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Tom Jack

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Admin

It always surprises me to see how many officials were very good athletes in their day. You look at these guys on the judges stand or on the timekeepers ladder and think that they were born looking like that or were always as nimble (or not) as they seem to you as a competitor. The truth is usually – usually not just often – vastly different. The subject of this profile is the exemplification of the official/runner interface. Tom Jack won an SAAA title while he was President of the association. It has come to me more and more forcibly as I have delved further and further into the subject that in many, many cases the official was a much better athlete than the runner complaining to or about him!!! Bear that in mind as you read this, and generalise it to today’s officials.

David Keddie says “Jack, born on his father’s farm at Brotherton, West Lothian, in 1881 won the first of his seven SAAA 10 miles titles in 1904, creating Scottish records for all distances above 4 miles in the 1907 race which he finished in 53:4.0. He did not reproduce that form in the AAA’s race of 1907 but in 1908 improved to third place. Tom Jack was an MA graduate from Edinburgh University and later headmaster of Castle Hill School. He continued to show a keen interest in the sport, especially in the schools and amongst Boys Clubs, and was President of the SAAA in 1912, the year after he ‘retired’ from active competition. He died in Edinburgh in October 1960 aged 79.”

Most officials think of themselves as runners who have done as well as they could and have moved on to help current athletes and the sport in general. Tom Jack was one of the best Scottish runners of all time. He won the Ten Miles title six times in seven years (third in the other year), the Four Miles once with four seconds and two thirds. The winning times were 57:09.8 (1904), 54:42.8 (1906), 53:04 (1907), 55:00 (1908), 54:03.8 (1909), 53:46.4 (1910) and, for four miles, 19:12 (55:21.4). His track records were six miles – 31;18.8 and ten miles – 53:04.0. The time in 1907 was a Scottish record that stood until 1912 when George Wallach took 2 seconds from it. If we look only at his track competition record this is the story that emerges.

In 1904 Tom Jack won the first of six ten miles titles in seven years (he was third in 1905) which added to his record of one first, four seconds and a third in the Four Miles, made him the most successful distance runner in the SAAA championships between 1904 and 1910 inclusive. The 1904 victory was achieved on 1st April at Powderhall in Edinburgh and he was timed at 57:09.8. “The flat season was opened on Friday night with the Ten Miles SAAA Championship at Powderhall where the course was in excellent order. The only drawback was the wind which was rather gusty, and therefore of a somewhat trying nature. Only four took part in the race, three from this District and one from Edinburgh. Rankine, who won the cross-country championship, and who was the first huntsman to finish in the Grand National at Haydock Park, did not enter. It was thought S Kennedy of Garscube Harriers, winner of the Western District cross-country championship, would win, and for a time he moved very freely, but when the pinch came, he was not able to hold out, the wind having contributed to his defeat as much as the want of stamina. A comparatively unknown man in Jack of the Southern Harriers won the race in 57:09.8 which is a very creditable performance when the conditions are taken into account. He finished well and was fully 30 yards in front of Marshall of the West of Scotland Harriers, who just managed to beat his club companion Mulrine by inches. Jack, the winner, is a valuable addition to the realm of distance amateur runners.”

In 1905, he won two championship medals but neither was gold. The Ten Miles championship was again held on 1st April and this time the best that Jack could do was third behind Sam Stevenson of Clydesdale Harriers and PC Russell (Bellahouston Harriers). The race was won by Stevenson – who would go on to run in the London Olympics – in the fast time of 53:31.4. “This important fixture was run off in heavy rain. The track was all against the runners, of whom seven faced the starter. Russell forced the pace, and led the field until the seventh mile, when Stevenson got the lead and won a great race in the splendid time of 53 min 31 2-5th sec – only 5 sec outside of record.”

On 24th June he was back at Ibrox for the Four Miles at the SAAA championships. It was clearly Sam Stevenson’s year and he won the title in 20:56.4 from Jack and A Wright, the defending champion. Stevenson only won by four yards.

It was back to Edinburgh for the Ten Miles in 1906, held on 31st March. Back in his home city, Jack turned the tables on Stevenson when he won in 54:42.2 . The ‘Fifty Years of Athletics’ official history of the SAAA gave JM Guild third place.

“PEDESTRIANISM

TEN MILES SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

This event was decided over the Heart of Midlothian Football Club’s track at Tynecastle on Saturday evening in ideal weather. Seven started including the holder, S Stevenson, Clydesdale. The half distance was completed in 26 min 38 2-5th sec. From this point the issue lay between T Jack, Edinburgh Southern Harriers, and the holder, S Stevenson, who led alternately until the last lap, where Stevenson sprinted 300 yards from home but failed to sustain the effort, and Jack coming away with a great burst in the last 100 yards won by sixteen yards from Stevenson. W Lang, Edinburgh Harriers was third, RE Hughes, Edinburgh Harriers fourth and T Robertson, Edinburgh Harriers fifth. JM Guild, Edinburgh Harriers, and N Cormack, Preston Harriers, gave up at three and four miles respectively.”

The last sentence corrects the official history (The First 50 Years) as far as third place was concerned. Given the lap-about running between Jack and Stevenson, a pre-arranged ploy for a fast time maybe, the time was slower than the previous year in the rain when the Bellahouston Harrier forced the first seven miles. Stevenson however gained his revenge at the championships at Powderhall on 23rd June when he won the Four Miles for the second year in succession. Everything else was put in the shade by Wyndham Halswell’s four titles in one day – it would be pretty difficult o match victories in the 100, 220, 440 and 880 yards on the same afternoon. There were only two finishers in the Four Miles.

