The teenager broke the New Year Sprint tape in front of a packed Musselburgh Racecourse to claim the £4,000 first prize and gold medal.

He follows in the footsteps of Chirnside’s Pat Swan, Ben Robbins of Edinburgh and Craig Robertson of Galashiels, who have all recently won the historic race just after their 16th birthdays.

But for the first time in the race’s 146 runnings there was a 1-2-3-4 for the Scottish Borders.

Tindle, who is coached by Eyemouth’s Henry Gray, had to come from the back mark of five metres to pip Cardrona 16-year-old Ryan Houten (11 metres) on the line.

Jedburgh schoolgirl Jazmine Tomlinson (22 metres) held on for third place ahead of West Linton schoolteacher Stacey Downie (17.5).

Coach Gray told us: “Cameron showed great maturity to come through the field and win.

“He is a special talent and we are all proud of him.” It was a bitter-sweet result for runner-up Houten’s coach Charlie Russell.

The veteran sprint specialist from Innerleithen said: “Ryan has had problems with growing pains for most of the year and had to train through them.

“That was his first ever run in an adults race and he did extremely well, although it still disappointing to go so close and not win.” Ewen Dyer (7.75) of Pitreavie claimed fifth ahead of Seaton’s Craig Sowerby (10.5), Jedburgh’s Eoin Lowther (12.5) and Morro Bajo (4.25) from Edinburgh.

While Lowther was just run out of the places in the main 110 metres he had already made his mark in the shorter 90 metres final on the previous day.

Running from 12.25 metres, the Chico Woods-trained teenager broke the tape ahead of his training partner Holly McKay (23), who had earlier won the women’s 90 metres race, and Newcastle veteran Liam Collins (9.5).

Kelso’s David McKay (14.75), who had earlier won the veterans’ 90 metres title, claimed fourth ahead of Gemma Nicol (14.5) and Rachel Robertson (19.5).

Dunfermline’s Owen Miller (70 metres) won the 800 metres title from Ruaeridh Miller (70) of Edinburgh AC and Oliver Laband of Axbridge (80).

Chirnside’s Josh Abbot (175) held on gamely to win the Youths 800 metres from James Adam (85) of Pitreavie and Jack Amos (150) of Jedburgh.

While the Russell camp were denied by inches in the main New Year Sprint, there was celebrations in the Under 13s youths 60 metres final with Jake Houten, younger brother of Ryan, claiming gold from a handicap of 16 metres.

Houten held off the challenge from Luke McLean (15.5) from Peebles with Max Hope (17) of Hawick and Leithenburn’s Sam Archibald (15) claiming third and fourth, respectively.

The older youths 60 metres final was won by East Kilbride’s Greg Kelly (5) from the back to deny Tweed’s Cameron Caldwell (6.5) and Caris Brus (14.5) from Galashiels.

Kelly (8) also finished second in the youths 90 metres behind Hawick’s Amy Campbell (23) with Max Leslie (18.5) from Edinburgh third.

Cardriona’s Jake Houten (24) claimed fourth ahead of Rianna Sterricks (19.5) from the Leithenburn club, Tweed’s Cameron Caldwell (10), Samantha Turnbull (20.5) of Peebles and Philippa Robertson (15.5) from Hawick.

There was further success for Hawick in the 110 metres Backmarkers Invitation handicap event with last year’s New Year Sprint winner Dylan Ali breaking the tape.