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Allan
Faulds - a portrait by Graham Bennison
The
Gauldry annual cross-country race meeting is without doubt one of the best
fixtures of the winter season. A testing country course with the
traditional hot soup bubbling away over the barbecue fire at the finish,
sandwiches and home-bakes all freely given back at the village hall. And
yet, last year something was missing, the one person who pulls 'the
Gauldry' together was absent. Allan Faulds, honorary life member of Fife
AC had been rushed into Ninewells Hospital just a week before the Gauldry
Community Council's annual promotion last November. Allan was to remain in
hospital until just after the New Year and thankfully, all his troubles
are now behind him. Allan's meticulous preparation meant that, as usual,
the Gauldry ran like clockwork even without his presence. Both Allan and
his wife Liz were gladly back 'into gear' at our Largo Law race, taking
the entries and helping out with the results.
Allan, a quiet, modest athlete has a career that would be the envy of most
club athletes; his achievements make more than interesting reading.
Personally Allan's results, carefully catalogued over a period of eighteen
years, provided a trip down 'memory lane' as I remembered great runners
from the 60's and 70's and reminisced over some names long forgotten.
Allan's first success came at school where, in June 1957 he finished 3rd
in the 880 yards. Allan improved to first in 1958 (2:7.6) as well as a
second place at Perth County School Sports. Allan's best mark of that year
was 2 min. 7.4 secs while a year later he finished first at the County
sports setting a record of 2 minutes 2 seconds. In 1961, Allan competed in
a variety of track meetings in Wales prior to entering Glasgow University
and joining the 'Hares & Hounds'. Immediate success came when Allan
won the annual Christmas 4.5 mile road handicap race at Westerlands in
29:54 (4th fastest time). On the 27th, January 1962 Glasgow University H
& H. achieved their greatest victory for 20 years, the defeat of
Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Southern Harriers held over a 6 mile
course from Kings College, Edinburgh. Callum Laing led home the field for
Glasgow while Allan finished 13th in what was only his third cross-country
race - 'so his performance is quite phenomenal' wrote the local press.
A month later Allan made his first appearance in the British Universities
Championships finishing 89th, a week later came an 8th place in the
Scottish Universities Championship helping Glasgow to the team title ahead
of Edinburgh and St Andrews. Mel Edwards finished 14th for Aberdeen
University. In March Allan, finishing 4th, led Glasgow University to the
team title at the Scottish National Junior Championship.
Another glimpse of nostalgia from the 1962 season recalls that Allan
finished 2nd (15:13) in a 3 mile track race at Westerlands. Menzies
Campbell easily won the 220 yards in a fast 22.0 secs. Allan improved his
3 mile time to l4:50.6 that season while at the Glasgow University Track
& Field Championships Menzies recorded 10.0 (100yds), 49.2 (440yds)
and 21.5 for 220yds, a Scottish Native record.
The new winter season saw Motherwell YMCA win the Edinburgh to Glasgow
relay followed by Edinburgh Southern and Glasgow University. That November
Allan, finishing 2nd helped Glasgow to a fine win over Loughborough
Colleges and five days later it was Allan that came home first in an
Inter-University 6.75 mile race ahead of Don Macgregor (St Andrews). In
December at St Andrews Don got his revenge as Allan finished 4th - St
Andrews won the match. Later that month Allan represented the Universities
Select against the SCCU finishing 16th.
In January 1963, Fergus Murray (Ed.Univ. & Dundee Hawkhill) won the
Nigel Barge 4½ mile road race beating favourite J. McLatchie (Ayr
Seaforth) with Lachie Stewart (Vale of Leven) third. Allan finished 8th
helping Glasgow Univ. to fourth team place. Later that month Allan
finished 5th in the Midland Cross Country Championship while early in
February he gained 8th place in the Scottish Universities Championship won
by Glasgow Univ. colleague Callum Laing, Don Macgregor finished 23rd on
this occasion. At the Scottish National Laing finished 8th while Faulds
was 16th - John Linaker (Motherwell YMCA) was the winner.
In March Allan made his debut for St. Modans AAC in the Springburn Cup
Relay helping the team to second place. St. Modans was a club based in
Stirling, later changing their name to Stirling AAC. That March Allan
described as "dour, tenacious runner of the Zatopek breed" was
awarded his university 'blue'. Callum Laing (15:06) beat Allan (15:26.7)
in the Glasgow U.A.C. Track & Field Championships that spring. Menzies
Campbell, undergoing treatment for knee trouble lost his 100yds title to
J. A. Gibbons but won the 220yds and 440yds. That summer Allan returned
home to Newport, Wales and competing for Newport Harriers set times of
4:32.2 (1 mile), 9:54 (3000m Steeplechase) and 14:39.2 for 3 miles - a p.b.
In the autumn of 1963, Allan was in great form. The annual Glasgow 5½
mile road race, still a top event today, was won by Lachie Stewart (27.04)
with Allan second in 27:17. A week later Mel Edwards won an
inter-universities match with Laing second and Faulds third. In December,
Allan won the annual match against St Andrews University held at
St.Andrews.
In February 1964 Allan featured again in the British Universities
Championships where Fergus Murray dead-heated with the legendary Mike
Turner (Cambridge - later Liverpool H.). Allan finished 23rd, Callum Laing
was 39th. Cambridge won the team title. Glasgow were 8th. The Scottish
National that year read like a 'Who's Who' of Scottish cross-country - 1.
F.Murray 36.58. 2. J.Alder (Morpeth) 37.37. 3. A.J.Wood (Aberdeen) 37.59.
4. A.Brown (Motherwell) 38.03. 14th Allan Faulds 39.21. A week later Allan
dead-heated with Fergus Murray at an Inter-University cross-country held
at Edinburgh. A full summer of track races followed and in the Autumn
Allan was elected St. Modans cross-country captain. Allan's time for the
McAndrew Relay course (then 2 miles 1595 yds) was 14 min. 34 secs; Hugh
Barrow (Victoria Park) was fastest with 13.38. A triangular cross-country
match between St Andrews Univ., Strathclyde Univ. and St. Modans saw St
Andrews win the team race but Allan was first over the six mile course in
32.09. Further success came when Allan broke Falkirk Victoria's 4½ mile
course record (24.12), two minutes better then the previous record held by
W.Morrison. Further inter club wins came Allan's way before finishing 30th
in the Scottish National at the end of February.
That May Allan ran 9:35.4 for the 3,000m Steeplechase improving to 9:29.6
in August. In June at the West versus East Match, Allan ran as a
non-counter finishing 4th in the track 3 mile race in 14 min. 9.6 seconds.
At the other end of the distance scale, Allan achieved 3rd place at the
Dunblane highland Games 14½ mile road race (79:43).
The
winter season 1965-66 was an eventful one for Allan, having a number of
wins in the autumn. In November Allan was a reserve for Scotland against
the Army, Allan ran as a non-counter finishing 16th. In January Allan, now
24 journeyed south where he finished 4th in the Essex County Cross-Country
Championships won by another 'legend' - Mel Batty. Back in Scotland Allan
finished 3rd in the Midlands Championship behind Lachie Stewart and E.Knox
(2nd). Meanwhile St. Modans changed its name to Stirling A.A.C. In the
Springburn Cup Eddie Knox was the winner (26.47 while Allan was runner-up
in 27.11, ahead of Hugh Barrow in third.
That February Allan had his greatest run to date representing Scotland at
the Hannut International in Belgium. Olympic Steeplechase Gold Medallist
and World Cross-Country Champion Gaston Roelants of Belgium won the 10km
race in 32.20, ahead of Tim Johnston (Portsmouth) in 32.58. England won
the team race with Scotland third - Jim Alder 6th, A.Brown 7th and Allan
Faulds 19th. Emile Puttemans was 4th in the junior event - what memories.
Later in February Allan finished 13th at the Scottish National won by
Fergus Murray. Allan was disappointed not to make the Scottish team for
the World Championships at Rabat, Morocco.
Another
full summer followed with one slight diversion from the track - 26th in
the Ben Nevis Race. In September 1966, Allan represented Woodford Green at
one of the South of England's most popular relay races - the St.Albans 4 x
2 mile race organised by Verlea A.C. After the usual good run back at the
McAndrews another trip abroad followed with Allan running the 6th stage in
the Epernay to Rheims Road Relay helping Woodford Green to second place in
the Route du Champagne event. Twelve seconds separated Woodford Green from
winners Royal F.C. Liegeois. Colin Moxsom starred for Woodford winning the
second stage. Allan finished fourth on his stage (37.29) won by Sievers (Krefeld)
in 36.16. That November Allan beat Alastair Wood to win the Esk 5 ½ mile
race. In December, Allan won at St Andrews - Stirling v St.Andrews Univ. v
Dundee Univ. In January 1967 Allan finished 4th in the Grangemouth Round
the Houses Race won by Ian McCafferty (Motherwell). After that Allan's
form dipped in area championships finishing with 24th place in the
National won by Lachie Stewart.