Jack won the longer race for the third time in 1907 at Ibrox on 6th April, and he did it in some style. “Record smashing in April is something of a novelty as far as Scottish pedestrianism is concerned. Yet at Ibrox on Saturday, T Jack (Edinburgh Southern Harriers) not only won the Ten Miles SAAA Championship, but enhanced the distinction by setting new records from five to ten miles. Jack as supreme from start to finish being fully 760 yards in advance of H Young (Monkland Harriers), who in turn was well ahead of W Bowman (West of Scotland Harriers). Jack ran with admirable judgement and consistent speed. He accomplished the first mile in 5 min 0 2-5th sec, and the last in 5 min 21 2-5th sec while his time for the full distance was 53 min 4 sec. The previous record holder was Andrew Hannah who, at Hampden Park in 1895, did the distance in 53 min 26 sec which, in view of the reputed fastness of Ibrox, is little, if any, inferior to Jack’s performance on Saturday. Twelve years is a long time for a record to remain in these days of high physical culture, and the fact that it has held the field so long goes to show what an exceptional distance runner Andrew Hannah was. Jack has had a brilliant season, as he won the Cross-Country championship, and was first man home among the Scotsmen who ran in the international a few days ago, while on Saturday he added lustre to these achievements by winning the Ten Miles championship for the third time.”

The intermediate records which erased Hannah’s figures were – 5 Miles 29:57.6; 6 Miles 31:18.8; 7 Miles 36:45.0; 8 Miles 42:14.0; 9 Miles 47:42.2. In the Championships at Powderhall on 22nd June, Stevenson again finished in front of Jack – but A Duncan beat them both, winning in 20:12.4.

The following year, on 3rd April, 1908, at Powderhall Gounds, Jack won the Ten Miles title for the fourth time, and the third year in succession. Not quite as fast as the previous year, he was timed at 55 minutes exactly. That was probably down to the heavy going after a lot of rain that week. The referee was Charles Pennycook, Clydesdale Harriers, former Scottish Mile and Cross-Country Champion and only four of the five entrants started the race. Jack won from T Robertson (Edinburgh Harriers) in 56:24.8, and J Torrie (Gala Harriers) in 58:03.6. The Four Miles was held on ‘a broiling afternoon’ at the championships at the Scottish National Exhibition in Edinburgh on 27th June, and, with Stevenson preferring to run in the Mile, Jack won the title from JB McLagan with A Paterson third. The winning time was 21:52.4 – the slowest winning time in the history of the championship.

A year on to the day, 3rd April, 1909, Jack again emerged triumphant. The ‘Glasgow Herald’ reported:

“For the fourth time in succession and the fifth time in all, T Jack (Edinburgh Southern Harriers) won the SAAA Ten Miles Championship on Saturday. The race was run at Ibrox Park and, though the conditions were far from favourable, the time – 53 min 3 4-5th sec – has only been beaten on four occasions since the institution of the championships in 1895. Jack is credited with the fastest time, 53 min 4 sec at Ibrox in 1907, A Hannah (Clydesdale Harriers) next 53 min 26 sec in 1895, S Stevenson (Clydesdale Harriers) third with 53 min 31 2-5 sec, and A Hannah fourth with 54 min 2 3-5th sec in 1894. Five of the ten who started in Saturday’s race finished inside standard – 57 min – which is perhaps one of the most noteworthy features of the race.

Jack led all the way till the second last lap when A McPhee (Clydesdale Harriers) got in front but his stay there was short lived as the champion with 200 yards to go put on a fine spurt and won by a couple of yards. It was a fine finish and it is just possible that McPhee might have won had he not forced matters until the last lap. All the same he ran a very creditable race, which in con junction with his win in the cross-country championships, gives him a very honourable place among distance runners. Jack ran with apparent ease, as he always does and he seems more at ease over cinders than he does over field and fen. A Mann (Clydesdale Harriers) was the third to finish his time being 54 min 49 sec. No one has displayed more consistent form over the season than Mann and his running at Ibrox on Saturday was a revelation to many. …. ”

In the shorter distance, held on 26th June, it was another silver medal for Jack in a race won by Alex McPhee who, it seems, had finally got his tactics right as far as Jack was concerned. He won in 20:36.6 and there was ‘less than a foot’ spearating them at the finish.

1910 was Tom Jack’s final victory in the championship again beating Alex McPhee – but he was again second to McPhee in the SAAA Four Miles later that year at the SAAA Championships. The Ten Miles was held this time at Hawkhill Ground in Edinburgh on 2nd April in glorious weather with a really first class field forward. Straight to the report:

“The opening of the Scottish athletics season took place on Saturday when under the auspices of the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association the ten miles championship was run off at the Hawkhill Grounds, Leith, in glorious weather. The entry was unusually large and out of the 18 entrants, 16 started. From the start the race lay between the holder, T Jack, Edinburgh Southern Harriers, A McPhee, Clydesdale Harriers, GCL Wallach, Bolton United Harriers, and J Duffy, Edinburgh Harriers. These runners kept in close company until the third mile, but at the next mile Duffy had dropped back 80 yards, and at half distance was practically out of the hunt. The field at this distance was reduced to 11. With three laps to go the Glasgow man tried to pull out from the others but before a lap was covered, Wallach and Jack had closed up on him. Thereafter they ran neck and neck until 90 yards from the tape, when Jack rushed to the front an won a magnificent race by five yards from McPhee with Wallach third four yards behind the Clydesdale Harrier.

