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“The club does not seem to have survived the 1883-84 season; it protested to no avail after being knocked out of the Cup by Whitehill, and the final match being a 9-4 defeat at Arbroath, after the club was 4-1 up at half-time. On the club’s demise, a number of its members and players joined Rangers; club secretary Walter Crichton took the same role at the Light Blues”

Wikipedia.

The quote from the Wiki entry on Alexandra Athletic Football Club is rather sad given how it had started and the prestige that it had gained in its short life.   But what of the Sports?  A recap of the club’s origins: although they concentrated on football in the winter and organised their sports meetings in the early part of the summer, we have been told that they had a ‘house’ equipped for all sorts of indoor fitness building equipment on their Kennyhill base.   They had applied for use of the neighbouring Alexandra Park – athletics seemed to go down the line of using local authority premises rather than (with very few exceptions such as Powderhall) buying their own, so why shouldn’t they?   The application was refused but the park in question we know had a golf course, had horse racing facilities which were well used and attended and the Glasgow Evening Post of 28th May, 1885, reminds us that the park also had a public pond, opened in summer, so that the people of the area could have an open-air swim in a pond that was totally uncovered ‘and is always kept in capital order’.   Maybe they didn’t belong to the club but the whole concentration of things physical and sport oriented must have been of real benefit to members and an attractive venue for all sportsmen. 

We know from an advert in the “North British Daily Mail” that the Alexandra AC Sports of 1881 took place on 21st May at Kennyhill.   The meeting was not reported in the “Glasgow Herald” but the results were in “The Scotsman”.

The sports of 1882 were advertised in “Scotsman” and “NB Daily Mail” as ‘Preliminary Meeting on 20th May at Kennyhill Park with the Sports themselves on 27th May.   Again the local paper ignored the event but there appeared a brief notice in the “Scotsman” on the Monday wherein the bleak news was retailed that the meeting was basically ‘rained off’.   There was no consolation in the news from Dumbarton!   Where would they have been without the 8th Lanark Rifles band.

There was no notice of any sports held by the club in 1883 in any of the Glasgow Herald, the Glasgow Eveninf Post, the North British Mail or the Scotsman so it seems reasonable to think that there were no sports under the auspices of the Alexandra Athletic Club in 1883.

The club finally folded, as a football team and everything else in 1883/84 after ten years of activity during which they were a fairly successful football club,  promoted very successful athletics meetings with names like Dinnie and McLevey taking part.   Wikipedia has this to say:

“The club does not seem to have survived the 1883–84 season; the A.A.C. was knocked out of the Cup in the first round by Whitehill, a protest against the state of the pitch being unanimously dismissed. It also did not enter the North-Eastern Cup, which the club had entered for the previous two seasons, without winning a tie”

When it finally went, the members joined other sports clubs, mainly the Rangers.   Among them was Walter Crichton, secretary of the Alexandra club (pictured at the top), who went on to great things with the Rangers: Rangers FC Secretary, Arbroath FC Scottish Football Association Committee Man, the 18th President of The Scottish Football Association and Rangers Director.   Quite the man.   There were also several players who became Scottish internationalists – James ‘Tuck’ McIntyre, James Duncan, and James Gossland.

The Alexandra Athletic Club Sports for 1875 took place on 24th April on their own Kennyhill Ground.   Athletes came from Edinburgh, Dumbarton and all over Glasgow and events covered running and jumping events.

It would be a mistake to think of Alexandra Athletic Club in athletics terms solely as a promoting club.   It’s members took part in other clubs sports, the club itself recruited from other outfits.   The cutting below testifies to the involvement of their athletes (eg NC McDonald in the 100 yards) and as for the second – look at the result of the One and  Two Mile Flat Races above and note that George Phillips of Rangers FC  was third in the One and first in the Two.   Then look at the result of the Mile at the meeting below.   Note too that DH Watson who won the open quarter-mile “with consummate ease” was also an international rugby player.

Yes, that’s G Philips contesting the Mile and getting a nasty squeeze in the process.   It was not unusual for athletes to be part of several different clubs for different sports.  It seldom happens now – maybe a football player also belongs to a golf club, and then there was the case of Andy Goram the Rangers goal keeper being a wicket keeper for a cricket club during the summer months.   But the first is simply because golf for them is a leisure activity while Goram is known to us all because he was a genuine exception.

The sports in 1876 were on 22nd April and the Herald reported as follows but seemed yo find the crowd more interesting than the sport.   Amusement seemed to be his watchword the sport ‘lacked interest’, ‘the close of the amusements’, ‘much amusement .. over the sack race and the tug of war’,   and ‘the steeplechase was an absurd and unsatisfactory performance’.   

The complete results from the same paper read:

If we look at the athletes involved, we see that George Philips was again representing Rangers FC and won the One Mile, Thomas Vallance also Rangers, was second in the Place Kick competition and among the other football clubs with men in action were Queen’s Park, Clydesdale, 1st LRV and Lennox FC and  the Clyde Rowing Club was in there too.   

On 20th April, 1877, this appeared in the “North British Daily Mail”

There must have been a sports meeting on that date but unfortunately we couldn’t find any report of the day (although the search goes on . . . . .)    However the notice below appeared in the “North British Daily Mail” for Saturday, 11th May (note the word ‘today’) but unfortunately no report could be found until Alex Wilson came up with this one. 

  In 1878, the following appeared in the 

One week later, 18th May, 1878, this one did not seem to be giving prospective spectators much notice of the meeting.   It did however give details of how to get there listing four trains.   

Then

It may be a printing error but the programme seems to have included a 12 yards hurdle race.

The “Scotsman” of Monday 26th May, 1879, informed us that the “Glasgow Alexandra Club Sports had on Saturday again to be postponed  on account of the unpropitious nature of the weather”.   The word ‘again’ will have been noted, there should also have been and again and again and again!   The report from the “North British Daily Mail” is below and will explain.

The field for the events was smaller, the number of stars available had diminished and even the six-a-side football had become a four-a-side.   That one was won by Queen’s Park who defeated Alexandra AC 2 – 0.   Results:

Beveridge and Crerar (3rd Lanark RVAC) were both in action again and note that the Athletic Club, whose main passion was football, was hoping to host a cycle meeting a month later! 

As can be seen from the award above, the Alexandra AC Sports were held on 1st May in 1880 – which was the same day as the Glasgow Academical Sports.   This was lamented at the latter event and the report in the ‘Scotsman’ reported that “Sheriff Spens, the president of the club, congratulated the members on the success of the annual games and expressed regret that the Alexandra Club did not see fit to fix on some other day for their sports.”   They had held them tough, and the report in the “Glasgow Herald” said: 

Not a word about the Academical annual games in the Glasgow paper.    Results:

There were many notable names among those entered – eg W Beveridge, champion sprinter, James A Crerar, another top class athlete and member of the LRV, Dinnie giving an exhibition, Tom Vallance of the Rangers FC, and of course there was a six-a-side football competition in which Alexandria defeated the Rangers in the Final by one goal to a touch – clubs could score touchdowns in the short sided football games.   Rangers also won the tug-o-war and the steeplechase kept its place in the programme.

