Cowal Gathering turns its back on track
COWAL, which claims to be the world's largest and most spectacular highland games (it isn't - gatherings in North America attract far more spectators) has ditched track athletics this year, under pressure from the piping fraternity who were not even part of the event when it was first held in 1894.

Pipers want the crowd to be able to get closer. Athletics claim the organisers have been blackmailed, under threat of no piping unless they comply.

Heavy events and schools races will continue, but after more than 100 years, an arena where many Scottish records were set has turned its back on track. Though traditional wrestling is to make a return, tug-of-war has already gone, and shinty is also being ditched this August. This will hardly promote Cowal's hopes of becoming a regular venue for the Camanachd Cup final, which it hosted last year.

"Spectators have been able to hear the bands fine for a century, without getting on the track," said Cammy Spence, convenor of the running events. "It seems nothing short of blackmail. It's a betrayal of the athletes and our heritage. I'm angry, and I don't know what to do."

Malcolm Barclay, the gathering's secretary, denies blackmail. "It's a decision by the organising committee," he said. "It's a difficult one. We don't want to lose anything, and it's a trial for one year, to be reviewed, but the pipers say spectators get closer at every other championship than they do at Cowal."

Bobby Campbell, who ran in the 1936 Olympics, set a two-mile record here in 1937. Ian Binnie broke seven Scottish and UK records here in one race in 1953. Lachie Stewart set two Scottish bests before winning Commonwealth gold in 1970, and Lib Dem leader Ming Campbell, Mike McLean, Hugh Barrow and Les Piggott all established Scottish records here.

That was in an era when brown envelopes containing £100 for winners were surreptitiously trousered (or sporraned?) behind the stand, disbursed by the then doyen of Scottish athletics, Empire Games marathon champion Dunky Wright, in quiet defiance of amateur rules.

Other Scottish records set at Dunoon include pole vault (Norman Gregor and David Stevenson), shot putt (Mike Lindsay), and hammer (David Valentine).


12:54am today



By DOUG GILLON, Athletics Correspondent
note from Ed -several of Dougs mentions had rugby connections
Ming Campbell Hillhead HSFP and Edinburgh Wanderers who played at Twickenham Sevens
David Stevenson head honcho of Edinburgh Woollen Mills -sponsors of Langholm Sevens
Les Piggott who played a bit with I think Whitecraigs
Mike Maclean another product of Old Anniesland/Elmbank St
Ian Binnie despite being in his 70s is still seen running past Anniesland-however apart from the Ed the only ones old enough to remember him are Jimmie Currie and Andy Little

This article was originally posted on 19-May-2007, 11:48 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 19-May-2007, 23:02.