The heats of the historic New Year Sprint took place at Meadowbank Stadium on Friday 30th December. The 110m handicap race which goes back to 1870 has a top prize this year of £3500. Each competitor is given a “handicap” based on their recent performances and ability so, in theory, all runners have a good chance of winning regardless of ability.
Three Lasswade athletes made it to the start line this year.
James Cunningham, winner of the “big race” in 1998 finished 2nd in his heat but did not qualify for the round. James’s handicap was 13m.
In heat 5, Murray Blair running off 6m finished in 2nd place in a time of 11.56s which was fast enough to make it through to the cross-ties (semis) as a fastest loser.
Ramsay Blair, competing in the senior race for the first time ran in the final heat (heat 8 ). Despite being given a “challenging” handicap of 7.5m, Ramsay acquitted himself well finishing 3rd in his heat.
In the supporting events, Eloise ran in both the 90m Youths handicap race and the 800m handicap race. Eloise qualified for the final of the 90m as a fastest loser where she finished 4th.
Keith Kong and James Cunningham ran in the 90m Veterans handicap. Like last year, the turnout was low and the race was a straight final with seven athletes starting the race. Keith, running off 12.5m this year having been penalised 2m for winning the race the last time finished 3rd and James finished 6th (11m).
The 200m Open Handicap race was also run as a straight final although featured 15 athletes with handicaps ranging from 4m to 66m. Ramsay, running off 14m ran a good bend and worked his way through the field down the home-straight finishing in an excellent 4th place. The race was run by 69 year old Ramsay Sloss running off 59m which goes to show that age has no boundaries!
The cross-ties and final of the 110m Handicap race took place on New Year’s Day at Musselburgh race course. Murray was our sole representative at Musselburgh and was drawn in the 3rd cross-tie against the Ewan Urquhart, the fastest qualifier from Friday’s heats and Greg Kelly, twice winner of the New Year Sprint and only the winner from each cross-tie guaranteed a place in the final it was going to be challenge. Murray’s time of 12.53s did however bag him a spot in the eight man final, his 3rd final in 5 years where he finished 6th in a blanket finish for the 5th, 6th and 7th places.
Well done to all the Lasswade athletes who competed.
The full report and results of the New Year Sprint events can be found here.