The 1881 Sports were held on 21st May and no postponements were required,’ the weather being good’.  A novelty was perhaps the spectating from vehicles in some cases!  Previous advertisements had prices for horses (2/6d, and carriages (5/-) but not for vehicles.  The “North British Daily Mail” report was brief but the results were not.   The report first.

The results below are interesting for many reasons such the number of clubs represented – note that the West of Scotland Football Club was probably the rugby club.   Tom Vallance of the Rangers FC won the 120 yards hurdles – an event that would see his brother Alex win the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association title in 1888; and TG Connel, third in the 250 yards   and second in the quarter-mile was not only a member of the West of Scotland Football (ie rugby) Club but a founding member of the Glasgow HS Rugby Club.

Into 1882 and there was a notice announcing – the Alexandra Athletic Club preliminary sports.    Several clubs had two meetings,

• in some cases, such as Rangers and Celtic, these took the form of the ‘big’ meeting on the Saturday with a ‘supplementary’ meeting on the following Monday or Tuesday;
• in other cases, such as St Mirren FC, there was a preliminary meeting which was confined to club members with preliminary heats of an open event for the following week, on the Saturday before the ‘big’ meeting.

The Alexandra notice read –

The 20th May event may well have been the confined events and coverage was not found in any of the three papers searched but the meeting on 27th certainly took place and it rained a bit but it ceased after a bit and there was plenty to ‘amuse’ the Herald reporter including a Donkey race!   The  “Glasgow Herald” report reads:

The actual results were – 

Although the meeting went off well it is maybe fair to say that the standard of athlete was not what it had been with no BIG name like Dinnie, Hindle or McLeavie on the programme and there was no Rangers or Queens Park in the four-a-sides either.   The prize values held up though – with prizes worth, eg 12 guineas and silver medal.   

The meetings had lasted from the founding of the club in 1873 and featured some of the biggest names in athletics and several top cyclists, it was one of the few sports meetings that included the steeplechase event, and it was always conscious of the responsibility to entertain the paying public, hence the band playing throughout, the novelty races such as the Sack Race and the Three-Legged Race.   As a mainly-football club and also aware of what the public at the time wanted, the short sided football matches were also included.    Among the athletes featured, besides those alreadt mentioned, Peterkin won the 100 and 220 yards at the 1883 SAAA Championships, Harvie won the 3 Miles Walk in 1883 and 1884

We note from the above extract from Hamish Telfer’s History of Harrier Clubs Before 1900 that Alexandra Athletic Club was formed in either April or May 1873 and was the Harrier Section of a football club, a fact corroborated by the final column which describes it as a multi-sport club but essentially football.   There were many such multi-sports clubs in Scotland at the time, and sportsmen were often members of many different sports clubs none of whom demended exclusivity of sporting activity from their members.  eg Clydesdale Harriers had members who were also members of football, rugby, cycling, boxing, skating and other sports clubs.   We also know that the Rangers FC had members who were originally members of rowing clubs and who took part in athletics events as well as being mainly football men.   Such clubs also exist in the present century on the continent of Europe where teams that we recognise as football champions also have athletics and other sections as part of their community involvement.   A far cry from the current crop of Scottish football clubs which seem to require that their members are exclusively football players.   

As an example of a club exclusively of this period in the development of sport in Scotland, we can look at the Alexandra Athletic Club.     We can start with an article from the North British Daily Mail of 27th May 1883 which read:

THE ALEXANDRA ATHLETIC CLUB

A club bearing this name has just been formed in the influential suburb of Dennistoun, for the cultivation of athletic and field sports, under the distinguished patronage of the Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow; Robert Dalglish, Esq., M.P.; Colonel Buchanan of Drumpellier; and Major Clark, of Dennistoun.   Jas. McCasland, Esq, of Gartcraig, is honorary president.   The following are the members of committee:- Mr Wm. McElroy, captain; Mr Andrew P. Gray, vice-captain; Mr Chas. Maitland, president; Mr John T. McWhinnie, vice-president; Mr Wm. Dick, secretary; Mr Alex McK. Forrest, treasurer; Mr John Taylor, Mr E. McElroy,  Mr Robert Edington, and Mr David Graham, Directors.    The club consists of a number of gentlemen resident in and around the neighbourhood of Dennistoun who have leased a large piece of ground next to Alexandra Park; and the members intend, we understand, to practice a variety of athletic sports during the present summer, ample facilities being provided for the highly exhilarating game of football, which in the meantime seems to be the ruling pastime of the club.   A house has been erected on the grounds of the club for the resort of the members during inclement weather, or when indoor amusements become preferable to those in the open air.   And here the managing committee have provided everything that can contribute to the healthful recreation of members, such as foil fencing, basket sticks, dumb bells, &c.   This new enterprise is worthy of all success.   A club having for its object the cultivation of athletics is a very important desideratum in a city like Glasgow, and the beneficial results which accrue to the members, who are for the most part young men engaged in sedentary pursuits, cannot be over estimated.   We are sure that the Alexandra Athletic Club will meet with every support from the young men resident in Dennistoun and the surrounding districts.”

For ‘a club that has just been formed’ Alexandra AC had clearly been a long time in the making

• It had purchased a piece of ground;
• It had built a house on that ground;
• It had bought sporting equipment;
• Ample facilities were provided for football.   

