Steve Smythe lists Dave Bedford's most important competitions from 1972 to 1974 plus highlights from the twilight of his career

The Olympics dominated this period and many thought Dave Bedford might not come back from what some described as a near breakdown in the run up to Munich but in 1973 he finally got to show his true capabilities and set a stunning world record and built on brilliant runs such as Portsmouth in 1971 and the AAA double in 1972 .

1972

Brasschaat Cross-Country, Belgium, January 9
1st 23:02

He showed better form, surviving missing an allowed ‘false start' which saw 150 runners get in front of him and then fighting off the challenge of Grenville Tuck (23:06), who went to win the Inter-Counties race a week later against Wright and Holden. Roelants was third in 23:17.

Five Windmills (Cinque Mulini) Cross-Country, Milan, January 23
1st 30:52.6

Carried on his good form, winning easily from future Olympic steeplechase medallist and multi Commonwealth champion Ben Jipcho (31:18.2) and Korica (31:20) who had beaten him in Helsinki.

UK Indoor 3000m Championships, Cosford, January 29
2nd 7:53.4

In the middle of a 200-mile training week, he made a late decision to run and was allowed a late entry as was winner Ian Stewart. Making his indoor debut, he led mid race at a fast pace (5:14.6 at 2000) and set an outright PB though Stewart (7:50.0) took a few seconds out of him in the final kilometre.

UK v Spain 3000m, February 19
1st 8:00.8

Was disappointed that Stewart was a late withdrawal due to flu and he had a solo run which was enthusiastically received by the crowd even though the performance was modest as he won from team-mate Pete Morris (8:11.0)..

Ceylon Tea Invitational 2 miles, Crystal Palace, May 5
5th 8:44.2
Struggling with an Achilles injury but having got in a few weeks of training, he looked far from fit in a race won by 1968 Olympic 1500m runner Maurice Benn (8:34.8).

Leuven 3000m, June 21
2nd 7:46.4 (UK record)

Made a great return to form to set a British record after losing out on the last lap to Puttemans (7:44.2) and his time bettered Taylor’s 7:47.6 mark and also beat Wilde’s indoor record (7:47.0).

WAAA Championships Invitation 2000m, Crystal Palace, July 8
1st 5:03.2 (UK and Commonwealth record)

He showed his speed was continuing to progress as he kept inside his 1500m/Mile PB pace for 5 laps and took five seconds off Colin Robinson’s soft UK record. World Junior 5000m record-holder Dave Black was second in 5:05.2. Bedford’s 200m splits were 29.5, 29.7, 30.6, 30.8, 30.4, 30.6, 30.4, 31.0, 29.8 and 30.4.

AAA Championships 5000m (Inc Olympic Trials), Crystal Palace, July 14
1st 13:17.2 (European & UK Record & UK all-comers' record)

As he was primarily targeting the 10,000m at Munich, he almost did not compete at this Friday night event but made a late decision to compete and then ignored coach Bob Parker's instructions to just do enough to make the Olympic team. He started fast and was four seconds up on Clarke’s world record pace at 1000m (2:35.0) and 2000m (5:12.4) and this was enough to move him clear of his final challengers Stewart and McCafferty, who had battled for Commonwealth gold in 1970.

He was through 3000m in an unprecedented 7:53.6 (3.4 seconds up on Clarke’s time) but the gap was down to 1.4 seconds at 4000 (10:38.6) as the laps had dropped from 63s to nearer 66. He narrowly fell behind Clarke’s time with 600m to go and was still only 0.7 of a second down with 200m to go and he was only able to claw a tenth back in his last 200m as his time fell 0.6 short of Clarke’s seven-year-old 13:16.6 despite a lively 59.6 last lap.

McCafferty, who at one stage was closing down Bedford in the last 800m set a Scottish record 13:19.8 to go third all-time on the world lists. A subdued Stewart (13:24.2) ensured his selection ahead of Haro (13:26.0) and teenager Black (13:28.0) who would have comfortably made any other country’s Olympic team. His lap times: 61.6, 62.4, 62.8, 62.6, 63.0, 63.8, 65.4, 65.2, 65.8, 66.0, 65.8, 62.4 and 30.0 for the last 200m.

