Coy Gemma Nicol still aiming to be first woman to win sprint

The backmarker, Swansea Harrier Wyn Roberts, who could quite justifiably have been deterred from making the long journey north by the scrooge-like handicap awarded him for his first attempt at the famous professional handicap, has not been returning calls.

A doctor in Leicester, the Welsh 100 metres champion, who has a best time of 10.66 secs, may merely have had an exceptionally busy week at work. But, with a start of just three metres in heat six of today’s 12 heats, Roberts would need more than all the benefits of medical science to become a contender for the £4,000 first prize when the final is decided tomorrow.

Gemma Nicol (Dunfermline & West Fife), the best-known female in the entry, is understandably reticent about talking up her chances of victory given how often she has been talked of as the likely first woman victor. Three times a New Year finalist and once runner-up, Nicol is still only 25.

Having been to two Commonwealth Games – Manchester and Delhi – and left out of another – Melbourne – she is certainly not the luckiest of athletes and was recently omitted, quite unfairly in my view, from the 41-strong preparation squad for the next two Commonwealth Games. Without that support, Nicol could doubtless use a £4,000 cash prize, but again she has not returned my calls.

The 2006 winner Cumbie Bowers (Glenrothes) is one entrant who definitely will not be there but for a very good reason, a recent hernia operation.

His father of the same name, however, will be one of the busiest men in the stadium as he is one of the loyal but diminishing band of bookmakers who support the event.

Last night Bowers was quoting the 16-year-old Portobello High schoolboy, Kierin Kivlin (Edinburgh AC), as the 3-1 favourite, the Kevin Turner-coached athlete having caught the eye last year in placing a close third in an invitation 100 metres won by national champion Nick Smith.

Kirkcaldy coach Eric Simpson, however, will certainly be there with four or five contenders who are hoping to create a little piece of sporting history for him by giving him a second successive winner.

Simpson steered Martyn Paterson (Central) to victory last year and, though the teenage student has moved to another coach and is not defending his title, Simpson still has other talent. The most notable is Francis Smith, the Dunfermline-based former Scottish 200 metres, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles champion who has a more than useful start of 7.5 metres in the third heat and is quoted at 4-1 by Bowers. “There is no doubt that Francis is physically capable of winning the Sprint,” says Simpson who, however, may have higher hopes of three of his other runners. Sadly for him, they will clash in the same heat seven.

Ewan Dyer (Pitreavie) off 10 metres, Graeme Lister (Kirkcaldy), off 12.5m and Billy Martin (Glenrothes), off 15.5m, have all been attracting support, with Martin at 6-1. Another Simpson runner, David Brand (Dunfermline & West Fife), is rated a 4-1 chance in heat five, where he clashes with two former winners, the veteran Eric Smart (Whitley Bay) and Leigh Marshall (Jedburgh).

Last year’s surprise runner-up, Fiona Cleat (Edinburgh AC), is again entered with little or no form to guide punters or bookies. She does not even train with her brother Duncan, who was seventh last time and has been a consistent performer at the meeting.

It would be no surprise to his coach, Charlie Affleck, if Duncan turned the tables this time.