It had not all been plain sailing to get to that point however.   Prior to the club being formed there was an article in the “North British Daily Mail” saying that the Parks Committee had declined a request by the club for a lease of part of Alexandra Park.   An extract from that report reads as follows:

The article in Wikipedia on the club – however tells us that 

“The football club was founded in 1873 as an all-round athletics club, with football as the “ruling pastime”; originally, the club’s request to use part of Alexandra Park as a home ground was declined, despite the club being “a body of working men…who had done a very gracious thing in asking permission to get the use of a portion of the park”.   Within two months however the new club was given permission to lease part of the park for sporting activities; by this time the Earl of Glasgow and Robert Dalglish MP had agreed to become the club’s patrons, and the club had an elite image, with amongst the best sporting facilities and equipment in Glasgow. “

It is noted purely as a football club, set up by a body of working men by Wiki but it had an elite image.   There seems to be a wee bit of confusion there.   Nevertheless, it was clearly a well-off group who had set it up – note the comment about the ‘very fine bit of a house’ and to the club as being ‘parties who were in a higher circle’.   But in respect of the range of sports to be covered was concerned, it was typical of its time.  A pattern can sometimes be seen more clearly by looking at the extreme positions.   Hamish Telfer writing of harrier clubs before 1900 had this to say of the scene generally as well as this club in particular:

“Harrier running (or paper-chasing) was also popular with football clubs who were also ‘Athletic Clubs’ in name (to be an Athletic Club perhaps made more of a statement than a Football Club). Alexandra AC was set up to ‘practice athletic and field sports’ but was principally a football club. This was no bunch of lads coming for a kick around. They had enough behind them to be able to lease land adjacent to Alexandra Park in Dennistoun (then a leafy suburb of Glasgow), and also erect a ‘house’ for members for inclement weather. It had the patronage of the Earl of Glasgow. By 1877 they were engaged in Hares and Hounds with a 5 mile run on July 9^th. Queens Park Football Club were still sufficiently involved in Harrier activity to earn the nomenclature of ‘Hampden Harriers’ in 1880. By 1879 Edinburgh University were inviting footballers to run with them (27^th December, 1879).

While at first glance, there may seem a ‘head of steam’ in interest for paper-chasing, which might have resulted in more clubs being formed, paper-chasing was still generally an adjunct activity or at best a section of an Athletics or football club. By 1881, hares and hounds activity as part of the Alexandra FC club had died out. Contemporary commentary recounts that ‘Cross-country has never found favour north of the Tweed. It is essentially an amateur sport, and amateur athletes, until a very recent period, were a small minority of the population.’ It goes on to confirm that it is essentially a winter activity only indulged in to keep in condition as it ‘improves the wind.’  “

The club did seem to have goals wider than the playing of football and they went ahead with their planned activities until there were advertisements at the end of August similar to the one below:

These Grand Annual Games did take place and the report in “The Glasgow Herald” on the following Monday (8th September) read as follows: 

THE GLASGOW ALEXANDRA CLUB

This newly formed east end club held their first annual festival on Saturday, on their own ground, adjoining the Cumbernauld Road, and as a very attractive programme had been issued, which brought out Donald Dinnie, James Fleming, James McLevy, Robert Hindle and many other champion athletes, there was a large and fashionable attendance of spectators.   The weather proved all that could be desired.   The various events were well contested, more especially the racing in the open competition, which always resulted in close finishes.   Wrestling – the last event of the day – was not settled, owing to a dispute in regard to rules, which caused the crowd to come inside the enclosure in such numbers that it was found impossible to get the ring cleared again.   The splendid band of the 21st Fusiliers was present and tended to the enjoyment of the proceedings.   Messrs GD Gordon, Alex Gow, and D Robertson of London, officiated as judges for piping and dancing; Corporal Robertson, 1st Dragoon Guards, for sword exercise; Mr P Hardy for wrestling; and Captain McElroy and Mr DD Graham for racing, ball putting and hammer throwing.   The prize list was as under noted:-

A fine cast indeed: Dinnie could fill an arena on his own with his talents as throws athlete, weight lifter and wrestler famous the world over, Hindle known all over Britain as a fine endurance athlete, read about McLeavy by clicking on his name and Fleming graced the field events spread throughout the afternoon.    Already we have a multi sports club – football and cricket mentioned by the Councillors, all the athletics and cycling events at this particular meeting and then just one month later, the Alexandra club was spoken of in detail in connection with the new football season alongside such teams as Blythswood, Vale of Leven FC, Dumbarton, Callander, Kilmarnock and Renton in making preparation for the new season.   The following report is from the ‘Glasgow Herald’ of 20th October, 1873:

In December they had a match against Western FC ‘on the ground of Alexandra Athletic, Kennyhill Park’.  See report below.  The standard that they reached in 1874 can be seem from three fixtures at the start of the year:  28th February: 2d Alexandra   v  2nd Blythswood; March 14th:  Blythswood  v  Alexandra;   11th April:  Queen’s Park  v  Alexandra (at Hampden) and on the same date, Alexandra  v  Queen’s Park (at Kennyhill).     Club colours are illustrated above but they changed over the years –

• 1873: blue & white guernsey, blue knickerbockers, red cap
• 1874: brown, blue, & white striped jersey, white knickerbockers, blue stockings, red cap
• 1876: white with blue Prince of Wales feathers
• 1877: white

And so it went on over the winter.   

That the club was still a multi-sports outfit was seen by a second athletic meeting held at their own ground on 2nd May, 1874.   The report in “The Glasgow Herald” reads.   “These Sports came off on Saturday in Kennyhill Park, Cumbernauld Road.   The weather was favourable and the consequence was the turn-out of a large and fashionable company of between 2000 and 3000 persons.   The programme comprised of 20 events and for each there were a great many entries.   Several of the competitions such as the Sack and Pitcher and Water races afforded much amusement.   The arrangements generally were faultless and reflected much credit on the officials.   Messrs William McElroy and David Graham acted as judges, Mt Jas. McCasland as referee, Mr E. McElroy as starter, and Mr W. Dick as clerk of the course – all in a manner to give satisfaction to all.”

The actual meeting highlights were summarised in the “North British Daily Mail” as follows.

The Wikipedia article concludes its account of the club by saying: The club does not seem to have survived the 1883-84 season; it protested to no avail after being knocked out of the Cup by Whitehill, and the final match being a 9-4 defeat at Arbroath, after the club was 4-1 up at half-time.   On the club’s demise, a number of its members and players joined Rangers; club secretary Walter Crichton took the same role at the Light Blues.

It would seem from that that the club had a relatively short life of approximately 10 years and its athletic involvement after 1874 will be concluded on the next page.

William Cummings (10 June 1858  –  13 July 1919), from Paisley, was a top class runner during the late 1880’s.    You can read about his career on the Wikipedia page at this link .   Known principally for his two duels with WG George, there was much more to him than that.   There has been a great deal of coverage about the man following some discoveries in Paisley Museum.   Colin Youngson picked up on the coverage and passed on the  article below.   

Paisley Museum team uncovers links to Scotland’s Victorian lost world champion runner

The team behind the £45 million refurbishment of Paisley Museum have unearthed the story behind a Paisley distance runner who was the Mo Farah of his time.

William Cummings, was born in 1858 in Paisley, to a family of shoemakers. He would go on to become a world-champion distance runner, filling stadiums with thousands of excited fans and beating England’s best athlete at the same time.

Now the researcher who unearthed William’s tale, is set to tell the story of Paisley’s world champion, alongside donations from Scotland’s current athletics star, Renfrewshire’s Callum Hawkins, whose heroic exploits at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games have inspired home-grown audiences.

