Donald Robertson

After placing ninth on his marathon début in the 1930 AAA race, Donald Robertson went on to win the title a record five times (1932-34, 1936-37, 1939). He worked as a coach painter in Glasgow and, after running what proved to be his fastest marathon n the 1932 AAA race, financial difficulties prevented him from joining the Olympic team traveling to Los Angeles. His Olympic chance came in 1936 when he finished seventh, after beating the silver medalist, Ernie Harper, in the AAA Championships. At the British Empire Games he placed second in 1934 and fourth in 1938. After the war, he was runner-up in the 1946 AAA race and placed third in 1947. In both years he won the Scottish title. He was renowned for his sprint finish, winning the AAA title in both 1932 and 1936 by a margin of less than two seconds, but in 1946 he lost out to Squire Yarrow by a similar margin. Robertson died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism at the early age of 43.

Personal Bests: Mar – 2-34:32.6 (1932).