Peeblesshire News | Sport | Kelso athlete picks up top running award

Saturday, 11th October, 2008

Published: Friday, 11th July, 2008 12:25

Kelso athlete picks up top running award

By David Knox

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UP-AND-COMING stars of local athletics took centre stage on Saturday at the first Hawick Youth Games.

And it was a day to remember for 14-year-old Kelso runner Fraser Neil who was awarded performance of the day in the 400 metres.

The Addie Gray trained runner, starting on 40 metres, stormed to victory in his age-group final at the Volunteer Park.

And only half-an-hour later produced another great performance to win the run-off against the first three from the10-12 years race.

Following his success Fraser told the Border Telegraph: “I had a sore hamstring when I came today but the more I ran the easier it got.

“I’ve been training hard with Addie and all that hard work has paid off.”

Cardrona’s Ryan Laidlaw (90) won the younger 400 metres but he couldn’t repeat his running in the grand final with Michael Berry (70) from Galashiels finishing second and Hawick’s Gordon McPherson (20) claiming third.

Having age-group finals leading to grand race-offs proved an exciting addition to the normal games programme.

And in the youths’ sprint a ding-dong battle between Hawick’s Lee Sanderson (19) and Demi Yorke (12.5) from Tweedbank resulted in the Teri just gaining the upper hand in the grand final.

Sanderson beat Yorke by inches in their heat.

But the talented 12-year-old Gala Harrier, who is coached by Neil Renton, blasted through to win the 10-12 years final from her arch-rival.

Demi told us: “He beat me in the heat but I ran much better in the final and felt all the way up that I was going to get him.”

But in a blanket finish in the grand race-off it was Sanderson who managed to break the tape in a blanket finish from senior winner Chloe Rollie (15) with Yorke back in fourth.

Rollie, who is coached by Chico Woods down at Jedburgh, was racing for the first time. And the 13-year-old was delighted to have won her age-group final, from Kelso’s Sean Hook (8.5) and Jed’s Craig Gillan (8), on her debut.

She said: “I only started training a couple of weeks ago. It was great to win the senior final and I almost won the race with the younger ones as well.”

The Chico Woods school also produced the winner of the senior 200 metres with the in-form Annabel Hughes (39) holding on strongly from Hawick’s Ewan Imray (17) and Craig Gillan (16) of Jedburgh.

The 13-year-old said: “I really wasn’t sure if I’d win. I just kept on as hard as I could to the line.”

The 10-12 years 200 metres saw Bethany Douglas (50) ran on strongly to break the tape ahead of Demi Yorke (29) and Ryan Laidlaw (45).

The 12-year-old, who is part of the Davie Rae school, was delighted to have won. She said: “I’ve been running for over two years and I love to win. I felt quite confident that I’d get to the finish before they caught me.”

In the 200 metres race-off it was the older athletes who dominated with Annabel Hughes winning from Ewan Imray and Craig Gillan.

The half-mile was a one-off race for all youths.

And it was dominated from start to finish by Pitreavie’s Kathryin Pennel (145). The 14-year-old set a storming pace to win by more than 30 metres from the fast-finishing Fraser Neil (60) and Dan Purves (80) from Earlston.

The seniors did have their brief moments of fame and it was hometown boy Davie Rae (5) who managed to break the tape in a highly competitive 90-metres final.

The 36-year-old just got up on the line to deny Robbie Shirra-Gibb (10.5) from Earlston and training partner Ikram Barskanmay (7).

Rae told us: “I didn’t get the best of starts but managed to run well and just get there.

“I’ve had a lot of luck on this track over the years and I think that’s my fifth win here.”

In the open 800 metres Daryl Hastie (55) dropped down in distance to kick clear from Hawick’s Stewart Fraser (65) and Dean Whiteford (90) from Innerleithen.

Games organiser Alan Scott was delighted with the performances throughout the inaugural youth meeting. He said: “Despite the weather there have been some excellent runs from the youngsters.

“I already have a date pencilled in for next year’s meeting.”

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