The ‘Muckle Toon’ of Langholm staged its games meeting last Friday.
On the Castleholm running track, however, a ‘muckle’ impact was made by the ‘grey auld toon’ of Hawick as three Teri athletes came out on top.
Coached by Davie Grieve and representing the Hawick Riverside Peds stable,
19-year-old Daniel Elliot won the Ashleybank 1000 guineas (£1,550) 90 metres handicap, which was the main event on the card.
Daniel Elliot, wearing No3, powers across the line in first place ahead of No4 Corey Wilson
Bidding for his second sprint win of the season after his triumph in the Earlston Games 90 metres handicap, Elliot gave a strong hint that he could be heading for another when buzzing home in his heat in 9.73 seconds.
From a mark of 8.5m, the Heriot-Watt University student clocked a winning time of 9.63 seconds in his cross-tie with a great run.
Out of action for the past two seasons due to injury, Elliot found himself in a final that included three other Hawick sprinters – Glyn Desport (5m), Corey Wilson (10m) and David Lauder (12.5m) – plus Connor Gillan of Kelso (7m) and Edinburgh’s Graeme Armstrong (16m).
In a thrilling final it was Elliot who had that bit extra special to offer to secure a splendid win in 9.62 seconds. Wilson clinched second place and Desport third.
A young runner who made his mark in the youth scene on the games circuit before graduating into the senior ranks, Elliot said of his Langholm win: “I didn’t really expect to do anything and I am a bit surprised that I ended up winning the sprint.
“I was pleased with my time and running in my heat and I then won in a better time in my cross-tie and this helped my confidence.
“I knew it was going to be a close call in the final as everyone was in with a good chance and it sure was and I’m real chuffed that I just managed to win it.”
Lana Stanger was another sprinter who shone for Hawick by winning the junior 90 metres handicap in sterling style.
It was a well-deserved win for Wilton primary school pupil, who has been showing a lot of promise during the season. A stylish young runner, 11-year-old Stanger (25m) booked herself a place in the final by soaring to a heat win in 10.57 seconds.
Lana Stanger, who won the junior 90 metres handicap, shows her trophy to John Slorance
From the David Rae stable, Stanger found herself up against training companions Hope Stewart (27m) and Connor McLeod (23m), who had also blitzed to heat triumphs.
The last showdown turned out to be a real humdinger which conjured up a photo finish.
It was Stanger who was declared the winner in a time of 10.25 seconds.
Speaking to The Hawick Paper, Stanger said: “I was really happy to be in the final, especially as my friend Hope Stewart was in it as well and we were both very excited before we ran.
“At the end I thought I might have came in second as I didn’t think I had won it. So I was really thrilled when I heard I had won.”
Ten-year-old Irvine Welsh (290m) put his heart and soul into his race to register a victory for Hawick in the youths’ 1,600 metres handicap.
A diminutive figure, Welsh took the lead on the last lap and raced on to take the honours in 5 minutes 2.07 seconds.
Iona Jamieson of Teviotdale Harriers (320m) gave a great performance as well by emerging a very creditable second.
Greg Walker with children Freya and Alfie after winning the 1,600m handicap at Ambleside
A recent winner of the Jedburgh Games youths’ mile, Welsh told us: “I am very pleased to have won another race. I ran hard from the start, but when the bell went for the last lap I took off. Alex Corbett has been coaching me and this has helped me a lot.”
Veteran Alan Inglis hit his best form of the season by gaining second and third places in the 1600 metres and 800 metres handicaps respectively.
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