Allan Watt

Allan Watt was educated at Strathallan School, Perth, from 1935-38. Although he did not take to cricket and rugby too well, he was a fine runner and he won the Junior Sports Championship in 1936 and 1937 and then, in 1938, was Senior Victor Ludorum.

After leaving school, Watt continued his successful athletics career and in 1939 won the Scottish Youth Championships long jump and 100 yards, in a record 10.0 seconds. Watt then went to the White City in London and won those same two titles at the AAA Junior Championships, with Watt becoming the first Scot to win a junior AAA title. He retained his Scottish 100 yards and long jump titles in 1940, when he also added the 220 .

Watt joined the Army in 1941 and served firstly with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) before gaining a commission with the Royal Field Artillery. He ultimately travelled to Kenya and worked as a staff captain in education and welfare. He ran occasionally during his time in the Army and won the Northern Command 100 yards title in 1944. He was demobilised in 1946 and returned to serious athletics training.

Having finished third in the 100 yards at the 1945 British Games at the White City, Watt went one better at the 1947 meeting. On that occasion he finished second to the American Ed Conwell, who set a British 100 yards record of 9.6. Watt won the senior Scottish 100 and 220 titles in 1947 and, just before the 1948 London Olympics, retained his 100 yards title, but lost the 220 to fellow Olympian David Mackenzie. Although provisionally selected for both the 100 and 200 metres at the Olympics, he was only selected for the sprint relay, although he never made the final four.