And there’s a £4,000 prize purse waiting for the winner.

Heats of the New Year Sprint, which dates back to 1870, take place on Musselburgh Racecourse on Hogmanay with the cross ties and finals run the following day.

Last year’s winner, Dylan Ali from Hawick, heads the Borders contingent.

The teenager, who runs from 5.5 metres, will be joined in the back-markers by training companion and 2008 winner Leigh Marshall (6.5 metres) as well as Dolphinton’s Steven Charters (7.25) and Craig Grieve of Jedburgh (7.25).

Takeaway owner Iskan Barskanmay from Jedburgh, who has been a regular finalist over the past decade, runs from eight metres while former Scottish age-group champion Tommy Ashby from Innerleithen starts on 10 metres.

Former UK Under 23’s 200 metres champion Stacey Downie will be hoping to become the first woman to win the title.

The 26-year-old West Linton teacher runs from 17.5 metres - just behind Peebles businesswoman Amy Clancy (20.5) and Jedburgh duo Jazmine Tomlinson (22) and Martha Douglas (23).

Jedburgh’s Dan Wight was the first ever winner of the New Year Sprint run at Powderhall in Edinburgh.

The race has moved to various venues over the decades, including Hawick in 1958, moving to Musselburgh from Meadowbank in 1999.

Since arriving at the racecourse there has been six Borders winners - Davie Lauder from Hawick in 2002, Pat Swan of Chirnside in 2005, Craig Robertson of Galashiels in 2007 with Hawick pair Leigh Marshall and Dan Paxton claiming the following two titles and Ali breaking the tape last year.

Amongst the other Borders hopefuls this year are Cardrona teenager Ryan Houten (11), Hawick veterans Lee Notman (11), Davie Rae (11.5) and John Paxton (17).

Selkirk father and son Colin (14) and Craig (12.25) Bruce will also be hoping to progress from 12 heats.

The 110 metres heats take place on Wednesday, December 31, from 11.25am with the cross-ties and final run on New Year’s Day.