Published: Friday, 23rd January, 2009 12:30pm

Peebles in gold rush

by David Knox

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PEEBLESSHIRE landed a gold haul at the Kelvin Hall over the weekend.

West Linton sprinter Stacey Downie started year with yet another title - landing the Scottish indoor 60-metres crown.

But she will have to share it with falkirk rival Jade Nimmo, after judges failed to separate the pair in the final.

Downie was not only delighted with the joint win but also her time of 7.72 seconds, which is a new personal best.

She told us: "I got a great start in the final but was still surprised by the time. "I've been really busy at university so I didn't think I would have improved at all."

Cardrona's Amy Clancy finished just out of the medals in fourth - but she also recorded a new personal best of 7.93 seconds.

And it was a similar story for Peebles flyer Steven Charters who was also fourth in the men's 60-metres behind Nick Smith.

But mum-of-three Susan Ridley, from Peebles, made it a Borders distance double by winning the women's 3000 metres crown.

And just a few minutes later Kelso"s Darrell Hastie won the men"s race over the same distance.

In the East District age-group championships Faye Nicholson went one better than last year"s silver by producing a winning leap of 5.03 metres in the Under 17s long jump.

Mum and coach, Linda, told the Peeblesshire News: 'Faye hasn"t been able to do much training because the sand pits have been frozen and we weren"t expecting to win.

'We"re delighted that she has won gold.'

Nicholson"s training partner at Moorfoot Juniors, Craig Mullins, also won gold in the Under-13s shot putt.

The 10-year-old shattered his personal best with a throw of 7.84 metres.

Galashiels 13-year-old Demi Yorke also struck gold in the Under-15s 60 metres with a time of 8.29 seconds.

And she also picked up a silver in the Under 15s long jump behind Pitreavie's Kirsten Galbraith.

Yorke's coach Neil Rentonsaid: "It was a big step for Demi to go into the Under-15s but she did exceptionally well.

"She's had few opportunities to do any long jump preparation because of the weather, so we are also pleased with her silver. "

The Borders runners did us proud over the weekend with many medals being won."

Bonchester's Emily Douglas collected a silver in the final of the East Under 17s 60 metres with Rebecca Caswell of Oxton just inches behind in third.

But the younger Douglas sister, Martha, had to settle for fourth in the Under-15s 200 metres. Fellow Gala Harrier Sophie Elder ran a best 27.03 seconds to win bronze in the East Under-17s 200 metres.

The 14-year-old from Jedburgh finished five metres down on winner Bethanie Finlayson.