Ian Stewart's life as an athlete
Ian Stewart was born in Handsworth in Birmingham on January 15, 1949. Although very much a 'Brummie', he opted to run for his father's native country Scotland. There was talk he might switch to England for the 1978 World Cross Country Championships, but he was selected for Scotland and unable to run due to illness.
Stewart’s honours included gold medals in the European Championships (indoors and out), the Commonwealth Games and the World Cross Country Championships, plus an Olympic bronze medal. His best marks are: 1500: 3:39.12, mile: 3:57.3, 2000: 5:02.98, 3000: 7:46.83, 2M: 8:22.0, 5000: 13:22.85, 10,000: 27:43.03
Mile
1963 (14): 5:07.0
1964 (15): 4:33.0
1965 (16): 4:25.7
1966 (17): 4:18.2
1967 (18): 4:07.9
1968 (19): 4:06.3
1969 (20): 3:57.3
1970 (21): 3:57.4
1975 (26): 3:57.5
1976 (27): 4:01.0
1977 (28): 4:02.6
5000m (*3 miles time plus 28sec)
1965 (16): 15:30.4*
1966 (17): 14:27.6*
1967 (18): 14:07.8*
1968 (19): 13:53.30
1969 (20): 13:36.4
1970 (21): 13:22.85
1971 (22): 13:33.4
1972 (23): 13:24.2
1973 (24): 13:30.8
1974 (25): 13:40.32
1975 (26): 13:27.0
1976 (27): 13:27.65
1977 (28): 13:25.8
His brother Peter set UK records at 1500m (3:38.22), mile (3:55.3) and 2 miles (8:26.78) and won the 1971 European Indoor 3000m title. His sister Mary, meanwhile, set a world indoor 1500m record of 4:08.1 when winning the 1977 European Indoor Championships and was Commonwealth champion in 1978. Although she ran for Scotland in 1974, she ran for England in 1978.
In March 1969, he filled in the AW Questionnaire and typical week's training was listed as follows:
Winter
Monday: am 5M, pm: 5M
Tuesday: pm: 10M
Wednesday: pm: 10M
Thursday: am 5M, pm: 10M
Friday: am 5M, pm: 5M
Saturday: 9M cross-country or race
Sunday: am 5M, pm: 10M
Summer
Monday: am 5M, pm: 5M
Tuesday: am 5M, pm: 16x400 (65) with 1min jog
Wednesday: 6x880yds (2:06) with 2:45 jog
Thursday: 10M easy running
Friday: 10M easy running
Saturday: race or 3x1M (4:20) with 3min jog
Sunday: 10M easy running
His coach Geoff Warr gave more details later in the year of his training for the Europeans. He was doing 40 miles a week and sessions included: 16x400m in 62-63 seconds with 1 minute jog recoveries or in 58-59 with 2min 45sec recoveries. Or 3 x 800m in 2:04 with 2:45 jog recoveries or in 1:58-1:59 with 5min recoveries. Or 3 x 1 mile with 5min recoveries in 4:19, 4:14 and 4:11 before the AAA Champs and then 4:18, 4:14 and 4:08 before the European Champs.
1966
Midland Youth CC 1st (won by 18sec)
Midland Junior Mile 3rd 4:18.6 (PB) - 1 K Bartlett 4:16.8
AAA Junior 2M 2nd 8:54.90 (UK age 17 best) - 1 F Van Zijl 8:50.2
AAA Junior Mile 6th 4:21.2 - 1 A Herrity 4:13.4
Reading 3M 3rd 13:59.6 - (UK age 17 best) - 1 C Perry 13:55.2
1967
English National Youth CC 2nd - 1 A Simmons
Birmingham 2M 5th 8:46.0 (UK age 18 best) - 1 I McCafferty 8:37.6
Kinnaird 3M 1st 13:39.8 (European junior rec)
Midland 3M 5th 13:48.2 - 1 A Rushmer 13:21.2
AAA Junior 2M 4th 8:59.4 (fell) - 1 Simmons 8:50.4
GB v France Junior 3000m 3rd 8:16.4 - 1 Simmons 8:13.6
AAA Junior Mile 2nd 4:07.9 - D Williams 4:07.4
GB v Sweden Junior 3000m 2nd 8:25.0 - K Bartlett 8:24.4
"I had a fair year in 1967," said Stewart, "but on the track I never quite made it in a lot of big races. Tony Simmons had the edge on me, being a lot faster than myself."
1968
AAA Indoor 3000m 3rd 8:03.4 (PB) - 1 McCafferty 8:00.4
Midland Junior CC 1st (won by 60sec)
GB v W Germany indoor 3000m 2nd 8:01.4 (PB) - 1 R Wilde 8:00.8
English National Junior CC 1st (won by 10sec)
"In the National, the course was two laps with a flat and fast last mile," said Stewart. "I had just finished the indoor season and was sharp. Bednarski had had an outstanding season on the country and was hailed as the new cross-country star so I was dubious about my chances having first thought my speed would be an asset. On the second lap on the hill I was dropped by 20 yards but I thought he was still within striking distance and as I reached the top I caught him and once we were on the fast going I was up and off and he had no chance."
