The scottishathletics Hall of Fame was established some years ago to recognise excellence in the sport of athletics. The initial inductees were great athletes like Eric Liddell, Liz McColgan and Alan Wells. Last year fifteen new athletes were added and this year the first four para athletes were inducted at the scottishathletics and jogscotland FPSG Annual Awards Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.
In the 70s and early 80s, Barbara Howie from Lothian was Scotland’s first wheelchair athlete to excel on the world stage. Barbara was a multi medallist at the Paralympic Games in West Germany in 1972, Toronto in 1976 and the Netherlands in 1980. Barbara was a champion before the new technologies revolutionised racing wheelchairs. Barbara committed many years to athletics in Scotland as an official.
Colin Keay from Kirkcaldy was the first Disability Sport Fife member to be linked with the Fife AC coaching team. Colin has cerebral palsy and a significant number of secondary conditions but that did not deter him from becoming the outstanding T36 athlete of his generation. During the 80s Colin reigned supreme on the track and in cross country. At the Paralympic Games in New York in 1984 and Seoul in 1988 Colin won five gold and one silver medal.
Caroline Baird MBE from Cupar was a member of Disability Sport Fife and introduced to the Fife AC coaching team. Caroline has cerebral palsy, excelled under coach John Oulton and throughout the 90s was the world’s outstanding T36 sprinter. Caroline won five medals at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000. At the IPC World Championships in Birmingham and Berlin she won double gold. Caroline was awarded the George Dallas Trust Award in 2000.
Stephen Payton from West Lothian arrived on the international scene at the IPC World Championships in Berlin in 1994 and remained at the top until the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Stephen was a multi medallist at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and all European and World Championships in intervening years. Stephen has cerebral palsy and competed in T38 class.
These four athletes paved the way for all that has happened in para track and field up to and including the Paralympic Games in Rio. During their lifetimes they were the Scottish and British athletes to beat at every IPC or CPISRA major championships. I am certain that each one will feel massively honoured to be included in such an iconic Hall of Fame alongside so many world renowned athletes. On the night they certainly articulated their overwhelming appreciation.
Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees