Race History
The 1st Allan Scally Relay race, promoted by Shettleston Harriers, in memory of their long term coach and team manager took place on 22nd November 1969. The well–known BBC football commentator Archie McPherson, who had been coached by Allan in winning the Scottish Schools 800yds title, persuaded the BBC to bring a film crew and the race clips were shown later in the day on TV.
Significantly the 1st race was won by Shettleston Harriers with Dick Wedlock, Lachie Stewart, Henry Summerhill and Allan's son Bill running the last leg. This would be repeated by Allan's grandaughter, and Bill's daughter, Elaine Mackay, running the last leg in the winning Shettleston team in the 1993-4 inaugural women's race.
Below is the presentation party for the inaugeral event in 1969. It consists of
Back Row: Davie Morrison, George Kay, Bill Scally, Lachie Stewart, Henry Sommerville, Ronnie Walker and Eddie Taylor
Front Row: Elizaberth Scally, Dick Wedlock,
James McGuigan (Local Councillor)
The Allan Scally Trophy, presented to the winning team, has become one on the most prized awards in Scottish Road racing. Indeed from Club records it is thought that the Trophy was bought for about £200, a considerable sum in the 1960s.
The Allan Scally Trophy
The Women's Trophy
The 1st Scottish Students Road Relay Championships was held in conjunction with the race in season 1972-3 and has been hosted by the event ever since.
Courses
The original Allan Scally route started and finished at St Bridget's school in Baillieston taking in Shettleston Rd, Gartocker Rd and Edinburgh Rd in a clockwise rotation. It measured 4.6893 miles. After about 5 years the changing facility moved to Bannerman High School and the start/finish moved to that point.
The move to the Mount Vernon course was made by demand of the police in 2009 due to traffic problems. The distance was measured at 4.5853 miles. Like many other road races in Scotland the Mount Vernon course was eventually considered a traffic hazzard and shut down.
In 2018 a traffic free course on Glasgow Green was perpared for the race but had to be cancelled due to snow from the so called "Beast from the East" as it was commonly known. The course was used in the 2019 edition of the race.
The 25th Anniversary Dinner
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Allan Scally Memorial race, a dinner was held in the Kintyre Suite of the Central Hotel in Glasgow on the 30th October 1993. Peter Carton, the Club President, welcomed the guests and introduced the above mentioned Archie McPherson who was the Guest Speaker for the evening. During the evening long–time service awards to the club were presented to Eddie Taylor and Davie Morrison by Alex Naylor. Frank Scally rounded the evening off with a vote of thanks.
Over 100 attended the dinner include Allan's protoges like Graham Everett.
Details of the celebration, including the menu, can be found here.
The 50th Anniversary
The 50th Anniversary of the Allan Scally Memorial race, was celebreated by the race being held on Glasgow Green as a 4*5K relay. Edinburgh Athletic Club won the men's race and Shettleston Harriers won the women's race. A reception was held in the West Brewery and appriximately 150 guests were welcomed by Elaine Mackay and the company addressed by Sue Walker, both grandaughters of Allan Scally and runners themselves. Sue's address can be found here.
Photographs of the Scally family can be found here
The invited guests who attended were
| Chair Scottish Athletics | Ian Beattie with Sandra | MP |
Alison Thewlis MP | |
| CEO Scottish Athletics | Mark Munro | Athletes | Nat Muir | |
| Performance Manager Scottish Athletics | Stephen McGuire | Chris Robison | ||
| Race Sponsors Webhelp | Anton & Charlene Manley | William Drysdale | ||
| Marion and Neil Donachie | ||||
| Scottish Student Sport | Michael Remicans | Family Members | The Scally Family |
The President of SAL, Ron Morrison, who had run in the 1st edition of the race for the Shettleston B team was invited but unable to attend due to falling off his bike and breaking two ribs. He has threatened to run in the 51st edition of the race. Timekeepers you have been warned! An extended list of attendees and guests can be found here.
The Allan Scally Memorial Road Relays Website
The menu of the left guides the user to a biography on Allan Scally, the results for every year of the race, the press reports on the races that have been found, a list of the first three teams in the race and student championship for male and female, the fastest individuals on all of the courses and photographs including the winning teams (in construction).
Happy reading!