Archie Henderson, social history researcher at OneRen, which is leading on the curatorial delivery of the refurbishment of the museum, was cataloguing objects when he made a discovery. He said: “We were keeping an eye out for anything interesting and I opened a box and there it was. Initially I thought it was a boxing belt, but I quickly noticed that it had depictions of runners and an inscription for the 10-mile world champion.”

After a little digging, Archie discovered that Cummings was pitted against the leading amateur of the day, an Englishman called Walter George.

“You had the perfect recipe for competition and the public wanted to know who was best,” added Archie. George turned professional to take part in a series of head-to-heads over a three-race challenge, over one mile, four miles and 10 mile distances.

Two races took place in London, with one in Edinburgh. The 10-mile race in London was the decider. One of the stadiums had at least 25,000 people inside – although once it reached capacity, crowds tore down barriers to gain entry.

Archie added: “It really captured the imagination of the public at the time. There were thousands of people coming just to see these two race around a track.

Cummings won the decider over 10-miles, which saw him crowned as the champion.”

The belt in Paisley’s collections was won by Cummings three times, consecutively, from 1880-1882. He had a long and successful career and was recognised as the best distance runner of his age.

Archie said: “Paisley and Renfrewshire has a legacy of producing elite athletes and we want to reflect that in our new display.”

Archie has turned to another local star, Callum Hawkins.

The Elderslie distance runner, is the Scottish marathon record holder and represented Team GB at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

Callum recently visited the Secret Collection – Paisley’s museum store located on the town’s High Street – to donate his New Balance running shoes and Team GB vest from competing in the World Athletics Championships in Doha in 2019, where he ran fourth in the marathon. Callum also donated a European Championships Cross Country bronze medal that he won in 2016, where he helped Team GB to win a gold medal.

Callum said: “It’s an honour to be part of the museum. I remember going as a kid and it’s amazing to think I’m going to be part of it when it reopens. This area has produced some amazing athletes over the years, from Kilbarchan Amateur Athletics Club providing great coaching, to the brilliant local facilities, it means that Renfrewshire has a great track record in supporting elite athletes.

“I can’t wait to see it up and running again next year – it’s going to be great.”

Opening in 2024, Paisley Museum will create a new, world-class museum space, shaped and focussed by, and for, the people of the town, celebrating its history and impact on the world, while creating a new community space that’s open and accessible to all.

At its core, the museum will bring history to life, connecting it to today’s town and people, creating a vibrant and colourful new cultural thread, weaving together past, present and future.

While celebrating the area’s significant industrial past and the town’s importance, not least in textiles, weaving and exploring the origins and impacts of the famous Paisley pattern, the refurbished museum’s gallery spaces will increase by more than a quarter, with ambitious architectural and engineering interventions to welcome visitors to stunning indoor and outdoor spaces.

In his own words – William Cummings advice on how to run a race over a mile: 

William said he prefers ‘a slow walk before breakfast,’ before resting for an hour, before a walk for two or three miles and a slow run on the track for about a mile. He cautions not to over-exert the athlete before competition. He adds that you’ do not run right out; keep that for the race,’ and whatever you do, ‘eat good food and drink moderately’.

We can begin the 1938 season of University athletics on 30th April when Edinburgh University won in Belfast over Queen’s University.   Also on that weekend, Glasgow University held their Novice (ie first year) Meeting where the report promised a good season ahead read: 

Equally impressive that weekend was the victory by St Andrews over The Atalanta Club.   It was a good Atalanta team with Lapraik, Forester and Babington-Smith outstanding.   

The following week, on Tuesday 1st May, Edinburgh University’s second contest of the Irish Tour was in Dublin against Dublin University where they were heavily beaten – they only won two events of the eleven contested.

The season was now in full swing and on 6th May St Andrews tested themselves against Montrose RAF, the result was not noted but the Montrose Standard printed the results.

Next day, on 7th May, there were two competitions taking place.   Glasgow University had travelled to Belfast where they took on and defeated Queen’s University, and Edinburgh University had their second competition in a week when they went just down the road to St Andrews where they beat the hosts.   The Glasgow result:

Monday May 9th saw Glasgow travel to Dublin where the took on that University.   Although the Irishmen won 9 events to the Scotsmen’s 4, the Irish way of scoring (5 for a win, 3 for second and 1 for third) made it a much closer competition with the respective scores being 59 to 57.   The Scotsmen’s victories came in the Mile through Lapraik and Schneiderman (below) won all three of his events again. 

Several Scottish women students travelled to the UAU Championships in London on the first weekend in May and on the Friday night, A McKee and M Gray of Edinburgh qualified for the next round of the 100 and 220 yards respectively.   

The Glasgow championships first meeting was on Thursday 12th May at Westerlands and there were three new records set.   Schneiderman set two of them – in the shot final he threw 45′ 3 1/4″, and in the preliminary round of the discus.   He won the shot by 40′ from the reigning champion, AF Forester with 141′ 6 3/4″.   The other record was by J Muir in the Mile.   Muir a former Scottish Youth champion, led from the start to record 4:35.   Other Finals: Women’s Broad Jump: M Milne 13′ 4″; 440 yards: AJ Sutherland (holder)  70 seconds.   EUAC women also had a match that night against Trinity Academicals and won by 40 points to 25.   The report on the Glasgow Championshipps, as published on the ‘Scotsman’ on the following Monday was fullsome.

The midweek competitions were popular and on Wednesday 18th May, Edinburgh took on Durham University and won by 80 points to 52.  There was no Carstairs to help this time but SEO Martin won both 120 yards hurdles and Long Jump.    

There was as usual a team from Glasgow University which went to the British Universities on Friday, 20th May.   It was a smaller team than usual, composed of JH Schneiderman (discus, shot and javelin), WF Forester (captain, discus and hammer), JAM Robertson (440- and 880-yards) and R Dickie (high jump and broad jump).   It was unclear whether JD Banning would be taking part in the three miles. There was also a squad from Edinburgh University listed in the Scotsman above the result of the GUAC  v  EUAC women’s competition.

On the Friday evening,  Schneiderman won the discus with a throw of 139′ 1″ – 16 feet further than the second placer.   Forester was second in the hammer (118′ 3″), and Robertson won his heat of the 880.   There were other Scottish University athletes competing – Seymour of Edinburgh won through the heats and semis to reach the final of the 220 yards;  SEO Martin of Edinburgh was second in the long jump final.   On the Saturday, Schneiderman won the Shot with 42′ 5 1/2″, Carstairs of Edinburgh won the Three Miles by 50 yards, Seymour was second in the 100 yards and at the end of the meeting, Edinburgh beat Glasgow with 25 points to Glasgow’s 23.   Edinburgh was fifth team overall.  

