How it all began ………… by Jim McWilliam
In April 1985 a seminar on running was held in a local hotel which culminated with a jog in the Oakwood. As this run was enjoyed by all taking part, it was suggested that the run be repeated and 10 days later the first meeting at Spynie Car Park took place.
Numbers rapidly escalated from the initial 10 and some of the venues, such as Millbuies, were just about overrun when 30-40 people turned up.
The social side of this group was also beginning to take off, with a beach run and barbeque being organised.
It was suggested that a more formal arrangement was required and at a public meeting in August, it was decided to form a club, and a steering committee was set up.
The first unofficial run of Moray Roadrunners took place on 1st September, with more than 20 people setting off for an 18 1/2 mile run round the Dallas loop from Glen Eliott’s house in Pluscarden Road.
The steering committee’s constitution was adopted, along with the club colours – gun metal grey with a V of French navy (some of the ladies who proposed this came to regret the seam positions of that V!) – and the club officially started on 1st October 1985.
In the early days, Moray Roadrunners was definitively a jogging club and there was a very strong emphasis on social events! It wasn’t until 1988, at the inaugural Nairn 10K, that the club started to make an impact on the racing scene, with Mickey Flynn winning and Jim McWilliam as 1st Veteran.
The club continued to grow, and in 1990 the youth section was started and a lot of untapped talent was unearthed, a number of whom have gone on to represent Scotland.