Result: 1. T Jack, Edinburgh Southern Harriers; 2. A McPhee, Clydesdale Harriers. Time : 53 min 46 2-5th sec. T Jack has now won the championship six times and five years in succession. His best time, which is a Scottish record, was at Ibrox Park on April 6, 1907.

The following runners gained standard medals: GCL Wallach, Bolton United Harriers, third, J Duffy, Edinburgh Harriers fourth, A Mann, Clydesdale Harriers, fifth, RM Bruce, Edinburgh Harriers, sixth, JC Venn, Edinburgh Northern, seventh, W Laing Edinburgh Harriers, eighth.”

Mile times were: First 5:01.2; Second 10:14.6; Third 15:34; Fourth 20:55.8; Fifth 26:19.6; Sixth 31:49.4; Seventh 37:24.2; Eighth 42:56.4; Ninth 48:36.4; Tenth 53:46.4

Given this record, he had to be selected frequently to run in the Scoto-Irish International match and his performances there were as good as might be expected, bearing in mind that the longest distance there was Four Miles. His first appearance there was in July, 1905 when he finished second to Sam Stevenson in a match held in Edinburgh which Scotland won 8 – 3. In 1907 he won from J Hynes of Ireland in 20:22 at Ibrox only to see Scotland lose 6 – 5. In 1910 at Ibrox he was second to Alex McPhee and Scotland won 9 events to 3. In Edinburgh in 1912 he was second to Ireland’s FJ Ryder in a drawn match – five and a half points each.

He was equally good as a cross country runner – he won the national championship three times, in 1907, 1908 and 1912 – with five outings in the Scottish team in the International Championships – every year from 1907 to 1910, then again in 1912. In 1907 when he was the first Scot home when he crossed the line in fifth place, in 1908 he was thirty third, in 1909 he was thirty seventh, in 1910 he was twenty sixth and in 1912 he was twentieth. A record to be proud of.

The best tribute to him was by Colin Shields who had this to say:

“Tom Jack was one of Scotland’s most distinguished and successful distance runners in the pre-first world war period. Of West Calder farming stock, Jack was born in 1881 on his father’s farm in Brotherton and enrolled as a teacher at Moray House Training College with subsequent graduation as MA from Edinburgh University. Joining Edinburgh Southern Harriers in 1900, his early running gave no signs of the future greatness he was to display, finishing runner-up in four successive years in his club’s championships. He blossomed forth as a national champion in 1904 when winning the SAAA track 10 miles title, a title he was to win seven times inside the nine year period from 1904 to 1912. His best victory came in 1907. …

Winning the Senior title in the 1907 National championships while still a Junior, he became the second athlete to win the Senior and Junior titles at the same time. He repeated the Senior title victory the following year and again in 1912. …

In the 1908 Olympic Games Marathon in London Jack represented Great Britain but, after leading the field for the first five miles at a suicidal fast pace, he was forced to drop out of the race with exhaustion.

On the administrative side of the sport, after seven years as an SAAA Council member while still an active athlete, he became the only President (1912 – 13) while still an active competitor. He became president of the Cross-Country Union in 1930 – 31, completing an administrative career which was every bit as distinguished as his competitive one. He died aged 79 in Edinburgh in 1960 after maintaining his connections with the sport to the end.”

Georgie Ballantine

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Admin

I have commented elsewhere on the lack of historical data about the start of the women’s athletic scene in Scotland in the 1930’s in the introduction to the Jean Tait profile. The athlete this time is Georgina Ballantine who was a very good runner indeed and her career also sheds light on the pre-war athletics scene in Scotland.

The competitive excellence and sporting success of the women’s section when it was first formed in 1930 took everyone by surprise. The members were all novices to start with but achieved victories that could never have been foreseen. Among these talented women Georgina Ballantine was one of the very best.

Georgie joined the club in season 1933/34. She was a friend of Peggy Ellison and Anne Gilchrist who were already club members. They encouraged her to come along and try cross country running. Originally a hockey player, she wore a gymslip in her first run because it was the only practical costume that she had. The Ladies trained on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and the basic run was about 15 – 20 minutes. This suited the racing of the time with a National Cross Country Championship of about three miles. In the summer they trained at the Yoker FC Park and ran on the outside track – they were not allowed on the grass! As far as track racing was concerned almost all the cross country women ran the half mile and their medley relay team was very good. They won medals and certificates in almost every race they contested: Georgina was in the team that won the Medley Relay in 1936 and in the team that finished second in 1937. The certificate below is from the Scottish Medley Relay Championship of 1937. The team of Allison Ritchie, Isa Hunter, Georgie Ballantine and Jean Tait were all regulars. There were other girls who could slot in including Mary Martin, Martha Orr and BG Anderson. The year earlier the girls had won with BG Anderson running instead of Georgie.

The Ladies Training was organised by her father, George Ballantine who had been a professional athlete himself. He helped the men as a trainer on occasion but he is best remembered as the Ladies Coach. He usually wore a white dustcoat and because he was working with women he arranged for Mrs Thursby to come along and help out because he felt that it was not appropriate for a man to coach them on his own. Some of the men helped out from time to time – Tom Sinclair and Arthur Shields ran with them when they were out on the roads and the canal bank to start with and in later years Dan McDonald and other were there in that capacity.

