Athletics: 104 hopefuls to line up for New Year race

Published on Wednesday 2 December 2009 08:41

LOTHIAN runners are sure to be prominent among the 104 entries in 14 heats which were drawn yesterday for the 141st New Year Sprint at Musselburgh Racecourse on 28 and 29 December.

Dolphinton brothers Steven and Ryan Charters (both Edinburgh AC), whose father is well-known Capital basketball player George Charters, are both under the wing of highly-respected coach Charlie Affleck, who has been preparing Sprint challengers for over 30 years.

Steven Charters missed much of last season through a severe hamstring injury but if he is back to full fitness could be one of those to watch in the chase for the 4,000 first prize.

He has a start of 5.5 metres in heat four where among his opponents are the former winner and doughty veteran Eric Smart (North-East vets), off 14 metres, and Longniddry veteran Ian Smith (13m), who won the Peebles Sprint last summer.

Greg Turnbull (EAC) had a long and somewhat disheartening season for the club last summer but, if he has recovered his zest, should go well in heat eight where he, too, is off 5.5m.

Turnbull clashes with British internationalist Gemma Nicol (Dunfermline & West Fife), who on more than one occasion has gone desperately close to becoming the first female to win.

But Gemma's mother Wendy, who herself has been close in a New Year final, indicated yesterday that it was unlikely Gemma would run because of the conflict with her training for the 400m in which she hopes to represent Scotland at next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Wendy, meanwhile, will be in heat 12 with a mark of 29.5m.

Last year's winner, Leigh Marshall (Hawick), has been allocated a start of 6.75m and will be in heat seven.