know him better later in life at various coaching functions and events. 

I went on to become a reasonably decent long jumper and represented Scotland on a couple of occasions when I was Scottish Junior Champion. Hamish trained very hard but soon realised that he wasn’t going to make it as a sprinter or a long jumper, so he began a slow progression through the track events – as a middle distance runner, then a long distance runner and eventually as a marathon runner, sadly without any real success. I think he may have run just under the three hours for the marathon. 

We used to go for long runs together as lads. Although I was specifically training as a long jumper Hamish was always happy to do some sprints training with me and I was always willing to go for some long runs with him. We both simply loved athletics and we both loved training, even before we met John Anderson. We did a lot of sprints training on the grass in Queen’s Park, near to Hamish’s parents home in Langside. 

On one occasion, when we were 15, we ran from my parents home in Hillington in Glasgow, down to Bishopton to visit an aunt and uncle of mine. We had a cup of tea before running back again. It wasn’t a huge distance – about 15 miles, but on the way back Hamish literally seized up and my father had to go out in the car to collect him. 

But Hamish never allowed these things to get him down. He had grit and determination in abundance. Where I had some natural ability, which led me to ease off training when things became too hard, Hamish was motivated by sheer hard graft. Indeed, John Anderson used to tell people that Hamish was the least successful of all his athletes, but the hardest worker! 

We met John Anderson at a schoolboys Easter training camp at Inverclyde. He took us under his wing and we often travelled out to Hamilton where John lived with his first wife Christine to help him collate training films and such like. On one later occasion, when we were both 17 I had bought a Honda motor bike but Hamish had splashed out on a wee scooter-type thing which barely went about 15-20mph. We both decided to go out to Hamilton to visit the Andersons on a particularly cold winter day. I got to Earnock about an hour before Hamish and when he appeared Christine had to take him into the house, place him in front of the fire, and thaw him out. I reckon he was suffering the first stages of hypothermia! 

Our weekends were entirely taken up with training – usually meeting Anderson somewhere and then going to the new all weather running track at Grangemouth Stadium. Later on that changed to Meadowbank in Edinburgh. We were in an excellent group of athletes that John coached that included Scottish shot put champion Moira Kerr, hurdler Lindy Carruthers (her mother was a coach with Maryhill Ladies, but more of that later) 400m runner David Jenkins (later became infamous as a drug cheat but we always called him Gwendoline – can’t really remember why…) the decathlete Stewart McCallum, middle distance runners Duncy Middleton and Graeme Grant. There were others but I can’t remember them now.

 Hamish and I were training partners to some noted Maryhill Ladies athletes such as Avril Beattie and we benefitted from the extra training opportunities that training with the girls of Maryhill Ladies brought (eg Friday evening indoor gym sessions). By now my parents had moved and I had left West of Scotland to join Bellahouston Harriers but Hamish remained very faithful to West of Scotland Harriers. But it was Maryhill Ladies where his coaching would eventually start.”

 We both had various girlfriends who were athletes and so life was a lot of fun. However, that hasn’t gone unnoticed. I remember Alex Naylor from Shettleston Harrier, who rarely failed to call a spade a spade, telling us we were a pair of pansies because we liked to train with the girls. 

About this time Hamish had his sights on joining the Police Force. I wanted to be a PE teacher. I then decided I’d quite like to be a policeman too so we both applied to join the City of Glasgow Polics cadets. I was accepted but Hamish wasn’t – he was too wee! I think he was about an inch short. Instead he stayed on at school and eventually went to work with the Bank of Scotland – yes, Telfer was a banker, but not for long. By this time he had decided he wanted to be a PE teacher and applied to Jordanhill Training College. It wasn’t easy. Hamish wasn’t a naturally talented sportsman and he had to perform various gymnastic routines to get accepted onto the course. I think I’m right in saying he sought out his old schoolteacher and got him to teach him gymnastic routes, and he worked bloody hard at it to make sure he qualified. And he did.

 After Jordanhill he went to teach in a school in Greenock where he stayed for a while. He then applied for, and became, a National Life Saving Coach which really surprised me. I didn’t even know he could swim! 

But that got him involved in the whole national, and international, coaching structure and even when he was working as a life saving coach his heart was still in track and field. By this time he had his own squad of athletes and he dedicated a lot of time to them. I think John Anderson was his inspiration. Like Hamish, John wasn’t a gifted athlete but worked very hard as a coach. Hamish did the same. No-one worked harder than Hamish and he never asked his athletes to do anything he had never done. He knew what it was like to be sick by the side of the track, or to be so knackered he could hardly stand. 

After life-saving I think Hamish went into academia and although we never quite lost touch we didn’t see a lot of each other through the eighties, nineties and early years of the noughts. He married Gail, but she died when she was quite young with cancer. They had one child, Lyndsey, and Hamish, despite all his commitments, brought her up as a single father, and did a marvellous job too. Lyndsey is now married and living in London but they are still very close, as you could imagine.

 I went off to climb hills and mountains and make a living doing that while Hamish became more involved in academia and coaching track. He eventually became British Universities coach and worked with some good athletes, but I’m afraid my knowledge of those athletes is pretty hazy. Hamish did become very involved in the whole drugs in sport controversy though and worked closely with the late Ron Pickering in trying to expose it.”

[Hamish comments:

Hamish

Picture from the Leisure Review

This next contribution is from  Eric Simpson who worked with Hamish on the Scottish Coaching Committee.

“The first time I came across Hamish was watching a documentary on television  about drug taking in the G.D.R.  I was stunned when asked if he suspected that there might be people in Britain taking drugs and the reply was YES. What was this someone with courage of his convictions to state was already known or should I say suspected. 

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