Andrew Suddon: Jake Coltman - 125 Years of Teviotdale Harriers

Vice President Sandy Bannerman was in the chair at the Rotary Club last week and welcomed a stalwart of the local Teviotdale Harriers to address the club in this, its 125 anniversary year.  Well known Jake Coltman has been in the Harriers club since 1956 when he joined and has been one of the mainstays ever since for as well as competing athletically he has held most posts as well as co-writing the 100th anniversary book.  Jake outlined the club's history since its formation in 1889 and it is the third oldest athletics club in Scotland.  It competes annually for the oldest club trophy in the country - the cross-country races held on Hawick Moor.  In 1889 nine prominent local men formed the club which soon attracted 30 members and it now has 75 members ranging in age from 8 - 80.  In 1912 a member R H Burton competed in the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games and several members have since competed in Commonweath Games and International events.  The club obtained their own clubrooms in the 1950's in Bath Street in an old air raid shelter and later moved to several other premises and since 2009 have operated from the Round Close.  He related the occasions in the period from 1922-24 when Olympic champion Eric Liddell competed in the amateur Common Riding games.  In 1922 he won the 100 yards handicap with a prize of