In
the summer of 1967 Allan moved to Exeter and opened another chapter in his
athletic career. No sooner had Allan arrived in the English South West
than he was already making his presence felt, finishing 2nd in a 5.25 mile
road race at Paignton and 4th in the Devon League Cross Country match.
Allan had joined Exeter Harriers helping them to 2nd place in the Exeter
to Exmouth Road Relay. Allan improved to 4th place in the next Devon
League match before winning a road and country fixture against Exeter
University - 5 miles (26:16). Allan's best win in his new territory
followed a week later when on 2nd December he won the Ross Shield 6.25
mile road race in a new record time of 30:33.l. Danny Crook (Paignton)
placed 2nd (31:0.52) while Danny McFadzean led City of Plymouth to the
team title in third place (31:18.2). Exeter were third in the team race.
Allan followed up this victory with another win on 9th, December against
Exeter Univ. and St.Lukes College (road and country).
On 16th, December Allan participated in what used to be one of Southern
England's most prestigious races 'The Hogs Back' at Guildford - a road
race over a distance of 9½ miles. Allan finished 43rd in 47 mins 03 secs.
His team placed 15th. For the New Year Allan travelled to the Welsh
village of Mountain Ash for another prestigious event - The Nos Galan 4
mile midnight race through the streets of the village. Allan finished a
commendable 19th (18:37), team 8th. This race was always chock-a-block
with top internationals in the 60's and early 70's - Tony Simmons, Dave
Bedford, Bernie Ford, etc.
In the Devon cross-country championships on 6th, January 1968 Allan
competed as a guest finishing 6th, a distance of 7¾ miles in 43.00.
Exeter won the team race. With most counties in England picking the first
nine runners for their teams in the Inter Counties Championship Allan
would surely have gained representative honours for Devon but for his
'guest status'. Later that January Danny McFadzean gained his revenge with
a 17 second winning margin over Allan in the Culdrose Cup 6 mile race. In
early February Allan improved his performance in the Devon League yet
again to improve to 2nd place at Torquay.
Back home in Scotland the local press noted the decline of Stirling A.C.
lamenting the loss of Allan who did, however, travel up from Exeter to
place 29th in the Scottish National held that year at Hamilton. Next month
Allan was back again battling with McFadzean who was timed at 51:25 in the
Plymouth 10 mile road race with Allan third in 52:31. Come April Allan was
6th in another of the South West's long established races - the Bampton to
Tiverton 7 mile race. Allan's first foray on the track resulted in a win
in the 3,000m Steeplechase (9:45.4) followed by a 3rd in the 3 miles
(15:14.4). In May at Bournemouth an 880 yards in 2:03 gained a 5th placing
while a commendable 14:48 was easily good enough to win the 3 miles. A
week later Allan gained the bronze medal in the Devon County 6 mile
championship (30:19.6) followed by a 4th place in the Steeplechase
(10:25.4). In June Allan's Steeplechase time improved to 9:4l.2 winning
the Westward League match at Exeter. At the County Championships Allan
finished third in the 3 miles (14:35.8) won by Paul Lightfoot (Plymouth)
in 14:13. At the end of June at Motspur Park, London Allan ran extremely
well to finish 7th in the Steeplechase at the Southern Counties
Championships (9:37.2). In July Allan clocked his best 3 mile time for
three years - 14:13.4 - finishing second to Gordon McBride (13:52.2) in a
track match versus Taunton, Bristol and Achilles. International Andy
Carter won the 880 yards in 1:57.8 - a rising star on the way up
There were a number of other good track results that summer with Allan's
time of 23:39 for two miles the most unusual - in the 2 mile walk!
For the winter season 68/69 Allan was elected 'Winter Captain' and a
number of good performances followed with Allan scoring his first league
victory at Exeter University on 7th, December, followed a week later by
another win versus Exeter Univ. and Paignton. Allan was only 6 seconds
outside the course record in his Devon League victory while at Exeter
University he defeated one of the South West's top runners, Trevor
Honeychurch of Paignton.
In September of 1969 Allan was back in Scotland competing for Stirling A.C.
