ENTRIES for this year's Beltane Sports are well up on last year.

The organisers made the revelation ahead of the event in Whitestone Park in Peebles on Sunday from 1pm.

There are seven full heats in the junior 90 metres. The back markers in these races are local runners, Eve Huxley, Innerleithen, on 1.5 metres and Ewan Hood, Peebles, off 2 metres.

The 90 metres youths has five full heats, one more than last year. Local runners to watch in this race are Iian Cattermole, Leithenburn, on a mark of 3.5 metres. Jamie Mackie, Peebles, on 9 metres and Robbie Renwick, Peebles, on 6.5 metre mark.

Colin Welsh, from Kelso, winner of the 800 metres at Selkirk is back marker in the open 800 off 10 metres, with strong competition from Craig Robertson, Pitreavie AC, on 15 metres with local interest coming from Dean Whiteford on 70 metres and Steven MacLean on 75 metres.

The main event of the day, the 110 metre Beltane sprint, has ten full heats. Craig Turnbull Jedburgh is back marker on 1 metre.

Local runners in this race include Sophie Collins, Moorfoot, making her adult debut on 19.5 metres. Steven MacLean, of Peebles, is also entered and runs off a mark of 7.5 metres. Last year's winner, Scott Richardson defends his title on a mark of 6 metres.

Jacob Adkin, Moorfoot, goes in the 1600 metres Kingsmeadows Trophy on a mark of 130 metres. Dean Whiteford is off a mark of 155 metres in this race. Scratch man in the 1600 youths G and B challenge cup is Nathan Cox, from Gala Harriers, winner over the same distance at Earlston games.

Local runners to watch in this race include Kobe Stevens 90 metres and Ruaridh Britton 145 metres.

The race that may prove to be very interesting for the local crowd will be the local sports club race where there is an entry of six sports men from various local clubs racing for a prize of �100 which will go into club funds. This event will be run over 75metres and all runners will be off scratch .

The runners taking part are:Sean Taylor, who will represent Peebles Amateur Football club; Connor Blythe, Peebles Rugby Football Club; Michael McEwan, Linton Hotspur; Michael Skelly, Tweeddale Rovers; Alan McMath will represent Leithen Rovers and finally Greig Shortreed, who will represent Peebles Rovers FC.

This year's Sports start at 1pm with the main entrance being through the road leading to the Gytes with car parking available.