Jean and Georgie flank the trophy, Mr Ballantine and Mrs Thursby at either side at the back

Although a good cross country runner, on the track Georgie specialised in the half mile and most races at the time were handicap meetings. She was very quick and reported to be good tactically. On the other hand, on several occasions she had been instructed by her father to ‘just win and no more’ or her handicap would suffer. She generally went along with this but on one occasion she just thought she could win well and ran away from the opposition to win the race by a distance. As she left the track, the handicapper took her by the elbow and said “You’ll no’ do that to me again, lassie.” In addition her Dad gave her a real talking to as well. And she didn’t do it to the handicapper again!

If we go back to the start of her career in the Harriers, the first report that appeared was for the Johnstone Castle Policies Sports where she ran in the 100 yards. “A ‘guid wee yin’ in Georgie Ballantine galloped into second place in the 100 yards for girls Under 16. This is her first success since she won the title of sports champion of the High School. A dinky little clock now gets her up bright and early.” In September 1933 at the Ladies AGM she was elected Assistant Treasurer.

She created an upset in her first club cross country championship race in February 1934 when she defeated reigning champion Jean Tait to take first place. Tom Millar in the ‘Clydebank Press’ was very enthusiastic about the new talent in the club saying: “A sensation was caused in the club championship last Saturday when the champion, Jean Tait, was forced to relinquish it to Georgina Ballantine. Allison Ritchie, a former champion, was third. I have no details as to how the race went but anyone who can beat Jean Tait must be a ‘guid yin’. The Scottish Championships is to be decided a week tomorrow and the first six girls will represent Scotland in the women’s international; we may yet see a Clydebank girl gain a ‘cap’”. A week later she was one place behind Jean in the Scottish Championships but where sixth earned Jean a place in the Scottish team for the international Blackpool, Georgina’s seventh was only good enough for non-travelling first reserve. However it was a very dramatic couple of weeks for a newcomer who could only have been 16 years old at most.

In her first national cross country championship the club team was third at Bishopbriggs. There were not many Ladies Clubs in the country at the time – Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, Bellahouston Harriers, Maryhill Harriers, Shettleston Harriers and Greenock provided the main opposition, but the standard was high with Mildred Storrar of Dundee being the top cross country runner of the time. Her cross country record was a good one – club champion and first reserve for Scotland (in 1935) was an excellent start. The following year she did not run in the club championship and in the National where she was third club runner when the club had four in the first seven. Jean Tait was second, Mary Martin third and Georgie fourth with Betty Anderson seventh. As the ‘Press’ report said her father as coach to the team must have been delighted. The club won the National title three times in three years- 1936, 1937 and 1938. Georgie’s best performance was being second in 1938. Her medal is below.

The extract on the left is from the SWAAA Programme for the Championships of 1967 in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow and lists the winning teams from past years. It also shows the club as winning three times in a row. Georgie told me that the club had won the ‘Daily Record’ Cup for the three years and were allowed to keep the cup. Unfortunately it was stolen from their house before she went to South Africa. She left the country for South Africa after her marriage to Tom Young and returned in the 1990’s. Invited to the club Presentation in 2000, she met up with Jean Tait again and both wore their 1936 Championship winning medals in pendant form for the occasion.

Some Indoor Work. George’s training was never boring and included many routines that are now commonplace but weren’t then.

Subsequently she donated the Georgie Ballantine Young Cup to the club for the Under 17 Ladies Cross Country Champion. Ironically for one previously so fast on her feet she had difficulty getting around and was confined to the house and died in 2006.

Jean Tait

Posted on October 17, 2013 by 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’

Halswell

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Admin

The name Halswell is enough for any athletics lover in Scotland and further afield to know who exactly is being talked about. The extract below, from “50 Years Of Athletics”(published 1933) was part of a longer chapter by William Reid, who wrote under the pen name of Diogenes. It does not include the story of the Olympic 400 metres event for which, in some circles, he is best remembered but speaks of his introduction to the sport and his last race. It reads

A short time ago I got a letter from Jimmy Curran, a Galashiels man, who has for almost a quarter of a century been one of the most distinguished athletic coaches in American School and College athletics. He was in South Africa with the HLI during the Boer War, and when out there, he found the young Halswell. When the battalion came home and was brought to Edinburgh Castle, Curran induced the then Lieutenant Halswell to get into training and, running in the 440 yards championship in the Championships of 1905, Halswell revealed a bright and shining star had arisen in the Scottish athletic firmament in the person of this gallant son of an English father and Scottish mother. I went to Edinburgh Castle to interview the young officer. He refused to talk. It was not the thing to do on the part of an officer. But, with a quiet chuckle, he handed me a scrapbook, sent him by a relative of his mother, in which he said he would find everything there was to know of him athletically. “I must return it,” he said, bidding me good-bye. This little action was worthy of a man who, when appealed to be a Press representative as to how he spelt his name – Mr DS Duncan refused to acknowledge a final “e”, and I took my cue from the SAAA Secretary – wrote that he spelt his name this way. But the recipient of his letter to this day cannot determine whether it is a final “e” or a flourish of the pen.