In February a move farther West saw Allan join Clydesdale Harriers winning
their club cross-country championships on 7th, February ahead of Ian
Leggett (now running for Livingston A.C.). Bobby Shields who still
competes well for Clydesdale was third. In the 'National' Allan placed
27th followed two weeks later by a 6th (52.02) in the Edinburgh 10 won by
Gareth Bryan Jones (ESH) in 49:48 ahead of Andy McKean (Ed.Univ.) 50.37.
Another fortnight passed and Allan gained 3rd place in the Balloch to
Clydebank 12 mile race (64:32) won by Colin Martin (Dumbarton) in 61:46
with Ian Leggett third in 61:56. Lachie Stewart (Shettleston) won the Tom
Scott 10 mile in 47:46 ahead of club-mate Dick Wedlock and a Don Macgregor
(ESH) in third - shaping up for the forthcoming Scottish Marathon
Championship. Allan finished a superb 4th in 49:33.
That
summer there followed Allan's usual busy schedule on the track, a 2nd
place was gained in the Dumbartonshire 5,000m but Allan's best 5,000m time
that season came in an inter-club match against Garscube when he clocked
15:11.6 for first place. Allan was less than lucky that June going off
course in a 14 mile road race, eventually finishing 5th after losing 1
minute through this course error. Later that year on 12th, Sept. Allan's
form and luck improved over the longer distances with a 2nd place (60:09)
behind Pat McLagan (Victoria Park) at the Dunblane Highland Games 14½
mile road race. Many of the Highland Games events back in those days (Carluke,
Shotts, etc.) organised long distance events. That Autumn Clydesdale
finished 4th in the McAndrew Relay. Don Macgregor helped ESH to third. Jim
Brown's move from Bellshill to Monklands brought the 18-year old a
14-month suspension and deletion from the results as the days fastest
(13:34) - one of the fastest times in the history of the race.
On October 10th Allan produced the fastest time at the Dumbartonshire 4 x
3.25 Relay Championships to help Clydesdale to the team title, Allan's
time - 15:24. In November Shettleston dominated the Midland District
Cross-Country Relay finishing first and second teams. Lachie Stewart
competed for the 'B' team (10:12) while a certain Tom Graham ran for
Shettleston's 'A' team with an 11:08 clocking. Allan's time of 11:48
helped his team to 6th place. At the Eastern District Relays Edinburgh
Southern upstaged Shettleston's achievement by finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd
at St Andrews. Don Macgregor (ESH 'A') was the 3rd fastest of the day.
Shettleston, however, asserted their authority beating ESH by just 13
seconds in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay in which Allan's Clydesdale
finished 5th, receiving the most improved team award.
That December Allan represented Scotland 'B' in a cross-country match
against Morpeth Harriers, Northumberland/Durham Select and North of
England Universities. The Scottish team triumphed with Allan 18th - 42:14
for the 7 mile event. With the turn of the year on 30th, January 1971
Allan helped Dumbartonshire to third team place in the Inter-Counties
Cross-Country at Cleland finishing 9th in 33:52. Norman Morrison won in
32:41 representing Lanarkshire. It is indeed a pity that nowadays there
are far fewer opportunities for good club athletes to gain representative
honours.
In February Allan won his club champ's for the second successive year
followed by 40th place in the National at Bellahouston Park. In March
Allan won Clydebank's 'Sinclair Trophy' (5 mile 1560 yards) in 29:19 while
in April his 16th (50:39) helped his club to second team place behind
all-conquering Shettleston at the Tom Scott 10 mile event.
In May Allan made his marathon debut finishing 5th (2:41.28) in the
Shettleston Marathon won by Steve Taylor (Aberdeen) in 2:23.25 ahead of
club colleague Don Ritchie (2:23.31).
The following November came one of the highlights of Allan's career in
athletics when he was selected to represent Scotland in the cross-country
match at Catterick against the Northern Counties and the Army. Dave Slater
of Skyrac started a notable career as the North easily won the team
competition, Slater was timed at 31:19 ahead of team-mates Ernie Pomfret
and former World Junior Cross-Country Champion Colin Robinson of Rochdale.
Allan finished 11th in 33:12. Veteran Bill Stoddart finished 13th. On 4th,
December Allan won the Dumbartonshire County Cross-Country Championships
and was selected to represent the SCCU versus Scottish Uinversities. Allan
however withdrew from the SCCU team because of a heavy cold preferring to
run as a non-counter, he still managed a commendable 14th place.
