A Legacy Set in Sand: Chariots of Fire in St Andrews

If you’ve ever run along West Sands at low tide under the typical St Andrews overcast sky while being battered by howling winds and choppy waves, you might have found yourself unconsciously humming the opening notes of a certain British film soundtrack from 1981. Even for those who have never seen Chariots of Fire, the beach run scene is so well known that West Sands will likely bring to mind the image of the runners. Though set in Kent, the film production shot the scene right here on West Sands. The iconic clip has since been reproduced and referenced countless times, but is its cinematic legacy still visible in St Andrews? 

As it turns out, the Chariots of Fire heritage in St Andrews may be closer than we think. The recreation of the famous beach run is core to the West Sands 5K, the annual fundraiser race organised by the Athletics and Cross Country Club. Open to all, this year’s race fell on Saturday 10 October, with many student and local attendees.

Kensington Ludlum, Beginners and Alumni Rep of the Athletics and Cross Country Club, explained that branding the event as “the ‘official’ Chariots of Fire race” is meant to publicise the beach’s connection to the iconic scene. She believes that people might not otherwise be aware of West Sands’ reputation and wants to make sure the beach’s cinematic history lives on.

The cinematic atmosphere is palpable during the West Sands 5K: “I always hear the music in the back of my mind whenever I’m running,” Ludlum shared. As a runner well-acquainted with Chariots of Fire, she described how the excitement of racing on the beach made her feel connected to her British heritage.

The film reference helps to give the club race a light-hearted atmosphere and community feel, Rosalie Laban, the Athletics Club Publicity Officer, said, “I think it’s part of what makes it so fun.” She added that “the point of it is that it’s not overly competitive: it’s about coming with your friends and having a good time.”

Aside from the film’s presence in student life, the Chariots of Fire legacy has a significant role in local St Andrews traditions, especially through another run held at the end of term time: the annual Chariots of Fire Beach Race.

The charity fundraiser 5K race was founded in 2011 by former St Andrews resident and University student Ben McLeod. From 110 participants at the first event, the Beach Race has grown to 800 runners every year, with 400 people on the waiting list in 2026. Each year it donates approximately £20,000 to a range of local charities, including Families First and the Wave Project. 

According to McLeod, the event is well-known to locals, and each year sees a “healthy number of participants from Fife.” There has also been an increase in overseas competitors, including American golfers scheduling their trips to fit around the race. 

It is no surprise to McLeod that most people know the film by the opening scene. When the 2012 Opening Ceremony to the London Olympics featured Mr Bean’s version of the Chariots of Fire beach scene, he saw the film’s popularity increase because the event “brought it to a fresh generation who might not have been aware of it.”

He works hard to make sure the race incorporates the film’s legacy: every participant is given a white T-shirt akin to the runners in the film, the legendary theme song is blasted on loudspeakers, and beer is provided at the end — a custom brew called ‘VangALEis,’ a play on the score composer’s name.

“The atmosphere of anticipation is electric,” he says, “So you crank up the music on the beach. You’ve got 800 people waiting at the start line. Some of them want to win it. Some of them want to run it. Some of them just want to finish it.”

McLeod believes that the race is so significant to local life because everyone in the St Andrews community is involved. Local businesses like Fisher and Donaldson and Janettas donate doughnuts and ice creams, while The Old Course donated “two stunning trophies” last year. The Beach Race organisers also work closely with the West Sands Ranger Service, who look after the beach ecosystem. Even students at St Leonard’s School come to help hand out medals. 

He sees the race as spreading the memory of the film beyond the St Andrews community. McLeod once even had the chance to meet the film’s producer David Puttnam, who signed a poster for him with the words “thank you for keeping the memory alive.” 

According to McLeod, the film’s legacy has helped to popularise the race outside Scotland’s borders. He recalled one Spanish man who travelled to St Andrews to run the Beach Race in memory of his late wife, whose favourite film had been Chariots of Fire.

However, there are mixed opinions on how renowned the film’s legacy is outside of Scotland. 

Professor Tom Rice of the University’s Department of Film Studies told the BBC that people at the time viewed the filming of the West Sands beach scene as a “brief interruption to daily life,” and didn’t realise that it would become an “iconic scene that is known internationally.”

On the other hand, its impact on St Andrews tourism may not be as significant compared to other town attractions. The location of the beach scene filming is “now more of an interesting aside than a draw of itself,” according to Richard Falconer, founder of St Andrews tours. He only occasionally mentions the West Sands beach scene when bringing American tourists along the Old Course tour. 

Whatever the international recognition of St Andrews’ role in the heritage of Chariots of Fire, local pride in the film’s legacy remains strong. 

Because of this, McLeod has been researching funding opportunities to replace the one small plaque that currently commemorates the film. He hopes that St Andrews will finally commemorate its role in British film history.

Illustration by Anna Dickson