The Three Amigos

Are the three amigos the most successful men's team that Clydesdale Harriers has ever had? I only ask because I was looking at a list of their successes between 2004 and 2008 and it is mightily impressive. With Bobby Young as the ringleader and Pete Cartwright and Brian Campbell as his henchmen, the trio won no fewer than 14 British road or cross country titles in the period plus two seconds, a third and a fourth in the M60 age group. Let's list the victories. The most successful event for them was the BMAF 5K at Horwich which they won every year from 2004 to 2008. Then came the BMAF 10K which they only contested twice - and won twice (2005/2006)! They had a go at the BMAF 10 miles and won that as well in 2005. On the country they ran in the BMAF Relays twice - and won twice as well in 2004 and 2007. In the BMAF Cross Country Championships they competed four times between 2004 to 2008 and were placed as follows: 2nd Durhan in 2004, 1st at Bangor in 2005, 1st in Bournemouth in 2006 and 4th in Banbury in 2008. Finally in the BMAF Road Relays, they were 3rd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 4th in the events which are always held in Sutton Park.

They are a very cheery bunch who all get on well together and at one time or another they have been injured but happy to turn out for the club team so that the others would get the race. The other remarkable fact about them is that they have all got individual awards in many of the races either as placers or as being among the three fastest times.

The club has recognised this by supporting them a bit financially and by making a special award to all three recognising the work they have done for the club. It has always surprised me however that with Harriers turning sixty quite frequently these daya that more runners do not accompany them to the fixtures. This year they went as a group on holiday to New Zealand where they did all sorts of stuff like bungy jumping, mountain climbing, having a go at the luge, etc and came home unscathed. Unlike the national football team ("We took on the best, we got gubbed!") they can say - "We took on the best, we won!"