Athletics: Smith heads for Hawick

Stewart's MELVILLE FP and Scottish 100 metres champion Nick Smith, who has returned home to Dunfermline after a traumatic trip to New Zealand, will be the back-marker off scratch in the Hawick Border Games handicap 110 metres at Volunteer Park on Sunday.

Smith, who went to attend his sister's wedding in Christchurch and ended up getting caught in the earthquake which destroyed her house, faces an interesting challenge from the 2011 New Year Sprint winner Martin Paterson (Central).

Smith, himself a former New Year winner, will give away 5.5 metres start to the young Stirling University student who has been concentrating on running 400m and 800m races recently.

Also in the field will be the 2010 winner Seb Harrison (Jedburgh) with a start of 6.5m.

Capital hopefuls chasing medals at the Scottish Schools Championships at Grangemouth Stadium today and tomorrow include Edinburgh AC sprinters Tom Holligan (Firrhill) , Ben Robbins (George Watson's and Beth Finlayson (Queen Anne). Ewan Dyer (Queen Anne), a training partner of Martin Paterson, is hoping to beat 55 seconds in the 400m hurdles.