There was a triangular fixture at St Andrews on 23rd May, when the home university took on Glasgow and Aberdeen.   The Courier’s report read:

On Wednesday, May 25th, Glasgow University continued the practice of team contests against local clubs when they took on and defeated Shettleston Harriers and Maryhill Harriers – 123 points, 79 1/2 pts and 68 1/2.   It was not an easy contest although Schneiderman won all three throws, and the students were pitted against JE Farrell (Maryhill)  and W Sutherland (Shettleston in the Three Miles.   The Edinburgh University Championships first round was also held that day and J Tweedie Stoddart won the Three Miles from a field on 7 starters, and IAM McLennan won the Hammer throw with 87′ 10″.

The month ended with Edinburgh University Sports on 28th May which prepared the athletes for the Inter-‘Varsities.

And finally there was a competition in Dundee which involved universities with local amateur clubs on 28th May. Dundee College v St Andrews v Dundee Thistle v St Andrews, before heading into championship month of June.

The championships were held on 11th June in Aberdeen and although Edinburgh University turned out a strong team, they were well beaten by Glasgow.   Glasgow had 52 points, Edinburgh 28, Aberdeen 22 and St Andrews 10.    The women’s competition resulted in a victory for Edinburgh on 18 pts from Glasgow (11), Aberdeen (7) and St Andrews (6).

It had been a good season for University athletics in Scotland with domestic athletes such as Carstairs and Lapraik being augmented cnd challenged by those from abroad such as SEO Martin and IH Schneidermann.

The first of the Scottish University runner to capture the headlines in 1937 was GM Carstairs who on 15th May won the UAU Championships in a new record time.    The ‘Glasgow Herald’ said: “GM Carstairs, of Edinburgh University established one of five new records set at the Universities Athletic Union Championships at White City, London, yesterday.   With a time of 14 min 36 4-5th sec, Carstairs was a comfortable winner in the three miles event, taking the lead at the end of the first mile-and-a-half and maintaining it right to the finish.” 

The individual university championships were held in May with St Andrews being first off the mark when they held their annual sports on Saturday 15th May .

The Sports at St Andrews were a but different in 1937 from those of earlier years.   The Scotsman explained it thus: “For the first time the Annual Sports of the students of St Andrews University, points being awarded according to performance.   Each competitor had to compete in at least five of the thirteen events and the maximum points allowed for each event was 1100.   The Pentathlon Cup, presented by Lieut. A Stark, the ‘Varsity Physical Instructor, was won by JSA Forsyth with a total of 2976 points , AD McLean being second with 2875 and WA Smith third with 2809.”   

It was also interesting to note that the women’s events, normally restricted to 100 and 220 yards, long jump, hurdles and maybe high jump, included the cricket ball throw which was won with a distance of over 158 feet.   Results:

The Glasgow University preliminaries were held at Westerlands on Wednesday 19th May when four finals were held in addition to six preliminary rounds for various events.  Two records were set – JAH Lees beat IN Lapraik in the Mile in a new University record of 4:35.8 and WF Forrester won the discus with another new record of 115′ 2 1/1″ to beat AN Lapsley by 5′ 2 1/2″.   The other winners were AN Lapsley who avenged his defeat in the discus with a win over Forrester in the Hammer with a throw of 121′ 1″, Miss A Sutherland won the women’s 440 yards in 66.7 seconds and Miss NB McIntosh won the women’s Broad Jump with 15′ 6″.

The remainder of the events were held on a fine, sunny day, perfect for good performances on 22nd May when the results were as follows:

Both Aberdeen and Edinburgh held their main sports on the last Saturday of the month with preliminary rounds of the sprints and a field event as well as the Three Miles earlier the same week.  The first session of Aberdeen University Sports was on the evening of 25th May, 1937 when AWC Lobban won the Three Miles in  15:37.9.   The 220 yards was also held and went to JRW Catto who won in 22.6 seconds.

There were more events held on Thursday 27th May when two events were decided – the half mile was won by NR McLean in 2:04.8 – one of the best ever recorded by any Aberdeen student – from AWG Lobban,   and the Hammer by JG Wilson who threw a distance of 101′ 7″ to win from GA Milne.   The qualifying round of the Shot were held and   “AJ Witt, without knowledge of technique and without practice, gave a splendid display and qualified for the final of the event.

The event when it came on Saturday 29th, May, was no disappointment with three records going by the board and an exciting four team relay race to boot.  Results:

The Edinburgh University Sports were also held on Saturday 29th May and the standards were high – a headline in the ‘Scotsman’ lamented that “GM Carstairs and RB Wylde fail to return new figures”.   Not enough that they win but expected to set a new record!   Carstairs however had almost set up this headline when he did set up a new record for the Three Miles at the Wednesday first round of the event.   On that occasion he set a time of 14:50.8 breaking the previous record by JH Motion of 15:18.75 by over 28 seconds.   His fellow former Watsonian JW Martin was only about 200 yards behind so he must have been close to the former time.  The other events on the night were heats of the 100- and 220-yards.  

Results:

Of course the athletes needed more competition than just the university’s own championships and there were inter-university meetings and open meetings and invitation events and so on for them to compete in.   For instance on 5th June in the Queens Park FC Sports at Hampden, WMO Rennie of Glasgow University & Bellahouston represented Glasgow on the last leg of the invitation relay and third in the invitation 440 yards, in the women’s relay Edinburgh University was second and Glasgow University was third.   Others like IM Young of Glasgow University (2nd in 100 yards) took part in the open events. 

The championships themselves were held on 17th June at St Andrews and the local paper report reads :

As expected Carstairs had a good day winning the Three Miles and setting a new record for the distance; SEO Williams continued to excel in his specialist events and Glasgow’s JAH Lees took not only the championship but also the event record for the half-mile held by Edinburgh’s Hugh Maingay, in 1:57.7.    In the field events the performances of AN Lapsley with two first places, one second and a third confirmed his place as a great Universities all-rounder, while DW Boyd with a first and a second in the throws events confirmed his abilities there.   Lees not only won the half mile but also took the Mile championship from Lobban and McLean of Aberdeen.   SEO Williams won the 120 yards hurdles, the 440 yards hurdles and the Long Jump.   

Results in full:

1937 was a good year for Scottish University athletics – athletes like Ian Lapraik, and GM Carstairs were among the very best that the country has produced.   Had it  not been for the War which started in 1939 interrupting their careers the two men, particularly Carstairs, would have been better known to following generations.   Field events men like Lapsley and Forrester were also among the best while others like SEO Martin and RB Wylde competed in Empire Games.  

