As trailed in this column yesterday today Doug Gillon a journalist with a great understanding of one partner and good understanding of the other quite rightly points out what generations of Annieslanders already knew the benefits of using athletics as a vehicle for rugby fitness
Doug Gillon a Watsonian who wore the blue and white of Victoria Park underscores the point very well
Many sportsmen from the Annieslands over many years ran in the colours of Vicky Park some went on to great achievement like John MacIsaac who won European Gold in 1958 whilst others performed at more modest levels but all realised that although "the race was not always to the swift nor the fight to the strong" it sure helped


THE HERALD REPORTS
A makeover for Scotstoun Showgrounds
DOUG GILLON April 17 2009
Scotstoun Show-grounds, which are to become a centre of excellence for rugby from next summer, have been part of Scotland's sport and leisure heritage for almost 150 years. The venue was developed by Glasgow Agricultural Society for such as the National Stallion show, dating back to 1860. The revival of the Olympics or birth of the British Empire Games were still distant dreams.

Since then, the Showgrounds have been revamped many times. They hosted air shows before World War I, and athletics has been staged for over a century. The first running track was laid in 1915, with a grandstand on the north side. It was torn down long ago, to be replaced by another on the southern aspect.

Balloon races, pillow fights and egg and spoon races were on the programme of events, such as Hillhead school sports, staged there through the Depression. It's where the great Powderhall sprinter, Willie McFarlane, hatched betting coups which kept many families in food during those bleak years.

A car park now stands where stables lined the Danes Drive wall into the 1970s. Gone are the nightly manure raids by allotment and rose-growing enthusiasts, and tennis, swimming and badminton have since become important features.

The old red blaes track had the reputation of being among the best-tended in Scotland. Victoria Park made it their home, sending athletes such as high jumper Alan Paterson and 10,000m runner Andy Forbes to win European Championship and Empire Games medals respectively.

The world's finest athletes have competed at Scotstoun, with matches between Britain and the USA, but now this field of dreams will become the cradle of future ambitions for a new generation.

The arena is already accredited as a 2012 pre-Olympic venue for overseas nations. By autumn it will be designated a SPACE (Scottish Performance Athlete and Coach Excellence) Centre. Culture and Sport Glasgow's target is to re-open by October. It will be the best facility for aspiring London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 competitors.

At last rugby is to be back on board. Matches there go back decades, to when they shared the Showgrounds with horses. Now Glasgow Warriors are to make it their training ht type="text/javascript" src="http://www.glasgowhawks.com/js/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/langs/en.js">eadquarters from June next year, while continuing to play home games at Partick Thistle's Firhill for the next five seasons.

They were to have been anchor tenants of Scotstoun, with athletics a junior partner, but for the Scottish Rugby Union's financial problems, which caused them to withdraw from discussions in 2006.

Glasgow pushed ahead despite the greater financial burden. Hence the SPACE Centre which Culture and Sport Glasgow will manage, with it now also becoming a rugby centre of excellence. New facilities include grandstands, and relaying of the outdoor 400-metre track. The redevelopment will have an additional £1.3m extension to the adjacent leisure centre with a new fitness suite and extension to the cafe, reception, and foyer areas.

"It's predominantly a training venue for rugby," said a spokeswoman for C&SG yesterday, "but there is the possibility of occasional under-19 match."

The marriage between rugby and athletics is seen as ideal, with rugby use predominantly by day, and athletics at night. Sean Lineen, Glasgow's head coach, says the Scotstoun plans "look fantastic; it's a world-class facility and I'm delighted it will be the new training base of Glasgow Warriors."

The new deal, backed by Scottish Rugby, gives Warriors access to two grass pitches, an all-weather surface, indoor 100m track, plus state-of-the-art strength and conditioning, video analysis, physiotherapy and medical facilities. Glasgow are committed to promoting rugby. Sevens is a Games sport, being staged at Ibrox in 2014 and Warriors have 11 sevens internationalists in their squad.

This article was originally posted on 17-Apr-2009, 07:35 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 17-Apr-2009, 07:53.