Published: Wednesday, 4th June, 2008 12:00pm

Hawick runners face tough test on home front

A HOST of Hawick sprinters will be looking for some hometown success on Sunday.

Last season"s Jed winner Daniel Paxton (9), the ever present Oz Barskanmay (6.5) and former New Year winner David Lauder (8) will all go close to landing the £700 first prize on Sunday.

But they will face stiff opposition from fellow Teries David Hush (16.5), Lee Notman (4.5) and Dougal Prowse (7.5) in the race to break the line.

The 110 metres race has attracted 62 of the fastest men and women from the Borders and surrounding areas.

Amongst the back markers are Kelso"s John Fleming (4.5), Greg Turnbull (3.5), Charlie Cochrane (4) both from Jedburgh, Melrose"s Peter Denholm (6.5) and Selkirk"s Geoff Keen (7).

Gala veteran Stan Bowers (30) will be the one they all have to catch with Colin Bruce (12) from Selkirk also looking to turn back the clock and spring a surprise.

Hawick Border Games organizer Davie Grieve hopes the Sunday meeting will be a huge success. He told the Border Telegraph: '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.'

Selkirk and Galashiels are well represented in the youths" events with New Year Sprint winner Craig Robertson (scr) heading the 90 metres field.

But the Gala rugby player will have to chase Selkirk trio Donald Purves (4.5), Ewan Brownlee (8) and Craig Bruce (18) and also Galashiels pair Demi Yorke (12) and Andrew Lindsay (7).

And in the youths" 400 metres Iain Douglas (10) from Selkirk will be hoping to retain his crown.

In the senior 800 metres former Scottish indoor champion Colin Welsh (scr) from Kelso heads a tremendous field which includes last season"s athlete of the year Ross Finlayson (27.5) from Lasswade and East of Scotland runner-up Guy Learnmonth (35) from Berwick.

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.