International Junior CC 6th - 1 J Bednarski
British Games 2M 5th 8:35.32 (European jnr rec) - 1 B Diessner 8:31.6
British Isles Cup 3M 2nd 13:28.4 (European jnr rec) - 1 McCafferty 13:25.8
Midland Mile 4th 4:06.3 (PB) - 1 J Whetton 4:01.0
Pepsi Cola 5000m 6th 14:02.2 (European junior rec) - 1 K Sawaki 13:45.6
British Games 5000m 8th 13:53.30 (European junior rec) - 1 A Blinston 13:40.6
AAA 3M 3rd 13:29.8 - 1 L Stewart 13:28.4
Coca-Cola 2M 7th 8:42.2 - 1 R Clarke 8:19.6
GB v W Germany Junior 3000m 1st 8:01.2 (European junior rec)
GB v Rest 2M 3rd 8:45.8 - 1 Blinston 8:41.2
Stewart said: "1968 was a good year but I thought I could do better than 13:53. I don't think the transition from junior to senior was hard as I was doing senior races as a youth though 5000m is a long way if you have not got a bulk of training behind you."
AAA Indoor 3000m, Cosford, January 11
3rd 8:11.0
Stewart burst ahead three laps out but was unable to match McCafferty (8:08.4), who blasted a 84.0 last 600m or future world record-holder Ricky Wilde (8:09.6).
Cosford Two miles, February 1
1st 8:32.2 (European record)
He led for some of the early stages but Wilde was ahead at one mile (4:17.0) but could not go with Stewart from 1.5 miles (6:26.4) who passed 3000m in 7:59.0 and ultimately took four seconds off McCafferty’s European best and Wilde (8:36.0) also beat the mark. Stewart moved to seventh in the world all-time indoors.
European Indoor 3000m Games, Belgrade, March 9
1st 7:55.4 (UK record)
The first kilometre was slow (2:45) but the pace picked up mid-race. The 1966 European 10,000m silver medallist Lacos Mecser shoved Stewart with just over 400m to go and he responded by bursting ahead and two metres clear at the bell he won by five. Javier Alvarez - a double Olympic finalist in 1972 - was second (7:56.2). His second 1500m was 3:51.3.
"The first half was slow (4:04) and Alvarez kicked and I moved up and sat behind him. Mecser moved out and I moved to block him and he shoved me and with the shove I was travelling forward off the banking faster so I said 'an opportunity, off we go' and I was ahead with five metres before he knew what had happened and that was it."
Midlands Road Relay, Wordsley, March 29
6M: 28:34 (fastest)
Took 39 seconds off the 6M lap record and beat the 3M lap record on both of his laps and was 43 seconds quicker than Olympian Rushmer who had been fifth in the European 10,000m and won a Commonwealth three miles medal.
Inter Counties 5000m, White City, May 26
1st 13:42.8 (PB)
With a fast last 600m (86.2) went top of the European rankings with a 10-second PB to easily defeat Olympians Blinston (13:47.4) and Rushmer (13:48.4) after UK 10,000m record-holder Dave Bedford (13:54.6) had set a fast pace.
Reading Night of Sport Mile, June 11
2nd 3:57.3 (PB)
The race was paced by AW correspondent Martin Duff to halfway (1:58.9) with Stewart ahead at the bell (2:59.4). McCafferty passed him with 200m to go and won in a Scottish record 3:56.8 with Stewart becoming Britain’s youngest sub-four-minute miler in setting a nine-second PB!
AAA 5000m, White City, August 2
1st 13:39.8 (PB)
After Bedford had led the opening kilometre, Stewart ran a fast middle which saw off McCafferty but again made his final move 600m out and a 57.6 last lap gave him a three second win over Blinston (13:42.6).
GB v USA 5000m, White City, August 13
2nd 13:36.4 (PB)
Was unable to live with Dick Taylor’s 60-second sixth lap and murderous 2:36 third kilometre as his team-mate won in a world lead and British record 13:29.0 to go fifth all-time. Stewart though went third all-time in the UK as he easily beat previous distance prodigy Gerry Lindgren and was a minute clear of new junior US star Steve Prefontaine, who would be much closer when the pair met in the Munich Olympics.
GB v France 1500m, White City, September 1
1st 3:39.12 (UK record)
In a pre-planned move, John Boulter set a furious pace (200m in 25.7, 400m in 55.6) and Jim Douglas maintained through 800m in 1:54.6. As agreed, Stewart was ahead at 1000m in 2:25.0 and 1200m in 2:56.2. Boulter went ahead on the last bend but Stewart used his 5000m strength in gritting out a 58.0 final lap to set a shock record and beat Douglas (3:39.9) and Boulter (3:41.3) who confirmed their Athens selections. Boulter ran a UK 1000m record (2:18.2) a few days later.
European Championships 5000m, Athens, September 19
1st 13:44.8
At the age of 20, Stewart won comfortably against a field lacking real quality. He led through 2000m and 3000m (8:20.8) but then virtually stopped dead four laps out to ensure someone else took over. He regained the lead 600m out and began his finishing drive. Soviet Rashid Sharafutdinov passed him 200m out but Stewart flashed back past at the start of the straight and won by seven metres from his rival (13:45.8) as Blinston (13:47.6) took third. His last 400m was 56.6 and last 800m 1:58.8 in a race that saw future world record-holder Emile Puttemans finish seventh.
This win enabled Stewart (27%) to narrowly win AW overall British male athlete of the year from Taylor (25%) though the latter was actually ranked top in the 5000m merit rankings for the year but Stewart topped the 1500m rankings ahead of European champion John Whetton! Stewart was also ranked third in the Track and Field News world rankings at 5000m behind Ron Clarke and Taylor.
