Angus Scott

Sheffield-born Angus Scott was the son of one of the Government’s Inspector of Mines. Educated at Sedbergh public school before going up to St. John’s College, Cambridge, Angus went on to become a double rugby and athletics Blue.

On the track, Scott was originally a quarter- and half-miler, but switched to hurdling. In 1949, he ran a memorable last leg in the 4x440 yards relay and pipped international sprinter John Wilkinson to clinch the race and that year’s inter-varsity relay match 4-3.

Scott was appointed president of the Cambridge University Athletic Club in 1949 and he made the decision to take time out from rugby to concentrate on his own, and his team-mates’, athletics form. In the 1950 AAA 440 yards hurdles, Scott ran second to the multi-winner Harry Whittle and that same year Scott was a member of the winning 4x400 metres relay squad, along with Martin Pike, Les Lewis, and Derek Pugh, at the Bruxelles European Championships. Scott also reached the semi-final of the individual 400 hurdles.

Scott was runner up again to Whittle at the AAA championships in 1951 and 1952 and in the latter year went to the Helsinki Olympics and reached the quarter-final of the hurdles. Scott was scheduled to be part of the England team for the 1954 British and Empire Commonwealth Games at Vancouver but withdrew because he was worried about the possible recurrence of an old Achilles tendon injury. His place was taken by Peter Higgins in what was the gold medal-winning relay team.

As a rugby player, Scott was a running three-quarter and won his Blue in 1945, with a second one in 1948. That year, Scott played one of his most memorable matches for Cambridge, at the Cardiff Arms Park, when he scored a famous winning try for the University in beating the seemingly invincible Cardiff XV 8-6.

Personal Best: 400H – 52.4 (1952).