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The New Year Sprint is the most enduring open athletics event in the UK. A handicap race held over 110 metres, the Sprint has been staged in Scotland on or around New Year's Day annually since 1870. Competitors, both amateur and professional, vie for prize money totalling thousands of pounds.
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| The 151st New Year Sprint is due to be held on Monday 30th December 2019 and Wednesday 1st January 2020. The first day's events will be held at the East Lothian Athletics Arena in Prestonpans, 9 miles east of Edinburgh with the second day's events held at the traditional venue of Musselburgh Racecourse, 6 miles east of Edinburgh. The New Year's Day foot racing is due to be held in conjunction with the National Hunt meeting with the New Year Sprint final being televised as part of ITV Racing's coverage of the day's events. |
| The 110 metres New Year Sprint, with a £5000 first prize, will be supported by Open foot-races of 200 metres and 800 metres and Veterans and Ladies races over 90 metres. Youths events, with a lower age limit of 9 years old, will be held over 90 metres, 200 metres and 800 metres.
| | All events feature a handicap starting system. |
| This year's 1870 Club Sweep has a £1000 first prize. |
| Click here for more details on the 151st New Year Sprint meeting. |
In the event that the National Hunt meeting on 1st January is cancelled, the second day's running will be held alongside the National Hunt meeting later in the month. Cancellation of that horse race meeting will not result in a further postponement of the running.
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150th New Year Sprint winner Greg Kelly of East Kilbride AC
Photo: David Rothwell. |
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| The New Year Sprint has attracted top-flight domestic and foreign runners throughout its history. Most recently, 1995 winner Doug Walker, went on to become European 200m champion. 1987 winner Bill Snoddy (U.S.A.) was formerly the world's fastest man (wind assisted) and World Professional Record holder over 120yds, George McNeill, won in 1970. Sprinters such as Willie McFarlane of Glasgow (1930s) and Harry Hutchens of London (1890s), who are considered the finest of their generation, also graced the event with superlative performances. |
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The Sprint is more than just a battle between the fleetest of foot. For this event features a handicap starting system designed to ensure that any runner, no matter what their ability, age or sex, has a chance of scooping the big first prize.
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| The longevity of the Sprint, the participation of champion runners, the prospect of a front marker clinging on for victory and the determination of all runners competing at the most inhospitable time of year are all ingredients that lend the Sprint an almost mystical air. |
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Brief History: Highlights of the Sprint and its characters since 1870.
150th New Year Sprint: All about last year's meeting.
Past Sprints: Results since 1990; reports, photos, video clips from more recent meetings.
Sprint Search: A powerful mechanism for searching the database of New Year Sprint entrants and results since 1990.
Roll of Honour: Browse or search the complete list of New Year Sprint winners.
Roll of Honour for Supporting Events: Browse or search the complete list of winners of the supporting events at the New Year Sprint meetings.
Sponsors: Who sponsored which event.
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| The New Year Sprint meeting is a fixture of the open athletics circuit organised under the rules of the Scottish Highland Games Association (SHGA). The circuit includes traditonal Highland Games famous for "heavy" events. Games in the Scottish Borders are run under the rules of Borders Athletics. |
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| The New Year Sprint meeting has been sanctioned by British Athletics and Scottish Athletics for competition by amateur athletes who may keep prize money won. |
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since 18th December 1998
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Web site by Sportingworld.co.uk
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