Stewart said: "It was a warm evening and a high temperature though the heat did not affect me and it was not humid. The early pace was slow and I was worried there would be a scramble at the end and in the second mile I thought I would take a few laps and they all followed but I thought I'd stay there and not be knocked about in the bunch and the pace was economical and steady (3000m in 8:20.8). I decided I had had enough two laps out and stopped which took them by surprise and after that I was in a great position, I strode out 600m out at half effort and only three came with it. Down the backstraight the Russian took me but he was sprinting and I was striding and I took him on the crown on the bend and was confident I would win."
GB v East Germany 3000m, Cosford, February 21
1st 7:55.6 (UK all-comers' record)
Answered a late call to replace Wilde and in the middle of a hard training block eased round with a quicker second half to defeat Gerd Eisenberg (8:00.6).
National 12-stage Road Relays, Sutton Park, April 18
5.6M: 25:13
He could only move Birchfield from ninth to seventh on stage nine but it was easily the fastest from World Indoor 3000m record-holder and European champion Wilde (25:30), UK 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m record-holder Taylor (25:38) and International cross-country champion Mike Tagg (26:06).
Scottish Championships 5000m, Meadowbank, June 2
1st 13:47.8 (Scottish all-comers' record)
He ran the fastest 5000m time ever seen in Scotland as he won from Lachie Stewart (14:00.6) who set a 10,000m world lead of 28:33.4 the day before.
Emsley Carr Mile, Edinburgh, June 13
1st 3:57.4
While Taylor was winning the 5000m in a British record 13:26.2 from McCafferty’s Scottish record 13:29.6, Stewart was working on his speed and narrowly beat his older brother Peter (3:57.4).
Stockholm 5000m, July 1
2nd 13:35.8 (PB)
It was a narrow PB but after a blazing last 600m he lost out to 1964 Olympic bronze medallist and world indoor 1500m record-holder Harold Norpoth (13:35.6), who showed he still possessed one of the sport’s greatest kicks. World record-holder Clarke was third (13:44.4).
GB v GDR 1500m, White City, July 10
1st 3:41.5
The Stewart brothers set a fast pace (58.1, 1:59.5 and 2:58.8) but teenager and future European champion Klaus-Peter Justus shot by the pair in the finishing straight but, in his final warm-up race for Edinburgh, Ian responded and won from the German by inches with both timed at 3:41.5.
Commonwealth Games 5000m, Edinburgh, July 25
1st 13:22.85 (European record)
This proved to be one of the greatest 5000m races in history. Nine of the first 11 had won or would go on to win Commonwealth medals and the first two went second and third in the world all-time. The race started slowly with a 70.8 opener before Taylor burst ahead with four laps averaging 64 seconds and then two in 63 and it was down to seven with only Stewart, McCafferty, Rushmer, Olympic 1500m champion Kip Keino and Clarke and Kenyan John Ng’eno able to withstand the ferocious pace.
The fourth kilometre slowed before McCafferty picked it up and then Stewart went ahead 600m out and accelerated through to the bell (12:27.4) and only Keino and McCafferty could keep pace. His penultimate 200m of 29.0 couldn’t drop his rivals but he began winding the pace up. Keino tried to get past along the back-straight and then McCafferty closed in the straight as Keino faded but Stewart’s driving 26.4 last 200m gave him victory by a few metres from his Scottish team-mate (13:23.4) and a European record. Only Clarke had run faster. Keino jogged in third (13:27.6).
"With 800m to go, McCafferty took off and I went with him and Keino went with us. I was glad someone else went as I was thinking about it. I took off on the bend and thought if I can keep Keino under pressure until 150m to the tape I could get him which is why I took off so early. At the bell I was shifting, getting faster all the time. He tried to get round me 200m to go and I fought him off on the bend. I put my head down in the straight. There was no doubt I was going to win."
Birmingham and District Cross-Country League, Perry Park, November 7
1st 25:13
His only post Edinburgh run of note was the AAA 1500m where he was third but it was still sufficient for him to be adjudged UK No.1 in the merit rankings for the second year running at 1500m.
His first winter run of note came in his local league which was still star-studded. He won from brother Peter, who late season set British 1500m and two miles records. Third was future steeplechase British record-holder Andy Holden, fourth was future double Commonwealth medallist Dave Black and Rushmer, fourth in Edinburgh, was fifth. Even further back Future Olympic 1500m runner Ray Smedley outkicked Olympic marathon silver medallist Basil Heatley for 26th spot. Future world 5000m record-holder Dave Moorcroft won the youths race. Around this time Stewart also picked up the men’s British athletics writers award.
International Cross-Country Championships, San Sebastian, Spain, March 20
9th 39:41.2
He had just four weeks training after injury (and he had dropped out of the Midlands Championships) but was pleased with his run, around a minute down on winner Bedford (38:42.8).
He finished just behind Mariano Haro (39:38.5) and just ahead of Rod Dixon (39:43.5), Pekka Paivarinta (39:44.7) and Gaston Roelants (39:45.3), all of whom he would have future battles with.
National-12 Stage Road Relay, Sutton Park, May 1
26:01
Not at his fittest or healthiest, and well down on his 1970 run, he did though set off 26 seconds behind Taylor in third place on stage nine and take eventual winners Birchfield into the lead by 12 seconds. Former UK 10,000m record-holder Mike Freary (25:47) was quickest overall and Stewart was only fifth fastest.
