1883 Scottish Athletics Championships

The 1883 Scottish Athletics Championships were the first national athletics championships to be held in Scotland. They were held under the auspices of the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association at Powderhall Grounds, Edinburgh, on Saturday 23 June 1883, in front of 3000 spectators. In addition to the twelve individual athletic events there was a 1-mile bicycle race won by G. B. Batten of Edinburgh University Bicycle Club. Lord Moncreiff presented the prizes.

1883 Scottish Athletics Championships
Dates23 June
Host cityEdinburgh, Scotland
VenuePowderhall Grounds
LevelSenior
TypeOutdoor
Events12
1884


Some sources describe Thomas Moffat, the winner of the half-mile, as a Canadian, but it was an absolute condition of entry that you be Scottish, either from birth, parentage, or residence. Moffat was born in Sheffield, but his father John Moffat was a Glasgow doctor. Thomas Moffat had emigrated to Canada, hence the Montreal AA affiliation, but had returned home for a family occasion when the championships came along. Earlier that year there had been a rival championship, hosted by the short-lived West of Scotland Amateur Athletic Association, and Moffat is the only man to win events at both championships.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Results summary

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100 yards
Pos Athlete Time
1. William A. Peterkin (Edinburgh Un.) 10 1/2 sec.
2. Dr. John Smith (Queen's Park FC) 1 foot
3. Frederick G. Westenra (Edinburgh Un.) 3 yards
440 yards
Pos Athlete Time
1. William A. Peterkin (Edinburgh Un.) 51 3/4
2. Thomas Moffat (Montreal AA) 5 yards
3. J. Glegg (Edinburgh Un.) 4 yards
880 yards
Pos Athlete Time
1. Thomas Moffat (Montreal AA) 2:00 3/4
2. Thomas Ireland (Edinburgh Un.) 20 yards
3. W. J. Laing (Watson's Coll. AC)
1 mile
Pos Athlete Time
1. David S. Duncan (Royal High School FP) 4:35
2. William M. Gabriel (Edinburgh Un.) 5 yards
3. John Johnstone (Helensburgh AC) 25 yards
120 yard hurdles
Pos Athlete Time
1. Robert A. Carruthers (Fettes-Loretto) 16 3/4
2. Andrew R. Don Wauchope (Fettes-Loretto) 2 feet
3. Henry A. Watt (Glasgow Un.) 1 yard
3 miles walk
Pos Athlete Time
1. John Harvie (Queen's Park FC) 24:10
2. James H. Vibart (Watson's Coll. AC) 24:29
High jump
Pos Athlete Dist
1. William F. Methuen (Fettes-Loretto) 5 ft 6in (1.67m)
2. James N. Macleod (Glasgow Un.) 5 ft 5in (1.65m)
Pole vault
Pos Athlete Dist
1. George Hodgson (Edinburgh & North of England AC) 9 ft 8in (2.94m)
Long jump
Pos Athlete Dist
1. Daniel A. Bethune (Established Church TC) 19 ft 5 1/2in (5.93m)
2. Arthur E. Bullock (Edinburgh Un.) 19 ft 3in (5.86m)
Shot put
Pos Athlete Dist
1. Kenneth Whitton (Ross County FC) 38 ft 11in (11.86m)
2. William A. Peterkin (Edinburgh Un.) 38 ft 9in (11.81m)
3. Charles Reid (Edinburgh Academicals) 38 ft 8 1/2in (11.80m)
Hammer
Pos Athlete Dist
1. Robert Smith (Mauchline FC) 94 ft 7in (28.84m)
2. Kenneth Whitton (Ross County FC) 93 ft 2in (28.40m)
Throwing the cricket ball
Pos Athlete Dist
1. Robert F. H. Bruce (Glasgow Un.) 322 ft 5in (98.26m)
2. A. R. Don Wauchope (Fettes-Loretto) 316 ft 6in (96.45m)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Scottish Athletics 1883-1983, John W. Keddie (1982)
  2. ^ Scottish Championship Results - Track
  3. ^ Scottish Championship Results - Field
  4. ^ Scottish Athletics Track Statisticians - Archive
  5. ^ "Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News", Sat 30 Jun 1883 p. 11
  6. ^ "Penny Illustrated Paper", Sat 30 Jun 1883 p. 10
  7. ^ "Sporting Gazette", Sat 30 Jun 1883 p. 27