AAA Championships 10,000m, Crystal Palace, July 15
1st 27:52.4

Just 19 hours after his European 5000m mark, he was back in action to secure selection at his premier event. In front of a fervent 20,000 crowd he ignored sizzling hot conditions. He was through 3000m on world record pace in 8:12.4 (27:20 tempo) and was only a few seconds down on Clarke’s time at 5000m (13:47.6). He did ease back on the second half but still won by 46 seconds from Commonwealth winner Lachie Stewart (28:38.8). The three runners most favoured to complete the team - Tagg, Simmons and Lane all dropped out due to the combination of the pace and heat. Surprisingly the third spot on the British team went to Dave Holt (28:42.0), who had been told to run in the B race as the A race was limited to 30 but he defied officials to ensure Munich selection.

Stockholm 2M, August 4
6th 8:28.2 (7:52.2 at 3000m)

Lasse Viren shocked with a world record (8:14.0) with Ian Stewart setting a British record in fourth (8:22.0). A dejected Bedford who had led much of the race faded badly. He had picked up a stomach bug while training in St Moritz which kept him out of some races but thought he had recovered.

The period between the AAA and Olympics was actually a nightmare for Bedford. Apart from the mystery stomach pains, Fleet Street’s non-athletics press were watching his every move as the IOC looked into whether he had broken the amateur rules with his newspaper column and he had upset team members by allegedly taking shots at them with a air rifle. A few days after this race he joined in a 300m reps session with Foster who was preparing for the 1500m and at a different level of sharpness and after half the session a disillusioned Bedford stopped and by the evening was back in London while the rest of the team stayed in Switzerland.

Olympic 10,000m heat, Munich, August 31
2nd 27:53.6

Showed he was back to form as he blasted through 3000m in sub 27:30 pace in 8:14.2 and was through halfway in 13:48.6, a time that only he and Clarke had ever run. He spent the last few laps chatting with Emiel Puttemans who eased ahead to win in an Olympic record 27:53.4.

Olympic 10,000m Final, Munich, September 3
6th 28:05.4

There were hopes that Bedford might try a different tactic and attempt a 13:30 second half but instead he ran his most aggressive race from the off. He opened with laps of 60.6, 64.0, 64.4, 64.4 and 65.4 which had he continued would have taken almost a minute off Clarke’s world record. The pace slowed slightly but 3000m in 8:06.4 - easily the fastest ever split but not surprisingly as it was still 26:50 pace.

Despite this unprecedented pace, he still had eight followers and though the pace slowed to 68s, Bedford started surging every 200 metres but he would stretch the group out but they would close up each time he slowed.
At 4400m, Viren and 1968 5000m champion Gammoudi fell with Viren losing a few seconds but still getting back into contact as Bedford led through history’s quickest halfway time of 13:44.0 though Gammoudi pulled out.

At 6km Viren went ahead as Bedford laboured and the latter dropped back at 7km, seemingly paying for his fast heat and excessively fast front-running and surging. Viren went on to produce a 1:56.6 final 800m and despite his fall and very slow 5-8km, he took a second off Clarke’s world record with his 27:38.4 with Puttemans (27:39.6) challenging until the last 100 metres. Bedford finished almost 200 metres back.

Olympic 5000m heats, Munich, September 7
2nd 13:49.8

A sub-60 lap seven out gave him a surprisingly easy qualification and he ambled home alongside Gammoudi (13:49.8). With just two to qualify and the heat being slow, Olympic steeplechase runner-up Jipcho (13:56.8), 1976 chasing champion Anders Garderud (13:57.2) and1976 10,000m medallist Carlos Lopes (14:29.6) all missed out.

Olympic 5000m Final, Munich, September 10
12th 13:43.2

Briefly led at halfway but made no real contribution to the race and faded away in the last kilometre which Viren (13:26.4) covered in a vicious 2:26.4 with Gammoudi (13:27.4) and Stewart (13:27.6) taking the other medals.

