Author: Admin

When I was running and racing in the 1960s and later, I had the impression that the SWAAA were better organised than the men’s side of the sport.    I now realise that that was not the case.   Especially when researching or trying to investigate the women’s side of the sport, there are no formal histories such as Keddie’s excellent centenary history of the SAAA or Shields’s cross-country masterpiece.   Women’s athletics took off in the 1930’s and there is not even a complete record of team and individual winners available: Ron Morrison is slowly but surely completing such a record but none exists at present.   I have a couple of studies of individual women athletes from the 30’s that I profiled for a Clydesdale Harriers book that I was writing and the profile here is of Jean Tait who won the women’s cross-country championship and was a member of the team that won the championship three times in a row before the War started in 1939.   It is interesting from many points of view.   Jean died on 17th December, 2013 at the age of 97.

 When Graeme Reid won the Scottish Cross Country title in 2003 it was hailed as the first win in a National Cross Country Championship since Dunky Wright in 1923.   The club had in fact had a National Cross Country more recently than that – Jean Tait won the Scottish Women’s Cross Country Championship in 1937.    It all started for the most successful Harrier of the Inter War Years in 1930. 

Clydesdale Harriers Committee Meeting, 22^nd September 1930: extract from Minute:

“Ladies Section: Mr A McGregor inquired if there was any demand locally for this.    Mr (Frank) Semple intimated that he had received about twenty names of ladies who were interested.   Thereupon Mr A McGregor moved that the Secretary should convene a meeting for the purpose of founding a Ladies Section.   This was seconded by Mr T McAulay.   Mr McGregor also moved, seconded by W Wilkinson that the Y.M.C.A. Hall should be booked and that October 3^rd be the probable date for the meeting.   It was made clear that once started the Ladies Section should be entirely self governing and self supporting.   The President, Secretary, Treasurer, Captain and Mr McGregor were appointed to attend this meeting as representing the Committee.”

 At a time when the men’s section was thriving numerically and socially but in the doldrums competitively, few if any could have foreseen the standards that would be achieved by this new section.   The top three or four were of a very high standard indeed and none higher than the club’s first women’s national cross country champion Jean Tait.   When the section started the ladies were training on Mondays, Wednesdays and on Saturdays at the week end.   The ‘Press’ report for 12^th February 1932 said that the Ladies Championships would be held that weekend over a distance of not less than one mile and the winner would get the Cup donated to the club by Mrs Thursby.   Nan Stopani won from Allison Ritchie and in the SWAAA Championships (only the second ever) Clydesdale were third behind Maryhill and Dundee Hawkhill.   The counting runners were Nan Stopani (13^th), Allison Ritchie (14), Nan Stephenson (17 and Mary Campbell (21).    A year later and the ‘Press’ report read that the club was third again behind the same two teams but much closer and went on to say in an article headed  Hail Jessie Tait:

“The bright feature as far as the locals are concerned was the brilliant running of Jessie Tait.   Let me say here and now that every one of the local team acquitted themselves splendidly but Jessie went one better by taking actual third position.   In other words here in Clydesdale we have the third best runner in Scotland.   Only two hundred yards separated her from the winner and she was only beaten for second by forty yards …………”    Jean was third, Allison Ritchie was fourth and Nan Stephenson and Annie Lindsay were the club’s counting runners.   The following week was a sealed handicap race from Whitecrook Pavilion and Jean overhauled a 250 yards lead held by the club champion Allison Ritchie to win.

Jean is front row, extreme right

In April 1933 the General Committee granted Clydesdale Harriers Ladies Section permission to use the club design for a badge to be presented to Miss Jean Tait after she had finished second in the SWCCU Championships.

The summer of 1933 started with the St Peter’s Sports where she was third in the obstacle race but then came the Johnstone Castle Policies Sports.   “In the half mile which was by general agreement the best race of the day, Jean Tait was beaten by inches for first place.   Her clubmate Allison Ritchie followed her closely which gave Clydesdale Harriers second and third.   Jean has now put away half a dozen tea knives in a certain chest and Allison is showing a neat manicure set.” 

It was a good summer and at the Ladies General Meeting in September Jean was elected Assistant Secretary and Georgina Ballantine was Assistant Treasurer.   However despite being elected Assistant Secretary the following notice appeared: “New members should get in touch with the Secretary, Miss Jean Tait, 12 Spencer Street, Clydebank.”

