To celebrate the launch of this new athletics event, Greater Shantallow’s ‘Yes’ magazine has looked back at yesteryear and focused on a great team of the late 1940s and 50s, The Oak Leaf Athletics Team and in particular, Ulster senior champion Jackie Campbell.

Formed during the dark days of the Second World War, the Oak Leaf Athletic Team dominated Irish running during the late 40s and early 50s. One member of that team, now in his early eighties, Jackie Campbell remembers those days.

Jackie’s running career goes back to his school days in St. Edward’s College, Liverpool, where he put up the best junior performance by winning four events at the school sports.

A few years later, having moved to Derry to avoid the German bombing of Liverpool, he set a record for the 800 metres at the Ulster Junior Track Championships in 1946 winning the 600 metres and 880 yards senior titles.

The following year he represented Ulster against Connacht at Sligo winning the General O’ Duffy Cup.

Speaking of his running days, Jackie reminisces on the club’s formation.

“We used to play Gaelic games at Celtic Park until one day, out of the blue; we decided to form an athletics club. The main founder was Frank Pimley who was originally from Belfast.

“When we started out, we had no kit so Frank’s brother, who used to run the tennis courts near Celtic Park, supplied us with black rugby jerseys.

“When we could eventually afford running tops, we kept the black colour with white shorts. It was a very recognisable strip.

“We ran under the auspices of the N.A.C.A., the National Athletics, and Cycling Association and we travelled all over Ireland. We would head down to Dublin to attend inter-provincial meetings. There was the Lisburn Cup at Newry, which was run on Easter Sunday and we had some unique events like the event run by Cardinal Dalton at Armagh. The medals for that event were unique. They were solid silver with the Cardinal’s hat at the top, beautiful objects in their own right.

“We would often host meetings at Ballyarnett running against teams like the City of Derry Harriers but unfortunately, facilities back then were non-existent and it would not be unusual to have to change in a field.

“As he thumbs through a scrapbook in front of him, Jackie recalls the names of some of his former running colleagues, many now gone.

“We had Brendan Duddy and Brendan Dorrian, both well-known businessmen in the city, Patsy McCrystal, brothers John and Willy Carlin, Ernie Teasie and Billy Bryson to name but a few. I remember Brendan Duddy famously tried for both the junior and senior titles on the one day! I don’t remember if he got either but he nearly died trying!”

When asked what he remembered most about running at the old Ballyarnett racecourse, Jackie smiled and reached for a black and white photo.

The striking photo showed a young man, arms outstretched, crossing the finishing line.