HALSWELL’S LAST RACE

Halswell “made history” in Scottish athletics in 1906. He won four running titles in one afternoon. It was freely prophesied that the like would never be seen again. It has never been attempted, and may stand as a record for all time. The last time I spoke to Halswell was to commiserate with him on the unseemly proceedings in connection with the Olympic Games 400 metres race. The entire circumstances distressed the high-minded military athlete. He hated the idea that a conspiracy had been engaged in, and he hated still more the fact that the re-run was not taken part in by the American athletes, acting under orders. The fact was Halswell cared far more for athletic expression than for results. It was felt in the battalion that his reputation was being, as it were, traded in by sports promoters. He said he would end his career with the quarter mile in the Scoto-Irish International, and did so. Some one gave me a copy of a photograph of Halswell starting in this race. I had it copied and mounted, and many years after EH Liddell took away the second copy as one of many souvenirs of his stay in this country.

And that’s where the extract ends. The four titles in one afternoon referred to above were at the SAAA championships held at Powderhall on 23rd June 1906 and the events were – 100 yards in 10.4 seconds, 220 yards in 23.2 seconds, 440 yards in 51.4 and 880 yards in 2:00.4. The Scoto-Irish International where he ran his last race was on 11th July, 1908, at the Exhibition Grounds, Saughton, and he won the 440 yards in 51.8 seconds.

As a matter of interest, his victories at Powderhall in 1906 were reported in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ as follows (taken from a much longer article):

“Taken as a whole, the twenty-fourth annual championship meeting was a great triumph for the Association and amateur athletics generally. The number of spectators, ana consequently the excellent financial result, made it clear that when genuinely sound athletics contests are provided, and the voice of the “bookie” is stilled, enthusiastic and intelligent public support will not be lacking. Better weather could not have been desired by either competitor or spectator. No wind, no rain, no broiling sun and yet a trace of freshness in the air made the day ideal.

Sharp to time, the seven sprinters rose to a good start. Macleod, the Cambridge crack, showed first in front. Soon Stark was leading, and last year’s victory promised to be repeated until about a dozen yards from the judges, Halswell with a powerful dash rushed forward and won by fully two feet from Stark, closely followed by Kitson and MacLeod. …

In the half mile, McGough, with Vallance at his heels, made the pace, Halswell and Anderson in pursuit. The leader’s first lap took 60 1/5th seconds. Down the back straight McGough still led. Entering the finishing straight, Halswell drew up, and finished strongly ten yards in front of McGough. …

In the 220 yards JP Stark (the holder) defended his title, but the all-conquering Lieutenant was not to be denied and, shaking himself free before entering the straight, finished a yard and a half ahead of Kitson. …

The last event, the “quarter”, was won, amidst ringing cheers from all sides by Lieutenant Halswell in 51 3/5th, a great performance in view of the previous demands on his energies. ”

The question was prompted by the brilliant running of Lieutenant Halswell at the Clydesdale Harriers meeting. We said that any man who could 600 yards in 1 min 12 4/5th seconds was capable of winning the quarter and the half mile. We had evidence of his gifts in the 220 yards, and there had been reports of practice hundreds in 10 1/2 seconds. On June 9th Lieutenant Halswell did the quarter in 49 4/5th seconds and 600 yards in the time of 1 min 11 4/5th seconds. We are therefore not astonished that this marvellous runner should have replied to our query by winning on Saturday the 100 yards, the 220 yards, the quarter and the half mile, and so achieving the unprecedented honour of quadruple champion. It would be hard to analyse all the qualities possessed by the Lieutenant which contribute to his marvellous energy and speed. Scotland is proud of him and the SAAA must feel considerable satisfaction in that Lieutenant Halswell should have found it possible to take part in this championship meeting. His services in the coming international with Ireland will be of great value.”

I’ll leave it there – it is not a proper profile, just some information about a wonderful athlete who also seems to have been a really good man as well. Many know a bit about the Olympic fiasco which is not recounted here but perhaps this rounds out the perception of Lieutenant Wyndham Halswell.

Dunky Wright Correspondence

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Admin

The DM Wright/Dunbartonshire Cup Saga

When Dunky Wright resigned from Clydesdale Harriers in 1923 he took with him the Dunbartonshire Cup. There is a whole series of letters, claims, etc that are detailed to some extent in Colin Shields’s book “Whatever the Weather” but much more completely on the linked page on this website/

The correspondence here covers the ‘end game’ of the quest for the trophy with Dunky having the final say in a funny letter – part bitter, part humorous – bringing the sage (it lasted for four years +) to an end. It is however clear that he was not happy in being ‘found out’. Mr Millar, referred to in the letters and postcards is Tom Millar, club secretary.

…

JF ‘Ginger’ Wood

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Admin

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.

David Scott Duncan

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Admin

David S Duncan (Royal High School) was secretary of the SAAA from 1885 to 1925 – quite remarkable in itself. He was only the second man to hold this post succeeding AS Paterson (1883-1885); he was also treasurer from 1898-99. As a runner he won the inaugural SAAA Championship Mile in 1883 in 4:35.0, won it again in 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1891. He set records for the Mile in June 1886 (4:32.2) and 4:28 (1888), for the Two Miles (9:48.2) in 1887 and for the Three Miles (15:32.8) in July 1888. Like many of the sportsmen of his day, he was not a one-sport man, he was multi-talented, and away from the track he was also a scholar and successful journalist. We can start his profile with the tribute paid to him in “50 Years Of Athletics” which was the Jubilee history of the SAAA in 1933.

