Hugh joined Wallasey A.C. as the result of coming 10th in a District Youth organisations cross country organised by W.A.C. His prize - a year's youth sub. to the club, value five shillings. Thereafter he ran as a Youth, Junior and Senior for the club cross country teams in Cheshire Liverpool & District, West Lancashire, Northern and English championships. When there was a full team medals were won, mainly because Ron Barlow, Kevin Mather etc. came in first three, Hugh always being the last counter. Meanwhile at Wallasey Grammar, he ran in the 880yds and Mile for the school teams but with 2.08 and 4.39 as his best ever at school, he was just 2nd or third string. He also ran cross country and became swimming captain. At the club, Bob McCaig was coach and mentor taking the team to numerous championships in his car and to Sunday training sessions at Arrowe Park where he could practice his golf while they ran. Ramsay Hewson was the ever-present elder statesman - and a marathon runner - a very rare breed in the 1950s. [ About six races in UK each year with less than 100 runners each].
National Service saw Hugh in 67 Regiment Royal Artillery at Oswestry running in the Mile and 3 Mile teams which won the overall Army Team championships. [67 Regt, had a hat trick of team championships followed by a 3rd place.] Team colleagues who later achieved greatness included; Roy Fowler - AAA 6 miler, Mike Rawson - European 880 Champion and double Olympic finalist; Brian Hewson European 1500 Champion; and Chris Chataway - 5000 world record holder. While at Oswestry, Hugh won the Shropshire Mile championship - his only individual medal.
After National Service he moved to Newcastle on Tyne and trained with Jim Alder who later became the Commonwealth marathon Champion and included his friendship in his book. Hugh continued to travel to championships to run for Wallasey A.C. when living in Chester, Poole and Gosport.
While in Newcastle he picked up a National time standard medal at the Kendal Ten miles and another on New year's day at the Morpeth to Newcastle 13 5/8 Mile race in a time of 1 hr 17m, the equivalent of a 1 hr 14m 15sec half marathon.
He managed 69th place in the Northern Cross country Championships but his main claim to fame was beating world record holder Derek Ibbotson in a sprint finish at Arrowe Park in the 9 mile English Cross Country championships. [Only 249th to 250th but enough of a shock to be mentioned in Derek's autobiography!].
For the next decade and a half Hugh ran in local track, cross country, or road races but in 1977 decided to start a Road Running club as his home town didn't have any sort of Athletic club. Gosport Joggers [now called Gosport Road Runners Club] is still flourishing with 250 members - 50% ladies - with members competing in a wide range of Road Races and the Hampshire Cross Country league.
As a challenge in 1981, aged 46, he ran in the 1st London Marathon managing 3 hrs 53 min but during the next eight months reduced the time to 3 hrs 22min. Since then he has achieved sub 3 hrs [aged 50] and will have completed his 100th marathon by the time of the W.A.C. Centenary.
He has also run in various 30mile, 40mile etc Ultras plus the Lincoln lOOKm and four London to Brighton 54 mile races and some triathlons. When aged 50, he was fastest vet 40 or 50 while winning the Daedalus Tri [2 miles sea swim, 50 miles bike and 13.1 run]. His proudest achievement was a London to Brighton TEAM medal against some of the top U. K. clubs.
[L-B give certificates to finishers but medals to first three and first three teams.]
In 1982 with a few friends he founded the 1st Gosport & Fareham marathon which had 1500 entries and followed that with a further 15. He also ran in all 16, one of only three people.
In the following years he promoted the Gosport !0km, the Sultan 10M and the Gosport Half and some charity races. Unfortunately only the Gosport 13.1 remains but its ultra flat course attracts nearly 1000 runners each November.
At 70 he still turns out each month in local 10km, 10 mile or 13.1 races but takes life easily finishing well down the field. He clocks up another marathon or three each year.
Unfortunately none of his children or grand children have taken up running but he has hopes for his two great grandsons.
Over 50 age group PERSONAL BESTS
5 M - 30.31; 10km - 39.19; 10M - 63.43; 13.1 - lhr 23.44; 26.2 - 2hr 58.40; 40M - 5hr 32m.
