Sprinters quick on the draw

David Knox • Published 10 Dec 2010 09:30 0 Comments

WE will find out who the 142nd winner of the world-famous New Year Sprint, hopefully, in three weeks if the weather allows.

The heats are scheduled to take place on Friday, December 31, with the cross-ties and final being staged the following day in conjunction with horseracing at Musselburgh Racecourse.

David Knox takes a look at the 12 heats and gives his predictions for who will qualify for the second day's action.

Heat 1

1 Charles Corstairs Lasswade AC 8.5

2 Wendy Nicol Dunfermline & WF AC 29

3 Bob Douglas Harmeny AC 23.5

4 Martyn Paterson Clackmannan 6.5

5 John Fleming Kelso 8

6 Ewan Dyer Pitreavie AC 8

7 Cameron Smith Edinburgh 7.5

If there's a chill at Musselburgh Racecourse, this is the perfect start to get the circulation going. Three of the fancies to win the title will battle it out in heat one. Clackmannan teenager Martyn Paterson is the name on everyone's lips after a successful season on the Highland circuit as well as finishing third in the Jed-Forest Sprint from only four metres. Ewan Dyer is an age-group Scottish internationalist, and along with national veteran champion Cammy Smith, who is a regular finalist, will be the ones to catch.

1 – Martyn Paterson 2 – Cameron Smith

Heat 2

1 Craig Douglas Selkirk 24

2 Walter Hunter Falkirk 22.5

3 Trevor Madigan Aberdeen AC 22.5

4 Francis Smith Woodford Green AC 5.25

5 Tom Nicholson Glasgow 16

6 Duncan Cleat Edinburgh AC 7.5

7 David Allan Dunfermline & WF AC 9

Francis Smith makes his annual pilgrimage from London to chase down the best from the local circuit. The 29-year-old former national 200metres champion will have to catch regular finalist Duncan Cleat and golden oldies Walter Hunter, Trevor Madigan and Craig Douglas from Selkirk, who won at Braemar this season. It should come down to the dip between Cleat and Smith.

1 – Duncan Cleat 2 – Francis Smith

Heat 3

1 Sebastian Harrison Jedburgh 7.75

2 Douglas Prowse Hawick 8

3 Craig McEwan Whitemoss AC 7

4 Andy Carroll Stirling 6.5

5 Joseph Watson Penrith 39

6 Lee Notman Hawick 7.5

7 Lee Gillie Edinburgh AC 21

Both Craig McEwan and Andy Carroll did reasonably well on the university circuit over the past few seasons but this one will be a battle of the Borderers with Hawick winner Seb Harrison and the improving Dougal Prowse looking the picks. Kelso's Lee Gillie should be caught with a few metres to spare.

1 – Seb Harrison 2 – Dougal Prowse

Heat 4

1 William Bates Tullibody 15

2 Colin Bruce Selkirk 11.5

3 Richard Eland Little Broughton 17

4 Christopher Hutton Airdrie 7

5 Sandra Mitusch Tullibody 28

6 Douglas Donald Oakham 14

7 Fiona Cleat Edinburgh AC 22

Selkirk's Colin Bruce was the surprise package last year at Musselburgh and following his hometown win in the summer looks to be the one to beat. Richard Eland improved with every run in the summer and Willie Bates is always a handful, but Chris Hutton may be the dark horse. A former training partner with Lee McConnel, the postman was fancied a few years ago to win, and could go close again.

1 – Chris Hutton 2 – Colin Bruce

Heat 5

1 Peter Denholm Melrose 8

2 Ross Borthwick Hawick 9

3 Eric Smart Whitley Bay 14

4 Cumberland Bowers Glenrothes 5.5

5 Paddy Jumelle Kingston 7.5

6 Sarah Ross Pitreavie AC 23

7 Billy Martin Glenrothes 10

If Cumbie Bowers is anywhere near the form he showed when winning in 2006 he should win this one but it is unlikely. 1988 winner Eric Smart will also be looking to turn the clock back, but they will both have to go well to beat Borders duo Peter Denholm and Ross Borthwick – a difficult one to call.

1 – Ross Borthwick 2 – Cumbie Bowers

Heat 6

1 John Paxton Hawick 14.5

2 Gillian Cooke Edinburgh AC 16.5

3 Jordan Maxwell Langholm 10

4 Greg Turnbull Edinburgh 4

5 Stephen Milne Corstorphine AC 8

6 Alan Stewart Blackburn 23

7 Ross Kirk Pitreavie AC 7

Runner-up for the past two years isn't something Greg Turnbull wants to be remembered for. The 21-year-old from Jedburgh will again be in the shake-up and should comfortably progress. Ross Kirk is a classy 400 metres runner and Gillian Cooke is an international bobsleigher but I think the improving Jordan Maxwell will follow Turnbull over the line.