Helsinki 5000m, September 14
2nd 13:30.0

In front of a 40,000 crowd to cheer on Viren, he set off at world record pace and was through 1000m in 2:36.6, three seconds up on the Finn and it was down to two seconds at 2000m (5:18.6). Bedford surged through halfway in 6:38.6 three seconds clear but Viren was only a second back at 3000m (8:00.4). Viren holding even pace until a driving final kilometre of 2:33.8 won by 80 metres in a world record 13:16.4 to take a fifth of a second off Clarke’s mark. Bedford did at least beat his Helsinki 1971 conqueror and fellow Olympic finalist Vaatainen (13:35.4) into third though lost his European record to Viren.

Coca-Cola Invitational 3000m steeplechase, Crystal Palace, September 15
2nd 8:37.2

After the 5000m the day before he wasn’t at his freshest and though he followed Holden (who he had just beaten in his record run a year earlier) he was unable to stay with his rival, who had run in the event in the Olympics, in the last 600m and Holden broke Bedford’s record with a 8:26.4 clocking.

Brussels, September 20
3rd 13:39.2

Again was in a world record race (Puttemans won in 13:13.0) but this time was never remotely involved which is not surprising as the pacemaker Michel Bernard ran a imbecilic 56.0 first lap. Puttemans was alone at 3000m (7:53.2) and apart from the 5000m, record he also took Clarke’s world three mile mark by over two seconds (12:47.8).

Ealing & Southall Cross-Country Relay, Perivale, October 7
11:21 (fastest leg/record)

Running for St Mary’s College, his team beat his cub team Shaftesbury by just six seconds for fourth place.

Metropolitan Cross-Country League, Parliament Hill, October 28
2nd 27:32

Reigning National champion Malcolm Thomas (26:54) easily beat him though he did lead Shaftesbury to team victory.

London Colleges Cross-Country League, Parliament Hill, October 28
1st 29:33

He had 30 minutes rest and this time was helping St Mary’s to a team win as he did just enough to beat Martin Dell (29:33).

Findus International Cross-Country, Parliament Hill, November 11
63rd 23:45

Claiming now to be just running 10 miles a week (including this race) after Olympic pressures had sucked away his enthusiasm and he was golfing and cycling, he was outside the top 100 after a lap and though coming through slightly, he gave many runners a prized scalp in this televised event won easily by Black (22:07) from Jipcho (22:22).

Osterley Park Relay, December 6
14:23 (fastest lap)

He moved his St Mary’s team to third on the last lap and was six seconds faster than winner’s Birmingham University’s Ray Smedley (14:29) who had run the 1500m in the Olympics. On the last leg Bedford took half a minute off Loughborough’s future world 5000m record-setter Dave Moorcroft (14:54) who held him off by 19 seconds in finishing second.

Metropolitan Cross-Country League, Ruislip, December 16
1st 26:10

Back to enjoying his running and training again - having started seriously a few days earlier, he won clearly from club mate Starkey (26:24).

Shaftesbury Harriers Boxing Day races, Whetstone, December 26
1st 14:24

He won by 26 seconds from Starkey.

Metropolitan Cross-Country League, Hainault, December 30
1st 27:16

Enjoyed another easy win with this time John Brown (27:28) chasing him home.

1973

Middlesex Cross-Country Championships, Cockfosters, January 6
2nd 37:38

Thomas (37:35) narrowly got the better of him but he finished over 90 seconds ahead of future National winner Julian Goater (39:12) who was third.

Brasschaat Cross-Country, Belgium,January 7
2nd 26:37

England won the team event but Bedford gave himself no chance individually by never getting into contact with race winner Roelants (26:21) as the Brit was 40th at the first turn and tenth after a lap. He eventually worked his way past Grenville Tuck (26:44) to take second.

Southern Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill, February 10
1st 43:57

Now feeling fully fit and doing rather better than his 63rd in his last race here , he ran probably the fastest anyone has ever run for nine miles around this famous course winning by 98 seconds from Les Presland (45:35) who surprisingly took second ahead of some better known names.

National Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill, March 3
1st 43:55 (guest Rod Dixon 43:42)

Controversially a team of New Zealanders were allowed to run as guests and Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Rod Dixon shocked to comfortably run away from Bedford on the second of three laps. They were not included in the results and Bedford won the title from an inspired Roger Clark (44:07) and Simmons (44:26). Bedford, who had had an infected abscess which had kept him out of a big indoor race the previous week, gave his winner’s medal to Dixon.

Southern Road Relay, Wimbledon, April 7
23:53 (2nd fastest)

The AW report said he looked bronzed and fit and he ran leg 11 but he could only move Shaftesbury up a place from ninth to eighth and his time for the 5 mile 334 yard leg elongated from previous years was surprisingly slower than Bernie Ford (23:49) who had been a disappointing 86th in the International cross-country race a few weeks earlier but was much stronger here.

Pencoed 4 Miles, April 23
1st 18:55

Tired from a 25-mile training run with the Stewart brothers the day before, he still enjoyed a clear win over John Theophilus (19:21).

FA Cup Final 3000m, Wembley, May 5
2nd 8:14.6

On a tough surface and in front of a 100,000 crowd, he failed to keep up with world 3000m and 5000m record-holder Puttemans (8:10.6) but did get the better of Ian Stewart (8:17.40).

South Shields 2M, July 1
1st 8:35.0

Made a solid comeback after injury to win from Commonwealth 10,000m fifth placer John Caine (8:52.8).

AAA Championships 10,000m, Crystal Palace, July 13
1st 27:30.8

As he had not publicised any record attempt or shown any form that suggested anything special was likely, only 3500 fans were present on the Friday night for a programme of predominantly heats but clearly he had a target as he powered through 1600m in 4:17.4. Surprisingly as he was operating at 26:45 pace, he still had four takers. Even at 3000m (8:08.4) - the second fastest ever split after his Olympic opening, Simmons, Seppo Tuominen and Bernie Plain remained.

The latter two soon dropped off but at 4000m, Simmons surprised Bedford by going by and briefly leading before Bedford went by and pushed on through the fastest ever halfway time of 13:39.4 with Simmons 13:41.0 also running a time only previously unsurpassed even by Clarke and Bedford.

At 6000m he lapped fellow International cross-country winner Tagg, who tried to briefly help Bedford. From 6400m to 8400m and needing 67 second laps, Bedford astonishingly reeled off five successive exact 67.0 laps. At 8km, he had been 15 seconds up on Viren’s equivalent but clearly was not going to finish like the Finn did but he had a 19 second buffer at 9km and perhaps more importantly was 10 seconds quicker at that point than Clarke had ever run.

While he had slowed to a 67.8 four out, knowing the record was almost certainly his, his last three got faster and a 60.8 final circuit was wildly received by a stadium of 10,000m aficionados as he took over seven seconds off Viren’s world mark and 16 seconds off his own British (and former European) record.
It was the first world record set in London by a Briton since Chris Chataway beat Vladimir Kuts in an epic 5000m in 1954.

Simmons (28:19.4) and Plain (28:30.2) survived their suicidal starts to set PBs despite slowing 40 seconds on their second halfs. After the race, Bedford said his build up had consisted of just 300 miles in a 11 week period (He had previously done nearer 2000 in some of his similar training blocks) and he had 40 visits to his physio Ted Chappell because of hamstring trouble but he had four really good weeks of training leading into the race.
Bedford’s lap times were: 63.0, 64.4, 64.9, 65.1, 65.8, 66.4, 66.2, 66.2, 66.6, 66.0, 65.4, 66.0, 66.8, 66.2, 67.2, 67.8, 67.0, 67.0, 67.0, 67.0, 67.0, 67.8, 66.0, 65.2 and 60.8.