In January a 7th place in the Nigel Barge Race was followed by fastest
time in the club handicap over the country and a 6th place in the Midland
Championship. Even better was to come on 29th, January when Allan finished
3rd in the Inter Counties Championship behind Eddie Knox and Jim Wight.
In February Allan won the Clydesdale club cross-country championships for
the third year in succession, this time by almost a minute ahead of Dougie
Gemmell and Ian Donald. At the Scottish National Allan finished 17th after
lying 11th for most of the race. At the end of February Allan retained the
Sinclair Trophy.
In March four Clydebank Harriers competed in the English National
Cross-Country Championships held at Sutton Coldfield. This race turned
into a nightmare as the event was hit was hit by a snow blizzard that
turned the course into a gruelling quagmire. A course marshal died from
exposure in the extreme conditions. I well remember travelling to this
event from London, one of my travelling companions was only able to begin
to speak as the train pulled into Kings Cross at the end of the return
journey. Allan finished 119th on a day when the hopes of many of the top
runners sank deep into the mud. The great Mike Freary (Bolton U.H.) was
just one of the many top athletes who were mortified with their finishing
position in that never to be forgotten 'National'. A week later Ian
Dingwall (Edinburgh AC) won the Balloch to Clydebank Road Race with Allan
second ahead of Colin Martin (Dumbarton). On 25th, March Allan won the
Clydesdale Open 6 mile race in 28:46 ahead of Pat MacLagan and Colin
Martin. Allan received the Dunky Wright Trophy for his win in this
inaugural event, which continues as a popular fixture today. A clocking of
49:40 could only earn Allan 9th place in the Tom Scott 10 with the team
finishing 3rd. At the end of April Wille Day (Falkirk Vic.) won the
Clydebank to Helensburgh 16 mile race with Pat MacLagan second and Allan
third. Later in May Willie Day also triumphed at the Scottish Marathon
Club's 12 mile championship with a record of 65 minutes. Second was Allan
(67:37) who won the handicap. That October Allan ran in another event that
has disappeared from the fixture list - Dundee Hawkhill's Kingsway Relays
- 4 x 2.9mile. Edinburgh Southern won from Victoria Park with Clydesdale
3rd. Allan removed to Perth following this event but continued to
represent Clydesdale until mid 1974 when he joined Perth Strathtay
Harriers winning their club Christmas Handicap on 21st, December over a 3
mile course (18:38) over country and forest road (scratch time).
In
January 1975 Allan recalls finishing 28th in his first ever run in the
Eastern Championships after a bet that he would finish in the top thirty.
Later in May Allan and Liz moved to their present home in Gauldry but it
was not until a year later early in 1976 that Allan joined Fife AC
recently formed from the old St Andrews AC and Cupar AC. A problem
with a knee cartilage resulted in an operation and Allan never really got
going again although in 1983 he did compete in the first Dundee Marathon
finishing in 3:20. Allan made a real effort in 1984 to train for the
second Dundee Marathon joining in the long training runs organised by the
club in Tentsmuir Forest. Unfortunately Allan developed pneumonia and
pleurisy - he never competed again.
Allan
organised the first Gauldry Gallop Cross-Country Meeting in 1978, the
event this November was therefore the 15th running of 'The Gauldry'. Allan
and Liz can also be seen helping out at other Fife AC promotions - the
Largo Law and the Cupar '6'. It was such good service to the club that saw
Allan voted as a life member at the AGM in 1990.
This portrait reveals Allan as a top quality athlete at a time when 'the
best' competed regularly against each other. Unlike today there was no
choice of which race to attend on a certain Saturday. The athletes
followed a traditional programme of inter-club fixtures and championship
races especially during the winter season. Consequently the top athletes
were constantly in competition against each other and the standard at 'the
sharp end' of the race was so much higher. Scotland had Lachie Stewart,
Ian McCafferty, Jim Brown, Andy McKean, Fergus Murray, Dick Wedlock, Eddie
Knox, etc. The North of England had Ron Hill, Mike Freary, Colin Robinson,
Mike Turner, etc who helped England to win after win in the World Cross
Country Championships. That era ended with Hill's victory at the
Commonwealth Games Marathon and who can ever forget the victory of Lachie
Stewart in the 10,000m and the sight of Ian Stewart and Ian McCafferty
sprinting to the finish in the 5,000m ahead of Kipchoge Keino - an age of
brilliance. Allan Faulds was very much a part of 'that age'
Graham Bennison |