BNA – top of page 4

In 1936 Glasgow University Athletics Club had a preliminary meeting, which was common practice to shorten the afternoon of the main competitions because of the large entries in some events, on 6th May.  The Glasgow meeting was bigger than those of the other Universities simply because of the large number of events requiring shortening before the principal sports day. At this meeting  several finals were held – the One Mile which was won by JN Lapraik in 3:52.4 , the Putting the Weight won by DH Cameron (holder) from AB McDonald and WF Forrester with 37’4″, and the Hammer by WF Forrester from DA McLean with 122′ 6″.   There were also two women’s events – the 440 yards which was won by the holder, RH Livingston from SJ Sutherland in 69.2 seconds, and the Long Jump, won by SM Dobbie from AM Devine with a leap of 15′ 1″.   Preliminary rounds were held for several other events and these are below:

The sports proper were held on 10th May and the  “Glasgow Herald” report read as follows:

… and the women’s results were as follows:-

HM Murray, Glasgow University 440 yards champion

The Aberdeen University Sports were held on  16th May with a preliminary session on the 12th.   In the preliminary round, the events were the Three Miles and the Discus.   The former was won by DM Annan from AC Lobban in 16:03.4, and in the latter G Milne won with a best throw of 89′ 7″.    There were also a qualifying round of the pole vault with AF Murray, RSM Keir and JS Shand being the trio to make it through.   The “Scotsman” reported as follows:

The first day of the University Athletics Union Championships was on Friday 15th May at the White City in London where Edinburgh was represented by three athletes.   HG Taylor was third in the javelin with 168′ 4 3/4″, PM Ewen second in the Hammer with a best of 122′ 1 3/4″ and SEO Martin wonthe Long Jump with a leap of exactly 22′ 0″.   

In between all the championships, there were other matches such as the Edinburgh University  v  Watsonians on 23rd May at New Myreside where the University not only won but provided three double winners in SEO Martin (hurdles, long jump + 3rd in high jump), PM Ewen (Shot and Discus) and RB Wylde (220-yards and 440-yards).   On 23rd May Aberdeen U narrowly defeated St Andrews by 39 points to 36. Other such meetings were Aberdeen U  v  Atalanta  and St Andrews v an RAF team from Leuchars as well as traditional matches between the universities.

But the individual university championships were still very prestigious events with quality reporters (eg George Dallas writing as Ggroe in the Daily Record) previewing and reviewing the meetings.   The Scotsman reported that in the first two events of the Edinburgh University Sports, held on Wednesday 27th May, DW” Boyd in the Hammer throw set a new record of 132′  1″, adding 2′ 1″ to Dr RM MacKay’s 1932 record.   H McDonald won the Three Miles by 300 yards from TBM Sloan in 15:26.2.   Heats of the 100 and 440 yards were also held: Seymour, Gaffney and Taylor were the first three in the first heat and Wylde & Martin (=) and Brooks filled first three places in the second for the 100; in the 440, Duncan and McFadyen filled the first two places in the first heat and Wylde and Malcolm in the second.   Most of the events were held on the Saturday (30th May) and the report in the ‘Scotsman’ read:

The results were printed in detail as follows.

The Inter-Universities championship was held in Glasgow on 13th June and Aberdeen in particular fancied their chances.   Note the preview on the day in the ‘Press & Journal’

The caption on the photograph below gives the game away as far as the result of the championship is concerned.

The Report in the ‘Glasgow Herald’ on the following Monday read as follows.   The reporter was of the opinion that the track events outshone those in the field: certainly the names of several of the runners are  familiar with Lapraik being the best known of them all.

The results from the same source are below.

Inter-Varsity hurdles race : photo from The Scotsman of Monday 10th June

The first University Sports to be held in 1935 were in Glasgow on 10th May with the report in the “Sunday Post” being headed RECORDS GALORE AT GLASGOW ‘VARSITY SPORTS.   Before looking at the results, we will; draw your attention to Ian Lapraik who was second in thehalf mile and mile, and third in the three miles, and AW McAulay’s two victories in Mile and Three Miles.

Glasgow, as before, sent a small squad to the British University Championships at the White City on 18th May.   AF McDonald won the high jump for them with a best on the day of 5′ 8″, one inch higher than the second placed man.   Although there were no individual medals won by the University, the team finished fifth of the thirteen competing.   

The other universities back in Scotland were also busy that weekend.   Edinburgh University defeated Glasgow at Westerlands by the narrow margin of one single point (48 to 47)  and St Andrews University beat Dundee Hawkhill Harriers at UCD by 55 points to 20.   And as described below, the Aberdeen University championships were held at King’s College.   All four universities were in action with an eye on the Inter-Varsities in June.

Aberdeen held a preliminary meeting two days before their annual sports championships in 1935 on Thursday, 17th May.  Events covered were the 120 yards hurdles where four runners qualified for the Final – JA Robbie, IR Smith, JC Cowan and WJ Whyte; the Broad Jump: IL Smith, J Craig and L Sharp; One Mile Final – 1.  DM Annand 4:53.6; 2. WJ Whyte; 3. HR Kellas (Annand won by 8 yards); and the Final of the Putting the Weight – 1. DM Mathieson 32′ 5 1/2″; 2. AJ Taylor 32′ 2″; 3. CA Macgregor 30′ 1″.   

Of the day of the sports, the report in the Press & Journal read:   “Conditions were all against good times at the Aberdeen University Sports at King’s College on Saturday.   The ground was heavy after a week’s almost incessant rain, and a strong wind blew across the ground.   In the sprint races however, the wind slightly helped the competitors.   One record was broken, the record-breaker being J Watson, an Australian student who, for the second year in succession, reduced the time for the 440 yards dash.   On Saturday Watson clipped one-fifth of a second off his last year’s time.   Watson completed the “double” by winning the 100 yards but this was not enough to earn him the Dean’s Medal for pure athletics which was shared by DM Annand IL Smith with 12 points each.   

“WOMEN’S EVENTS.   Miss MR MacKenzie practically “scooped the pool”  in the women’s events and won the Trail Cup for most points in these events.   Miss MacKenzie’s winning effort in the women’s high jump competition was the lowest in the history of the sports.   

AJG Taylor, a last year’s Gordon’s College boy, was the winner of the Nelson Keith medal for heavy events.”   

The Edinburgh University Sports preliminary meeting was held on 22nd May with three events being decided.   The Three Miles title was retained by WH Whalley in 15:53.4, DWBoyd retained the Hamme with 122′ 10 1/2″ and PM Ewen won the Discus with 112′ 3 1/2″ (9 feet further than second placer).

The remainder were held on 25th May and the report in “The Scotsman” on 27th May read as follows.   

