Steve Smythe lists detailed information for Dave Bedford's career starting with his first big races in 1965 all the way to his first GB record

In 1965 Dave Bedford was a promising but certainly not ground-breaking athlete in the boys age group. By 1969 he was a British senior record-holder. A quite extraordinary transformation.

There was a list of some of his earlier races from 1964 in his excellent book – Dave Bedford Story – though there are few times and very few of these can be verified in Athletics Weekly. A summarised list of those races from 1964 and 1965 are here.

More details about Bedford are available by clicking here and here.

Altogether over 300 of his races are featured in our Clubhouse section.

The 1965 and 1966 seasons contain just a few races each year. He was not eligible for youth competitions which was the youngest age group that had national competition outside schools events and schools races (such as Middlesex Championships or Shaftesbury club races) were often not reported in AW.

1965

English Schools Intermediate Boys Cross-Country Championships, Colchester, March 20
24th 21:53

He finished a minute down on the winner David Buckley, who had won the junior race the year before future rival John Bednarski was 14th. Back then the races were maybe not taken as seriously as now even though with the absence of major boys races, there was little else for boys of this age to target on country or track.

It’s notable that for this race that there was no AW report and the results did not even have initials on them. However, it was better than the 1964 coverage in the initial issue which had the English Schools event on the cover and had a page number pointing you towards the event but there was nothing until just the senior results the following week.

North West London League Cross-Country, Whetstone, November 20
1st 11:35

Finished just ahead of Tim Durrant, who had beaten him over 20 times in 1964 and 1965.

TVH U16 Cross-Country, Cranford, December 18
2nd 9:23

Just lost out to Phil Tucker (9:22) a place up on John King (9:29) and Jack Lane (9:34). Others he would regularly run into in the future included Phil Banning in eighth, Pete Standing in 17th and Ian Thompson in 24th.

1966

Kent AC Boys Cross-Country, West Wickham, January 22
1st 10:27

While future rivals Tony Simmons and Don Faircloth were going 1-2 in the Youths race, Bedford easily gained his revenge on Tucker (10:39) in the younger Boys event.

English Schools Intermediate Boys Cross-Country Championships, Derby, March 19
3rd 20:48

Bedford gained almost a minute on Buckley (20:41) but both were beaten by the younger 1965 junior winner Paul Marwood (20:40). Bedford did beat future rival John King to third but by how much is not known as only the three were timed as a Schools spokesman said as the times were not material in Team Championships they were probably destroyed! Bedford did pick up a team silver for Middlesex.

Walthamstow Youths Relay, April 16
9:03 (fastest) (Team 1st)

He ran the fastest time by a second leading off eventiual winners Shaftesbury.

Southern Youth Heats, Hurlingham, June 28
1st 4:31.0

He qualified second fastest overall after Lane (4:28.8) but ahead of future Commonwealth Games 1500m representative Banning (4:32.7).

Southern Youth Championships Mile, Hurlingham, July 2
3rd 4:27.0

Lane won in 4:24.9 with Bedford only a few metres short of second.

Shaftesbury Harriers Club 3 miles. Copthall, July 17
2nd 14:32.0

This proved a highly promising three miles debut as it ranked him second in the 1967 end of season Youths rankings to Ian Stewart's British record 13:59.6.

Inter Borough Trophy Mile, Hendon, July 23
1st 4:27.8

Gained a clear win with Lane third (4:34.5).

Southern Counties Youths 2 Miles, Hendon, August 6
1st 9:21.6
Again more at home at the longer distances, he gained his biggest track win to date easily defeating the slightly younger John Boggis who would win European Junior 3000m bronze in 1970. This time again ranked him a distant second to Stewart (8:55.0) in the UK Youths rankings.

Eton Manor Floodlit Mile, Walthamstow, September 14
5th 4:33.5

He was a similar distance back on Lane (4:33.5) as he was in the Southerns but the race was won by Boggis (4:27.4).

Basingstoke Youths Road Race, December 4
2nd 14:51

Was well beaten by David Williams (14:07) but well ahead of third-placer Banning (15:17). Top coach Mick Woods was fifth (15:40) and the Tuck twins, Graham (16:09) and Grenville (16:10), were immediately outside the top ten.

Middlesex Youths Cross Country Championships, Enfield, December 10
1st 15:48

Won by over a minute from J Collins (16:53).