AAA Championships 5000m, Crystal Palace, July 14
6th 13:47.4

Brendan Foster’s major 5000m debut (13:23.8) saw him impressively win from Ian Stewart (13:31.0) with Bedford effectively running 12.5 laps of honour at a similar pace to his 10,000m to honour the fans who had missed his epic run of the day before.

GB v Greece and Belgium 5000m, Athens, July 19
1st 13:44.0

He had specifically asked to be selected to get some warm weather running in and take on Puttemans, who then sadly chose to just run the 1500m and he eased around with Black (who also ran 13:44.0) ahead of European Indoor 3000m silver medallist Willie Polleunis and future world cross-country champion Leon Schots.

Helsinki 5000m, July 30
5th 13:39.8

A recurrence of his hamstring problem hampered him in this race and meant he had to withdraw from the European Cup Semi and Final and the World Student Games. Up ahead, future world record holder Dick Quax (13:27.2) won from past record-holder Viren (13:28.8) in a result that would be reversed in the next Olympic final.

London Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill. November 24
1st 28:11

Making a return to competition and in need of a race prior to the Commonwealths, he won easily from team-mate Goater (28:44) who had run a 13:38.8 5000m during the summer.

Auckland 5000m, New Zealand, December 19
2nd 13:28.8

In his fastest 5000m of the year, he more than confirmed his fitness but was unable to cope with Quax’s fast finish (13:24.0) though a recurrence of his tight hamstring did mean he had to miss his next planned race. Interestingly in the AW Readers' Poll, Bedford finished second in the World male to Jipcho but also second to Foster in the UK male award.

1974

Wellington 5000m, New Zealand, January 3
2nd 13:28.8

Just as he ended 1973, there was an almost identical result in the first of 1974 with Quax again proving too fast for him (13:24.4).

Commonwealth Games 10,000m, Christchurch, January 25
4th 28:14.8

Well adjusted to the New Zealand summer and in good form - having run a 15x400m session in 59 seconds, Bedford thought he was fitter than in his world record run and he set off again with the intention of running world record pace.

Simmons actually led the opening three laps at a fast pace before Bedford took over and his first 1600m of 4:14.8 and 3000m time of 8:06.0 was up on his record run though half a dozen athletes were still in contention but by 4km it was down to just Black and three Kenyans with the Africans crowding Bedford and trying to slow the Englishman who was spiked, tripped and lost his balance at their intimidating tactics which involved holding his shorts and pushing him.

The pace slowed though a 13:47.0 5000m time was still territory that only Bedford had past experience of among the leaders but Bedford admitted the jostling had destroyed his concentration and he had lost his cool.
Home favourite Dick Tayler who had been running evenly up to 50 metres back at one stage caught the leaders on the 16th lap. Bedford was still up the front three laps out but when Dave Black threw in laps of 62.9 and 62.1 up to the bell only Tayler could respond.

Ultimately it was the Kiwi, much to the delight of the huge crowd, who proved the strongest in the last 200m and his 27:46.4 - a 42 second PB - moved him to sixth all-time in a run that he had never previously matched or would ever again come close to. Black was second in 27:48.6 which moved him to eighth all-time in the world and second in the UK with Bedford just edging fourth spot, 100 metres back on the medallists.
.
Commonwealth 5000m, Christchurch, January 29
11th 14:18.8

He eased through his heat in 13:59.2 two days earlier but set off with intent in the final with a 61.8 opening lap but at 1600m (4:20) he was well down on his time in the 10,000m and when Black went ahead shortly after, he started drifting down the field and he ended up almost a minute behind a cracking race which saw Jipcho (Commonwealth record 13:14.4) narrowly edging Foster (UK record 13:14.6) as the pair went second and third all-time.

Pye Gold Cup First Round 5000m, Haringey, June 9
1st 14:41.4

With his hamstring on the mend, he helped Shaftesbury to victory in the match.

Naples 5000m, Italy, June 11
7th 14:05.8

A modest return to international competition saw him finish almost 200 metres behind Puttemans (13:36.6) but only nine seconds down on Olympic runner-up Gammoudi.