“DRS MILNE BEATS HURDLES RECORD.   ANDEAN’S SPRINTS DOUBLE.   Several excellent returns were made at the Edinburgh University Sports which were held at Craiglockhart on Saturday.   The Rosebery Cup for the best all-round display went to DRS Milne.   A Wiesen won the Fahmy Cup, a new award presented to the athlete showing the best style.   The Donovan Cup was won by W Botha.   Milne won the Rosebery Cup with a first in the 120 yards hurdles and high jump, second in the broad jump and third in the javelin which gave him a total of 13 points, and the runner-up was PM Ewen who gained 10 points from firsts putt and discus and a second in the hammer.

The “Glasgow Herald” was fulsome in its praise of the standard in Edinburgh, giving W Botha space because of his quarter- and half-mile double, JK Andean, Scottish schools champion of two years earlier, and Milne were also praised for the standard and progress made.   It was also suggested that they would do well in the Inter-Universities to be held in June.

Meanwhile, St Andrews took on Aberdeen at St Andrews and were defeated in both Men’s (33 to 31) and Women’s (21 – 7) matches.   The men were actually leading 31 – 29 with only the relay remaining, Aberdeen won, took the 4 points, and won the competition.   

Passing the baton in the Women’s Relay in the St Andrews  v  Aberdeen

Finish of the 100 yards in the St Andrews  v  Dundee Hawkhill match.  Winner was EDO Campbell, St Andrews

All the Universities had been preparing assiduously for the championships with their own championships and with selected matches against each other before the inter-varsity meeting came up.   The championships were well covered in The Scotsman and the report will be reproduced in sections below.

The International of 1911 was on 16th July at Ball’s Bridge in Dublin and the Irish team was hopeful of victory after the big defeat of 1910.   The cartoon above was in the “Scottish Referee” on the day before the match.   The “Glasgow Herald” report after the match began as follows: “The seventeenth annual amateur athletic contest took place in lovely weather but the attendance of barely 1500 was extremely disappointing, and the apathy as regards amateur athletics would seem to have spread to the Sister Isle.   It was anticipated by experts that whichever side won should only do so by the narrowest of margins but Scotland gained an unexpectedly easy victory by seven points to four, this being their first success in Dublin, their second in Ireland and their seventh in all, as against Ireland’s ten.”

Results:

100 yards: 1. WA Stewart (S) 10.2 seconds; 2. JH McVea (I); 220 yards: 1. RC Duncan (S) 23.6; 2. WR Sutherland (S)

440 Yards: 1. RA Lindsay (S) 53.4 sec; 2. R Burton (S); 880 yards: 1. JT Soutter (S) 1:59.4; 2. R Burton (S)

Mile: 1. DF McNicol (S) 4:25; 2. JT Soutter (S); Four Miles: 1. GCL Wallach (S) 20:27; 2. FJ Ryder (I)

120 yards hurdles: 1. E O’ Brien (I) 16.5 seconds; 2. P Kirwan (I)

High Jump: 1. D Campbell (S) 5′ 8 1/4″; 2. MJ Creede (I); Broad Jump: 1. P Kirwan (I) 23′; 2. WF Watt (I)

Putting the Weight: 1. J Barrett (I) 44′ 4″; 2. TR Nicolson (S); Throwing the Hammer: 1. JJ Flanagan (I) 170′ 5″; 2. TR Nicolson (S)

SCOTLAND 7 EVENTS : IRELAND 4 EVENTS

The cartoon from the Scottish Referee of 19th July, 1912

The match, held at Powderhall on 20th July, resulted in a five and a half points each draw.   Not what either side was expecting as the athletes selected by both sides were all very good.   Ireland in particular was looking for a victory to redeem themselves after the previous year’s contest.   The Irish paper, the Sport of Saturday 27th July, commented as follows afterwards.

The “Scotsman” had a different take on the event and preceded its report with this.

Results:

100 yards: 1. RC Duncan (S) & S McComb (I) equal in 10.2 seconds; 220 yards: 1. RC Duncan (S) 23.4; 2. FRS Shaw (I)

440 yards: 1. J Gray (I) 52.0; 2. RA Lindsay (S); 880 yards: 1. R Burton (S) 2:05.2; 2. R Hales (I)

Mile: 1. R Hales (I) 4:27.4; 2. DF McNicol; Four Miles: 1. FJ Ryder (I) 20.40; 2. T Jack (S)

120 yards hurdles: 1. IA Clarke (S) 16.8 seconds; 2. P Kirwan (I)

High Jump: 1. T Carroll (I) 5′ 10 1/2″; 2. D Campbell (S) & J O’Donoghue (I); Broad Jump: 1. JHD Watson (S) 22’9″; 2. P Kirwan (I)

Putting the Shot: 1. P Quinn (I) 41′ 8 1/2″; 2. TR Nicolson (S); Throwing the Hammer: 1. TR Nicolson (S) 165′ 1″; 2. G Lindsay (S)

SCOTLAND 5 1/2 EVENTS;  IRELAND 5 1/2 EVENTS

The 1913 meeting was held at Celtic Park in Belfast on 19th July and the Edinburgh Evening News looked forward to it with this.

So we were optimistic on our way to Dublin with logic on our side.    But as so often, we were disappointed with the actual result.   The Irish paper “The Weekly Freeman” reported with these words.

Results

100 yards: 1. FRS Shaw (I) 10.0 seconds; 2. WA Stewart (S); 220 yards: 1. WR Sutherland (S) 22.2 sec; 2. FRS Shaw

440 yards: 1. JM Hill (I) 53 sec; 2. RA Lindsay (S); 880 yards: 1. JM Hill (I) 2:01.4; 2. G Dallas (S)

Mile: 1. D McPhee (S) 4:34.4; 2. WM Crabbie (S); Four Miles: 1. P Flynn – only one competitor finished

120 yards hurdles: 1. WL Hunter (S) 16.4 seconds; 2. TH Darwell (I)

High Jump: 1. TJ Carroll (I) 6’1″; 2. D Campbell (S) & WL Hunter & AL Colquhoun;Broad Jump: 1. WF Bennett (I) 21’8″; 2. O Galbraith (I)

Putting the Weight: 1. P Quinn (I) 42′ 11″; 2. PF Ryan (I); Throwing the Hammer: 1. TR Nicolson 161′ 6″; 2. PF Ryan (I)

IRELAND 7 EVENTS ; SCOTLAND 4 EVENTS

This contest was the last of the series of Scottish-Ireland internationals –  the War which followed made many changes to athletics and this was one of them.   In 1914 the match became a Triangular with England being added to the mix.   From 1920 the match became a regular triangular meeting until 1930  and thereafter there were two more Scotland-Ireland internationals in 1931 and 1932 when they finished altogether.