Edinburgh Highland Games 2M, Meadowbank, August 21
3rd 8:25.0 (Scottish record)
In what been a miserable track season due to an Achilles injury and an abscess - he was only ninth in the AAA 1500m and did not bid for a place in Britain’s European Championships team at 5000m but he showed better form here. Puttemans won in a world record 8:17.8 and Stewart battled all the way with European 1500m bronze medallist Brendan Foster for second with Foster’s UK record 8:24.8 just edging his Scottish record.
Munich Olympic Dress Rehearsal 5000m, September 4
2nd 13:41.4
Was less than pleased with his run, getting boxed along the backstraight and then being unable to match Ben Jipcho’s kick despite a 56.4 last lap. The Kenyan ran 13:40.8 and Stewart edged Tagg and Lasse Viren, with all three given the same time. The Finn would be a different athlete in 1972.
Coca-Cola 5000m, Crystal Palace, September 10
3rd 13:33.4
While well beaten by Keino (13:25.8), he was satisfied to run his second fastest time ahead of Black’s world junior record (13:37.4). A few days later Stewart was outkicked by Tagg (22:29) in a 5 mile road race at Tipton (22:31).
AAA Indoor 3000m Championships, Cosford, January 29
1st 7:50.00 (UK all-comers' record)
He had already shown good winter form on the country and here helped in the pace by John Bicourt and Bedford, he took over in the last kilometre and despite cruising in, he was only three seconds off of Wilde’s world record. Bedford, in his indoor debut, was second (7:53.4).
Hannut 9km Cross-Country
2nd 25:16
He was unable to match 1964 Olympic steeplechase Roelants (25:00) in front of his home crowd but did beat recent English National winners Trevor Wright and Tagg, who had also both been in the top two in the International cross-country.
International Cross-Country Championships, Cambridge, March 18
3rd 38:20
He was not helped by a fall on a section of plough and spiking himself but was well beaten by Roelants (37:43) and Haro (38:01) but it was still a good run as he beat all the English runners who won the team race.
National 12 stage Road Relay Championships, Sutton Park, April 29
25:37 (2nd fastest)
On stage nine, he moved from fourth to first but was 24 seconds down on his 1970 record as Birchfield missed out on first by 18 seconds. Wilde (25:33) was marginally faster on the same leg.
Birchfield lost by just 18 seconds.
AAA Championships (inc Olympic Trials), Crystal Palace, July 14
3rd 13:24.2
He ran his second fastest time and was only a few seconds outside his previous European record but he was far from happy. Bedford set a scintillating pace (7:53.6 at 3000m) and smashed his own European record by five seconds and only missed Clarke’s world record by 0.6 of a second. McCafferty went third all-time in the world (13:19.8) and ran away from Stewart over the closing laps who contented himself with Olympic selection.
"I went into the race very fit but not sharp," said Stewart. "I could not get any enthusiasm because I could not see how three runners were going to beat me. I didn't run well and I did not like Bedford beating me but it was a a survival of the strongest and fastest and Bedford took us all to the cleaners."
Stockholm 2M, August 14
4th 8:22.0 (UK record) (7:48.4 3000 (PB)
In his final pre-Olympic race, he was well beaten by the eventual first two in the Munich 10,000 – Viren (world record 8:14.0) and Puttemans (8:17.2) – and future Olympic steeplechase winner Anders Garderud (8:20.6), but Stewart’s time smashed the UK record and he beat a disappointed Bedford (8:28.2). The times were faster than AW as the meeting results appeared seven weeks after they happened! Both Viren (13:16.4) and Puttemans (13:13.0) set world records after the Games.
Olympic Games 5000m, Munich, September 10
3rd 13:27.6
Stewart became the first British medallist since 1956 with a fantastic sprint which made up 15 metres up on Prefontaine (13:28.4) who he caught with metres to go and he nearly caught defending champion Gammoudi (13:27.4). Stewart had lost contact with the leading trio on the penultimate lap having lost a stride when clashing with the American. However 10,000m champion Viren (Olympic record 13:26.4) controlled the race and no one had any answer to his 1:56.3 last 800m.
"With 800m to go I was on Prefontaine," said Stewart. "Viren came past with Gammoudi and I could not get out. I stepped out to get behind Gammoudi with 600m to go and get round Prefontaine and as I tried he came out sideways and knocked me into the third lane and I lost 10 yards. They were still going away and when I came off the bend I did not think I would get anything but I passed Prefontaine 10 yards from the line and at the finish I was 0.8 of a second up. I would have liked to have a watch on my last 100 metres. If I ran the race again I wouldn't have let that gap develop as I don't think anyone could have covered the last 100 metres faster. I was bloody choked. I was no more interested in that medal than a fly in the air. First is first and second is nowhere. It's no more acceptable to finish second by half a stride than it is to finish last, just because they give you a medal for it."
GB v France 5000m, Paris, October 1
1st 13:33.8
Stewart actually thought Puttemans' world record was a possibility and helped by Black was on schedule at 1000m (2:37.4) and the mile (4:13.4) but after drifting outside schedule at 2km settled for a comfortable win and he came in level with Black (13:34.0).
College Park 2 Miles, USA, January 13
1st 8:28.4 (European Indoor record)
Started the season in style with a win over Jim Crawford and American mile star Marty Liquori (8:35.2) though Crawford beat him in a mile the following day (4:03.4 to 4:05.3). He was on a US tour with Brendan Foster but cut it short over dissatisfaction with the arrangements.