David Scott Duncan, who for many years prior to his death was looked upon as the “father” of amateur athletics in Scotland, was born in Monkton House, Inveresk, where his father had farmed for many years . Aftre a short term in Musselburgh Grammar School, he became a pupil in the Royal High School, Edinburgh, where he remained till he left for the University with a view to qualifying for a legal career. While in the RHS he was looked on as a sound scholar, and left with a very good grounding in Latin, Greek, English and French. He was proxime acessit for the India prize, and in this competition was awarded a special prize on account of the high standard reached.

While at school he competed successfully at the Annual Sports; but it was not till 1880 that he took up distance running seriously. During the following eleven years, he won over 150 prizes, and in addition to winning the Scottish Mile Championship five times, he was runner-up three times and held for a short period record for two and three miles. He competed in the AAA Championships and while never a winner, did faster time at Stamford Bridge than he had ever done in Scotland. His record for the Mile (4 min 28 sec) stood for some years.

After a short business career in Leith he became the Scottish representative for The Field and continued in this capacity till the Great War. He was a born journalist; his marvellous memory and intimate acquaintance with all branches of sport gave him a pre-eminent place in the journalistic world; indeed it could truly be said of him that in these islands for many years he stood without a peer in all-round knowledge of athletics.

Two years after the founding of the SAAA he took over from Mr AS Paterson, Advocate – a distance runner of distinction – the duties of secretary, and for the long period of forty years, guided the destinies of the Association. His legal training, scholarship and above all, his retentive memory fitted him in a high degree for the duties of secretary, and whether in furthering the athletic contest with Ireland, or in conference with sister countries he worthilt upheld the interests of his own.

He was a golfer of more than average ability, being a “scratch” player when he captained the RHS Golf Club, but he had a somewhat unorthodox style in driving; indeed his method drew, on one occasion, from a champion golfer and friend of his own, the following remark: “Man, David, if you hit the ball on the back swing, you would be the longest driver in Britain!” For a time he was the captain of the ancient Royal Musselburgh Golf Club. In the royal burgh by the sea members of the Club still recall his eloquence, fine diction, and humour when he presided at their annual dinner.

The Golfing Annual of which he was editor, stands as a memorial to his research and hard work. In laying the foundation of his work, he met most of the great golfers of his time, many of whome became his fast friends. But he was at his best during his visits to Ireland with the Scottish international athletics team, and while always anxious for a Scottish win, never failed to congratulate an Irish opponent on a brilliant performance. As a timekeeper and judge he excelled, and one recalls his indignation when in 1908 at the Olympic Games in London an apparently pre-arranged attempt to shoulder Captain Halswell off the track in the memorable 400 metres race was made and failed. It is no secret that in this race, which Duncan judged, it was he who broke the tape when he saw the foul, and “no race” was unanimously declared.

Among all the areas in which he was involved, there were several that were very significant:

1. Following several abuses of the amateur code, particularly by the cyclists who were represented by two unions – the Scottish Cyclists Union, set up to promote and foster amateur cycling in Scotland, and the National Cyclists Union, which had been founded in England. The SAAA had set up joint championships with the NCU and this led to friction with the SCU and many meetings between the three followed. The rather fraught situation led to many examples of dishonest practice including financial. This will be covered in the Amateurism section of this website. In 1893 a sub-committee was set-up to enquire into the various alleged abuses in Amateur Athletics and DS Duncan was the secretary of this body.

2. He was one of the main men behind the setting up of the Borders AAA. There had always been athletics in the Borders but they were professional gatherings. The situation was described by JK Ballantyne in the book referred to above as follows: “Fifty, or even forty, years ago amateur athletics did not exist in the Scottish Borders. Between Edinburgh, Berwick and Carlisle, the triangle that roughly includes the territory now administered by the SBAAA not a single amateur athletic meeting was held; professionalism had the field to itself. Annual Games were, and still are, held in most of the towns and villages of the Borders, but it was only the pervading holiday spirit and the fun of the fair that made some of them even tolerable. The presence of bookmakers shouting their cramped odds, and the fact that a few shillings might sway the result of a race, did not tend to hold the interest of the looker-on; nevertheless these games were the onlyoutlet for the budding aspirations of the young athlete, and whatever his first ambitions as to athletic glory might be, there were likely to become subordinate to the sordid consideration of £.s.d. Many resented this but in the total absence of amateur meetings they were helpless, and drifted into the professional ranks

Therefore in 1895, when Mr DS Duncan first cast his eyes on the Borders, as a prospective field, the ground was really ripe for some amateur effort. What perhaps was at the back of the Scottish Secretary’s mind was the strengthening f his own Association, between whom and the seceding body, the SAAU, the quarrel was now at its height. … The meeting at which the SBAAA was formed was held in the Tower Hotel, Hawick on Saturday, 18th January 1896. Mr Duncan himself took the chair and successfully launched the new venture. There was a fair attendance and several of those present did yeoman service for the cause in the early days of the Association.”

The territory at that point included the counties of Berwick, Roxburgh, Peebles, Selkirk, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigton. The entire article on the topic is well worth reading, but the involvement of DS Duncan was crucial in the setting up of the Association.

