Peeblesshire News | Sport | Michael 'Czechs' In

Thursday, 28th August, 2008

Published: Monday, 23rd June, 2008 12:00

Michael 'Czechs' In

By David Knox

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CZECH champion Michael Barvick struck gold at a sun-basked Selkirk on Saturday.

The 24-year-old pre-final favourite, running from 4 metres, was pushed all the way to the line by Hawick winner Glyn Davies (8.5).

But following a brief photo-finish deliberation it was the Tom Bradley trained Eastern European who was announced as the winner.

Barvick, who has been running in Scotland for three seasons, was delighted to have finally won a major sprint title. He told us: “I really didn’t expect to win today. I am very surprised by how well it all went and I am very happy.”

Barvick clocked 11.75 in the final of the NGT Co-op 110-metres.

Gateshead veteran Neil Armstrong (10) finished half-a-metre behind Barvick and Davies back in third with Colin Bruce (12.5) of Selkirk in fourth.

The Tom Bradley school also lifted the Open 200 metres silverware with 20-year-old Lawrie McCombie.

McCombie (18) sneaked through on the inside to beat Hawick’s John Paxton (23) in the dying strides with Stirling’s Wallace McGown (18) in third.

The police student said: “I had to work really hard to catch the front boys but managed to get a run on the inside.”

Steven Fox (16) of Seaton denied Selkirk’s Ben Purves (30) claiming glory on his home track in the Open 400 metres.

Both Fox and Purves swept past long-time leader Gregor Nicholson (55) from Peebles on the top corner of the final and raced head-to-head down the home straight.

The final of the Jean Proudfoot open 800 metres also produced a tremendous finish with Hawick’s Kenny Short (80) catching long-time leader Ally Laurie (130) from Selkirk on the final bend.

GB international veteran Tommy Cunningham (20) from North Shields came flying past Laurie on the home straight but narrowly failed to catch Short with backmarker Daryl Hastie (scr) stealing third place.

Following his win, 42-year-old Short said: “I always used to run the further distances but did pretty well over the half mile over in Australia and decided to give it a go this season.

“It’s my first win of the season and I’m delighted.”

John Thomson (75) from Coaltown couldn’t defend his NGT Co-op Golden Mile title last year due to health problems.

But the 50-year-old made amends on Saturday with a gutsy run to take up the lead on the final lap and kick for home.

Lasswade’s Ross Finlayson (50) came late to claim second with Keith Murray (200) from Hawick in third.

Thomson was delighted after breaking the tape. He told us: “I am over the moon. I love running at Selkirk and was disappointed when I couldn’t run last year.”

The Youths events also produced some outstanding performances as well as a few exciting finishes.

Hawick’s James Purves (10) claimed his third win of the season in the 90-metres.

The 13-year-old Billy Edgar-trained athlete showed great composure to break the tape inches ahead of Grant Runciman (6) of Lauder and Kelso’s Sean Hook.

Purves said: “My starts are improving and I’m delighted to get another win.”

With the youths’ 400 metres races being split into age groups there were three exciting races to savour for the huge crowd at Philiphaugh.

Tara Mactaggart (70) from Hawick stormed into the lead of the 10-12 years race with 100 metres to go and kicked clear on the home straight.

The exhausted 12-year-old, who is part of the Davie Rae School, was jubilant after his first win on the circuit. She said: “I was trying to keep the same pace all the way round. I couldn’t feel my legs at the end.”

In the 13-14 years 400 metres Ryan Goodfellow (60) followed up his Hawick win with another outstanding performance with Jedburgh’s Greig Young (65) in second and Earlston’s Dan Purves (50) back in third.

Goodfellow, who is coached by Bruce Scott, said: “I had a really good run. I just kicked for home at the top of the straight and hoped for the best.”

In the 15-16 years race Greg Paxton (70) led all the way to break the tape ahead of Earlston’s Callum Wilde (30) and the fast-finishing Iain Douglas (8) from Selkirk.

The 15-year-old winner, who is trained by Billy Edgar, said: “I was really fighting to keep going at the end.”

The Dominic Forte youths 800 metres turned into the race of the day with six or seven young runners chasing the winning line.

Selkirk’s Skye Shiell (140) took up the running just after the bell and opened up a 20-metres gap approaching the second last bend.

But a pack of back markers chased the 12-year-old down and Ian Little (40) from Langholm appeared to be coming to win but a stumble on the home straight allowed Fraser Neil (60) of Kelso storm to the front with 20 metres to go.

A stride behind Neil was Earlston’s Dan Purves (80) and the fast-finishing Mark McEwan (60) of Hawick.

Following his win, 14-year-old Neil, who is coached by Addie Gray, said: “I kicked with about 200 metres to go and just got in front.

“My legs are really feeling it now.”

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