Published: Monday, 9th June, 2008 1:04pm

Local runners eye up Hawick Games success

by David Knox

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A POSSE of Peeblesshire athletes will descend on Hawick this weekend looking for gold.

Moorfoot distance runners Will Hynd (230), Michael McGovern (235) and Darren Dougal (240) are all hoping to win the coveted £250 two-mile race.

And amongst their toughest opponents will be Innerleithen duo Dean Whiteford (200) and veteran Brian Stannage (420).

Sunday"s Hawick Border Games has several outstanding races in store for athletics fans with 62 runners entered for the £750 sprint.

Amongst the fancied back markers are Czech flyer Michael Barvik (4), Berwick"s Max Learmonth (4), Charlie Cochrane (4) from Jedburgh and Hawick duo Oz Barskanmay (6.5) and Lee Notman (4.5).

But a few Peeblesshire sprinters will be looking to cause an upset, including Linda Nicholson (25), Ron Sutherland (28) and John Mullins (10).

In the youths" 90 metres sprint Caillie Douce (15.5), Ryan Charters (5), Stuart Mullins (15.5) and Faye Nicholson (10) all from Peebles as well as Innerleithen"s Sean Grant (15.5) will all be hoping to progress from the heats.

And in the youths" 800 metres Peebles pair Isla Donaldson (170) and Beth Williamson (140) should be in with a great chance of finishing in the places.

Hawick Border Games organizer Davie Grieve hopes the Sunday meeting will be a huge success. He told the Peeblesshire News: 'We moved the games to Sunday so we didn"t clash with everything else on the Common Riding Saturday.

'We"ve had some good crowds in the past and hope to attract even more people down this year.

'We have excellent entries for all of the senior and youths" races.'

Local athletics coach Gregor Nicholson (55) will be making his seasonal debut in the 400 metres but faces strong opposition from Annan"s Josh Crawford (12), Ross Finlayson (16) of Lasswade and Chirnside"s Kenneth Ward (18).

Games handicapper Ernie Blair told us: 'There are some really exciting races in prospect at Hawick with a good entry in all events.'

Hawick Border Games at Volunteer Park on Sunday at 1pm.