1967

Kent AC Youths Cross-Country, West Wickham, January 21
2nd 15:11

Led for much of the race but was unable to shake off the older defending champion Simmons who moved away easily over the final mile (14:53). Future marathon star Thompson was seventh (16:05).

Epsom Youths Cross-Country, Epsom, January 28
2nd 19:34
The older and stronger Simmons again proved too strong, breaking clear on the final hill with Bedford (referrred to as Brian in the AW report!) a clear second well ahead of Norman Morrison (20:00), who would run for Scotland in the 1974 Commonwealths against Bedford and Simmons and Faircloth (20:03) who would run in the 1970 Games.

Southern Youths Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill, February 11
1st 16:33

In his first year in the age group, he showed his astonishing talent in that only future International junior winner Bednarski (17:00) could finish within a minute of him on a 5km course even though it took him a mile to get to the front. Aldershot coach Woods was 10th and a future senior champion, who features in many of his latter races, Standing was 12th.

Mitcham Young Athletes Relay. Morden, February 18
10:10 (fastest leg)

Despite a runaway first leg win, his Shaftesbury team could only finish sixth and his time was 17 seconds faster than the much older Southern junior runner-up Steve Badgery (10:27) who would go on to be a 2:15:44 marathoner in 1971.

National Youths Cross-Country Championships, Norwich, March 4
3rd 14:35

He was not helped by a slow start but he moved through well as Simmons (14:28) headed Ian Stewart (14:33). There cannot be too many National Youth races over the years where the top three have all gone to finish in the top six in the Olympics!

1970 Commonwealth marathon medallist Faircloth was sixth and future steeplechase rival Andy Holden 19th.

Inter Counties Youths Cross-Country Championships, Derby, March 11
1st 16:29

With Simmons (preparing to finish eighth in the International Junior race) and Stewart not competing and less runners to get through after a slow start, Bedford won comfortably from Bednarski (16:37) and Holden (16:42).

English Schools Cross Country Championships. Sheffield, March 18
2nd 26:17

His best ever Schools race but three big championships in three weeks may have been too much as Holden, who he had beaten the previous two weeks, was getting better race by race and won with plenty in hand (26:06). King was sixth and future top middle-distance coach Norman Poole was seventh, future rival Malcolm Thomas 21st and Eastern champion Thompson 23rd.

Shaftesbury Harriers 3 Miles Championships, Copthall, June 14
2nd 14:13.6 (PB)

With 20 seconds improvement on last year's race this ranked him eighth in the UK Junior rankings (Stewart was top with 13:39.8) though the low key nature of the race meant it never appeared in AW and there was no date by it in the end of season rankings.

Barnet Schools 2000m steeplechase Championships, Copthall, July 12
1st 6:19.0

Four years before he would beecome British senior steeplechase record holder this win over his early school rival Durrant did not trouble the UK Junior rankings which were ironically headed by the man who would give him a great battle in 1971 - Andy Holden (5:55.0).

AAA Junior 2M Championships, White City, July 15
7th 9:14.4

Held within the main senior championships (there were world class wins for Ron Clarke in the three miles and Jurgen Haase in the six miles) he ran well but was 100 metres down in a race won by Simmons (8:50.4) with Stewart only fourth after a heavy fall (8:59.4).

Alperton 2M, July 19
2nd 9:12.2 (PB)

Made a small improvement on his previous best in finishing second to senior S Buchanaen (9:08.2). This ranked him 11th in the end of season UK Junior rankings with only one younger athlete (Boggis) just ahead of him.

Southern Inter County Junior 2 miles, Withdean, July 29
1st 9:13.8

It now seems incredible that at this time the English Schools Championships had no events longer than the mile other than the 2000m steeplechase in their championships and Bedford retained his title ahead of Faircloth (9:16.2) and Standing (9:29.2).

Siegen 1500m, Germany, August 19
2nd 4:04.7 (PB)

Competing for a junior team from the borough of Barnet he ran a PB quicker than his equivalent mile best at the time.

Siegen 5000m, Germany, August 20
2nd 14:48.8
Made a good debut at the distance in an open race the day after the match event. The distance was so infrequently competed by juniors there were no 5000m lists in the AW Junior rankings at the end of the year.

Tooting 10,000m, October 22
1st 29:49.8 (UK age 17 record)

Junior rival Boggis led through one mile in 4:49.6 and two miles in 9:48.8 before struggling with the humidity and Bedford was ahead at halfway in 14:46.2. Out on his own he slowed on the second half with miles of 5:01.2, 5:06.6 and 4:55.8 but that faster last mile enabled him to take 5.6 seconds off Faircloth's previous best UK mark.