South Shields 2M
2nd 8:57.6

Running on the churned up five laps to a mile track, he led early on but was unable to go when Foster accelerated away (8:42.4) and he held off the late challenge of future UK steeplechase record holder Dennis Coates (9:00.4). He then joined with Foster in a two-mile paarlauf event which they won in 7:57.0.

Stockholm 5000m, July 8
7th 14:02.6

A marginal improvement on his other summer runs, he was way behind the leaders led by Kenyan John Ngeno (13:40.2).

AAA Championships 10,000, Crystal Palace, July 12
1st 28:14.8

Having stopped for four months and still nine pounds overweight and no quality results, he almost did not compete but he said he enjoyed this race more than other in the previous five years. The first half was a slow 14:23.2 and then Ford began to string the field out with some 67 second laps and by 8km it was down to seven runners. Ford covered the 20th lap in 66.4 which was surprisingly too much for Black and then another 66.4 got rid of the rest other than Bedford as  Simmons and Roelants dropped off.

Ford tried all he could to drop Bedford with two laps of 66.6 up to the bell but just short of 300m out, Bedford kicked by and completing the last lap in 61.0 (similar to his record finale) he opened up on a second on Ford (28:16.0) with Simmons, who would go on to gain European silver third (28:19.4).

It meant in unusual circumstances, Bedford had won his fifth successive AAA title but his only major race in a sprint finish. The run did qualify him for the European Championships but he was not interested in selection (the selectors picked Ford, Simmons and Black who all made the top eight) and the Palace race would prove to be his last track race at this level.

Pye Gold Cup Semi Finals 5000m, Haringey, July 21
2nd 14:29.2

Competing with a poisoned foot and having flown back especially from the continent for the race he was unable to match good miler Clive Thomas (14:10.6).

Coca-Cola Meeting 2 Miles, Crystal Palace, September 13
12th 8:55.0

In front of a capacity crowd all eyes were on European champion Foster (8:23.4) and fourth-placer Viren (8:25.8) as Bedford trailed home a disappointing last 200 metres back.

Vanves Cross-Country, France, December 1
2nd 24:20

After being left at the start, he was well beaten by Puttemans (23:56) but it was encouraging that he beat the rest of the international field led by fellow former Southern winner Standing (24:35).
He did little of note because of injury in 1975 and 1976 but showed more encouraging form in 1977.

1977

English National Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill, March 5
7th 44:38

It did not help being left behind at the beginning due to a mass false start but after just nine weeks of solid training he worked his way through the field to qualify for the International team in certainly one of the greatest ever line-ups. The first three had finished third, fourth and eighth in the Olympics as Foster (43:49) won from Ford (43:50) and Simmons (43:53). Commonwealth runner-up Black (44:31) was fourth and Bedford just lost out to future Olympic runner-up Mike McLeod and Golden 5000m winner Barry Smith (both 44:37) but he beat top athletes like Steve Kenyon, Goater, Steve Ovett, Geoff Smith, Steve Jones, Grenville Tuck and Tagg.

World Cross-Country Championships, Dusseldorf, March 20
45th 38:53

Again unable to run to his potential as he suffered leg cramps and took off his shoes and was down in 120th at one point, he worked his way all the way up to 45th and just miss out on the scoring six as England just lost to Belgium by three points. Leon Schots (37:43) won from Carlos Lopes (37:48) with Ford the leading Briton in fifth (37:54).

If times are correct this was easily the most congested finish in international cross-country history as the 50 spots from 26th to 75th occupied all of seven seconds!

Walthamstow Road Relays, Highams Park, April 16
10:28 (lap record) Team 2nd

Ran for the Shaftesbury B team who lost by just 24 seconds to the A team - with Shaftesbury so strong they split their squads fairly equally. Bedford ran leg five and took his team up to second taking 32 seconds off of Goater of their A team. His time broke the course record and the next fastest was former Southern junior champion Jerry Odlin (10.55).

