Paxo stuffs rivals to win New Year sprint

Published 30 Dec 2009 14:29 0 Comments

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by David Knox

HAWICK teenager Daniel Paxton ran the race of his life to land the world's oldest footrace at Musselburgh Racecourse this week.

The 19-year-old was amongst the pre-meeting favourites for the 141st New Year Sprint.

But eye-catching runs from fellow Borderers Greg Turnbull and Iskan Barskanmay saw the Billy Edgar trained athlete drift out to 12/1 with the bookies ahead of the final.

Nobody told Paxton, running from 9.5 metres, that he wasn't going to win.

And from the gun he blasted to the front and made sure he stayed there with a powerful, yet controlled display of sprinting.

Turnbull (5.5) from Jedburgh came through for second in front of 1/3 favourite Barskanmay with Selkirk's Colin Bruce (12.5) a further half metre back in fourth for a Borders clean sweep of the places.

Paxton, who was third in last year's final, was engulfed by his dad, John, and training partner Davie Grieve as he held his arms aloft after the finishing line. He told the Border Telegraph: "That's the best I have ever run. I got away really well and just held it all together.

"It's not really sunk in yet but to win the New Year Sprint is something very special."

Paxton pocketed £4,000 for the win as well as collecting the Eric Liddell Memorial Shield and a gold medal.

Coach Billy Edgar had spent the past 40 years as a runner and trainer attempting to win the prestigious race. He said: "I don't think anyone realises how difficult it is to win this race.

"For the past three or four months it is all we've thought about. We've been down at Tweedbank four times a week for session and it has all paid off."

Peeblesshire teenager Ryan Charters (11.5) reached the final as a fastest loser in both his heat and cross-tie. But still ran well enough to win £125 for finishing seventh.

Scottish champion Nick Smith missed the British 110-metres championship on the opening day because of start programme rescheduling.

But the Shaftsbury Harrier, who won the main sprint as a teenager in 2001, made amends on Tuesday by winning Backmarkers Open.

Smith, running from scratch, clocked 12.19 seconds to break the tape ahead of Edinburgh pair John Dunlop (6) and Kieran Kivlin (6).

Smith admitted the racecourse track makes sprinting difficult. He told us: "It was really slippy coming up and it took about 15 metres before I really got going.

"I was disappointed to have missed yesterday's race as I hadn't arrived in time but this makes up for it."

Monday's depleted opening day of the 141st New Year Sprint meeting was a sentimental one for Jack Beattie.

The 33-year-old from Kelty won his first big race by breaking the tape in the final of the Pat Chester Open 90-metres.

And the Fifer instantly dedicated his victory to his young nephew who died last year.

Beattie, who is coached by his father Jimmy, said: "My nephew, Ian Murphy, died last year and this was for him. He lost a brave fight against cancer.

"I really didn't expect to win as I've just come back from a summer hamstring injury. I'm as surprised as anyone - it's a good surprise."

Beattie, running from 14 metres, won the £275 first prize and Eric Cummings Memorial Trophy after crossing the finishing line just inches in front of Durham's Paul Donaghy (8.5) and Jedburgh's Craig Gillan (9).

Fellow Jed runner Craig Grieve (6) finished fifth in the blanket finish with Amy Clancy (15.5) from Peebles inches further back in sixth.

With both the 1870 Club 1600 metres and the Fred Bell Youths 800 metres falling victim to the frozen ground, the day's action was restricted to the sprint straight.

Hawick's Davie Grieve (10), who missed the main sprint to concentrate on defending his Veterans 90-metres title, was impressive on his way to the final yet again.

But the 51-year-old could only finish third in a tight final behind Durham duo Paul Donaghy (8.5) and Eric Smart (10.5).

Donaghy, who also finished fifth in the main 110-metres New Year Sprint, just edged out Smart, who is also his coach, on the line to lift the Willie Lyle Memorial Trophy. The 42-year-old said: "I am absolutely delighted to have won at this famous meeting. I seem to have found a new lease of life since I turned 40."

Jedburgh's Scott Richardson (10) was the only Borders runner who qualified for the final of the Pat Mulgrew youths 90-metres.

Dunfermline newcomer Jessie Concannon (20.5) emerged as the eventual winner of the final. The 13-year-old, who is coached by Wendy Nicol, told us: "I thought I had a chance after the heats but it's still a great feeling to have won a final. This is my best ever win."

Internationalist Craig Fleming took full advantage of Nick Smith's late arrival to land the Scottish Highland Games Association 110 metres British Championship.

The 22-year-old from Greenock dominated the scratch race from the gun to beat Elgin's Ian Gairoch by two metres with Francis Smith of Woodford Green a further metre down, winning in a time of 12.31.

Despite lifting the £275 purse and David Gibson Memorial Trophy, Fleming was disappointed that he hadn't faced the Scottish champion. He said: "It's good to have won the championship but it would have been even better if I'd managed to beat Nick as well.

"It's a bit different having to run on the racecourse but it probably looks worse than it really is. I felt pretty good coming up there."

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