Cyril O'Boyle

One of the most talented as well as one of the most inspirational Harriers in my time in the sport was Cyril O'Boyle. He has been back in Ireland for about 30 years now and I spoke to him on the phone on Friday. Described on several Irish websites and publications as an athletics legend in Ireland and particularly highly respected in Donegal he sounded as good as ever despite giving me ten years in age! Daughter Moirs, Scottish Cross Country and track Champion who represented Ireland in two Commonwealth Games, is still running up to an hour and a half at a time; daughter Pat has seven children and wife Noreen, who was also a very good distance runner, is keeping things in order. It was a great phone call and it's good to know that this man, who was real credit and great representative of the club is still in good form. His best run was when he was sixth in the National Cross Country Championship in 1955. he sends his good wishes to everybody at Clydesdale.

Home On Holiday

Yesterday I was paid a visit by Allan Sharp and Eric McMahon who is home on holiday from New Zealand. They had been to Killin and cycled via Kenknock to Glen Lyon, Brig o' Balgie, Glen Lawers and back to Killin. So they looked in on their way back and it was a bit of surprise to find that Eric had emigrated almost 50 years ago - as much because Billy Hislop and I had been delegated to buy him a gift (we got him a hip flask from the Big Store in Alexander Street.) It got me thinking that the club atmosphere was one where we sent telegrams on wedding days, bought gifts for members being married (kitchen tools sets were popular), bought going away gifts for members leaving the district or country (clocks, paintings, etc) and sometimes even gave them cash if that was desired/required. It had long been a custom that we recognise milestones in the lives of club members - when Andy McMillan and Jean Tait married just before the War a collection was rounded up by the committee to the grand sum of 30/- (£!:50 in new money) and Tom Millar (who had done the club reports in the 'Clydebank Post' under the pen name of Excelsior received a fountain pen. However, back to the real reason for this post: Eric isn't the only emigrant home for the holidays - his cousin John Hume will arrive next week from Canada and with any luck at all, Allan will bring them both up to see us.