Athletics: Sprint returns to New Year

It will be strictly sprinters only when the New Year professional athletics gala is staged at Musselburgh Racecourse on December 31 and January 1, 2011.

Distance races, a feature of the meeting for many years, have been dropped this time due to fears that the runners might damage the race track if the weather is frosty.

Also out is the Championship and Backmarkers Sprint, though new 60 metres sprints have been introduced by promoter Frank Hanlon for both youths and adults.

For the first time since the meeting moved from Meadowbank to Musselburgh 12 years ago, the New Year Sprint final will be staged on its traditional date on New Year's Day

A notable first entrant is the former British international long jumper and 2009 World bobsleigh champion Gillian Cooke (Edinburgh AC).

The 28-year-old Watsonian will face stiff competition in her quest for the 4000 first prize from six of last year's eight finalists. There will be 12 heats for this year's race with the draw at Musselburgh Racecourse on December 1.