Scotch College

Turning back the clock

The Associated Public Schools Old Collegians' winter cross country competition provides a unique mixture of competition and social contact for its members.

It is clearly a successful formula, as a large number of athletes return to compete year after year, even when their 'glory days' are behind them.

This season's McPhail Handicap around the famous Tan track provided a great example of the enduring spirit of two OS athletes, one a familiar face in APSOC competition, the other a famous name from the past. In 1955, Ron Stuart and Colin Findlay raced each other up the Glenferrie Road hill during the Jamieson 5 kilometre event. The photograph of their tussle was on the 1991 front cover of 'Hill and Dale', the history of the APSOC.

44 years later, on 10 July 1999, Ron, who has been a long time resident of Sydney, visited Melbourne. He and Colin both successfully completed the testing 8 kilometres of the McPhail Handicap. The following morning, the two OS legends returned to the Glenferrie Road hill and re-created the 1955 scene for the camera.

Reproduced here are the two photos. To view the original shots, point your internet browser to http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Track/2423/page1-499. For the record, Colin beat Ron to win the 1955 race, but Ron turned the tables convincingly in 1999. Ron, who is 67, ran the 8 kilometres of the McPhail in a bit over 37 minutes!

Meanwhile, the younger members of Old Scotch Collegians' Athletic Club continue to dominate the APSOC competition, having won all four teams' events so far. Johnny Halliday ('95), Pete Simm ('93) and James Atkinson ('83) have been prominent, while Andrew Steel ('98) has made a promising debut.

Old Scotch is always on the lookout for new members for both winter and summer competition. The summer track and field season begins in October, with OS competing at Box Hill. Athletes of all ages, fitness levels and abilities are encouraged to come out and join our happy and successful team. Contact Andrew or Pete Simm (9818 0900) or Mark Purvis (9534 5105) for more details.