Posted in Events, News on Aug 16, 2019
Bellahouston Harriers is hosting a one mile time trial on Thursday 22 August to honour one of the club's most decorated members, John McGough.
The John McGough mile race will take place inside Pollok park, with both members and guests welcome. Runners are encouraged to register at Cartha Queen's Park Rugby Club by 6.30pm in time for a 7pm start. Entry is £2. It is the second year running that the club has hosted the race in honour of the former Olympian.
John McGough is a former member of Bellahouston Harriers who won a silver medal in the 1,500 metres race at the 'unofficial' Olympics in Athens in 1906.
That result was the highlight of the distinguished and decorated running career.
In 1906 alone, McGough won a total of 25 prizes in competitions - including 14 firsts. At the time of his success in Athens, the 25 year old was already reigning champion fives times running of the prestigious Scottish Mile Championship – a title he would go on to win a further two times, in 1907 and 1910.
A top athlete for more than a decade, McGough also at one time held every Scottish record from between 1,000 yards up to four miles.
A detailed account of McGough's medal-winning race in Athens, as well as an insight into McGough's running days and achievements with Bellahouston Harriers, and his life beyond running - including his associations with Rangers, Celtic and Manchester United football clubs, are chronicled in a book - 'The Runner McGough: the untold story' represents a work of passion by author Tommy McGuire, who is from the same village in Ireland where McGough was born.
