BARF

Did you know that the Iranian word for snow is barf? You didn't know that on 5th June 1971 Clydesdale Harriers was second in the 5000 metres team race at Airdrie Highland Game - Phil - 6th, Doug Gemmell - 9th, BMcA - 15th, J Tonner - nowhere. How did I know that? Well I have been sorting through James P Shields's papers. He was not a great runner but a very good club member from the mid 1930's until tha late 1990's when he became ill. He was treasurer and secretary for many, many years, one of Scottish Athletics best officials and administrators and did the club great credit. He worked in Singer's factory and when they opened the factory in India he was sent there - then to Pakistan - then to Iran and when he came back, they demoted him. He went on to work for Barr and Strouds. A super guy in every way.
What prompts the old man saying "They're not so good as they used to be in my young day?" Well, they're not! The club helped organise or organised the Schools International Cross Country Championships, the World Cross Country Championships and the Scottish Veterans Internationals in a spell of four years. Can you see us doing that now? We organised the West Districts and the Dunbartonshire Cross Country Championships all through the 60's 70's and 80's. Now we don't organise any cc event. Why don't we? Lack of admin ability? No way. Peter, Jim, Phil, Yvonne, John and company are all easily capable of organising a championship using officials from outwith the club. Lack of will? Probably. Holding even tha County Relays or Championships would be a start. How can we do it next year? Don't say "We can't because....................." it is always easy to find reasons why not; the REAL question is "How can we organise the County Championships?" After all it is always easier to run on your own home trail. Why should Clydesdale always be the ones to travel? How can we do it at home?