‘WOODEN SPOON’…. to be the winner.

Stuart Hardie, now aged 65, played rugby for Glasgow Accies in the 60’s and 70’s, and has undertaken to run ……..
‘40 MARATHONS IN 40 DAYS’ ….

The photo shows the Accies who turned out to cheer him
on his way as he passed through Milngavie Station on his
marathon 1048 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
( namely, .. l to r. …. Stephen O’Donnell, Stewart Smith,
Stuart Hardie, Sandy Fitzpatrick, rugby chairman Gavin
Smith, and Andrew Jackson.

Stuart has four brothers, two of whom, Archie and John, played for Accies at the same time as himself.
They all represented Glasgow, and Archie played in a Scottish trial at Murrayfield for “the Reds”.
Stuart has planned this Challenge with the greatest of detail. His support team is loaded with experts,.. a doctor, a physio, a nurse, a driver, and family and friends who have run or cycled alongside him for most of the journey. Many of the team arrived and departed at different points along the way, but Stuart has been surrounded by a very professional and committed squad for the entire journey, …. which has had as it’s main objective, to raise funds, principally for the ‘Wooden Spoon’.

THE WOODEN SPOON charity was started by a group of ex-rugby players, and supports a whole range of projects designed to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged children throughout the UK and Ireland. Over the years, its social and sporting events have raised millions of pounds that have changed thousands of lives.
Co-incidentally, Brian Gibson of GIBSON INVESTMENTS who has been a huge sponsor of Accies rugby over many many years, has been the Wooden Spoon’s principal sponsor of their annual Glasgow Dinner.
Stuart Hardie is to be congratulated on undertaking such a colossal challenge, and it would be brilliant if some of his old friends and contemporaries could recognise this, by sending him a message with a donation to ‘his’ charity. Details of Stuart’s run, with daily updates can be found on his site, … www.jogtole.com where there is a ‘Stuart Hardie’ section.

The ‘adventure’ finishes at Land’s End on 29th.October (hopefully!!), …. And there is to be an official ‘Welcome Home’ party on Guernsey, where Stuart and Sally live, on 2nd.November, when TV’s rugby personality John Inverdale, of the Wooden Spoon charity will be the main Speaker.

This article was originally posted on 14-Oct-2011, 18:15 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 14-Oct-2011, 18:16.