143rd New Year Sprint Report
Odds on favourite Graeme Lister of Kirkcaldy breasted the tape several metres ahead of the rest of the field to claim the gold medal and 4000 pound first prize at the 143rd New Year Sprint held on 31st December 2011 and 1st January 2012 at Musselburgh Racecourse near Edinburgh.
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New Year Sprint winner Graeme Lister.
Photo: Grossick Racing Photography.
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The New Year Sprint final was broadcast nationwide as part of Channel 4's coverage of Musselburgh Racecourse's New Year National Hunt meeting.
Lister's short odds of 1/10 for the final reflected his dominance of the earlier rounds which saw winning margins of half a second in both heat and cross-tie.
The margin of victory in the final of almost half a second was the biggest in memory, though 6 years ago Cumbie Bowers of Glenrothes won by over 3/10 of a second when beating Mathew Fleming of Kelso.
Lister was joint long odds favourite of 6/4 with Edinburgh youngster Kieran Reilly. Reilly's powerful sprinting impressed throughout the meeting. He won his heat and cross-tie coming fourth in the final.
Prior to the New Year Sprint meeting Lister was primarily known as a 400 metre and 800 metre runner, though he had dabbled occasionally in the 200 metres. If Lister could combine the sprinting speed he showed during the New Year Sprint meeting with his middle distance endurance Scotland might have a class athlete 800 metre runner.
The sprinter who improved most throughout the rounds of the New Year Sprint was Sebastion Harrison of Jedburgh who fought his way into second place in the final, just ahead of William Martin of Glenrothes. Harrison had been second in both his heat and cross-tie.
The 90 metres Open final delivered a breathtaking finish with less than a foot separating the first four. The winner was Charie Carstairs of Lasswade AC.
Conditions where relatively neutral with a light breeze fluctuating between a minor help and hindrance to the sprinters. The temperature was well above freezing and the going soft underfoot.
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The heats started off with what turned out to be a rarity during the event - a race involving lady runners. Jackie Chalmers of Dunfermline & WF AC (24m) led the way with Amy Clancy of Peebles (19.5m) in hot pursuit. WIth 30 metres to go the spotlight turned to David McKay of Kelso (17m) who was being hunted down by Colin Bruce of Selkirk (14m). At the finish it was Bruce ahead of McKay with Jordan Charters of Lasswade AC (11m) third well ahead of Amy then Jackie. The winning time of 11.82 secs was fourth fastest of the heats. McKay and Charters qualified for the cross-ties as fastest loosers.
in heat 2 Linda Nicholson of Peebles (28m) was the early leader from Martha Douglas of Jedforest AC (24m). This pairing hung on for a good way but they eventually sucumbed to the speed of backmarker Steven Charters of Dophinton (6.25m) who won by less than 2 metres from Linda with Martha just a metre further back. The time was 12.02 secs.
Heat 3 saw Kieran Reilly of Edinburgh AC, one of the two joint long odds favourites, put through his paces. Reilly (11m), starting as second backmarker, broke through the field with over 20 metres to go, finishing well clear of second place Francis Smith of Woodford Green AC (7.5m) in 11.82 secs.
16 year old Kieran Kivlin of Edinburgh AC (8m) showed the quickest pair of heels in the fourth heat as he gained the lead with 30 metres to go despite having started from the back. Kivlin went on to win by 2 metres from Callum Murray of University of Stirling (9.25m).
David Brand of Dunfermline & WF AC (9.5m) was the clear winner in heat 5 with Ross Kirk of Pitreavie AC (9.25m) second and former New Year Sprint winner Leigh Marshall of TLJT (7.25m) third. The time was 12.06 secs.
Despite being a two horse won in the slow time of 12.34 secs, heat 6 was nevertheless an absorbing contest between two runners starting level on 10m. For almost half the race David Rae of TLJT and Aaron Partridge of Larkhall were on even terms but it was Rae who started to pull away eventually winning by a couple of metres.
The second joint long odds favourite Graeme Lister of Kirkcaldy made his appearance in heat 7 and soon left the crowd in no doubt as to his winning credentials. With forty metres to go Lister (12.5m) emerged at the front of the pack, his lead increasing rapidly until he was over 5 metres clear at the finish, winning in the staggeringly fast time of 11.38 secs whilst appearing to be easing up. William Martin of Glenrothes (15.5m) came second, a metre behind was Charlie Carstairs of Lasswade AC (10.25m) with Ewen Dyer of Pitreavie AC (10m) on his shoulders. With the field being pulled to fast times Martin, Carstairs and Dyer all qualified for the cross-ties as fastest loosers.
