Bob Izzatt called in on the Club Secretary of Victoria Park AAC to drop off some old photographs and to ask after some of his old training partners.

Bob joined Victoria Park in 1937 as a 16 year old and competed for the club into the mid 1950's. His specialist event was the half mile but he took part in road races and cross country whenever he could.

Although out of the nine scoring places, he was part of the twelve man team that won the National Cross Country Union Championships at Hamilton Racecourse on the 1st of March 1952.

The picture right, shows what we believe to be the winning team with the trophy at Hamilton. Back row from left, Not Known, R Gibson, Ian Walls, Duncan McFarlane, John Stirling, Robert Izzatt and Murdo MacDonald. Front row from left, Jimmy Simpson, Ronnie Kane, Chick Forbes, Andy Forbes, Jimmy Ellis, Jimmy McClure and Dougie Shuttleworth.

In his time at the club he trained at least twice a week at Scotstoun and once a week at Mountblow. The cross country training runs at Milngavie were similar to the current route although the athletes would get stripped in the laundry at the foot of Clober Road.

Bob was a plant engineer for most of his working life, having served his time with Barr and Stroud at Anniesland.

Although now 85, he is still very active and plays golf twice a week at Bishopbriggs Golf Club and he also turns out regularly to support his favourite Rugby Club, the Glasgow Hawks.

This article was originally posted on 12-May-2006, 17:26 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 12-May-2006, 17:50.