G.U. Road Race

I went to the Glasgow University Road Race this afternoon - the first race that I had attended this year for several reasons and saw some good running. Paul Carroll won the Clydesdale race-within-a-race when he was nine or ten seconds up on Gerry Montgomery. What a contrast in running styles there and then in came Iain Robertson looking very comfortable followed by Marina, Bobby and Colin and I thought I saw young Bobby Rosborough as well. But it was pointed out to me that Kevin Farmer ran as well - but in a yellow vest. What was that all about? I trained in a multitude of vests but when I raced I always, always wore a club vest. It is possible, in fact usual, for a runner to be ruled ineligible for any award if he/she runs in a vest other than their club vest or an international vest. I once organised an 800 metres race at Meadowbank for the BMC which was won by Paul Forbes. He set a new Scottish native and allcomers record for the distance of 1:46 but the record was disallowed because he wore a pink vest and not his club vest. Sandy MacNeil almost had a go at a famous official who accused him of running for Clydesdale Harriers in a different vest. Were we to be among the prizes, and a runner wearing the wrong vest was a counter, we would not have got the award and two others would have lost out. In a race, always wear the club vest. (It's often a good idea for runners or supporters to have a spare vest in their hip pocket just in case ..........................