In June 1970 in what was to subsequently prove to be the clash of the Commonwealth champions, Ian Stewart ran away from Lachie Stewart (no relation) to win the Scottish 5,000m title in 13:47:8 whilst Peter out sprinted Ian McCafferty over 1,500m for an unusual family double on the same afternoon.
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The final individual event before the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium was the eagerly anticipated 5,000 metres Final in the late afternoon of 25 July 1970.
The strong pre-race favourite was the defending champion from Kenya, Kip Keino who earlier in the week had won the 1,500m. However, many athletics enthusiasts were willing the hugely popular Australian runner Ron Clarke to lift the title to accompany his many world records.
Englishman Dick Taylor, who had created a UK record on the same track six weeks earlier, threw down the gauntlet after an indecisive 71 seconds opening lap. The red-haired Coventry Godiva Harrier increased the tempo considerably and led the field for more than two miles.
To the delight of the capacity crowd, Ian McCafferty hit the front with 800m remaining and it seemed likely that the host nation could win two medals. Their optimism was tempered by the continuing, imposing presence of Olympic champion Kipchoge Keino. Stewart made a decisive move at the start of the home straight with 450 metres to run. Although McCafferty moved close to him, he was fiercely determined that no-one was going to overtake him on the home straight.
With his right arm aloft, Stewart crossed the line the Commonwealth champion to add to his European titles in a new European, UK and Scottish National record time of 13m 22.8. Ian McCafferty took the silver medal in a Scottish Native record of 13m 23.4 with the illustrious Keino in the bronze medal position.
Recalling his triumph 35 years later, Ian said, "I ran easily to qualify for the Final on Thursday. I had beaten the world record holder Ron Clarke by 11 seconds in Stockholm and I felt that the final would be between Keino and myself. I hit the front at the top of the home straight with one lap remaining and went for home.
"The crowd was extremely supportive on the last lap and when I finished I was told that I had run the second fastest time in athletics history. I didn't know for certain that it was Ian McCafferty who was second but we both got a great reception when we did a lap of honour and later on when Princess Anne presented our medals."
