Dave Bedford’s 50-year-old championships record

The oldest British Championships record in the book has stood the test of time for an amazing half century

Fifty years ago in July 1972, the British Championships (officially then the AAA) staged the Olympic Trials at Crystal Palace.

At the time, Edward Heath was Prime Minister and Puppy Love by Donny Osmond was the No.1 record in the music charts.

The event was considered the greatest championships in the 92-year history of the event with huge crowds, great weather and a fantastic atmosphere.

Undoubtedly some of the crowds and atmosphere were due to the charismatic Dave Bedford.

The previous year he had set an European 10,000m record on a baking hot day on a cinder track in Portsmouth and his presence had led to sell out crowds at Crystal Palace where he attempted the world 5000m record at the AAA Championships and set a British record in the steeplechase in the IAC/Coca-Cola meeting.

In 1972, everyone thought he was focusing on the 10,000m and it was that this event that was chosen for the sell-out (3.25pm ) Saturday day two crowd with the 5000m on the Friday evening at 7.50pm.

Bedford was not mentioned in the Athletics Weekly 5000m preview though 13 names were picked out to look out for.

Bedford himself was not sure about risking running the shorter distance and though he was entered his participation was unexpected and he even changed his mind seconds before the start.

Though he had not run a fast 5000m for over a year he had run a British 2000m record of 5:03.0 the week before.

He started quickly – almost stumbling – as he powered into the lead at 200 metres and completed the first lap in 61.6. He followed that with laps of 62.4, 62.8 and 62.6 for a first mile inside 4:11.

Only Ian Stewart and Ian McCafferty could live with this staggering pace. The two Scots had fought out a brilliant Commonwealth Games race two years earlier (ahead of Olympic 1500m champion Kip Keino and world record-holder Ron Clarke) and run the then second and third fastest times in history of 13:22.8 and 13:23.4.

Dave Black followed 40 metres back.

Bedford’s fifth circuit was 63.0 which meant his 2000m time of 5:12.4 put him five seconds up on Clarke’s equivalent time during his 13:16.6 world record in 1966 and both Stewart and McCafferty were forced to let him go.

Gradually Bedford’s tempo slowed (laps of 63.8 and 64.4) but he was still through halfway in 6:32 and a 65.2 brought him through 3000m in an unprecedented 7:53.6, still over three seconds quicker than…