Patterson comes of age
David Knox • Published 7 Jan 2011 09:30
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BIRTHDAY boy Martyn Patterson put his party on ice to blow out the recent Borders domination of the New Year Sprint.
The Clackmannan athlete, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Hogmanay, lived up to his pre-race favouritism to edge the final on the dip.
Patterson, who started from 6.5 metres, also denied 17-year-old Fiona Cleat (22) from Edinburgh making history by becoming the first woman to ever win the historic 141 years-old race.
Cleat, along with sibling Duncan, had already become the first brother and sister to have ever reached the final of the New Year Sprint.
And half way up the 110-metres track it looked as though she was also on her way to picking up the £4000 first prize. But Patterson's late surge took him across the line inches in front of both Cleat and Jedburgh's Seb Harrison (7.75).
Patterson, who is coached by Eric Simpson, said: "I got a good start and got ahead of the guys around me quickly. I knew with about 10 metres to go that I was going to catch the girl – it was a great feeling.
"I've been training every day for the past three months for this and I'm over the moon. I had a really quiet birthday last night, but I'll make up for it now. I'll be partying well into the night."
The Scottish Borders has enjoyed plenty of recent success on Musselburgh Racecourse with Craig Robertson, Leigh Marshall and Daniel Paxton all winning the title over the past three years.
Harrison, who was the overnight favourite after his heat win, came closest to keeping the run going.
The 17-year-old, who is coached by Chico Woods, said: "I'm still pleased with the way I've run although I've finished third. "I was a bit worried when I was told I was favourite, and I didn't run too well in my cross-tie. I ran better in the final and I'm happy enough."
Edinburgh veteran Cameron Smith (7.5) finished a metre back in fourth – just ahead of Dolphinton's Ryan Charters (10.5) and Craig Grieve (7.75) of Jedburgh. Grieve, who missed almost all of the summer season with injury, hopes he will go even closer next year.
The teenager told us: "I run better in my heat than I did in the final. I slipped a few times coming up in the final – it was a terrible lane.
"But, considering I've been inured for most of the year, I'm happy with how I've run and I'll be back next time."
Duncan Cleat (7.5) held on from backmarker Greg Turnbull (4) of Jedburgh for seventh.
Although Fiona Cleat couldn't quite make history in the main sprint – Wendy Nicol (25) from Dunfermline and West Fife AC was more successful when she flew the women's flag in the Pat Chester 90 metres final.
The 48-year-old held on to break the tape ahead of Kilbarchan teenager Ross McGill (8) and Jedburgh's Craig Gillan (7.5). Hairdresser Nicol admitted she'd not had the best of preparations.
She said: "I've been working every day up to Hogmany – everybody wanted their hair cut and I've been doing about 60 cuts a day, all week.
"It means so much to have won – I come here every year."
The victory made up for Nicol's narrow defeat the previous day in the final of the Veteran's 90 metres.
Larkhall's Steven Murray (11) only reached the final as a fastest loser. But the 42-year-old's late surge for the line took him in front of a blanket of runners. The win had been a long-time coming for Murray.
He explained: "I've been running for around 30 years and that's my first big win. I was lucky to get into the final, and I took my chance."
Nicol (25) finished inches back in second with Whitley Bay's Eric Smart (12.5) third and Selkirk's Craig Douglas (21) in fourth. Jedburgh's Ian Heard (19) held on to cross the line in fifth.
The 60-metres final was won by the 90-metres runner-up, Ross McGill. The 16-year-old, who is coached by former European gold medallist Brian Whittle, was just relieved to be back on the track.
McGill, who run from 2 metres, explained: "I was out all of last season with injury and when I went to Brian in August I've started to get my speed back. "These are my first races for almost a year and it's great to have won."
Stirling's Andy Carroll (2) finished second with Jedburgh's Emily Douglas (7.75) in third.
While handicapper Adam Crawford deserves credit for the seniors' tight finishes – his judgement in the Pat Mulgrew Youths' 90 metres wasn't nearly so creditable. Kingsley Cunningham (18.5) is ranked as one of Scotland's brightest young sprinting talents.
The 11-year-old from Edinburgh destroyed the field in his heat to win by around 10 metres. And his victory in the final could have been even easier if he hadn't begun his celebrations with 20 metres to go. Although the handicapper got it wrong, the youngster still deserved his victory.
He said: "It feels really good to have won. "I felt great in the final and knew I'd won when I went past the ones in front of me."
Cunningham's training partner Guy Wardrop (14) finished a distant second with Ryan Laidlaw (16.5) from Innerleithen holding on strongly to claim third.
The age-group 60-metres youths races proved much closer – after Cunningham was pulled 7.5 metres. Edinburgh's Jacob Lineen (13.75) dipped for victory in the 10-12 years final.
The 11-year-old just edged out Natalie Robbins (13.5) from Edinburgh and Hawick's Philippa Robertson (16.5). Lineen, who was cheered on by his rugby coach dad, Sean, told us: "It was really, really close in the final and I wasn't sure if I had won.
"When I heard my name called out as the winner I was really happy."
The 13-15 years 60-metres final proved just as tight with Dunfermline and West Fife's Jenny Buchannan (11) given the verdict over Edinburgh's Ben Robbins (4) and her training partner Jessie Concannon (9.5).
Jenny said: "I've been running for two years and that's my first win. I didn't think I would do it after the heats but I just gave it my best."
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 07 Jan 11
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