Merry Christmas to one and all!

Not having been at any races for some time (but then who has???) I'd like to wish everyone a good Christmas and all the very best for 2011. Memories of Christmas handicaps: I ran in the vets Christmas Handicap in 1978 or 1979 at Bishopbriggs when the handicap was 'fixed' so that Roddy Devon would win - he had been mugged quite seriously a few months before and hit over the head with a paving stone. It was a wonder that he could run at all and then in the race just as he was approaching the finish he was passed by a runner from one of the ethnic minorities! There was mutiny in the air (whoever heard of curried turkey? was the cry!) but justice prevailed and Roddy received and enhanced second place award.
The club team was third in the first ever Allan Scally relay (Ian Leggett sprinted past an Edinburgh Southern runner in the finishing straight) and the prizes that the four runners got were trouser presses. Very handsome trouser presses I must admit but ....................... In the Christmas handicap that year there were three trouser presses, unused and as new, on the table! Harry Fenion used to tell the story of the Christmas handicaps they had at Lochwinnoch where the prizes stayed wrapped and were in a barrel full of shredded paper. He took along a shaving brush and picked out - a shaving brush. Not too happy!
The event started one year in the wee street leading up to Whitecrook School and one of the runners started with a T shirt under his club vest. When I passed him at the top of Mill Road he was in just the vest and acrrying the T shirt. He crossed the line in both T shirt and vest! Like superman in slow motion - I know we passed two telephone boxes but that was ridiculous.
John Bell Maclachlan came home from South Africa to which he had just emigrated with two very nice plaques made of brushed copper. They were about eght inches by four at the broadest point and were in the shape of Africa, On the front of each was mounted a three-dimenional animal - one had a giraffe and the other an elephant. Despite that description they were very attractive. One went to the fastest time - John Bissett Maclachlan who chose the giraffe - and I got the handicap prize of the elephant. Incidentally the trouble that was caused on entry forms with two John B Maclachlans on them! Officials confused big time. Reminds me of the time that Paul Doran crossed the line in the West District 5000 metres after a good run to be taken aside by Brian Goodwin who asked in none to charming a manner what his name was. He had thought the programme entry was a misprint for P Dolan!
The range of prizes used to be very varied with Black Bun, boxes of chocolates, books, trouser presses, gift sets of shaving kit, highland landscapes, etc, and they were all well received but the last couple of Christmas Handicaps I was at the easy option of a bottle of wine or box of chocs dominated. Bring back the Imperial Leather gift sets, sez I!
The sad news is that Joe Higgins' Mum died yesterday (Wednesday). She had been ill for many years with sclerosis but it is still difficult when it happens. Joe had been a very good young athlete and a member of the Scottish multi-events squad when he was Under 15 and Under 17 and brother Willie was a lazy trainer but a ferocious (and I mean FEROCIOUS!) racer. Sympathies to Joe.
Word from Cyril O'Boyle is that he cleared the road of snow and after he had finished and gone indoors, there was a massive slide of more snow from the roof which was deeper than what he had cleared!
Merry Christmas folks, and all the best for 2011.