The crowd was brought down to earth in the eighth heat won by Cleat of Edinburgh AC (9m) with a powerful display of sprinting, though in the modest time of 12.10 secs. Andrew Bryson of Hawick (23.5m) was a gutsy second.
Heat 9 saw a cracking race between two runners starting from a similar mark - Angus Stanners of TJLT (9.25m) and Sebastion Harrison of Jedburgh AC (8.5m) with Stanners just prevailing. Backmarker Steven Dunlop of Aberdeen (7.25m) was three metres back in third place. The winning time was 11.95 secs.
Heat 10 saw another duel between runners starting on a similar mark. Middle markers William Bates of Tullibody (16.5m) and Jack Beattie of Rosyth (17m), running in adjacent lanes, ran almost in unison until Bates found the extra strength to take him over the line a metre and a half ahead of Beattie. Scott Richardson of Jedforest AC (10m) finish several metres back in third place. Beattie qualified for the cross-ties as a fastest looser. This was the second fastest heat, won in 11.73 secs.
Ivan Barskanmay of Jedburgh (7.25m) won heat 11 comfortably from Cameron Grieve of Jedburgh AC (11m) in a time of 12.16 secs.
The twelth and final heat witnessed an impressively powerful yet fluent performance from Anthony Daffurn of Kilbride AC who by 2 metres from Marc Cockburn of Selkirk (15m) in 12.06 secs. John Fleming of Kelso (10m) was back in third.
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Kieran Reilly stormed to victory in the first cross-tie pulling away from the field with 20 metres to go. In second place was Ivan Barskanmay who overhauled one time British Champion David Rae. Jordan Charters, who finished a disappointing fourth, had been seen as a real rival to Reilly, having just been beaten in one of the fastest heats. Fifth was Callum Murray. This was the slowest of the cross-ties at 12.25 secs.
William Bates clung on for a narrow win over Ewan Dyer in the second cross-tie. Front marker David McKay's efforts to hold on to the lead, which saw him dive for the line and end up headlong in the turf, were only good enough for third place. Close behind was Antony Daffurn with Duncan Cleat on his shoulders. The winning time was 12.18 secs.
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William Bates (green bib) winning second cross-tie from Ewan Dyer (red bib).
Photo: Grossick Racing Photography.
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The third cross-tie was the most thrilling. Front markers Colin Bruce and William Martin fought tooth and nail from gun to tape with Martin just finding something extra to help pull away with ten metres to go. Sebastion Harrison produce a final burst to pip Bruce into second place. Kieran Kivlin's fast finish was enough to give him the same finishing time as Bruce but only fourth place. Steven Charters finished two metres being. The winning time was the fastest yet at 11.92 secs. Harrison, Bruce and Kivlin qualified for the final as fastest losers.
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William Martin (red bib) winning third cross-tie from Steven Charters (green bin) and Seb Harrison (yellow bib).
Photo: Grossick Racing Photography.
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The long-awaited fourth cross-tie arrived with spectators eager to see if Lister could reproduce his outstanding form of the previous day. The answer was soon evident as Lister started to pull away mid race and win with a margin of almost 6 metres - and he appeared to be easing down at the tape! The real race - for second place - was a battle between three runners starting on similar marks. Angus Stanners narrowly edged out Charlie Carstairs with David Brand half a metre behind. Front marker Jack Beattie was fifth. The winning time was 11.48 secs. Stanners qualified for the final as fastest loser.
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Graeme Lister winning the fourth cross-tie.
Photo: Grossick Racing Photography.
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Bookmakers had installed Lister as red hot favourite at a tiny 1/10 with Martin at 3/1 and the rest at 8/1 or worse. With such short odds for the favourite, takers were understandably hard to find. Peter Collins livened up the betting by offering odds for creative bets. This led to wagers such as second place or the first three finishers in order.
Television cameras were rolling as the New Year Sprint final started to play out, immediately before the big horse race of the day. Thousands of viewers nationwide would be treated to the enthralling spectacle of handicap running.
