Border Telegraph | Sport | Langholm games preview

Wednesday, 20th August, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 23rd July, 2008 09:00

Langholm games preview

By David Knox

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LANGHOLM is set to come alive on Friday for its annual Common Riding.

And within hours of the morning ceremonies being concluded the fastest men and women from the South of Scotland will take their turn to add to the excitement.

The Muckle Toon has been blighted recently by the landslide closure of the A7.

But it will take more than a few tones of earth to stop emerging sprinter Craig Fleming from defending his British 90 metres crown.

The 21-year-old from Galsgow faces Peeblesshire’s Steven Charters and Greg Turnbull from Jedburgh in the scratch race.

Langholm’s main 90-metres Borders Sprint looks like being a much closer event with around 50 runners vying for the £700 purse.

And amongst the fancied runners are Earlston pair Alan White (8.5) and Bruce Scott (11), Peter Denholm (7) from Melrose, Selkirk’s Colin Bruce (9) and also Fleming, who runs from scratch.

The youths sprint also looks to be an intriguing contest with Andrew Lindsay (7.5) and Craig Dods (7) from Galashiels amongst the back markers.

New Year Sprint winner Craig Robertson (0.5) faces a tough task in catching some of the front runners including Selkirk trio Kyle Stillie (12), Ewan Brownlee (11) and Craig Bruce (19.5).

But the backmarker in the open 800 metres does look capable of pulling back the field to defend his crown.

Former national champion Colin Welsh (scr) will likely be tested by Guy Learnmonth (30) from Berwick and Hawick’s Stewart Fraser (35).

Jedburgh winner George Hunter (140) has been pulled 40 metres since his win at Riverside Park and looks unlikely to break the tape yet again.

The youths’ half mile has over 20 middle-distance runners looking for glory.

Back-marker Iain Douglas (30) from Selkirk will have to catch training partner Skye Shiell (150) as well as Earlston’s Dan Purves (70), Mark McEwan (60) from Hawick and Berwick’s Hannah Jones (130) if he wants the win.

The full programme of open and youths’ events at the popular Langholm Border Games gets underway at 1.30pm.

editorial@bordertelegraph.com

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