Sad news as Adrian Weatherhead passes away

Friday 14th October 2022

Adrian Weatherhead, 22 September 1943 – 9 October 2022.

Scotland and GB and NI international Adrian Weatherhead has passed away at the age of 79.

Adrian, a member of Octavians AC, Edinburgh AC and Polytechnic Harriers, was a top-class runner and sub-4 minute miler.

Best remembered on the track as a 1500m runner, Adrian won the Scottish indoor title in 1973 and 1976 before becoming national outdoor champion in 1979. He bettered four minutes for the mile for the first time in 1971 and went on to do so on another three occasions, with a best of 3:57.59 in 1975.

In the Emsley Carr Mile at the British Games in 1975, he recorded 3:57.6, finishing ahead of Frank Clement and Steve Ovett and just two seconds behind the winner, Tanzania’s legendary Filbert Bayi.

He represented Great Britain in six track and field internationals between 1971-77 and Scotland in six matches, winning three of them.

Over the country, he represented Scotland seven times, won the national cross-country silver medal on three occasions and helped his club, Edinburgh AC, to the team title in 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978 and 1981.

After his track career was over, he turned to the road, winning team gold in the 6-stage relay, and individually (as a vet) winning the Grangemouth 10k and the Falkirk Half Marathon.

His range of track times was excellent with bests of 1:52.8 (800m, 1977), 3:41.35 (1500m, 1975), 3:57.59 (Mile, 1975), 8:02.6 (3000m, 1971) and 13:48.0 (5000m, 1974).

In a one-off season at the Steeplechase in 1974, he won the Scottish title and achieved a best of 8:50.6.

Everyone at scottishathletics sends our condolences to Adrian’s family and friends across the sport.

With thanks to Arnold Black, scottishathletics Historian