AAA Indoor 3000m Championships, Cosford, February 4
1st 7:58.0
He set off with an intention of chasing Wilde’s world record but after a fast start (92.2 at 600m) decided it was too hot due a to a problem with the heaters in the arena and won by seven seconds from Pete Morris (8:05.0).
South African Games 10,000m, Pretoria, April 5
2nd 29:12.4
It might seem a modest debut over 25 laps losing out to Haro (29:02.0) on the second half but it was at 4000ft altitude.
National 12 stage Road Relay, Derby, April 28
5.75M: 26:24 (fastest)
Setting off in third, he moved up to second on stage nine for eventual winners Birchfield with an astonishing run on a hilly 5.75M course and was over 20 seconds quicker than the next best, Bernie Ford (26:47).
FA Cup Final 3000m, Wembley, May 5
3rd 8:17.4
It’s not often runners get to run in a front of a 100,000 crowd (as warm up for a famous Sunderland win over Leeds) but Stewart described this as "the toughest short cross-country I’ve run in" due to wet soggy grass. Puttemans was a class apart (8:10.6) winning from Bedford (8:14.6).
Inter-Counties 10,000m Championships, Warley, May 27
1st 28:59.6
Making a late move into the team as a replacement, he just did enough to beat former UK record-holder Mike Freary (29:05.8) easing away with a 64.0 last lap.
Midlands Championships, Aldersley, June 22
1st 13:46.4
Set a championships record and won by half a minute.
AAA 5000m Championships, Crystal Palace, July 14
2nd 13:31.0
The day after Bedford set a world 10,000m record, he beat Bedford but was well beaten by Brendan Foster’s serious 5000m debut (13:23.8) and he dismissed it as a “typical bloody Crystal Palace run.”
Rennes 8.5km road race, October 21
2nd 23:39
After an uninspiring track season, he showed better form here but trailed Olympic steeplechase silver medallist Jipcho (23:35). It represented sub-27:50 10km speed and he beat English Commonwealth trials winner and 1973 world No.2 Black (23:43) and Haro (23:53).
Commonwealth Games 10,000m, Christchurch, January 25
6th 28:17.2 (PB)
Set a big PB but was almost 200m behind home favourite Dick Tayler (27:46.4 to go sixth all-time) and third Brit Dave Black (27:48.6) and Bedford (28:14.8) who was regularly harassed by the Kenyan’s intimidating stifling tactics to slow him down.
"I did a hell a lot of mileage - 150 miles a week - and I was fit not fast and thought that was the way to prepare for a 10km and now I realise it isn't. I had no change of pace and had not done enough speedwork. I was in English cross-country pace shape."
Commonwealth Games 5000m, Christchurch, January 29
5th 13:40.32
Was unable to put up much of a title defence and finished well down on a cracking race between Jipcho (13:14.4) and Foster (13:14.6). Disillusioned he took up cycle racing and did not compete on the track in the summer.
Birmingham Cross-Country League, Wolverhampton, November 2
1st 25:04
This was no easy event to return to racing and he won by nine seconds from UK steeplechase record-holder Andy Holden. The leading Englishman (seventh) in the world cross-country Smedley finished 19th here!
Gateshead Harriers International Cross Country 4.5M, December 14
1st 23:21
Won this BBC televised cross-country on a very tough and muddy 0.75M circuit with much more ease than the two-second margin over Knut Boro (23:23) suggests. Black (23:35) and European 5000m champion Foster (23:37) who had been well ahead in Christchurch, followed. Stewart followed it up with a win in the New Year’s Eve race in Madrid on the road.
National Indoor Championships 3000m, Cosford, February 1
1st 8:01.0
In his first track race for a year, he wasn’t at his sharpest as he headed European 10,000m silver medallist Tony Simmons (8:04.2), who had been his superior in his early junior career.
GB v France 3000m, Orleans, February 23
1st 7:56.8
Happier with his form despite a heavy cold, he won from Chris Stewart (8:12.20) by 100 metres.
European Indoor Championships 3000m, Katowice, Poland, March 9
1st 7:58.6
He left it late and only just squeezed past 1973 World Cross-Country champion Pekka Paivarinta on the line with both given the same time in a thrilling last lap. "I was pretty sure I was going to win. I just waited till we came out of the bend with 35 metres to go. It was tight but it was the best bloody medal I've ever won."
World Cross-Country Championships 12km, Rabat, Morocco, March 16
1st 35:20
He completed an unprecedented double by outsprinting old rival Haro on the Moroccan racecourse relegating the Spaniard to his fourth successive silver. Though then unknown Bill Rodgers was third, it was the greatest world cross-country line-up in history.
Three Olympic champions competed. Roelants was 10th, Frank Shorter 20th and Gammoudi dropped out. Two future Olympic winners - John Walker and Waldemar Cierpinski were 4th and 15th respectively. European 10,000m champion Manfred Kuschmann was 115th, the next European 5000m champion Venanzio Ortis was 90th and 5000m world record-holders of past and future Puttemans and Quax were 16th and 113th respectively. Past winner Paivarinta dropped out.
"I was short on mileage but my pace was better than anyone other than the New Zealanders who had just come from their summer. Rodgers really piled it on but on the last jump he took it badly and I knew he was done. Haro went here and I just followed him and took him off the last bend."
Brittany 8.8km Road, France, April 13
2nd 24:53
His winning run came to an end when AAA 10,000m runner-up Ford (24:45) proved to be too strong for him.
