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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 generous prize money amounting to thousands of pounds, with jackpot-sized prizes for performances of World Record standard. |
| The meeting entry form will be published on this web site around 20th September. |
| The Open events are open to men and women aged 16 years and over, whether professional or amateur. Amateurs may keep any prize money won. Youths events, which also have cash prizes, are open to girls and boys who must be at least 10 years and less than 16 years old. |
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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| The 2008 and 139th New Year Sprint was won by 16 year old Craig Robertson of Gala. The event was held at Musselburgh Racecourse, 6 miles east of Edinburgh, on Friday 28th December and Saturday 29th December 2007.
| | The 110 metres New Year Sprint, with a £4000 first prize, was supported by 90 metres Open, 1600 metres Open, 90 metres Veterans, 90 metres Youths, 800 metres Youths and 120 yards Backmarkers events. All events feature a handicap starting system. |
Click here for the meeting report with photos.
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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.
2007 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 2007: Sprint highlights from Games in the Borders, Highlands and North of England.
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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 the SAF and BAF 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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| 5 Aug 2008 |
Click here for details of the 2009 and 140th New Year Sprint meeting.
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Click here for video clip of sprint final.
Click here for sprint final in pictures.
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| 31 Dec 2007 |
Click here for the Report with photos of the New Year Sprint meeting.
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| 30 Dec 2007 |
Click here for the official photo-finish of the New Year Sprint final.
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| 29 Dec 2007 |
16 year old Craig Robertson of Gala wins 2008 and 139th New Year Sprint in tight finish.
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Click here for full results of New Year Sprint.
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| 28 Dec 2007 |
Ross Prowse of Uphall wins 90m Open.
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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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