Green day at St Ronan's

Published 24 Jul 2009 14:01 0 Comments

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EVERGREEN Davie Grieve turned back the clock on Saturday to win the 182nd St Ronan's Games Sprint.

The 53-year-old had finished runner-up at the historic race on three previous occasions.

And the Hawick flyer, running from 10.5 metres, was forced to sweat for five minutes before judges could separate him from runner-up Ross Weir (16.5), also from Hawick, in the photo finish.

Grieve said: "You just never know if you've won when it's as close as that.

"I've been close a few times, finishing second, so I'm delighted to have finally won.

"I was beaten in my cross-tie and I knew I had to start better in the final."

A metre further back from Weir was Selkirk's Ben Purves (8.5) in third. Hawick also claimed the 200 metres with Aidan Patterson (8) producing a late charge to hit the tape in front of Edinburgh's Euan McCombie (8), with Callum Whillans (15), from Hawick, and Earlston's Lee Goodfellow (16) dead-heating for third.

Mark Young (85) made it a Teri treble by claiming the 800-metres.

The 20-year-old hit the front on the back straight and, despite a late charge from Reece Taylor (40) and Colin Welsh (scr), Young held on for victory.

He said: "I heard them coming up behind me at the bell and knew I'd have to kick. I really went for it up the back straight and just hoped I wouldn't be caught."

Selkirk's Ally Laurie (290) led from start to finish in the 1600 metres. The 46-year-old janitor held a comfortable 30-metre lead going into the home straight that the fast-finishing John Thomson (90), of Coaltown, or Kelso's Daryl Hastie (10) couldn't close.

Laurie told us: "I'm chuffed to bits to get another win. They don't come along very often so I enjoy them."

Innerleithen's Darren Dougal sacrificed his regular St Ronan's afternoon party to win the gruelling Lee Pen Hill Race. The 38-year-old won by just over 30 seconds from training partner Michael McGovern with Bruce Smith in third. But he did suffer for his win.

Dougal said: "My feet are covered in blisters and hurt. "Thankfully you don't feel them when you're in the front of a race."

Alex Campbell from Peebles was the first lady home. Peeblesshire dominated the youths' 90 metres with Stuart Mullins (17) claiming his first ever win on the circuit. The 14-year-old from Peebles held on comfortably to win the final from Dolphinton's Jordan Charters (11) and James Innes.

Mullins said: "I thought I had a chance and I just went as fast as I could in the final. I'm happy to have won."

David Edwards, from Leaderfoot, had to wait several minutes in the pouring rain to find out he'd won the youths' 200 metres after crossing the line together with training partner Calum Hunter (28), from Stow, and Kelso's Euan Pettigrew (26). Mark Berry (210) continued his impressive season by winning the youths' 1600 metres.

The 14-year-old sat on the shoulder of eventual runner-up Andrew Thomson (150) going into the home straight before kicking clear.

Berry said: "When the other boy went past me I tried to stay with him. I had a bit left at the end and managed to sprint." Long-time leader Robbie Chalmers (290), from Melrose, finished in third. Jed's Matthew Wilson won the youths' Caerlee Hill Race from Selkirk's Rowan Marr.

The 14-year-old said: "The other boy was pushing me all the way so I had to keep going as hard as I could."

In the confined races Sean Grant won the New Zealand Cup over 200 metres and K Summers claimed the 800 metres America Cup.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 24 Jul 09

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