National 12 Stage Road Relay, Sutton Park, April 26
(5M 900y): 24:53 (2nd fastest)
Moved Birchfield from 22nd to 10th on stage 7 though again Ford had the edge (24:45) with Black next fastest (25:01).
British Games Mile, Crystal Palace, May 31
2nd 3:57.4
Stewart proved his once great mile speed had not totally deserted him (for the first time in five years) when in a rare Crystal Palace plus point, he finished second to mile world record-holder Filbert Bayi who won in 3:55.5. Finishing strongly, he outkicked European steeplechase champion Bronislaw Malinowski’s Polish record (3:57.5) and a field that included European Cup 1500m winner Frank Clement (3:57.9) and future world record-holder Ovett (4:00.1).
AAA v Borough Road College 2M, Crystal Palace, June 11
2nd 8:29.4
A more typical Crystal Palace run as he was badly boxed and unable to respond when 13:20.54 5000m man and fellow Olympic finalist Knut Kvalheim kicked away on the last lap (8:28.8) but he again just beat Malinowski and defeated top Britons Smedley (8:30.2) and Nick Rose (8:30.8).
GB v GDR 1500m, Dresden, June 22
5h 3:44.8
A slow race did not suit him and he finished last in a race won by 1970 European junior champion Hans-Henning Ohlert (3:42.1) though only finished just behind European champion Justus (3:44.7) who he had just edged in a 1970 race. A guesting Ovett was second (3:43.3).
Helsinki 5000m, June 26
1st 13:27.6
Ran his fastest 5000m since the Olympics (exactly matching his Munich time) in a fast win against Paul Mose (13:27.8) with the Munich winner Viren fourth (13:34.6).
Stockholm 5000m, July 1
2nd 13:27.0
Went slightly faster but lost out to the world record-holder Puttemans (13:26.4) in a meeting notable for Garderud’s world steeplechase record (8:09.8).
Phillips Golden 2000m, Crystal Palace, July 4
5th 5:02.98 (PB)
It was one of the best line-ups ever seen on a British track though it was a disappointingly slow race won by John Walker’s Commonwealth record (5:00.6) thanks to a 53 last lap. Stewart had a race long battle with Foster (5:02.93) and not for the first or last time, narrowly lost out as both edged Bedford’s UK record.
Gateshead Games 3000m, July 26
1st 7:51.4
Won without fully extending himself in a mostly domestic field with now top coach and AW contributor Dave Lowes second (7:52.4). After a good week’s training Stewart was looking forward to a great AAA run the following week but dropped out of a race won by Liquori feeling heavy-legged and finding out he had a gastric flu, he ended his season missing the upcoming Coca-Cola 10,000m won by Foster in a world leading time, which he had been aiming for.
Midland Counties 4x4M XC Relay, Redditch, November 18
19:46 (fastest)
The inaugural event saw 43 teams compete with Birchfield winning with Stewart making a winter debut taking them into the lead with the fastest leg by 38 seconds.
Birmingham and District Cross-Country League, Aldersley, November 22
1st 31:45
Just did enough to beat former National champion Trevor Wright (31:47).
Inter Area Cross-Country, Lichfield, December 13
1st 27:20-
Narrowly headed John King (27:21), Grenville Tuck (27:23) and fellow 1969 European 5000m medallist Blinston (27:24).
IAC Cross Country, Crystal Palace, December 20
5th 26:53
World 10-mile record-holder and now top agent Jos Hermens (26:30) won comfortably from Simmons (26:37), Black (26:40) and Foster (26:46). Ford was sixth (26:54) behind Stewart and these five would ultimately be Britain’s Olympic 5000m/10,000m representatives. Olympic champions Shorter (27:43) and Viren (28:31) struggled in 14th and 25th respectively.
Madrid New Year’s Eve Race, December 31
3rd 15:40.2
Fernando Cerrada (15:32.2) won with Stewart just losing out to his namesake - former AAA champion Chris (15:39.6).
Chas Kendall 10, Barrow-in-Furness, March 28
1st 46:47
Made a superb 10 miles debut for despite cold, blustery conditions, he was only three seconds slower than Ron Hill’s track record for the distance and finished well clear of English National third-placer Steve Kenyon (47:09).
Midland 12 Stage Road Relay, Sutton Coldfield, April 3
5.6M: 25:03 (fastest leg)
A solo run on stage 10 maintained Birchfield’s second position and he was easily the quickest from King and Holden (both 25:52).
Wolverhampton 1M, May 16
1st 4:01.0
After altitude training at Lake Tahoe with Ovett and Simmons, he returned with a clear win over Black (4:03.8).
Borough Road Meeting 3000m, Crystal Palace, May 26
1st 7:46.8 (PB)
Proof that the altitude training had worked was borne out with an easy win and PB. Dave Black led for the first 2000m at a good pace but Stewart took six seconds out of Black (7:52.6) with a 89 last 600m.
Kraft Games (Olympic Trials) 5000m, Crystal Palace, June 5
3rd 13:35.4
In front of a capacity 13,000 crowd, Foster kicked in a 28.6 200m at 3000m and broke away comfortably to win in 13:33.8 from Black (13:35.4) who just beat a disappointed Stewart who did finish well clear of Rose and Simmons who headed the world rankings. He dropped out of the 10,000m again won by Foster in 27:53.8) while in a qualifying position with just four laps to go due to badly blistered feet.