1 – Greg Turnbull 2 – Jordan Maxwell

Heat 7

1 Stephen Murray Larkhall YM H 11

2 Andrew Bryson Hawick 19.5

3 Shaun Ross Edinburgh 8

4 Leigh Marshall Hawick 5.75

5 Iain McEwan Whtemoss AC 17

6 John J Watson Penrith 25

7 Sean Grant Innerleithen 11.5

Having shrugged off injury Leigh Marshall will be hoping to relive his glory of 2009 – but it will be extremely difficult from 5.75 metres. Shaun Ross doesn't enjoy the track and teenager Sean Grant has a lot to do from 11.5 metres as he makes his senior debut. The surprise package could well come in the shape of Hawick binman Drew Bryson.

1 – Drew Bryson 2 – Leigh Marshall

Heat 8

1 Ryan Trimby Hawick 10

2 Gary Wilson Hawick 13.5

3 Wallace McGowan Sauchie 13

4 David Watson Paisley 6

5 Mathew Fleming Kelso 13

6 Craig Grieve TLJT 7.75

7 Linda Nicholson Peebles 26

Veterans Gary Wilson and Wallace McGowan will fancy their chances at progressing but this will likely come down to a straight chase between Ryan Trimby and Craig Grieve to catch national masters champion Linda Nicholson. Jedburgh teenager Grieve, on his recent summer form, should just have enough.

1 – Craig Grieve 2 – Linda Nicholson

Heat 9

1 Sarah Stewart Blackburn 23.5

2 Graeme Armstrong Edinburgh 14.5

3 John McStewart Armadale 28

4 Craig Fleming Harrow AC 2.5

5 Thomas Bradley Edinburgh 23

6 Jack Beattie Rosyth 16

7 Craig Sowerby Seaton AC 8

He's one of Scotland's best sprinting prospects but Craig Fleming has a mountain to climb from the backmark of 2.5 metres – but he can't be ruled out. Newtongrange football boss Graeme Armstrong and coaching legend Tom Bradley look to be the ones to catch although the powerful Craig Sowerby can't be discounted.

1 – Graeme Armstrong 2 – Craig Fleming

Heat 10

1 Albert Eland Great Broughton 26.5

2 Sean Harris University of Edinburgh7.5

3 Marc Cockburn Selkirk 13

4 Tony Daffurn Shettleson H 5.75

5 Stewart Harris Longtown 26.5

6 Ryan Charters Dolphinton 10.5

7 Sam Bates Tullibody 26

Triple jumper Tony Daffurn was expected to win the New Year Sprint when he was beaten in the final by Gala's Craig Robertson – and it looks like another Charlie Russell runner could be his downfall here with Marc Cockburn showing up well towards the end of the summer season. Ryan Charters is widely fancied while there's also plenty early money for city student Sean Harris. This will be a blanket finish.

1 – Ryan Charters 2 – Marc Cockburn

Heat 11

1 Allan Carr Gorebridge 22.5

2 David Rae Hawick 7.5

3 David Brand Dunfermline & WF AC 9

4 Iskan Barskanmay Jedburgh 5.5

5 Craig Knowles Corstorphine AC 8.5

6 Emily Douglas Jedforest 19.5

Davie Rae will tell you nobody his age should be running from 7.5 metres, but the 40 year-old will be the big danger to flying Turk Iskan Barskanmay. The Jedburgh kebab shop owner feels he was robbed by the lane draw in last year's final and is desperate to break the tape. Corstorphine's Craig Knowles has been amongst the best age-group 200 metres runners for several years but should be reeled in easily by Barskanmay while Emily Douglas could do with an extra metre.

1 – Iskan Barskanmay 2 – Davie Rae

Heat 12

1 James Bryce Cowdenbeath 32.5

2 John Sutherland Innerleithen 9

3 Iain Heard Jed Track 22

4 Steven Charters Edinburgh AC 4.25

5 Gaith Taha Vale of Aylesbury AC 8

6 Gemma Nicol Dunfermline & WF AC 15.75

Iain Heard has spent the past few weeks keeping the roads clear, and the gritter driver will be hoping for a clear run up lane 3. Former Marine John Sutherland and sub-12 seconds sprinter Gaith Taha look to have too much to do which should leave the door open for international relay runner Steven Charters and Commonwealth games athlete Gemma Nicol to chase down Heard.

1 – Steven Charters 2 – Gemma Nicol

The 12 heat winners will be joined by the eight fastest losers in the cross ties. The New Year Sprint and supporting events get under way at 11am on December 31 at Musselburgh Racecourse.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 10 Dec 10

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