Qualifiers point to a competitive final showdown

crowds and multiple bookies’ stances have gone, the New Year Sprint endures still as an iconic event. Much praise is due to promoter Frank Hanlon from Bonnyrigg who has invested large sums from his own pocket to keep it alive.

Showing considerable prescience, DA Jamieson, an authority on professional running, wrote in 1943: “Probably the sport will ultimately die out… its survival must depend on the sympathetic attitude of private individuals…”

It has, however, survived, although it may now be nearing life -support status. Having predated the Open Golf Championship, the first football and rugby internationals, the first Scottish Cup and League, Wimbledon, the first Scottish and British athletics championships, it is to be hoped it will continue as an integral part of Scottish sporting culture. On the evidence of Sunday’s qualifying heats at Prestonpans, today’s 150th New Year Sprint at Musselburgh Racecourse promises to be fiercely competitive, with the destination of the £8,000 first prize and Eric Liddell trophy possibly going down to a photo finish.

“Technically, in a handicap race, everybody should cross the finishing line at the same time,” said veteran promoter Frank Hanlon at the weekend, and Glenrothes handicapper Adam Crawford – in his 40th year in the role – is again doing a wonderful job to set up that nailbiting finale for the punters.

Hanlon’s pre-race favourite for the historic 110m event, 2017 winner Greg Kelly, pictured, recorded the quickest qualifying time at Meadowmill Sports Centre when he took heat six in 11.25secs off a start of 5.5m, but a host of other sprinters posted comparable times to the East Kilbride man.

Pitreavie’s Billy Doyle ran 11.28 in heat ten, while Borderer James Parker and Lasswade duo Rianna Sterricks and Murray Blair all impressed in winning their races. Sterricks, Megan Busby-bell and Stacey Downie have the added incentive today of attempting to emulate 2016 champion Jazmine Tomlinson as a female winner of the race. Aberdeen’s Marcus Archer and

Anglo Joe Connelly also ducked under 11.40 to go through as fastest losers, and don’t forget defending champion Calum Mcwilliam.

Kelly’s clubmate and training partner stayed on track to become the first backto-back winner since Glasgow’s Willie Mcfarlane in 1934 and, although Mcwilliam’s winning time in heat two was ‘only’ 11.40, he said: “I was able to ease off a bit towards the end of the race and I have plenty left in the tank for Tuesday.”

With four cross-ties (semi-finals) scheduled at lunchtime today before the grand final later this afternoon, two races within a couple of hours will seriously test the stamina of the sprinters, while the pressure of the big occasion cannot be underestimated either.

Kelly goes in today’s opening semifinal with holder Mcwilliam in race three. Four fastest losers will join the four semi-final winners in the eight-lane final at approximately 2.45pm.

“I’ve already been in three finals, and I’m confident my experience will help me get through again,” said Mcwilliam. “Qualifying is the most difficult day, but I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed racing on January 1.”

Kelly added: “I ran pretty well on Sunday, but a couple of others were within a tenth of a second of my time, so it’s all very close.”

“En route to the stadium he could not find h is name among the entrants, only to be told by Mckinlay he was running as R.gordon – ‘R’ for Richard, his elder brother and ‘Gordon’, his younger brother