141st New Year Sprint Report
Nineteen year old Daniel Paxton of Hawick upset the odds as he ran away from the field to claim victory in the 141st edition of the New Year Sprint held on 28th and 39th December 2009 at Musselburgh Racecourse.
Although fastest down in the heats, Paxton was only 14-1 to win the final. These odds reflected the devastating performance in the cross-ties (semi-finals) by Iskan Barksanmay of Jedforest AC whose winning time was the fastest by over 0.3 secs, and who appeared certain to take glory, gold medal and the 4000 pound first prize. Greg Turnbull of Tweed Leader Jed Track, who was long odds favourite before the cross-ties after a dominating performance in the heats, and who was also strongly fancied in the final, squeezed Barksanmay into third place.
Paxton's victory made up for a "disappointing" 3rd place in last year's final when he was the favourite. Greg Turnbull's runner-up spot was a repeat of his performance a year ago.
Craig Fleming of Greenock strode to an easy victory in the SHGA British 110 metres Championship after reiging champion Nick Smith failed to report in time.
Conditions for the meeting were the most inclement seen for some time. Heavy snow falls the previous week had placed the running of the meeting in jeopardy. However, promoter Frank Hanlon's dogged determination saw him overcome all obstacles to ensure that the meeting went ahead with events held over 2 successive days, as scheduled. Unfortunately the distance races (1600 metres Open and 800 metres Youths) had to be cancelled as the racecourse owners feared that the steeplechase track would suffer undue wear. This turned out to be an unnecessary concern as the horse racing scheduled for the second day was cancelled.
Despite the temperature having been around or below freezing for most of the previous week, the ground was surprisingly soft - probably due to rain experienced during the weekend. Accordingly, times were slower than would have been expected for such cold conditions. A gentle following breeze assisted the runners on both days.
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Long odds favourite to win the final before the running of the heats was Iskan Barskanmay at 3-1 with Greg Turnbull at 4-1.
Quality sprinting was in evidence from the word go as Colin Bruce of Selkirk (12.5 m) stormed down the track to win heat 1 in 11.84 secs - the second fastest of the heats. 2 metres back in second place was Linda Nicholson of Falkirk (26.0 m) who was unlucky not to qualify for the cross-ties as a fastest loser. Veteran Walter Hunter of Falkirk pulled up less than half way apparently with a hamstring strain. Fortunately there were no more unjuries that could be attributed to the freezing conditions.
William Bates of Tullibody (15.5 m) ran strongly in heat 2, winning in 12.05 secs. Despite his fast finish, backmarker Francis Smith of Woodford Green AC (5.75 m) failed by inches to take the tape from Bates.
Veteran Paul Donaghy of Durham (11.75 m) produced a display of strong, determined running to take heat 3 in the fast time of 11.85 secs. Also qualifying for the cross-ties were Ryan Charters of Dolphinton (11.5 m), who was 1.5 metres back in second place, and backmarker Craig Fleming of Greenock (3 m).
A polished and fluent run by veteran Eric Smart of N. E. Vets AC was easily good enough to take heat 4 from Craig Grieve of Jedburgh AC (8.75 m) and Craig Sowerby of Workington (8.5 m). Both Grieve and Sowerby qualified for the next round.
The fastest time of the day of 11.82 secs was set in heat 5 by Daniel Paxton of Hawick (9.5 m) as he flowed to a comfortable victory leaving Craig McEwan of Whitemoss AC (7.5 m) 2 metres back in second place.
In one of the closest finishes of the day John Armstrong of Leith (9.75 m) held off backmarker Julian Thomas of Birchfield H (3 m) by inches to win in 12.04 secs.
In another close finish, Seb Harrison of Jedburgh (10.5 m) just got the better of John Lowis of Kircaldy (17 m) in a hard fought contest. Last year's New Year Sprint winner Leigh Marshall was 3 metres behind in third place. The heat was equal slowest heat at 12.11 secs.
The most dominant performance of the heats came from Greg Turnbull of Tweed Leader Jed Track (5.5 m) in heat 8. Turnbull quickly powered his way to the lead, despite starting from the back of the field, and won by 3 metres easing up in the second fastest time of 11.84 secs.
Heat 9 almost saw the first lady heat winner. Despite an impressively strong run, Amy Clancy of Peebles (19.5 m) failed by inches to hold off Jordan Maxwell of Langholm (11 m) who put in an eye-catching performance to take the tape in 12.10 secs.
Backmarker Cameron Smith of Tullibody (8 m) just got the better of Craig Gillan of Tweed Leader Jed Track (10.5 m) to win heat 10 in 12.05 secs. Craig qualified for the cross-ties.
Ewan McCombie of Edinburgh (9.5 m) took heat 11 in the slow time of 12.11 secs from Ross of Pitreavie AC (8.5 m) with backmarker John Dunlop of Edinburgh AC (6 m) in third.
Ross Borthwick of Hawick (11 m) took heat 12 in comfortable fashion from Steven Fox of Seaton AC (10 m) and perenial veteran Wendy Nicol of Dunfermline & Wf AC (29.5 m) in 11.92 secs. Fox's performance failed to live up to expectation for some elements of the crowd. It turned out that he was carrying a hamstring problem.
Conor Hedley of Ellington (11.75 m) won by a furlong as he took heat 13 in 11.97 secs.
At last the crowd got to see long odds favourite Iskan Barskanmay of Jedforest AC (8.25 m) put through his paces as the fourteenth and final heat got underway. Barskanmay overhauled frontmarkers Elaine Telford of Morpeth (21.5 m) and Albert Eland of Broughton (27 m) with ease, though Elaine hung on gamely for second place. Barskanmay's winning time was a moderate 12.00 secs, leaving his backers with food for thought.
