National sprinters to make a run for Earlston

David Knox 1607 - 1607 • Published 27 May 2009 09:00 0 Comments

EARLSTON is rolling out the red carpet to welcome some of Scotland"s top sprinters on Saturday.

Organisers of the season"s opening Border Games have received a bumper entry for all events.

And they are predicting their best meeting yet.

Bruce Scott from Earlston Games committee told the Border Telegraph: 'We have more entries in our adult events than ever before and the youths" entry is just as big as last year - we have some cracking races in store for Saturday afternoon.

'The weather forecast is good for Saturday and we expect a really big crowd down at the Rugby Club.'

Last year"s sprint winner Steven Charters (scr), who regularly competes for Scotland, heads a field of over 50 top sprinters hoping to claim the £250 first prize.

But he faces New Year Sprint winner Leigh Marshall (0.5) from Hawick and New Year Sprint runner-up Greg Turnbull (1) in a high-quality event.

Steven told us: 'I"ve been going really well in training with the Charlie Afleck school and I"d love to win the race again from scratch.'

Gala rugby player Graeme Spiers (3) will make his Earlston debut, as does Selkirk winger Alex Godsmark (4.5).

But the pick of the bunch could be the improving Peter Denholm (4) from Melrose.

Bruce added: 'Peter does look like the one to beat as he ran really well at the indoor championships in the winter.

'Steven Charters will go close as well but I think one of the Hawick boys, maybe Dan Paxton, could be the biggest danger.'

Selected others in the Open 90 metres are Hawick trio Davie Rae (2), Dan Paxton (5) and Gary Wilson (8), Selkirk pair Colin Bruce (7) and Marc Cockburn (11.5), Edinburgh"s John Armstrong (5)and Aberdeen Jonathon McKenna (7.5).

Alan White (7), Steven Cessford (6) and Lee Goodfellow (8) will be flying the flag for Earlston.

More than 200 runners will turn out at the curtain-raising meeting with the open 800-metres, where Kelso pair Colin Welsh (-10) and Darryl Hastie (scr) head a 17-strong field, and the youths" 1600-metres, where Selkirk trio Rowan Marr (200), Ryan Shiell (320) and Mark Rutter (360) will all give Newtown backmarker Dan Purves (60) plenty to do, looking to be the picks of the card.

And youngsters from Earlston High will battle it out in their own confined race.

More than 20 hopefuls will take part in the morning heats with a final over 90 metres being staged during the afternoon.

Local teacher and athletics coach Scott Renwick said: 'Exams have prevented a few of the runners from last year taking part but there is still a healthy number taking part.

'Earlston Games is great for giving a lot of youngsters that wouldn"t normally compete the chance to take part.'

Earlston Border Games starts on Saturday at the town"s Rugby Club at 1pm.

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 27 May 09

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