Harrow 6M track race, November 19
1st 29:15.8 (world age 17 record)

Running fairly evenly (halves of 14:38.8 and 14:37.0) with miles between 4:46.0 and 4:56.6 he took 23.8 seconds off Canadian Ron Stjern’s previous world age best. Runner-up Alan Lafferty was second in 29:34.4 which also broke the world age mark. Bedford was born two days too early (December 29) for this to be an UK youths' record and it was Lafferty who topped the 1967 Youths rankings at the end of the year.

City of Rochester Youths Cross-Country Race, November 25
1st 15:48

He won easily from Standing (16:10). Keith Penny, who would feature in his last major track title was eighth (16:51).

1968

North of Thames Youths Cross-Country Championships, Chigwell, January 27
1st 14:48

Returning after a bone injury, he won from the Tuck twins Grenville (14:56) and Graham (15:06).

Southern Youths Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill, February 10
1st 16:39

He won by a staggering 40 seconds over a three mile course from Chris Reed (17:19) and future champion Lane (17:19).

English Youth Cross-Country Championships, Sutton Coldfield, March 2
1st 15:07

A huge favourite, he proved too strong for his rivals winning from Northern champion Wright and Harrison with Reed fourth.

Inter -Counties Youth Cross-Country Championships, Leicester, March 9
1st 14:53

The younger Inter-Counties races were held back then separately from the senior race and after the National and Bedford continued his dominance winning from John Harrison (15:03) and John King (15:04).

Herne Hill Floodlit meet 2M, Tooting, March 13
2nd 9:04.6 (PB)

Started with a 63 second opening lap and led until the last 200m when he was out-kicked by senior Geoff Biscoe (9:02.6) but did set a seven second PB.

English Schools Senior Boys Cross-Country Championships, Stoke, March 23
7th 26:46

Up against some older athletes had a rare off-day but had previously beaten most of those ahead. King (25:51), who was only eighth in the National, won from Dick Hollings (26:00) and Lane (26:07). Fourth was a certain Ian Thompson (26:29) who in Bedford’s last international track season won both the Commonwealth and European marathons.

Middlesex 2M Junior Championships, Southall, May 26
1st 9:04.6

Gained a 35 second victory in a meeting which incorporated the senior 6 mile championships where 14 athletes broke 31 minutes.

SCAAA U21 v Middlesex U21 v BRC 2M, Isleworth, May 27
1st 8:50.00 (PB)

Running on the pear-shaped Borough Road College track, Bedford ran a faster pace than any of his previous track races with 4:23.2 at the mile and though he lost the lead and dropped back when Jim Mouat surged on the penultimate lap, he kicked well on the last lap and beat Mouat (8:56.6) comfortably and was just four seconds off of Ian Stewart’s British age best and eight off Bruce Kidd’s world age best.

At the time Bedford was suffering from a hairline fracture of his right shinbone and only training on grass and also getting overheated feet and therefore had cut ovals on his racing shoes.

English Schools Championships 3M, Portsmouth, July 5
4th 14:26.2

The inaugural senior boys three mile race (and his last Schools run) should have suited him but he trailed future senior rival Holden (14:00.0), future European junior 3000m medallist John Boggis (14:16.0) and King (14:19.8)

AAA Junior 2M, White City, July 13
1st 8:59.8

In front of a 19,000 crowd there to watch the senior championship (including the Olympic Trials with the Queen attending the event for the first time since 1952), he enjoyed his biggest track win to date. Leading early on, only King could stay with his 4:27.0 first mile and King (9:03.2) finally crumbled with 660 yards to go.

It’s worth noting though that fellow junior Stewart was competing in the senior 5000m at the same meeting and ran a European junior record 14:02.2 in finishing fourth Briton.

Crystal Palace 5000m, August 6
6th 14:24.0 (13:54.6 at 3 miles)

This run ranked him third in the 1968 Under 20 lists at both events behind the slightly older Stewart and Bednarski.

Junior Inter Counties Match, Thurrock 2M & 3000 steeplechase, August 24
1st 9:09.0 & 1st 6:06.6 (PB)

Just did enough to win the two miles from Chris Reed (9:15.0) but it was much closer in the steeplechase as he edged J Peel (6:06.8) with sub-6 chaser Tony Pretty third (6:14.6). He had his time as 6:04.0 in his book which would have ranked him just inside the UK top 20 for 1968.