Whoever was Secretary there was a momentum building up in the Ladies Section.   In January 1934 they arranged a muster run of all the clubs in the Glasgow District.   Maryhill, Shettleston, Bellahouston and South Glasgow Ladies all came to Clydebank for the run.   In March 1934 the team could ‘only’ finish fourth in the Scottish Championships but Jean was again third finisher.   Tom Millar reported: “A mere one hundred and sixty yards separated the Clydesdale lady champion from the Dundee girl who triumphed.   In between came a Maryhill girl.   This is a remarkable performance, more especially since this is the second time that Jean has finished third.   As a team the local ladies did not do so well as last year and dropped one place.  Jean Tait is due every credit for her plucky displays in these races and on behalf of my colleagues in the men’s section I offer sincere congratulations.”   As the report says, two weeks earlier Jean had won the club championship from Allison Ritchie who led until the last 200 metres when “superior finishing power enabled Jean to win by fifteen yards.”

 Although the results of the Men’s Section were being eclipsed by those of the Ladies, the General Committee seemed determined that it would have the whip hand in the relationship with the Ladies Section. Several fairly senior members seemed to be actively opposed to what was termed ‘amalgamation’.   But the Ladies wanted to be included.   In March 1934 they wrote formally to the Committee asking for permission to present their prizes at the Men’s Presentation.   This was unanimously agreed and the occasion was a great success.   In September of the same year there was a letter from Mrs Thursby asking for a representative to be sent to the Ladies Section AGM.   This was agreed and Fred Yorwarth was the representative.   A month later (1^st October) there were two letters from the Ladies.   The first was asking for two ‘coaches’ from the men’s Section to run with them on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons.   This was agreed.   The second contained the desire of their members to amalgamate with the Men’s Section.   This was postponed to the end of the evening before being discussed.   It was found impossible to amalgamate but the Committee agreed provisionally to send representatives to the Ladies’ Section meeting.   They were to collect information and act as an advisory committee which had to be ‘ruled’ by the General Committee.   The representatives were to be Fred Yorwarth, Dan McDonald, Tom Sinclair and Kenny Robb.   In July 1934 at the Maryhill Meeting all three prizes in the Ladies half mile came to the club with Allison Ritchie winning from Jean with Isa Hunter third.   Then at the Singer’s Sports in Clydebank, Jean won the half mile from Mary Martin and Georgie Ballantine.   Other than that there was no reporting of the ladies summer’s racing in the local Press or club minutes which seemed to be fixated on the cross country season.

In the club championships in February 1935 there was a bit of an upset when Georgina Ballantine beat Jean for first place and Tom Millar reported “A sensation was caused in the club championships when the holder of the title, Jean Tait was forced to relinquish it to Georgina Ballantine.”    In the Scottish Championships the team was second but Jean in sixth place was selected for the International Cross Country Championship in Blackpool.   Georgina was one place behind – and first reserve for the team.   Club positions in the race were Jean 6^th, Georgina 7^th, Betty Reid 11^th and Allison Ritchie eighteenth.   The report in the ‘Press’ went as follows: “I am forced to give top place to our wonderful ladies this week.   They have done what we have not been able to do.   In the Scottish Women’s Cross Country Championships at Springburn last Saturday they took second place to the holders and favourites, Dundee Hawkhill Ladies.   Hold back those cheers for just a little longer.   Jean Tait by finishing actual sixth in the race made sure of her place in the international team race at Morecambe on April 20^th.    Her team mate Georgie Ballantine finished close behind her and is first reserve.   Thus the town which built the largest ship in the world is further honoured by having two of its young ladies selected for their country.   Now for those cheers – hip, hip, hooray.   But I am not unmindful of the rest of the team and Betty Reid and Allison Ritchie supported the stars well.   The former was eleventh and the latter eighteenth.   Clydesdale were the youngest team in the race.”

A year later Jean regained the club title in an excellent race.   “The finest championship since the inception of the ladies club five years ago took place last Saturday over a two and a quarter mile trail.   Nine eager competitors strove with each other for the honour of being known as club champion.   For a mile they raced together and no one was outstanding.   Gradually Jean Tait drew out followed by Mary Martin and Mary Orr.   The last two named only joined up this season but they certainly made a brave show.   Jean Tait, ex-club champion and Scottish internationalist had to go all out to break the tape five seconds ahead of Mary Martin who was ten seconds ahead of Mary Orr.   The holder Georgie Ballantine did not compete.   This result is highly satisfactory to the club when so many are close up to the champion and augurs well for their chance in the National race.”    

Two weeks later and ‘Excelsior’ was ecstatic again: “Pride of place must be given to Clydesdale Harriers ladies this week.   Last Saturday at Bishopbriggs they blasted the hopes of Dundee Ladies in the two mile Scottish Championship.   The Dundee girls were expected to be easy winners of this race but this idea was not shared by the locals.   For weeks they had prepared, training regularly and enthusiastically to lift that cup.   To the surprise of everyone but themselves they succeeded.   Therefore Clydebank at present harbours both the championship of the world and the lady champions of Scotland.    

