The Aberdonian: Running back in time with Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club
1982: In the picture, from left, are Michelle Cherry, Carolyn Sheehan, Kathleen Madigan and Michelle Dearie with their haul of silver from the English under 13 road relay championship at Banbury.
On your marks, get set, GO… for a look back at Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club.
The Aberdonian takes a sprint through the group’s history from 1959 to 1995, covering trophy victories, training sessions and marathon record attempts.
Are you among those putting their best foot forward?
1981: It’s all smiles as Aberdeen’s JOGLE (John O’ Groats-Lands End) team get on their marks at the Beach. Left to right are Don Ritchie, Graham Laing, David Lang, Colin Youngson, Steve Taylor, Steve Williams, Steve Cassells, Michael Murray, Alastair Neaves, Fraser Clyne, Peter Wilson and Graham Milne.
1995: Aberdeen’s under 13 team show their delight at winning the East District cross country league title for only the second time in 20 years. Joining in the celebrations is Steve Cassells (back) who captained AAAC’s men’s team to their sixth title since 1988. The under-13 team members are, left to right: Rob Smith, Gregor Kennedy, John Watt (with the under- 13 trophy), Alan Rose, Craig Mathieson (with the men’s trophy) Neale Harrison and Simon Marwick.
1978: Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club received the news that four of their girl members have come out tops in the British rankings. The British Belles pictured, from left, area Jenny Bole (13), Harlaw Academy; Gwen Stephen (13), Hazlehead Academy; Katherine Mathieson (12), Sunnybank Primary; and Debbra Carle (13), Kincorth Academy.
1989: Aberdeen AAC stars Duncan Mathieson, Bob Drummond and Mark Davidson display the Octavian relay trophy they won the previous year.
1988: Home sweet home… that was the unanimous feeling of these members of Aberdeen Athletic Club who returned to Linksfield Stadium after a 20-month exile. The stadium has been extensively refurbished, complete with a new all weather track, at a cost of £1.3 million.
1972: Members of Aberdeen Athletic Club limber up before setting out at the weekend to attempt a record marathon run from John O’ Groats to Land’s End. Left to right are Donald Ritchie, Colin Youngson, Robert Heron, Alistair Wood, Martin Walsh, Steve Taylor, Alistair Neaves and Peter Duffy.
1959: This group formed the Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club team which made club history by winning the East of Scotland 4 x 2 1/2 mile relay cross country championship at Edinburgh, taking the Mackenzie Cup, which they show here, out of the capital for only the seventh time in 46 years. Left to right, they are Steve Taylor, who returned the second fastest lap of the day; John Gray; Bob Duncan, and Denis Whiting.
1979: It takes more than a snowfall to dampen the enthusiasm of cross country runners on a cold January day. While other sports were hit, it was a case of ‘on your mark’ for competitors in the combined women’s girls’ and junior cross country championships staged by Aberdeen AAC at Hazlehead.
1978: Doug McAllister supervises as (left to right) Lea Masson, Joan Reid, Valerie Tyrie, Fiona Auld and Deirdre Auld go through a training routine.
1989: On their marks…are four of the Aberdeen AAC hopefuls who will compete in the Aberdeen heat of the Securicor Express Sprinting for Britain competition at the Chris Anderson Stadium. Left to right are Heather Pirie (13) Lynette Carroll (13) Katrina Leys (15) and Corrie Butler (15).
1978: Both the men’s and women’s sections triumphed in the North-east Athletics League – the first time both trophies have come to Aberdeen since 1960, when the league was founded. The Aberdeen men have dominated the league over the years, winning the trophy 15 times out of 19, but this was the girls’ first success since winning in the inaugural year.
1978: These members of the Aberdeen Amateur Athletics Club who have jus won the shield in the under-11 competition which is run at the same time as the Scottish Young Athletes League meetings. In the picture with team manager Hunter Watson are (back row, left to right) Andrew Boyle, Duncan Mathieson and Martin Norstron. Front – Robert Begg, Paul Goodman and Steven Boon. Other members of the winning team were Kevin McGee, Malcolm McKay and David Fowlie.
1988: Standing left to right are: Duncan Mathieson, Kate Rice, Dawn Simpson, Sandra Gunn and Sarah Still – with steeplechase specialist Steve Wright in front.
1982: Members of Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club Girls Sprint team who topped the UK rankings. From left, Susan Adams, Michelle Bruce and Lynn Kelly.
1989: Long jump medal winners (from back) – Fiona Lumsden (bronze), Suzie Robertson (silver) and Donna Quirie (gold) made history by winning all three medals in a Scottish championship event.
