David ‘The Doc’ Young
It has been very sad news to learn of the death of Dave Young, a very popular manx fell runner. Dave was a leading athlete on the manx fells for many years and one of the best veteran age group competitors on the island.
He enjoyed racing and was a great supporter of the islands fell races always showing great enthusiasm, our thoughts go out to his family at this difficult time.
Tribute by Richie Stevenson
Manx Fell Running in particular and Isle of Man athletics in general have been left in a state of shock on hearing the desperately sad news that David Young has passed away.
“The Doc” as he was affectionately known was without doubt one of the most popular and respected runners ever to compete in local fell races and his passing will leave a huge void in the closely knit fell running community.
My first recollections of the Doc were back in the late 80`s. I`m not sure what year he made his debut but he came into the sport at near veteran status. Within a short space of time he had made his mark and he proceeded to dominate the various veterans age categories up until his untimely death. Indeed he had just retained his veterans 60 category in the Manx Fell League that he was so proud to win for the first time last year.
A quick look at the Manx fell course records shows that the Doc holds every record for the over 50`s age group, a quite staggering achievement. He was also veterans over 40 and over 50 league winner on numerous occasions.
Preparation was always a strong point for the 62 years old Scotsman. He would spend hours searching for the best routes seeking out sheep tracks or short cuts that may just be a bit quicker than the established route. These routes he would carefully mark with a strategically placed stone or piece of wood so he could find them in the heat of battle. Of course this system became known to his rivals and they would also be looking out for them!
The Docs passion and enthusiasm for the hills was obvious and he took it to new heights, so to speak, in his many journeys home to his native Scotland where be became a prolific “Munro bagger”.
In the space of a few days Manx sport has lost two great and popular characters in Ian Turnbull and now the Doc. We will all miss them greatly.
Manx Fell Runners would like to pass on their sympathies to all the Docs family at this sad time.
Filed under: MFR News
It was such a shock to hear the news about the Doc. He was such a fit and lively character. He pipped me in the league this year even though I was 20 years his junior.
I think back to the Glen Mona race this year when he hurtled down the hill to the finish and I had to catch him in my arms before he nose dived in to the tarmac.
He had such an enthusiasam and a great excitement for our events. I will truly miss him.
Can’t believe we wont be seeing David again. He has always been the greatest inspiration to me, as I’m sure he has to many others. His enthusiasm for the sport was unmatched . But , more than this he was a kind , considerate , and thoroughly decent man . Fellrunning on the Island will never be the same , and I will miss him so much . My thoughts are with his family .
Very sad news indeed.
One of the most friendly runners you could hope to meet.
I will never forget his Braveheart style call when he was finishing a race.
He is going to be very sorely missed on the fells.
The Doc was a legend on the Manx fells. One of the most friendly characters you could ever wish to meet, supportive to newcomers and with an infectious enthusiasm for the sport he loved. He was a superb athlete and a fierce competitor whilst always exuding the most incredible humility. This is desperately sad news and my thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
The Doc was a wonderful role model for others his age and younger in the way he achieved so much in athletics and reached such high standards over the years. He was an ambassador to fell running in the way he was so well prepared for events. It was clear he had a brilliant knowledge of all the fell runs, as a result of excellent planning of the routes and the enthusiasm and motivation to go and recce the courses thoroughly beforehand.
He will be hugely missed by all of us and our thoughts go to all his family and friends.
‘The Doc’ was quite simply one of the nicest people I have ever met. He was my GP for many years and was always friendly, courteous and genuine - almost a throwback to the old days of the traditional family doctor. He did a lot to help me get my various injury problems sorted out, being a fellow athlete.
He was an absolute star of Manx athletics, and his fitness and sheer enthusiasm, not to mention his skill on the fells, were a joy to witness. His performances on the fells were truly fantastic, but it should also be remembered that he was a very decent road runner as well. His surgery wall was adorned with a photo of him with Murray Lambden and Ben Scott taken after the marathon at Ramsey a few years ago. He also completed the Parish Walk in 2001, the year the fell league was wiped out due to the Foot and Mouth restrictions. Whenever he went on holiday back to his native Scotland he would always aim to ‘bag’ a few Munros (summits over 3000 ft).
It is impossible to imagine that we won’t see The Doc again, and Gail and I send our thoughts to all his family and friends at this desperately sad time. I will miss him so much.
Doc was always incredibly supportive of everyone else taking part in the hill and fell races, taking the time to congratulate you on your previous performances when we met at the start of a race, and then on your current performance when you finished (he always finished ahead of me, and could be relied on to be there welcoming the rest of the runners home). My fondest memory is of the Arthur Jones 2009 race, where we ran most of the way together till my knees packed in. I had to urge him to press on ahead such was his concern for me. As others have already said, his preparation and recce’ing of race routes was impeccable, and it was his navigation skills that stopped me getting lost in the fog on South Barrule during that race.
I still can’t quite believe that we won’t be seeing him at the start of the first hill race, or any other races after that. I will certainly miss his enthusiastic and friendly welcome. He seemed such a permanent fixture to relative newcomers like myself, and an inspiration to keep running later in life. Farewell Doc, you will be missed.
I would like to add my condolences to ‘Doc’s’ family and freinds.
Doc, was always there for a chat, enquiring how you were, how you did and he was always ready to congratulate you on a race well fought, where ever you finished, not only in our races but on the road also.
He was a true gentleman and ambassador for sport as well as being a genuinely nice bloke, he will be sadly missed by all those who ever had the pleasure of meeting him.
On holiday at present and just heard the news. I can’t believe it. ‘Doc’ was such a legend of the local running scene and so supremely fit. I can remember the first time I met him was halfway around the IoM Marathon course (at the end of lap 1). He trotted up from behind, had a little chat, ducked off into the public conveniences in Mooragh Park and then caught up about 300 yards further on. He then chatted for a couple of miles, left me behind and finished in about 3.25 (I think). I’ll never forget it and I’ll never forget his smile and encouragement whenever we met.
My sincere condolences to his family.
RIP Doc
Hard to believe that he is gone. I will miss his cheery smile and the sincere handshake whenever we met at a race. I met him when I first came to the island. It was he who convinced me to try fell running. My heart goes out to Sara and his girls.
Sad loss of a true gent and a great athlete - always magnanimous and encouraging when he beat you - like when he flew past me at the bottom of Carraghan this year. He will be greatly missed.
Service for David Young will be on Tuesday, August 31st at 10.30 am at the Crematorium.
Shocked to get the news while away on holiday.
I first met Doc Young on the Fells - he quickly became a friend and ’sparring partner’.
He will be sadly missed - I’ll always think of him as being on the Fells with the rest of us.
Rob Webb.