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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 over eight thousand pounds.
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| The 2009 and 140th New Year Sprint is due to be held at Musselburgh Racecourse, 6 miles east of Edinburgh, on Sunday 28th December and Monday 29th December 2008. The second day's racing is due to be held in conjunction with the National Hunt meeting. The New Year Sprint final is due to be televised as part of Channel 4's coverage of the day's events. |
| The 110 metres New Year Sprint, with a £4000 first prize, will be supported by 90 metres Open, 1600 metres open, 90 metres Veterans, 90 metres Youths, 800 metres Youths events. All events feature a handicap starting system.
| | The 110m British Championship will be staged at the New Year Sprint meeting for the first time. This event features a £1000 first prize and a £20,000 bonus for beating the World Professional Record.
| | Click here for more details on the New Year Sprint meeting. |
In the event that the National Hunt meeting on 29th December is cancelled, the second day's running will be held alongside the new year's National Hunt meeting a week later. Cancellation of that horse race meeting will not result in a further postponement of the running.
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2008 New Year Sprint winner Craig Robertson of Gala.
Photo: Grossick Racing Photography.
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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.
2008 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.
Sponsors: Who sponsored which event.
Summer 2008: Sprint highlights from Games in the Borders and Highlands.
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The New Year Sprint meeting is a fixture of the open athletics circuit organised under the rules of the Scottish Games Association. The circuit includes Highland Games famous for "heavy" events and Lakeland Sports in the North of England. 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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You are visitor number
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since 18th December 1998
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Web site by Sportingworld.co.uk
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| 17 Nov 2008 |
Look back at the summer sprints with the Sprint Album.
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| 1 Nov 2008 |
Entries now closed for the 2009 and 140th New Year Sprint meeting.
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| 30 Sept 2008 |
Click here for full details of the 2009 and 140th New Year Sprint meeting including entry form.
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| Final of the 2004 New Year Sprint.
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| Crowd at the New Year Sprint.
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| Top photo by John Grossick Photography.
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