Crystal Palace 10,000m, August 29
20th 32:16.0

In very windy conditions, World record-holder Clarke produced what many thought was the greatest 10,000m run in history up to that point as he passed halfway in 13:50.6 and his 27:49.4 was he second best time in history. The 18 year-old Bedford tried to help as when he was lapped he ran 68 second laps to help pace the Australian and then run a few laps to recover at 90 seconds before going fast again.

Clarke easily lapped the entire field winning by 90 seconds. Faircloth ran a European junior record 29:38.0 in fifth though he was 20 later in the year it was not eligible as a British mark.

Southern Counties v South West Counties 3 miles & 3000m steeplechase, Exeter, September 14
2nd 14:20.6 & 4th 9:41.2 or 9:48.0

In the three miles he finished in the same time as winner Faircloth who had been two and half a minutes ahead in his 10,000m. There seems to be doubt over his steeplechase time which was his debut rather than the l971 Turku race which was largely publicised as his first. Bedford's book suggested he ran 9:48.0 but in Mel Watman's review of the book in AW in 1971 he claimed the time was 9:41.2. In the AW at the time in 1968, his time was not printed but it did list third-placer's Bill Venus's time as 9:41.2.

North West London Youths Cross-Country League, Brook Farm, October 14
1st 16:01

Won by 35 seconds. Fellow future National winner Julian Goater won the Boys race.

Metropolitan Cross-Country League, Cranford, October 28
1st 17:05

A clear winner from Tony Pretty (17:16). The much younger John Davies - who was to gain a medal in the 1974 Commonwealth steeplehase - was sixth (17:34).

Liddiard Trophy Cross-Country, Eastcote, November 2
1st 26:41

Gained a 10 second win in this senior race over future top Vet Mike Barratt (26:51). His future colleague at the London Marathon Alan Storey, who was to coach Mo Farah, Mike McLeod, Hugh Jones and Sonia O'Sullivan, was 17th (29:02).

North London Cross-Country Championships, Barnet, November 9
1st 30:43

Clear after a mile, he won by almost 200 metres from Liam Ryan (31:16).

North of the Thames ‘Junior’ Cross-Country, Parliament Hill, November 16
1st 28:36

The race, not junior by age group, saw Bedford win by over a minute from J Street (29:37).

Jean Bouin 4M, Barcelona, December 8
3rd 19:15.4

British runners dominated the event and he followed home Olympic 5000m runners Allan Rushmer (18:50.2) and Dick Taylor (19:00.2).

Brighton College 4.5M Cross-Country, December 11
1st 23:01

Running in his own college’s first promotion he won clearly from future Olympic steeplechaser John Bicourt (23:44). Former AAA Marathon champion Graham Taylor was fourth (24:05).

Portsmouth 5, December 14
2nd 24:25

Bedford pulled away briefly at one point but Martin Hyman, around twice his age and a top ten placer in the 1960 Olympics and 1962 Europeans (fourth) and Commonwealths caught him and broke clear on the final lap and the older runner gained his tenth race win in 11 years but Bedford had forced him to run 24:17 and take 27 seconds off of his course record.

1969

Middlesex Cross-Country Championships, Cockfosters, January 4
1st 44:40

Won easily from Barratt (45:24).

Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships, Brighton, January 18
11th 39:32

Though only just turned 19 he again chose to run against the seniors and though well beaten by Trevor Wright (38:15), he still took plenty of senior international scalps

Brasschaat Cross-Country, Belgium, January 19
3rd 24:17

English runners dominated with Ron Hill (24:08.6) and Holden (24:15) taking the first two places.

Blankenberge Cross-Country, Belgium, January 26
2nd 28:03

Gave a good challenge to former International winner Gaston Roelants (27:21) for three of the four laps before fading on the final circuit and he finished a minute up on his English team-mates UK 2000m record-holder Colin Robinson (29:09) and AAA 10 miles runner-up Ron Grove (29:12).

Southern Junior Cross-Country Championships, Reading, February 8
2nd 31:42

Broke clear early on but faded badly and was surprisingly eventually easily beaten by the Middlesex junior champion Malcolm Thomas (31:00).

English National Junior Cross-Country, Parliament Hill, March 1
2nd 33:12

Was closing fast on the older Holden (33:08) on the last lap but beat the rest of a quality field headed by Simmons (33:28), Bednarski (33:43) and Thomas (34:01).