The excited crowd, swelled by horse racing lovers, hushed while the runners took to their markers. The gun went and the crowd erupted, each shouting for their own favourite.
Of course the race was for the title of victor of the 143rd New Year Sprint, and if it hadn't been clear who would gain the title immediately after the cross-ties, it was clear by the half way mark of the final.
The truly competitive race was that for second place - and what a contest it was. Front markers Williams Bates and Martin battled throughout with Martin just gaining the upper hand. But the honours for second place were stolen at the last by Sebastion Harrison who surged through from unfavourable lane 7 to beat Martin by inches. Bates too saw his place lost in the final strides as Kieran Reilly powered through to gain third place, also by inches. Kieran Kivlin's finishing burst saw him fail to gain fifth place, again only by inches. Half a metre behind Angus Stanners was given the verdict over Craig Bruce though they shared the same time.
Only two metres separated seven runners - what a race it was - for second place!
And for the record, Graeme Lister won the title of victor of the 143rd New Year Sprint, by over five metres.
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The final in full flight. Eventual winner Graeme Lister is in the centre.
Photo: Grossick Racing Photography.
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Graeme Lister winning the final with ease.
Photo: Grossick Racing Photography.
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Eric Smart of Whitley Bay (15m) posted easily the fastest vets heat then went on to win the final comfortably in 9.75 secs. Thomas Bradley of Edinburgh (23.75m) secured a very creditable second place just ahead of Ross Weir of Hawick (18.5m) who just beat Craig Douglas of Selkirk T & F for third place. David Grieve of Hawick (14.5m) failed by the narrowest of margins to catch Douglas and Iain Heard of Jedburgh was sixth a metre back. Special mention should be made of Eric Smart. The winner of the "Big Sprint" a quarter of a century ago back in 1988, Eric has since regularly travelled up from the north east of England, invariably delivering fully committed performances of a high standard.
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Half of the field in the 90 metres Open final had already qualified for the cross-ties of the New Year Sprint the following day. It was not surprising that they occupied three of the first four places. But the race was a real thriller with the photo-finish required to separate the first four placings. First place was eventually awarded to Charlie Carstairs of Lasswade AC (10m) with William Martin of Glenrothes given second place in the same time. Both runners had the dubious honour of running in Lister's heat in the New Year Sprint. Eric Smart, who hadn't competed in the New Year Sprint heats was given third place just inches back with Jordan Charters of Lasswade AC (11.5m) just behind in fourth. Thomas Bradley was fifth and Ross Weir sixth.
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A low turn out saw the Youths 60 metres age under 13 event run as a straight final. Low numbers didn't result in a low standard of racing, though, with only 2 metres separating the first 5 runners. Eve Huxley of Innerleithen (10.25m) came through to win by a foot from Cameron Fisher of Jedforest AC (12.25m). Michael Dennis of Edinburgh AC (8m) won the close battle for third place inching out club mate Cal McLennan (8.75m) and Philippa Robertson of TJLT (11.25m). Niamh Byrne of Dunfermline & WF AC (13.5m) was sixth well ahead of Aiden Bambrick of Jedforest AC (13.75m) and Jack Amos also of Jedforest AC (13.5m).
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The Youths 60 metres age under 16 Final was a nail biting affair as backmarker Ben Robbins of Edinburgh AC (2m) attempted to chase down Holly McKay of Jedforest AC (10m). The photo-finish showed that Holly had just clung on for victory. Kerr Gerrard of Selkirk T & F (4.75m) got up for third place just ahead of Natalie Robbins of Edinburgh AC (9.5m). Jazmine Tomlins of Jedforest AC (9.25m) was less than a metre back in fifth place. Rory Marshall of Jedforest AC (4.25m) didn't start.
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Backmarker Ben Robbins of Edinburgh AC (3.5m) tore through the field to win the 90 metres Youths final by almost 3 metres. Another 3 metres separated the next six places. Holly McKay of Jedforest AC (16m), who had run the fastest heat, sneaked second place ahead of Rory Marshall also of Jedforest AC (7.5m) with last year's winner by a mile, Kingsley Cunningham-Williams of Edinburgh AC (5.5m) fourth. Jazmine Tomlinson of Jedforest AC (15m) was fifth, Eoin Lowther also of Jedforest AC (15.5m) sixth and club mate Aiden Bambrick (21.5m) seventh. Ryan Houten of Cardrona (13m) was eighth.
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