Nobly led by their champion, Jean Tait, the Clydesdale Ladies responded magnificently and counted four in the first seven placers.   Mildred Storrar of Dundee, a big powerful girl and champion for the past two years, was first in evidence after the start but gradually Jean Tait took command and early on held a thirty yards lead.   Eighty yards from home ‘our Jean’ still led and looked a certain winner.   Here Mildred Storrar put forth her finishing effort and drew up to the Clydesdale girl.   Thirty yards from the tape they were still level  but excitement caused Jean to falter slightly and the holder retained her title by a few yards – her hardest won victory yet.   The locals went wild when Mary Martin and Georgie Ballantine followed Jean Tait and then Betty Anderson made sure of their team victory by finishing in seventh place.   The individual times and places were:   1.   M Storrar 13:33; 2.   J Tait 13:37; 3. M Martin 14:00; 4.   G Ballantine 14:07.   Mr G Ballantine the trainer is due the highest praise for the splendid condition of his girls.”

I have no detailed Press reports from then on and there is less in the club minutes than before about the Section but we know that in 1937 not only did the team win the title again, but Jean picked up the title and the Championship Shield and is pictured winning at the top of the first page.   Jean was Scottish Champion at last.    Clydesdale Ladies won yet again in 1938 to make it three consecutive years as Scottish champions in 1936, ’37 and ’38.

In March 1936 the men seemed to be getting the message.   It was moved by Dan McDonald and seconded by Arthur Shields that the Ladies Section be invited to distribute their prizes at the Men’s Presentation.   There was an amendment proposed that no such thing be done.   The amendment lost and the Ladies were invited.   I could find no reference to the SWAAA Championships or Relay Championships on the track in the club minutes for that year.  I have copies of certificates which say that Jean was second in the half mile in 1936 and the Medley Relay Team (of Jean Tait, Isa Hunter, Georgie Ballantine and BG Anderson) won on the very same night in June.   A year later the relay team (of Jean Tait, Georgie Ballantine, Allison Ritchie and Isa Hunter) was second in the Mile Medley Relay in July 1937.   They continued winning races as teams and individuals – see Jean’s certificate below for being second in the SWAAA Half Mile Championships in 1936.    If the Men’s Section had a grand winning run broken by the War in 1918, the Ladies had their winning streak terminated by the War in 1939!    The women would come back quite quickly after the war with runners representing Scotland – and even winning British titles and medals in the 1950’s.

After the war the club started up quite quickly thanks to the efforts of the War Time Committee to keep things ticking over.   Jean had married Andy McMillan in November 1937 and she was one of the main spirits in having the Ladies Section start up again after the War.   The following note appeared in the ‘Clydebank Press’ in 1947:  “Ladies Section:   Will all members of the above section and any other ladies interested in running please get in touch with Mrs A McMillan, 23 Duntocher Road, Dalmuir with a view to getting the Section restarted.”   A week later the following notice appeared: “A few young ladies showed their enthusiasm by turning out prepared to run at Mountblow on Tuesday night.   Any other young ladies wishing to come along should do so on Tuesday or Thursday at Mountblow”    For the next track season a proper Committee was set up with Cathie Hammond as Captain, Isa Irvine as Vice Captain, and a General Committee of Mrs McMillan, Mrs Shields, Misses E McCauley, M Cochrane and E Reid.     Tom Sinclair’s remark about a Matrimonial Agency was not too wide of the mark – apart from Jean and Andy and Jim and Allison, Willie Wright married Anne Gilchrist, Frank Semple married Jessie Raitt and there were many more.   The Ladies Section was back in action and Jean McMillan was playing her part.

 In the early 2000’s and she came along to the club Presentation twice renewing her acquaintance with Georgie Ballantine, David Bowman, Pat Younger and James P Shields among others.   More than that, she donated a trophy (illustrated below) for annual presentation to the club’s Junior Woman Cross Country Champion.

 From the ‘Clydebank Post’

1930 Scottish Empire Games Team

JF ‘Ginger’ Wood on left of front row.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winning the SAAA 10 Miles in 1931

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But the club was not yet finished with Dunky!

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

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

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

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

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

Then came the bombshell meeting on 5^th March 1928:

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

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

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

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

Club Championships

1920:   Championship Challenge Cup;        1921:   Championship Challenge Cup

1922:   Championship Challenge Cup;        1923:   Championship Challenge Cup

Scottish Cross Country Championship    :   1923

International Cross Country Championships:

1920    22^nd         

1921    9^th

1922    11^th

193    24^th

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

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