Junior Inter Counties Cross-Country Championships, Leicester, March 8
4th 30:17

Holden won again (29:51) from Bednarski (29:59) with 1970 Commonwealth marathon medallist Faircloth (30:17) just pipping Bedford for third.

International Junior Cross-Country Championships, Clydebank, March 22
1st 19:38

While superbly consistent he had not been able to win any major junior races all season but with some of the older UK juniors barred, he dominated on a very tough switchback course and took gold winning easily by 21 seconds with team-mates Bednarski (the reigning champion) and John Harrison following him home as England scored a perfect six points. Standing finished seventh (20:51) and did not even make the scorers.

San Vittore Olona Cross-Country Junior Race, Italy, March 30
1st 15:37.4

Won a very short race by 12 seconds.

Feltham 5, April 7
1st 24:07
Won by 24 seconds from Ealing’s Tom Bivens.

Southern Championships 10,000m, Crystal Palace, April 19
1st 28:24.4 UK 10,000m record

To say this was a major shock was an understatement. A teenage athlete only 11th in the senior inter counties and fourth in the Inter County junior race became Britain’s fastest ever senior. He blasted through 5km in a PB 14:14.4 and everyone expected him to wilt but he actually run a faster second half of 14:10.0 and took a few seconds off Mike Freary’s UK record (28:26.0) and run a time that only 12 men in the world had ever beaten and it was four minutes quicker than his previous 10,000m race.

Bednarski was a distant second in 28:51.8 but moved to sixth all-time in the UK rankings.
Bedford’s lap times were astonishingly even: 69.4, 66.2, 67.0, 66.8, 68.4, 69.0, 69.2, 68.8, 69.2, 68.4, 68.4, 69.2, 68.4, 68.6, 68.0, 69.2, 68.6, 67.8, 68.2, 69.0, 67.8, 68.0, 68.0, 68.0 and 64.8

Bedford's first major interview in AW by Alastair Aitken appeared in the May 24 1969 issue because of his 10,000m record but also covered his international junior win.

Of his International win he said: "There was John Bednarski and as far as I could see he was the only danger as he had won it the year before and when it comes to the big races, he is always there. A couple of foreign runners went mad for half a mile and then we passed them. We worked out after the race the first mile was about 4:20 and we ran 13:30 for the first three miles.

"John almost got away from me on a long slope at the end of the first lap but I clung on and passed him up a hill, went hard for 100 yards and that was it, I felt good and went away."

He was asked what training he did before his 10,000m record (at the age of 19) and said: "The week before I was at a British Milers Club training weekend at Crystal Palace and did 65 miles from Friday night to Sunday morning.

"On Saturday I did 6 x 3/4 of a mile in 3:18 with 660 jog between and on Sunday I did 12 quarters in 61 with 220 jog. On Sunday I did 6 quarters in 60 with 440 jog and 8x220 in 28 with 110 jog then 35 minutes paarlauf. I did 18 miles on Monday and 20 miles on Tuesday when i also did 20x330. Wednesday to Friday I just did easy runs and on the morning of the race I did 4 miles."

About the 10,000m (28:24.4), he said: "I wanted to break 29 minutes and I thought the only way to do it is to run 70s all the way for 6 miles. This is okay but on a 400m track if you do 70s all the way you finish 10 seconds short as you run 24 in 28 minutes so I thought if I do the first mile in 4:30 and the rest in 70s I would be alright. Well, I did the first one in 4:29.5 but after that they just stayed 67s, 68s and 69s. I really felt good."

BMC Mile, Chelmsford, May 4
6th 4:08.4 (PB)

The race was won by Roy Young (4:04.0) but was pleased to set a 10 second PB and finish just ahead of junior rival Bednarski.

Lodz 5000m, Poland, May 15
4th 13:58.2 (PB)

The race was won by 1964 Olympian and 1966 European fourth-placer Derek Graham (13:52.8) but Bedford acquitted himself well in his biggest international track race to date, with his first sub-14 run and again bettering Bednarski (14:00.2).

Inter-Counties 5000m Championships, White City, May 26
5th 13:54.6 (PB)

Led most of the race and contributed to a number of European qualifying times but had no answer to the fast last 600m of Ian Stewart (13:42.8).

Reading Gala Night of Sport 3000m, June 11
5th 8:05.4 (PB)

Was in the thick of a battle but lost out on the last lap in a race won by Chris Stewart (8:03.0).