Southern 5000m Championships, West London Stadium, April 27
1st 13:46.0

This was wrongly reported in AW that this was his first track race since his AAA title and his first 5000m since the 1974 Commonwealths but it was his fastest 5000m for well over four years and his last decent 5000m run. Kevin Steere led most of the way with 66 second laps but it went down to just four at the bell and most expected Loughborough student Malcolm Prince or renowned kicker Keith Penny to be favourites but Bedford executing a double kick, blasted two consecutive 29.0 splits for a 58.0 final circuit. Prince (13:46.6) and Penny (13:49.4) won the other medals.

Oxford University Track Opening 3000m, May 4
2nd 7:57.4

Tried repeating his sitting-in tactics again and followed Southern cross-country champion Neil Coupland but the Southampton athlete who ran 13:31.13/28:16.73 in the summer kicked in a 89.4 last 600m but Bedford managed a highly encouraging 2:33 final kilometre - probably one of his fastest ever  but Coupland won by a few metres in 7:57.0. That was effectively the end of his fast running in the summer though.

London Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill, November 26
1st 29:31

He won a good battle with future Southern Champion Bob Treadwell (29:38), Guy McCallum (29:43) and leading junior Dave Beaver (30:00).

Vanves Cross-Country, France, December 4
14th 24:34

World champion Schots (23:30) won from Britain’s 1974 European 10,000m team of Black (23:45), Ford (23:53) and Simmons (23:58) in one of his last international races just ahead of Wilde (24:40).

1978

Southern Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill, February 11
3rd 45:26

Neil Coupland (44:47) won his third title in a row from Standing (45;19) with Bedford medalling just ahead of Andy Catton, who is still running well in the veteran ranks. Future London Marathon winners Hugh Jones (47:11) and Mike Gratton (47:28) were 27th and 35th respectively while another Eamonn Martin was fourth in the junior race won by Dave Clarke.

English National Cross-Country Championships, Leeds, March 4
23rd 43:45

It was another amazing quality National as Ford (41:34) won from Stewart (41:37), Simmons (41:52) and Ovett (42:24) with Bedford a few minutes back but finishing immediately between former World 3000m record holder Wilde (43:44) and future Olympian and Boston Marathon winner Geoff Smith (43:47).

Golden Lay Polytechnic Marathon, Windsor, June 10
70th 2:45:05 (PB)

While he may have been capable of well over half a hour faster - even 40 minutes? - his marathon debut should not be taken too seriously as he ran with a friend for 18 miles and then ran a faster last eight miles in 43 minutes which did allow current AW reporters Martin Duff (2:28:38) and Steve Smythe (2:34:06) to finish ahead though he did beat long-time AW contributor and Sunday Times journalist Cliff Temple (2:52:27), who helped write Brendan Foster’s book which had just been published.

He did do another Marathon - deciding to do the first London in 1981 in the early hours of the day of the race while in a Luton nightclub the worst for wear as a bet. And after a curry on the way home, he finished and did feature in the BBC Coverage but not looking at his best and some time over three hours!

1980

Southern Six Stage Road Relay, Crystal Palace, October 3
20:25 (Team 3rd)

Back to the scene of his first British record in 1969 and his world record in 1973, Bedford took his Shaftesbury team from fourth to third with the quickest final leg. The fastest overall was Penny on leg 5 who took his Cambridge Harriers team from 32 seconds back to a decisive 68 second lead with a 19:39 clocking.

It was a busy period for Bedford in the weeks before that he did a 30:17.46 10,000m that ranked him 51st for 10,000m in 1980 and a few days later he also ran around 14:30 in an open 5000m at Copthall as I remember just about avoiding being lapped by him when I did my still standing PB 41 years ago!

His final PBs were
Mile: 4:02.9 (1969)
2000m: 5:03.16 (1972) UK record at time
3000m: 7:46.4 (1972) UK record at time
5000m: 13:17.21 (1972) European record at time
10,000m: 27:30.80 (1973) World record at time
3000ms/c: 8:28.6 (1971) UK record at time

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

Bedford’s early days – 1964-65 – CLICK HERE

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

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

» Photographs by Mark Shearman

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