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The first cross-tie got under way on schedule in the middle of a heavy snow shower. Frontmarker Paul Donaghy ran in a determined fashion and appeared to be coasting to an easy victory. However, in the last few metres fast finishing backmarker Craig Fleming entered the frame and the finishing line couldn't come fast enough for Donaghy as he won with barely half a metre to spare in 12.10 secs.
Those watching the second cross-tie were certain they had just seen the next winner of the New Year Sprint. Iskan Barskanmay, starting from almost the back of the field, produced a breathtaking display of sprinting that saw him win by a clear 3 metres in 11.68 secs - the fastest cross-tie time by over 0.3 secs. This time was independently verified. A three-way tussle for second place saw Cameron Smith pevail over Eric Smart who just beat Colin Bruce. Ryan Charters was a metre and a half back in fifth place. Barskanmay's ultra-fast run saw each man in the field being pulled to a fast time and qualify for the final as fastest loser.
Fastest runner in the heats - Daniel Paxton - scored a clear victory in the third cross-tie winning by 2 metres from Ewan McCombie. A metre behind were Seb Harrison and Craig Grieve in a very close contest for third place.
Another powerful performance from second favourite Greg Turnbull saw him win the fourth and final cross-tie by 2 metres from Craig Sowerby with Ross Borthwick in third place.
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With the final imminent the bookmakers had stopped taking bets on Iskan Barskanmay and Greg Turnbull and 4/5 was being offered on Daniel Paxton to win or place second or third behind the two favourites. Alternatively, odds of 14-1 were available for Paxton to win.
The runners got down to their blocks with the major players in adjacent lanes in the middle of the track. Half way down the track second front marker Colin Bruce was in the lead reproducing the same imposing performance that saw him dominate his heat. Backmarker Greg Turnbull had made up ground and was starting to threaten the favourite Barskanmay. Paxton had maintained his narrow lead over the favourite. With twenty metres to go Paxton found another gear and strode away from the rest of the field breaking the tape in 11.95 secs a good metre clear. In his wake was a fight for second place with Turnbull (12.01 secs) getting the better of Barskanmay (12.07 secs) who just edged out Bruce in 12.08 secs. Veteran Paul Donaghy was fifth ahead of Cameron Smith who were both given 12.27 secs. Three metres behind in seventh place was Ryan Charters in 12.57 secs with veteran Eric Smart eighth in 12.79 secs.
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| Daniel Paxton winning the New Year Sprint final.
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A field of 4 runners contested the British 110 metres Championship; reigning champion Nick Smith had intended to run but failed to turn up on time after the day's schedule had been re-arranged. Once the gun went there was only one winner with Craig Fleming of Greenock running away from the rest of the field and finishing in 12.55 secs. Francis Smith of Rosyth was clear in second place in 13.00 secs with Greg Turnbull in 13.24 secs claiming third place from Ian Garioch in 13.34 secs.
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| Craig Fleming winning the British 110 metres Championship.
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For the first time a youth runner was invited to take part in the Backmarkers 110 metres Handicap. Kieran Kivlin of Edinburgh, a former winner of the 90 metres Youths Handicap was sitting on the limit handicap of 6 m, along with John Dunlop, also of Edinburgh. Newly crowned British 110 metres champion Craig Fleming of Greenock started on 3 m ahead of deposed champion Nick Smith of Aberdour on scratch. Ian Garioch of Elgin (5 m) completed the line up. Nick Smith imposed his authority on the race from the moment the gun went. He was soon passed Craig Fleming and took the lead with 30 metres to go. Smith won easing up in 12.19 secs. Kieran Kivlin's determined efforts saw him in second place until 15 metres out when John Dunlop's superior strength helped him overhaul Kieran and retain a narrow lead for second place. Ian Garioch was a metre and a half back in fourth place. Craig Fleming trailed in last.
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| Nick Smith winning the Backmarkers 110 metres Handicap.
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The two fastest vets heat winners Paul Donaghy of Durham (8.5 m) and Eric Smart of N. E. Vets Ac (10.5 m) fought an exciting duel with Donaghy eventually prevailing by just half a metre in 9.86 secs. Close behind in third place was last year's vets winner David Grieve of Hawick (10 m). Alan Crawford of Annan (10.5 m) pipped Craig Douglas of Larkhall YM (16 m) for fourth spot.
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| Paul Donaghy winning the 90 metres Veterans Final.
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The 90 metres final was a close run affair with only 2 metres separating first place from last. But there was a battle royale for first place in which veteran Paul Donaghy was giving the younger runner Jack Beattie of Rosyth a 5.5 m start. Despite giving it his all, Donaghy just failed by inches to catch Beattie who won in 9.77 secs. Fraser Davidson of Torphin AC (9 m) was a foot behind in third, closely followed by Craig Gillan of Tweed Leader Jed Track (9 m), Craig Grieve of Jedforest AC (6 m) and Amy Clancy of Peebles (15.5 m).
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| Jack Beattie (white hat) winning the 90 metres Open Final.
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The 90 metres Youths final went to form with fastest heat winner Jessie Concannon of Dunfermline & WF AC (20.5 m) taking the gold medal. Ben Robbins of Edinburgh AC (10 m) clearly had first place in mind as he flew through the final twenty metres only failing to catch Jessie by a foot. Ben was closely followed by Jenny Buchanan of Dunfermline & WF AC (19 m) who had Scott Richardson of Jedforest AC (10 m) on her tail. In fifth place was Natalie Robbins of Edinburgh AC (23 m), sixth was Nicholas Coupland of E. Kilbride AC (10 m), seventh was youngest runner in the field Amy Armstrong of Edinburgh (24 m) and in eighth place was Arlene Barr of E. Kilbride AC (12.5 m).
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| Jessie Concannon winning the 90 metres Youths Final.
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