Published: Tuesday, 9th March, 2010 12:18pm

Beltane event runs into trouble

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Ian Smith wins last year's Beltane Sprint

ONE of the oldest parts of the Beltane Festival has run its final race.

The annual sports, which date back 110 years, are unlikely to be held as part of this year's festivities after organisers stood down.

A behind-the-scenes search has taken place to find replacements but the Beltane Festival committee this week conceded the athletics and dancing event is extremely doubtful.

David Turnbull from the committee told the Peeblesshire News: "You don't like losing any part of the Beltane Festival and this will be a shame but we simply don't have anyone to organise the games.

"There is nobody on our committee who has the interest or knowledge of the sport to do it."

The games date back to 1899 - two years after the Riding of the Marches were revived - and quickly became an integral part of Peebles' annual festival.

The Beltane Sprint attracted crowds of up to 3,000 as well as some of the country's leading athletes.

Fears for the future of the event were expressed in 2008 when sports secretary Paul Spence resigned due to family and work commitments.

But local lawyer Alan Strain and sports administrator Gregor Nicholson picked up the baton to organise last year's event.

A switch of venue, to Whitestone Park from Haylodge Park, and a move to Sunday afternoon from its traditional Saturday slot appeared to be successful with crowd numbers up on the previous few years.

But disputes between the organisers and governing body Borders Athletics led to Mr Nicholson and Mr Strain standing down towards the end of last year.

Gregor Nicholson told us: "I intimated to the Beltane Committee that I wouldn't be involved this year for personal reasons, and Alan did the same.

"It will be very disappointing if the Beltane meeting doesn't go ahead."

Bruce Scott, vice chairman of Border Athletics, admitted the loss of the Beltane meeting would be a blow for local runners.

He said: "We did offer to run the meeting ourselves if the Beltane Committee would take care of the sponsorship but this has been turned down. We don't have the people in Peebles to attract sponsorship for the meeting.

"This leaves a huge hole in the athletics summer calendar and is very disappointing."

Innerleithen sprint coach Charlie Russell is one of several supporters who have offered to help - but it is unlikely a full organising committee will be formed.

Mr Russell told us: "I received a call to say the Beltane Games were in trouble. I will definitely do my bit to help keep them going if organisers can be found."