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Scotsman
7 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
The extraordinary story of how Lachie Stewart became a Scottish national hero
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... For all the majestic and, at times, inglorious moments that defined Scottish sport throughout the 20th century, the crowning achievement of distance runner Lachie Stewart is too often forgotten. He was, and remains, one of Scotland's greatest ever athletes, and the sad occasion of his death last week at the age of 81 is a chance to revisit the moment he became a national hero after claiming gold in the 10,000 metres at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. No one, except perhaps Lachie himself, considered such a feat realistic. He was a gifted runner, for sure, but found himself up against a talented field which included Dick Taylor, the British record holder, and Kenya's Naftali Temu, the reigning Commonwealth champion. Above them all towered Ron Clarke, the revered Australian who had set no less than 17 world records during a gilded career. Having taken silver at three previous iterations of the Games, Clarke was widely expected to go one better in Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lachie's talents had been recognised at numerous Scottish meets and Amateur Athletics Championships, but in truth, he was viewed as an outsider, and even in an age when athletics remained a strictly amateur pursuit, his training regime was unorthodox. Although he joined his local running club in Alexandria as a teenager, and progressed to the Shettleston Harriers, he was a self-taught runner who seldom took to a track, preferring to mark out 800 yard and 400 yard repeats in a local park. Lachie Stewart with his gold medal won in the Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres final at Meadowbank stadium Edinburgh in July 1970. Picture: The Scotsman | TSPL Out of sorts on big day His great virtue, however, was hard graft. Every weekday, the young Scot would run to and from his home in Rutherglen and his workplace at Glasgow Dental Hospital. If ten miles was insufficient, he would give up his lunch break to pound the length of Sauchiehall Street and its surrounding thoroughfares. On occasion, he would even accept the challenge laid down by a bus driver, racing them all the way from Anderston to Shawlands. Come a dreich July day in the shiny new Meadowbank Stadium, the 27-year-old faced an even greater challenge. Lachie had felt a little out of sorts on the day of the biggest race of his sporting life, and had just a few tea biscuits for breakfast. The discomfort was the result of a peptic ulcer – not that he or the thousands of home supporters cheering knew it. 'An idol of mine' With just 200 metres to go, he was in third place, tucked in behind Taylor and Clarke. But buoyed by the crowd's cheers, he kicked on, passing a tiring Taylor and overtaking a grimacing Clarke on the home straight to secure Scotland's first flat race Games gold. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The dogged, wily performance had already secured Lachie's place in Scottish sporting history, but what happened next revealed to the world the true character of a champion, as he walked over to Clarke, shook his hand, and told him: 'I'm sorry to be the one who had to beat you. You've always been an idol of mine.'
Edinburgh Reporter
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Rachel sets Rigg Race record and mum also wins
Rachel Caves smashed the female course record in the annual Balerno Rigg Race, covering the distance of around six miles in a tremendous time of 35min 03sec, and her mother won the female 50-plus category. The Harmeny Athletic Club athlete was seventh overall and slashed 22 seconds off the previous best set in 2006. Furthermore, the Balerno resident was just under four minutes adrift of race winner Robert Simpson (Shettleston Harriers). He clocked a time of 31min 23sec, not far behind the previous record of 29min 46sec set in 2010. Another Balerno-based runner, Ewan Mitchell (Harmeny Athletic Club), was third on 32mn 03sec. He edged James Wright (Lothian Running Club) into third place and Wright crossed the finishing line only nine seconds behind the local athlete. A total of 175 runners took part with the last placed finisher coming home in a time of 1hr 09min 29sec, but the organisers congratulated every entrant. Each finisher received a medal including Rachel's mother, Marian, who came home in 66th position in 44m 13sec to win the female 50-plus division. Entrants came from well-known clubs like Hunters Bog Trotters and Carnegie Harriers and from as far afield as Glasgow, Penicuik, the Borders, Fife, Linlithgow, Portobello and Musselburgh. Mark Doughty, listed as South Melbourne Running Club, finished in 40th position in a time of 41min 53sec. Historically, the race is traditionally held on the Monday evening of the Balerno Children's Gala towards the end of May and the event dates back to a walking race held for workers at Balerno Mill and held on Gala Day. It evolved into a running race in 1963, turning into a popular local event, traditionally attracting runners of all abilities. The route of the tough race has changed many times and, for several years, it was run in the reverse direction to the current event which starts at Malleny Park, near the centre of the village. The runners head up through Balerno and climb over 200m towards Threipmuir Reservoir where they turn right at Red Moss, a protected site of scientific interest. Runners then head along East Rigg, offering panoramic views of the Pentland Hills, and sometimes into a tough west wind, before plunging back down to a steep descent at Cockburnhill. A long straight follows before the athletes turn left into Johnsburn Road and a gentle downhill slope back towards Malleny Park. Traditionally, locals stand on street corners to cheer on the athletes, and there were knots on people dotted around the course this year, despite the biting wind and dull conditions. Steven Brown, the race director, said the weather was not as pleasant as in previous years, but running conditions were good and he added: 'There were some great performances throughout the field. 'Particularly noteworthy was the incredible performance of Rachel Caves, breaking the female course record. 'It was a very tough competition in the men's event with a great win and time of 31min 23sec for Robert Simpson. Ewan Mitchell won a tight battle for second overall and first local and congratulations to everybody who finished.' THEY'RE OFF: The start of the Balerno Rigg Race. Picture Nigel Duncan Rachel Caves setting new course record for a female at Balerno Rigg Race. By Nigel Duncan Scott Jenkins juggling round the six mile course and into ninth spot. Picture Nigel Duncan Fancy dress for the Balerno Rigg Race for Sally Stewart (191), Rhona Panton (300) and Ishbel Smith (190). Picture Nigel Duncan Group nearing the finish line at Balerno Rigg Race led by Neil MacRitchie (114). Picture Nigel Duncan Checking: Jennifer Misak (Moorfoot runners) on the watch. Picture Nigel Duncan Dancing to the finish in Fancy dress at the Balerno Rig Race, that's Eleanor Stratford. Picture Nigel Duncan THUMBS UP: Roisin Murray (Linlithgow Athletic Club) going well. Picture Nigel Duncan American Football theme for this runner, Mark Coull. Picture Nigel Duncan Like this: Like Related