Ceylon Tea 10,000m, Crystal Palace, June 22
13th 29:26.8

The race was won by Dick Taylor (28:06.6) in a world lead and British record and just missed the European mark as Taylor surprisingly beat world record-holder Ron Clarke (in his fifth race in eight days and suffering from stomach cramp) with Bedford unable to come anywhere near his Southern form after leading briefly.

Southern Championships, Crystal Palace, July 12
1st 13:42.8 (PB)

Gained the European qualifier himself with a big PB and with a 2:38.6 last kilometre just about holding off Geoff North (13:44.4).

Inter Area Match 3M, Aldersley, July 19
3rd 13:29.6

Well beaten by Taylor (13:13.4) again and produced a run worth around 13:58 for 5000m.

Chubb Mile, Motspur Park, July 23
8th 4:02.9 (PB)

Running on the famous world record cinder track he had a huge breakthrough in his speed. The race was won by future Olympian John Kirkbride (3:58.0) but Bedford finished between 3:57 miler Andy Green (4:02.8) and future UK indoor 1500m record-holder Banning and ahead of 1964 Olympian Bill McKim (4:03.6) who would make the AAA 1500m final the following week.

AAA Championships 10,000m, White City, August 1
13th 29:27.0

Was unable to use his new found track speed or replicate his April form which would have seen him make the European team and ran a passive race finishing a minute down on Taylor (28:27.6) with Mike Tagg (28:36.4) and Ron Hill (28:39.2) completing the top three. Tagg would go to win European silver and Hill Marathon gold though a badly dehydrated Taylor would finish almost last in the 10,000m.

AAA Championships 5000m, White City, August 2
12th 14:38.0

Led the opening kilometre (2:43.2) but soon faded out of contention to eventually be around a minute down on the winner. Future Athens winner Stewart won in a championships best 13:39.8 but a repeat of Bedford’s time from three weeks earlier would have got him a top three place.

Shaftesbury 10, August 9
2nd 48:54

He broke the old course record in chasing hard after Bill Adcocks at 5 miles (24:00) but had to settle for second as marathoner Adcocks - a brilliant fifth in Mexico's high altitude and a 2:10:48 winner in Fukuoka in the previous year proved too strong and won in 48:18.

Open 2M, West London Stadium, August 13
1st 8:42.6 (PB)

This result appears in Bedford's book but did not appear in AW and was not in the end of season UK rankings which would have ranked him 11th.

GB v France 5000m, White City, September 1
3rd 13:56.8

In his senior international track debut, he produced a better run but lost out on a final chance of making the Athens team as that went to winner Mike Baxter (13:50.4) but he did beat Commonwealth bronze medallist Allan Rushmer.(14:00.2). Curiously day one of the international was at Crystal Palace and day two at the White City.

Ealing Relays, October 4
11:22 (fastest leg)

He went from 15th to third on the second lap but was only quickest overall by a single second.

Brighton & Hove Road Race, Southwick, October 25
1st 20:36

Running for Falmouth Striders, he won comfortably from miler Ray Roseman I(who broke four minutes in Bedford’s 4:02.8 PB) and future Southern champion Standing (both 20:47).

Liddiard Cross-Country Trophy, Eastcote, November 1
2nd 24:37

Finished a second down on Peter Fagan (24:36).

North London Cross-Country Championships, Parliament Hill, November 8
2nd 26:06

Not at full training, he just lost out to Shaftesbury team-mate Hugh Richards (26:05).

Sussex Cross-Country League, Sompting, November 15
3rd 31:32

Still holding back, Standing (31:24) and Pete Bennett (31:29) finished a short distance ahead.

Pontivy Cross-Country, France, November 23
1st 23:13

aving run within himself all winter, he opened out here to easily beat European 10,000m silver medallist Mike Tagg (23:38), who would go on to win the International title that winter.

Jean Bouin 5.5km, Barcelona, December 7
1st 15:37.4

In front of 100,000 spectators, Britons filled the first three places with Bob Holt (15:50.0) following Bedford home.

Brickwood 5, Portsmouth, December 13
1st 24:09.8

He won by over 200 metres from Peter Baker (24:51) and Olympic 1500m runner Maurice Benn (24:57).

Nos Galan 4M, Mountain Ash, December 31
1st 18:01.6

Gained a clear win over his National conqueror Holden (18:17.1), but just missed Holden’s record not helped by a television camera car getting in his way over the final bridge.

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

Bedford’s early days – 1964-65 – 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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