3. The series of international fixtures with Ireland was also assisted on its way by the work of DS Duncan. The original proposition was put b the Irish AAA in 1891 and a special meeting of the SAAA was held to discuss it. The invitation was declined at that point despite the Irish offering to host it, provide the officials and the prizes. The idea was felt to have merit and DS Duncan was instructed to open negotiations with them for the establishment of an international contest covering the championship events. In December 1894 the IAAA again put forward a proposal, this time for a meeting on the lines of the annual Oxford v Cambridge contest. This was readily accepted by the SAAA on these conditions: (1) The first contest be held in Scotland; (2) That a guarantee be given to the visiting team to cover their expenses; (3) That the events should be the Scottish Championship events with the exception of the ten miles and that each country should have two in each event but three in the four miles; (4) That in Scotland the shot and hammer be thrown in the Scottish style, and in Ireland under Irish rules. The contest took place on 20th July 1895. The series ran unbroken until 1913 with Ireland winning eleven and Scotland seven.

4. Inter-scholastic sports were organised by the SAAA in 1900 largely through the enthusiasm of the President of the SAAA, EJ Comrie Thomson, and of course the Secretary DS Duncan.

Various people and committees were of course involved in making all of these notable events a reality, but the real driving force on most occasions was DS Duncan. No other single person was as active over the long period of his tenure of office.

Dunky Wright: the Clydesdale Years

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Admin

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.

David Bowman

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Admin

David Bowman was a member of Clydesdale Harriers from 1935 until his death in 2007. He held every important office on the committee and outwith the club he served on many national bodies. At one point he was president of four athletics organisations at the same time. David was my great hero in the club and there were two things he felt important: you always did what your club needed you to do, and the club should take its place in the wider world of Scottish athletics. One of the best ever clubmen in any club in the land, what follows is a profile that I wrote as part of a book of club profiles.

David Moir Bowman joined Clydesdale Harriers in 1935 – exactly 50 years after the formation of the club and has had an unbroken membership since then with only a spell in London from 1937 – 1938 when he ran with Queen’s Park Harriers to interrupt things. He had initially been invited to train with a group of runners from half a dozen clubs from the YMCA in Peel Street in Partick in Glasgow with the large plunge bath in the basement as an added inducement. The building had originally been part of HyndlandSchool and before the bare concrete bath was built in the basement four or five at a time would cram into an ordinary sized bath and scrub each other’s backs. Eventually a wrap around shower was added to the big bath. Starting as a sprinter, David gradually moved up through the distances until eventually specialising in the marathon. He raced at County, District and National Championships as well as at all the local meetings and Highland Games at Shotts, Cowal and Strathallan.

It was in the mid-forties that he started ‘a wee bit of road running and this led to running in the Greenock to Ibrox Marathon in 1949 on the advice of Jock Semple. On one of Jock’s visits they were out on a run when the good advice was given. In the race itself he was sixth of twenty four finishers, defeating the club road race expert, Eric Paton. The 1950 Scottish Marathon Championship was held at Meadowbank and was won by Harry Howard of Shettleston Harriers in 2:43:56 with David being tenth in his first marathon in 3:02:51. The times were all slow by today’s standards but it should be kept in mind that apart from shoe technology, diet and clothing being much less well developed, the course organisers tended to look for tough courses in keeping with the marathon’s tough man image. The Isle of Wight Marathon was notorious and the Scottish Marathon from Westerlands in Glasgow out to the Vale of Leven and back was a series of long difficult hills and climbs. The 1952 SAAA Championship went from Methven to Dundee with the start being ‘beside a telegraph pole in the middle of nowhere ‘ according to the ‘Scots Athlete’ magazine. In a star studded field including CD Robertson (the winner), Joe McGhee (from Hadleigh AC), J Paterson of Polytechnic Harriers, Emmet Farrell and others.

David was eleventh in 3:02:49. The 1953 marathon from Laurieston to Meadowbank was his best where he was fifth in 2:48:18 – ten minutes behind the winner. 1955 saw the race go from Falkirk to Edinburgh with Joe McGhee winning by almost ten minutes in 2:25 and David finishing tenth in 2:52:22. He picked up standard medals for the marathon on no fewer than six occasions and as an athlete is best remembered for his road running which included the Helensburgh to Clydebank road race – much harder than the more familiar Clydebank to Helensburgh version since it included the long drag and climb up from the start at the Pier Head in Helensburgh to Dumbarton.

From the club point of view, David was the ideal club member and official. He was a first class ambassador for the club and the sport and great example to all members. He filled in wherever necessary and held every office on the Committee. He was President for ten years and treasurer for twenty two. He turned his hand to whatever the club needed whether the need were expressed or not. For many years he produced on his own initiative a single sheet containing the list of Committee Members, trophy winners, fixtures for the coming year and any significant dates in the coming season. This was neatly handwritten on a single sheet and folded to a size that would fit into a pocket diary. At presentation time he would personally collect the club’s many trophies, take them to the engraver and collect them in time for the presentation. In the 1990’s he added to the number by donating the David and Evelyn Bowman Trophy for the club’s top Field Events athlete. He had already presented the Janice Moir Wright Trophy (in memory of his daughter) in 1978 for the top Youth/Junior in the National Cross Country Championships. He also chauffeured many, many athletes to and from meetings and generally did as much as he could, often much more than could be expected, for the club. A remarkable record but arguably his biggest single contribution to the club was his work with Andy McMillan and others on the war time committee. The club had completely shut down during the 1914-1918 war for the duration of hostilities and lost out when the fighting was over because they had to start up again practically from scratch. The war time continuation committee from 1939 to 1945 kept the club ticking over while the action was taking place and met officially to start up again on the cessation. David was Vice Captain in 1945, Captain a year later and went on to be one of the longest serving of Committee Members.