Helsinki 10,000m, June 23
4th 28:00.04 (PB)
The selectors gave him another chance after his Trials DNF and he run evenly and despite a still sore foot he was half a minute quicker than Ford’s trials time and quicker than Ford’s PB but it was decided it was insufficient as winner Viren (27:43.0) took 17 seconds out of him in the last five laps. Ford had been asked to run too but felt he had done enough already.
Olympic 5000m Final, Montreal, July 30
7th 13:27.65
Unlike in 1972 at the bell he was in the perfect position in second just behind Viren but seemingly having prepared more for the 10,000m, he had no real zip at the finish and dropped back to seventh as Viren (13:24.8) ran the perfect race to hold off Quax (13:25.2) and win his fourth Olympic gold. Viren ran a 55.0 last lap and 1:57.5 last 800m but Stewart was only able to muster 58.0 and 2:00.5 as he ran an almost identical time to 1972. Foster was fifth (13:26.2) after a third in the 10,000m (Britain’s only athletics medal of the Games).
Coca-Cola Meeting 2M, Edinburgh, August 6
6th 8:25.6
In front of a packed 15,000 stadium, world record-holder Foster won a good quality race (8:22.2) from Rose (8:23.0) and Smedley (8:24.0). Stewart was just behind Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Carlos Lopes and Simmons but in a lethargic run did fare better than a travel-weary Viren (8:35.4 in 11th).
Helsinki 5000m, August 10
5th 13:33.8
Again Foster won (13:26.4) this time from Kvalheim (13:26.8) with again Stewart not at his best but beating a tired Viren (13:42.2 in seventh).
Gateshead International 4.5M Cross-Country, November 27
7th 23:14
Another disappointing run well down on Puttemans (22:28), Simmons (22:34), Black and Ford (both 22:46).
Gloucester Grocery 4M, March 19
1st 17:33
Now in a Tipton vest, he won by 48 seconds from Ed Turner (18:11). Former international junior winner (ahead of Stewart) John Bednarski was sixth (18:37).
Michelin 10, Stoke on Trent, May 8
1st 45:13
As the world track record was 45:57.2 and the UK track record 46:44, it’s safe to say there was incredulity with Stewart’s winning time (4:30 miling and 28:00 10,000m pace) on a far from flat course. His solo 45:13 that saw him 100 metres clear after a mile but the organisers double checked the course after the race and Stewart was also insistent it was right. Laurie Reilly was second in 47:34, around 700 metres in arrears despite a super-fast time.
"I knew I'd run inside 46 but not as fast as that but it's not exceptional. Some are giving me stick and I say 'It's funny the course is short as the year you ran 51, it was the right distance'. It's exactly the same course it's always been. The conditions were good and it's a course conducive to fast running. The first two miles are slightly uphill then it's undulating and you have a very fast last two miles. I wanted a fast race and the others followed me. I bet it's the first time some of the others have raced 10 miles hard all the way and there was none of this getting to 5 miles and saying there's a race on here."
St Maur 5000m, France, June 1
1st 13:25.8
Ran a world leading time - his best for five years - with a clear win over Cerrada (!3:36.3) and future world 10,000m record-holder Fernando Mamede (13:38.7)
UK 10,000m, Cwmbran, June 11
1st 27:51.30
He lost his world lead in the 5000m at this meeting to Rose but gained a 10,000m one. Convinced that he should have been selected at 10,000m last year, now a stone lighter and running three times a day, he showed what might have been. Discounting two very slow opening laps, he ran the remaining 23 at 27:40 pace and won by well over 100 metres from Mike McLeod (28:10.2).
"Conditions were good but I was not aiming for a time. After two disappointing laps, Hutton got stuck in and I went with him and then I was away and I thought I'll just keep the boot down. I'm training differently now and coaching myself and haven't touched weight training and I weigh 61kg and feel light and fast but can feel the benefit of weight training I've done in the past."
Debenham Games Mile, Crystal Palace, June 26
10th 4:02.6
Was unable to convert his endurance to speed and was towards the back half a straight behind Ovett’s UK record (3:54.7).
GB v Sweden v Poland 5000m, Stockholm, July 26
3rd 13:33.8
A guesting new world 10,000m record-holder Samson Kimobwa (13:23.0) won from improving Julian Goater (13:27.4) with Stewart still suffering from a virus, struggling in the latter laps.
Philips Gateshead Games 5000m, July 30
8th 13:43.8
Again he was not in contention when it mattered as future double Olympic champion Miruts Yifter (13:20.6) won easily from a debuting Ovett (13:25.0).
UK v USSR 10,000m, Meadowbank, August 25
28:03.1 (Scottish all-comers' record)
After having missed six weeks of track training he showed a return to form. He was on world record pace at 4000m (10:59.0) and though he began easing back at halfway (13:48.0) he held on sufficiently to win by 80 metres from Aleksandr Antipov (28:16.0), the man who would deny Foster a medal in the 1978 Europeans and come second in the world cross-country. As a bonus he broke Lachie Stewart’s famous Scottish all-comers' record from 1970.
Coca-Cola 10,000m, Crystal Palace, September 9
6th 27:43.03 (Scottish record)
In front of an excited capacity 18,000 crowd, it was the greatest mass 10,000m of all-time as nine of the first 10 set PB’s as Foster (27:36.6) went third all-time closely pursued by future record setter Henry Rono (27:37.1). Stewart went third all-time in the UK and into the world all-time top 20 as he narrowly beat Ford (27:43.7).
