A golden car park moment!

JIM Alder knew he would have to run the race of his life to win the marathon in the 1966 Games in Jamaica.

He had ignored Scottish Athletics management orders not to run the six-mile (10,000m) five days earlier.

He took bronze — Scotland’s first medal of the games — and received “muted congratulations” from management, who warned ominously, “don’t fail in the marathon”.

That started at 5.30am to protect the athletes from raging tropical temperatures.

Australian Ron Clarke began to lead the 19-strong field but was crippled with exhaustion, leaving Jim and Coventry gas-fitter Bill Adcocks at the front.

As the pair neared the finish, the Scotsman opened up a 200-yard lead.

However, the Royal Family arrived at the stadium at the same time as the leaders were finishing. Jim said:“The race marshals, who were supposed to show us where to go, all ran into the stadium to see the Royals. David Coleman, in his commentary said, ‘There’s something wrong here.’ “All hell broke loose.” In the confusion, Adcocks ran straight into the stadium while Jim, following directions from a Scottish official, became lost in the car park.

When he ran into the stadium, he was horrified to see Adcocks 50 yards ahead.

He said: “I couldn’t believe what had happened, but I just thought, ‘I’m going to get him’.”

He chased his rival around the empty stadium, passed him on the back straight, and won by six seconds — yelling “Geronimo!” as he crossed the line.