*YEAR*	*POSITION*	*YEAR*	*POSITION*
1959	President	1973	Treasurer
1960	President	1974	Treasurer
1961	President	1975	Treasurer
1962	President	1976	Treasurer
1963	President	1977	Treasurer
1964	President	1978	Treasurer
1965	Treasurer	1979	Treasurer
1966	Treasurer	1980	Treasurer
1967	Treasurer	1981	Treasurer
1968	Treasurer	1982	Treasurer
1969	Treasurer	1983	Treasurer
1970	Treasurer	1984	Treasurer
1971	Treasurer	1985	Treasurer
1972	Treasurer	1986	Treasurer
1988 President	1989 President	1990 President	1991 President

Thirty two years in two of the big two positions in any club! Quite exceptional and it is doubtful whether anyone will ever again hold the Treasurer’s post for quite as long. He also held other offices in the club such as Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Captain and Vice Captain. While president in 1960 he had the honour of replying to the Toast of ‘The Clydesdale Harriers’, proposed by Admiral Sir Alexander Cunninghame Graham, KBE, CB, Lord Lieutenant of the County at the club’s 75^th Anniversary Dinner at the Grand Hotel. In the course of his time in the club he attended the 60^th, 70^th, 75^th, 90^th and of course the Centenary Dinner where he proposed the Toast to ‘Kindred Clubs’

At National level he was recognised as a top class administrator and organiser. He was on the Committee of the Scottish Marathon Club for fifteen years, a member of the DAAA Committee where he held the offices of President and Vice President and he also chaired the Inter-Counties Athletic Association. At one point he was President of Clydesdale Harriers, the DAAA, the Scottish Marathon Club and the Inter Counties Association at the same time. As President of the Marathon Club he was responsible for helping organise the SAAA Marathon Championship for a number of years producing superb maps of the courses with a chart of climbs and descents along the way directly below the relevant part of the map. This championship was held separately from the Scottish Championships for many years and it was while David was President that it was re-incorporated into them. It should be said that the Secretary, Jimmy Scott of the Glasgow YMCA, was the real driving force of the SMC but he and David made a very good team backed up by an excellent Committee.

The 1970 Commonwealth Games

The high spot of his administrative career however was probably during the Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh in 1970. He was Assistant Manager of the Scottish team with special responsibility for the marathon. His vast experience as competitor and official were responsible in no small way for the smooth running of the event which turned out to be one of the most exciting events of the Games, won by Ron Hill with many very fast times being recorded. He is pictured with Scotland’s Jim Alder in July 1970 after Jim had finished second to Ron Hill in the marathon.

David was of the calibre to hold the highest offices in the sport nationally but chose instead to serve the club: a forward looking official and key man throughout his time on the Committee. Efficiency and David were synonymous: when the Clydebank Half Marathon had problems immediately before the first running of the event, the organisers turned immediately to David who had a panicky phone call less than twenty fours before the race asking for assistance. Despite being the best man for the job and having been ignored by the organising committee up to that point, he was courtesy itself and quickly sorted out the problems.

When the club held a tribute dinner to David and George White in 1994 for all that they had done for the club and the sport over the years, there were over one hundred in attendance including members of all the local clubs and the written tributes from those who could not be there were sound testimonial to all that they had done. Some examples:

From Doug Spencer of Garscube Harriers: “Looking forward to an excellent evening, tell George to keep his elbows to himself, David was too much of a gentleman to involve himself in the fine arts of aggression in cross country races”.
From Graham Everett of Shettleston Harriers (eight times Scottish Mile Champion, AAA’s One Mile Champion): “A little dedication and determination is all that it takes to have fun and enjoy athletics. However to give a ‘century’ to the sport is a milestone that you have both easily passed. It is a great honour that Clydesdale Harriers are giving you for the service to the club and Scottish athletics.”
John Emmett Farrell of Maryhill Harriers: “David is a great servant to your club and to the sport at large. He epitomises the real spirit of amateur sport and a really nice guy.”
Alex Kidd of Garscube Harriers: “I can testify to David being an excellent organiser as I was a humble steward at the ’70 Commonwealth Games Marathon and also to the ferocity of gentle George as a competitor having been beaten by George and David over track, road and country.”
Ewan Murray Secretary of the SAAA’s and former President of the AAA’s: “David and George represent all that is best in amateur athletics. Their enthusiasm as competitors and their work as administrators for the sport in general and Clydesdale Harriers in particular have contributed greatly to the success of both. All done in humility and without thought for the honour they brought to themselves and to our sport.”

And there were many more in similar vein.

Another feature of David’s personality that stood out was his courtesy and sense of ‘the right thing to do.’ That sounds very po-faced but David wasn’t like that, he did like things done properly though. If as a Committee Member, whether as President or as an ordinary member, he felt something was not right, then he did his best to have it decided democratically. If he lost the verdict – and it didn’t happen often – then he accepted it and there was no ill feeling. He never ever imposed a decision unilaterally. One of the aspects of his personality that made him such a superb ambassador for the club and the sport was the fact that everybody got their place and no one was ever treated with less than respect no matter how badly they had behaved. His demeanour exuded dignity, efficiency, respectability and honour.

Pioneers

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Admin

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