Manitou Games 3000m, Gateshead, September 12
3rd 7:53.2
With the three protagonists all tired from the 10,000m, Mike McLeod (7:49.1) made history by becoming the first Briton to beat Foster (7:49.6) on the track at a distance above a mile.
Stewart lost contact with the first two in the closing laps.
Springbank 12, Canada, September 25
4th 56:48
Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers (third in Rabat in 1975) won easily in 54:31.
Birmingham Cross-Country League, Tipton, November 5
4th 25:33
In a tight race, just six seconds covered the top four with Black (25:27) winning from Holden (25:29) and Wright (25:30) with Stewart suffering a rare league loss.
Tipton 10, November 20
2nd 47:19
The 1970 European Junior steeplechase finalist John Wheway (47:09) proved too strong for Stewart who was ticking over on 70 miles a week and unable to match the winner over the last two miles.
Schweppes International 4.5M Cross-Country, Gateshead, November 26
5th 22:25
European Junior 5000m champion Nat Muir (22:13) won a star-studded though largely domestic race. Black (22:14), Future world marathon record-setter Steve Jones (22:18) and Ford (22:23) completed the top four. Simmons was sixth (22:27), McLeod 13th and Foster 16th.
IAC Philips Cross-Country, Crystal Palace, December 10
8th 27:09
Ethiopian steeplechaser Eshetu Turu (26:42) won from Black (26:48) and Yifter (26:54).
Muir (26:56), Ford (26:57), Ovett (27:00) and Simmons (27:04) all got the better of Stewart.
Birmingham Cross-Country League, Perry Barr, February 18
1st 28:32
Having been fourth in November, Stewart showed he was at a different level as he beat Ian Gilmour (29:25) and Tony Milovsorov (29:28) by around 300 metres.
English National Cross-Country, Leeds, March 4
2nd 41:37
A quality race in terms of excitement and depth with Stewart leading Tipton to a clear team win over Gateshead but he failed to match his younger sister Mary who won the women’s National the previous week.
He was bidding for his first senior title 10 years after winning the junior race. He set a cracking pace to get rid of many of the big names on the second lap and he was 15 metres clear at one stage but Ford worked his way back and made his effort on the horrendously steep Hill 60 in the final mile and got a small five metre gap and though Stewart chased hard, he fell three seconds short of Ford’s greatest run to date (41:34).
Simmons - who was to finish fourth in the Worlds a few weeks later - was third (41:52). Other National or Inter County winners of past or future placing highly included Ovett in fourth, Black in sixth, McLeod in eighth, Jon Wild 10th, Wright 12th and Grenville Tuck 14th. It was certainly one of the best quality Nationals in history with well over 50 internationals in the top 100. Former International winner Bedford was 23rd. Another, Tagg was 33rd (lower than his previous World run) as was Glen Grant - 76th here after 31st at Chepstow. Stewart was selected for Scotland for the World Championships but had to miss the race with flu.
Midland 12-Stage Road Relay, Sutton Park, April 1
24:41 (fastest)
Setting off well ahead on leg 10 - he could have taken it easy as Tipton won by over four minutes but instead he blasted round and was much faster than ever before and his time was the fastest long leg by 72 seconds from Nigel Gates (25:53) and Wright (25:56), the latter had beaten him in November.
National 12 Stage Road Relay, Sutton Park, April 29
24:38 (fastest)
Tipton won again by four minutes though potentially it could have been close as Gateshead’s Steve Irvine set off ahead on stage three but a leg injury meant he finished in hospital rather than at the next change over and the average of the other 11 runners from Gateshead/Tipton was within seconds and a potential Stewart-Foster battle was denied. Stewart had set off ahead (on leg nine) and superbly blasted around solo at sub-27:50 10km speed on the hilly course in unhelpful conditions as he came in almost three minutes ahead of the eventual second team. Gateshead had continued unofficially and Foster had ran the same leg (24:42) 10 minutes back but did have runners in sight to chase and pass as did Ford (24:46) on stage seven.
Midlands 5000m Championships, Perry Park, June 3
1st 14:05.2
His opening track race of the season was disappointing as he won easily from Colin Brown (14:26.0). He was named for the GB v GDR international at 10,000m a few weeks later as now being coached by Harry Wilson, he was aiming for the European 10,000m in Prague but he withdrew from the international due to a salt deficiency.
Gateshead Games 3000m, July 9
8th 7:57.8
He led with two laps to go but fell well away losing over 10 seconds on winner Dixon (7:47.2). It was a sad track farewell. The race was going to be a warm up for the following week’s UK and European Trial 10,000m but instead of his result being in the July 29 AW issue was the shock announcement: Ian Stewart retires.
“One of Britain’s most successful athletes of all-time, Ian Stewart (29) announced his retirement from top-class athletics," AW reported. "Disappointed with his track form this summer (his only races were the Midland 5000m which he won in a slow time and the Gateshead 3000m in which he finished well down the field), Stewart explained that it was no longer possible for him to train the 120 miles a week he considered necessary - 'and I’ve never been the type of bloke to do things in half measures'. He will now devote more of his time to his sports shop in West Bromwich."
Stewart did make the odd appearance after that - he ran 49:17 for 10 miles at the age of 42 in 1991 which still ranks in the UK M40 all-time top 10 and he became the Promotions Officer for British Athletics, putting together elite fields for the big televised events and subsequently the head of endurance.
Photos by Mark Shearman
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