Amy gets the verdict in tight finish

David Knox • Published 19 Jul 2010 09:30 0 Comments

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It was Amy's turn to sit at the top table

PEEBLES sprinter Amy Clancy's big day finally arrived.

The 22-year-old has been the bridesmaid in many finals over the past three seasons.

But last Saturday following a dramatic final of the 157th Jed-Forest Sprint, the Charlie Russell trained athlete was crowned champion.

Clancy, who run from 17.5 metres, said: "That was really close in the final and I wasn't sure if I had won.

"It means everything to win this, I'm just so pleased. I knew I had a chance but I had to throw myself across the line."

The pre-school nursery teacher collected £3,000 as well as the coveted silver medal and sash.

Langholm teenager Jordan Maxwell (9.5) was placed second following a lengthy photo-finish judgement.

Clachmannan's Martyn Patterson (4) crossed the line in third with Ian Garrioch (0.5), Craig Sowerby (7) and Connor Hedley (8.5) claiming the other final places.

The LS Starrett Borders 100 metres championship also produced a tight finish with Jed's Greg Turnbull breaking the tape inches ahead of Dolphinton's Steven Charters and Ian Garrioch of Moray.

The student, who is part of the TLJT club, clocked an impressive 10.81 to win the £200 prize and sash. Turnbull said: "I had an illness at the start of the season and everything has been a bit average so far this year, but to come to my home track and perform like that is great. I'm pleased with the time and it looks like I'm starting to get some form back."

Local footballer Dougal Prowse (2.5) scored a hat trick in The Tavern 70 metres. The 30-year-old Hawick Royal Albert winger, who is coached by Billy Edgar, had previously won the dash in 2002 and 2006.

And he was given the verdict yet again as he broke the tape in front of Jedburgh's Paul Ferguson (1.5) and John Fleming (2) of Kelso.

Prowse said: "I've missed a bit training lately but I came today without any niggles and ran really well."

Corstorphine IT boss Andy Cullen (28) enjoyed his third win of the season in the J Laidlaw & Sons 200 metres.

The 46-year-old's surge on the home straight gave him victory from David Hush (35) of Hawick and Jedburgh's Emily Douglas (36). Cullen said: "I found a gap at the bend and managed to get through.

"I've found some good form lately and I'm just happy to have won."

Hawick's Leigh Marshall (6) has also found a rich vein of form this season.

The 21-year-old, who is coached by Davie Rae, eased his way through the field of the Wallace McDonald 400 metres to break the tape five metres ahead of his training partner Lee Notman (14) and Lasswade's Ross Finlayson (17) in a time of 50.96.

Marshall said: "I have been sore all week at training and wasn't sue about running but I managed to pull it off."

Ross Weir (9.5) from Hawick followed up his sprint win at Kelso by landing the 90 metres veterans handicap.

Weir, who has his own running school, just held off Durham's Paul Donaghy (scr) and John Paxton (5.5) in the final.

He told us: "The whole school is running well just now and we're all on a bit of a high."

It was one of Weir's young runners who blasted to victory in the LS Starrett 800 metres. Mark Young (70) fought his way to the front with 200 metres to go and kicked clear to collect the £600 purse.

The 21-year-old said: "When I got the top bend I could feel my legs start to tire but I had enough to get home."

Falkirk veteran Alex Bryce (65) produced a strong finish to cross the line in second ahead of Ross Finlayson (32.5) of Lasswade.

Teenager Ross Matheson (scr) showed why he is considered one of the country's best middle-distance prospects by winning the Royal Mile 1500 metres.

The 17-year-old, who is coached by Dave Campbell, calmly made his way through the field to take up the running on the final lap and push clear up the home straight from Iain Williams (165) of TLJT and Hawick's Derek Scott (180).

Matheson, who carries an asthma inhaler when he runs, was delighted with the £300 first prize. He said: "It's always good to win and the money is handy.

"The wind made it difficult and I wasn't sure if I'd catch the boys in front. It was only when I reached the bell that I knew I could win.

"I've always run with my inhaler - better to be safe."

Another promising teenager won the G & J Construction Invitation 100 metres. Annan's Josh Crawford reached the tape just ahead of Leith's John Armstrong and Sam Atkin of Goswick.

The Billy Edgar school from Hawick managed to have four of the six runners in the final of the M&M Memorial youths 90 metres.

And they claimed the first three places with Daniel Elliot (22.5) breaking the tape ahead of Matthew Bell (20.5) and Jack Wilson (14). The 11-year-old said: "This is even better than winning at Kelso last week.

"My brother (Ryan) won this last year so it's good to do it as well."

Scott Richardson enjoyed a sprinting double in the confined to Scottish Borders 90 metres and confined to Jedburgh 90 metres.

The 14-year-old, who is coached by Chico Woods, won the Borders race from a handicap of 7 metres from Daniel Elliot (22.5) and Jenna Gillan (16.5) from the TLJT club.

Richardson said: "I had won three races before today so I'm having a good season."

Just half-an-hour later he also won the Jedburgh race from Gillan (16.5) and Cameron Grieve (8).

Coran Darling (17) powered his way to victory in the DE Fencing youths 200 metres. The 14-year-old caught the front runners with 50 metres to spare and eased his way over the line from Hawick's Jack Wilson (29) and Cameron Grieve (16) from Jedburgh.

Darling said: "I just focused on catching the boys at the front and it worked."

Kelso's Euan Pettigrew (35) was also in fine form as he cruised to victory in the Jedburgh Unionist Club youths 400 metres (14-16 years) from Selkirk's Andrew Nisbet (50) and Bethan Douglas (70) of Hawick.

Scott Armstrong (90) of Durham won the 10-13 years race over the same distance from Gala's Euan Graham and Joe Armstrong (60), also from Durham.

The Rory Stewart Plasterers youths 800 metres turned into a long chase with Selkirk 10-year-old Zaynah Aziz (220) leading from the gun until the final strides when Jedburgh's Andrew Thompson (57.5) managed to get up on the line for the £70 first prize and medal.

The 15-year-old said: "My legs were really heavy on the last lap and I didn't think I was going to catch the girl in front. I am absolutely knackered."

Rowan Marr (55) from Gala Harriers stayed on strongly for third.

Euan Graham (160) from Galashiels showed why he is the Borders schools champion by calmly making his way through the Lodge St John youths 1500 metres field.

The 13-year-old footballer held off a late challenge from backmarker Adam Craig (60) of Lauder and Durham's Joe Armstrong for the win.

Graham said: "I thought the other boy was going to beat me when he came onto my shoulder but I managed to hold on."

Jedburgh's David Campbell enjoyed victory on his home track in the Special Sprint Race. The 20-year-old came through late for victory. He said: "It is the first time I've ever won. It was really close at the end and I wasn't sure if I had won."

And in the Exchange Bar 60 metres veterans race Tom Harker (7) defied his years for victory.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 16 Jul 10

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