Steve Smythe lists David Bedford's first two years of competitions as the legendary runner made a steady start to his career

This is a list of David Bedford's 1964 and 1965 races and after a modest start once he was under the tutelage of coach Bob Parker and competing for Shaftesbury Harriers he got better and better and later in the 1965-1966 season he finished third in the English Schools cross-country though in his book he just refers to it as an Inter-Counties race.

With many being local races, or young athletes' events, which weren't given the prominence they got after the 70s, very few of these results ever appeared in AW and very few had times listed beside them in his book.

It's worth noting he looks like he was preparing in 1965 for his famous senior and junior double in 1970 by competing in the boys and youths races on the same afternoon even in his very earliest days!

1964

Schools Inter House Cross-Country, Clitterhouse Park, January 7
1st

Hendon Schools Junior Cross-Country, Moat Mount, February 3
5th

Middlesex Schools Junior Cross-Country, Northwood, February 27
7th

English Schools Cross-Country, Leicester, March 21
73rd

Hendon Schools Trials 1M, Cressingham Road, April 1
3rd 5:40.0

Hendon Schools Trials 880 yds, Cressingham Road, April 6
4th 2:30.0

Hendon Schools Sports 1M, Cressingham Road, April 10
4th

Middlesex Schools 1M Heats, Bromyard Avenue, May 28
3rd

Middlesex Schools 1M Final, White City, June 2
5th 5:10.1

Shaftesbury H v Southgate H 1M & 880 yds, Broomfield Park, June 24
4th & 5th

Shaftesbury H Boys Championships 880 yds, Parliament Hill, August 5
1st (only runner!)

Shaftesbury H v St Albans 880 yds, Clarence Park, August 20
3rd

Shaftesbury H Road Race, Copthall, September 26
1st

Boys Novice Cross-Country Race, Brook Farm, October 3
2nd

North West London Cross-Country League, Welwyn, October 17
3rd

Shaftesbury H v Thames Valley H Cross-Country, Brook Farm, October 24
10th

Shaftesbury H v Eton Manor v Welwyn Cross-Country, Brook Farm, October 31
7th

Boys League Cross-Country Races, Brook Farm, November 21
1st equal

Shaftesbury H v Luton v Orange Hill Cross-Country, Brook Farm, November 28
3rd

Shaftesbury H v Finchley Scouts Cross-Country, December 12
1st

Boys League Cross-Country Races, Barnet, December 19
1st

Boxing Day Handicap, Brook Farm, December 26
1st

1965

Shaftesbury H v Reading inc Club Champs, January 9
3rd

Kent AC Cross-Country Races, Chislehurst, January 25
10th

Schools Inter House Cross-Country, Clitterhouse Park, January 29
1st

Shaftesbury H Open Cross-Country Races, Parliament Hill,February 6
3rd

Hendon Schools Cross-Country, Copthall, February 11
2nd

Whitefield School v Moat Mount Cross-Country, Brook Farm, February 20
1st equal

Middlesex Intermediate Cross-Country Champs, Northwood, February 25
2nd

League Cross-Country Races, Brook Farm, February 27
2nd

English Schools Cross-Country Championships, Colchester, March 20
24th

School v Christ's College Cross-Country, Clitterhouse Park, March 29
1st

Shaftesbury H v William Ellis School Mile & 880 yds, Parliament Hill, April 28
1st & 4th

Shaftesbury H v Luton Mile, Copthall, May 15
2nd 4:59.7

Barnet Trials Mile, Copthall, May 18
2nd

Barnet Trials 880 yds, Copthall, May 20

Middlesex Youths One Mile Heats, Paddington, May 22
6th

North London League 1M, Parliament Hill, May 26
2nd

Club Championships 1M, Copthall, June 2
1st

Coronation Trophy Junior 1M, Ruislip, June 8
8th

North West London League 880yds, Parliament Hill, June 16
4th

Hercules Memorial Trophy 1M, Tooting Bec, June 23
1st

Middlesex Schools Championships 1M, Copthall, June 26
6th (4th heat)

School v Hendon County 1M, Hendon, June 28
1st

Shaftesbury H v QPH Junior 1M, June 29
2nd

North West London League Senior 1.5M, Parliament Hill, July 5
13th

Middlesex Youth Sports 1M, Chiswick, July 10
3rd

Barnet Schools Final 1M, Copthall, July 22
1st (1st heat)

Shaftesbury v Welwyn 1M, July 24
1st

Shaftesbury H 880 yds Championships, Parliament Hill, July 26
5th

Shaftesbury H v Ruislip 1M, Ruislip, July 31
4th

Shaftesbury H v Grafton 2M & 1M, Parliament Hill, August 4
2nd and 3rd

Shaftesbury H 3.5M, Brook Farm, September 7
15th

Shaftesbury H Club 3M Road Race, Copthall, September 12
1st

Shaftesbury H v Hampstead 3.5M, Brook Farm, September 14
11th

School v Christ College 2M, Finchley, October 5
1st

Shaftesbury H v Orange Hill Boys 2M and Youths 3M Cross Country, Brook Farm, October 9
2nd and 3rd

Shaftesbury H v QPH 2M Cross-Country, Brook Farm, October 16
2nd

Shaftesbury H v TVH Cross-Country, Cranford, October 23
4th

League Race Cross-Country, Welwyn, October 30
1st

Shaftesbury H v Eton Manor 2M Cross-Country, Brook Farm, November 6
2nd

Youths & Boys 2.5M League Cross-Country, Brook Farm, November 20
1st

Shaftesbury H v Christ's College Cross-Country, Brook Farm, November 23
1st equal

TVH Open Boys Cross-Country, Cranford December 11
2nd

School v Moat Mount, Whitefield, December 16
1st

Youths & Boys League Cross-Country, Barnet, December 18
1st Boys, 4th Youths

» For further articles on Bedford's career, follow these links

Bedford’s junior promise to British record from 1965-69 – CLICK HERE

Bedford’s International title and Euro records 1970-71 – CLICK HERE

Bedford’s 1972-74 period plus later highlights – CLICK HERE

» Photographs by Mark Shearman

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