In 1909 the International was held in Balls Bridge, Dublin on 17th July.   Scotland had won two out of the last three matches but Ireland had won in Edinburgh in 1908 and were looking to make it two on the trot.   

The report on the meeting on the following Monday in the Belfast Telegraph read as follows: “At Balls Bridge on Saturday the 17th inst., the annual contest between the representatives of Ireland and Scotland were held in delightful weather.   The result was a win for the Irish athletes by 8 events to 3.   The feature of the day was the running of R Kerr, the Irish Canadian sprinter who made such a prominent show at the Olympic Games. He won both the 100 and 220 yards and in the latter event created a new Irish record.”

In the 1908 Olympics, Kerr, running for Canada, had won his Heat of the 100 metres in 11.0 seconds, won his semi-final in 11.0 seconds, and finished third in the Final in 11.0 seconds – a remarkable consistency of times.   In the 200 metres, he won his Heat (with JP Stark third) in 22.2 seconds, won his semi-final in 22.6 and then won the Final in 22.6 seconds.   The Final was described as follows: “The final was held on 23 July 1908. The top three were within two feet of each other, as Kerr’s early lead evaporated in the straight. He was able to hang onto nine inches, however, and defeated Cloughen by that small margin.”

Another Irishman won gold at the Games when Tim Ahearne won the Triple Jump with a leap of 14.92 in the Final.   Report reads: “At first Tim Ahearne set a new Olympic record with 14.72 metres. Then Garfield MacDonald improved the record to 14.76 metres and finally Ahearne took the new Olympic record with 14.92 metres.”   McDonald was an American who finished second in the Final with 14.76m.

That was two Irish gold medal winners out in the Scoto-Irish match in 1909 and there were other Olympians in both teams.  Kerr’s teammate George Newcomen Morphy also ran in the London Olympics but for Great Britain but was unplaced in both 800 and 1500 metres.   Denis Horgan also competed for Britain in the Shot where he was second to win the silver medal.   

John McGough ran for Great Britain in the 1500m in the same Olympics but was also unplaced.   Tom Nicolson was an unlucky fourth in the Hammer and 12th in the Shot.   It was a very high quality international that day at Balls Bridge.

Kerr winning the Olympic 200 metres final for Canada

100 yards: 1. R Kerr (I) 10.2 seconds; 2. RC Duncan (S); 220 yards: 1. R Kerr (I) 22.2 seconds; 2. RC Duncan (S)

440 yards: 1. D Dickson (S) 51.4 seconds; 2. GW Young (S); 880 yards: 1. R Burton (S) 2:00.8; 2. GN Morphy (I)

Mile: 1. GN Morphy (I) 4:33.4; 2. J McGough (S); Four Miles: 1. M O’Neil (I) 20:12.8; 1. J Murphy (I)

120 yards hurdles: 1. CE Kinahan (I) 16.8 seconds; 2. A Halligan (S)

High Jump: 1. TJ Ahearne (I) 5′ feet 8 3/4″; 2. GH Wilson (S); Broad Jump: 1. TJ Ahearne (I) 22′ 10″; 2. G Stephen (S)

Putting the Weight: 1. D Horgan (I) 44′ 6 1/2″; 2. J Barrett (I); Throwing the Hammer: 1. TR Nicolson (S) 160′ 2″; 2. D Rose (S)

IRELAND 8 EVENTS; SCOTLAND 3 EVENTS

Robert Kerr (Ireland)

1910

The competition was held on 9th July at Ibrox Park in Glasgow and on paper the Scottish team looked the stronger despite the absence of several very good athletes.

“The photographs above are from the ‘Scottish Referee’ of Monday, 11th July, and accompanied the report under the headline “IT WAS A GLORIOUS VICTORY!” which began:  “The sixteenth annual athletic between Scotland and Ireland was held at Ibrox on Saturday and ended in a win for Scotland by nine events to two,   This is a record score for Scotland although Ireland has equalled the performance twice – in 1888 and 1902.   Brilliant weather favoured the contest and the lover climatic conditions were such as recalled the meeting of 1907, held on the same ground.”   The actual results which led to the glorious event were as follows: 

100 yards: PJ Roche (I) 10.4 seconds; 2. RC Duncan (S);   220 yards: 1. RC Duncan (S) 22.8 sec; 2. W Murray (I)

440 yards: 1. GRL Anderson (S) 50.8 sec; 2. R Burton (S);  880 yards: 1. R Burton (S) 1:58.8; 2. JT Soutter (S)

Mile: 1. DF McNicol (S) 4:26; 2. J Bill (I); Four Miles: 1. A McPhee (S) 20:29.4; 2. T Jack (S)

120 yards hurdles: 1. GRL Anderson (S) 16.2 seconds; 2. CE Kinahan (I)

High Jump: 1. D Campbell (S) 5′ 8 1/2″; 2. PJ Leahy; Broad Jump: 1. FG Buchanan (S) 21′ 5 3/4″;  2. WF Bennett (I)

Putting the Weight: 1. J Barrett (I) 45′ 2″; 2. WF Bennett (I);  Throwing the Hammer: 1. TR Nicolson (S) 159′; 2. D Carey (I)

SCOTLAND 9 EVENTS; IRELAND 2 EVENTS 

The score was emphasised in a cartoon on the front page of the paper –

In the SAAA Championships earlier that year (24th June), titles were won by RC Duncan (100 & 220), GRL Anderson (440 & hurdles), R Burton (880), A McPhee (Four Miles), FG Buchanan (Broad Jump), D Campbell (High Jump) and TR Nicolson (Shot & Hammer).   Probably the strongest team that could have been turned out, and a victory maybe predicted but not by the massive score of 9-2.   The Irish team also had some very good men in their team.   The report in the   Weekly Irish Times started 

“Scotland achieved an easy victory over Ireland on Saturday, the Scotsmen winning by the convincing margin of nine points to two.   Such a resulted was quite unexpected for on the performances in the championships of the respective countries the teams appeared evenly balanced; if anything a victory for Ireland was anticipated.      The Irish team was strengthened by the addition of GM Hill, a King’s County man, who won the English half-mile championship; PJ Brabazon of the Clonliffe Harrierswho defeated GN Morphy in the 440 yards championship of Leinster, and PJ Roche, the ex-100 yards champion, none of whom however had figured in the Irish championships. …. It was the heaviest defeat sustained by a Hibernian team in any of the sixteen contests, and the score has only been equalled on two occasions.”     

Clearly the Irish journalists went into the match with a different result in mind to the Scottish ones.   How did the men named perform on the day?   First, Hill in the 880 –

Then Brabazon:

And finally Roche:

All good races, maybe better from the Scottish point of view but it was interesting to note that the Irish athletes concerned had not run in the national championships.