Champion former skier John Watson OBE donates framed medals and pictures to
celebrate Bearsden ski club¹s rich history.

A FASCINATING insight into the proud history of Bearsden ski club and its medal winning success has been put on show.

Former Champion skier John Watson OBE has donated framed photographs - including a set of actual medals - all of which depict the successes of the club at national and international level.

The memorabilia - which has now gone on show in the superb new Club in Stockiemuir Road, Bearsden - were previously in John¹' home in Milngavie.

Now they have gone on permanent display after John - who was the Club President in 1980 and 1981 - decided a more appropriate home for them was the Club itself.

He explained: Their rightful place is in Bearsden Ski Club where everyone can see them. They illustrate the proud history of the Club and complement the new surroundings of this splendid Club wonderfully.²

The gold medals were won by John and team-mates Gordon Crawford (Team Captain) and Richard Wilson in the UK International Pentathlon in 1979 when the event took place at Aviemore.

One of the pictures taken at the time shows former Olympian Menzies Campbell, later to be knighted and go on to become Liberal Democrat leader - making the Awards presentation.

The Club also met with success in Grindelwald, Switzerland where the team was invited to participate in the Swiss Academie Deski event where pentathletes from eight countries took part. The Scots took bronze in this event.

The events for this gruelling sporting challenge also included curling and swimming in addition to three skiing disciplines - giant slalom, cross country skiing and ski jumping.

John added: This was a special time in the Club's history with many skiers competing at top level. It is wonderful to see these medals and the history attached to them now adorning the walls of the new Clubhouse²

Bearsden Ski Club was formed more that 40 years ago by a small group of enthusiasts. It quickly grew to be recognised as one of the major influencers in Scottish ski-ing and produced many world class skiers.

Forty years on, the club is now based at the West of Scotland Snowsports Centre and boasts a membership of around 1200. Following the proud traditions of the club a number of skiers are now in the full-time British Team.

Having spent around £1million in 2005/2006 the club now provides one of the most advanced dry slope facilities in Britain incorporating a main alpine slope, two nursery slopes and a freeride slope for boarders and freeriders. A new state of the art club house has also been built.

Drew Travers, Manager of the Ski Club, said: We're delighted with the donation from John Watson. The photographs are now on permanent display. It is very important that we record such magnificent achievements by our members and these medals and photographs remind us of that important legacy.

Bearsden Ski Club
The Mound Stockiemuir Rd, Glasgow, G61 3RS,
United Kingdom
Phone: 0141 943 1500