The New Year Sprint (formerly known as the Powderhall Sprint) is a handicap sprint race for professional and amateur athletes that takes place each year in Edinburgh, Scotland. The sprint race is one of the original events of this type in the world, tracing its history back to 1870 and has been held continuously since 1870.

Origins The race was originally called the Powderhall Sprint after the district of Edinburgh where it first took place."Powderhall athletics tradition a tribute to champion", Sandy Sutherland, The Scotsman, 13 April 2013. The Powderhall Sprint was one of a circuit of professional handicap sprint races that prospered in the late nineteenth century in the United Kingdom. The handicap system meant the highly rated runners ran longer distance than less rated runners the handicap being determined by previous results. Those runners that had to run the full distance, the most highly rated, were running from 'scratch'.

Betting surrounded all the professional races and they were often shrouded in allegations of fraud to ensure a winner favourable to the bookmakers.

The Powderhall Sprint has been run uninterrupted, including through two world wars, since 1870, apart from a brief break in 1953 and between 1958 and 1964 when various venues in Scotland hosted the race. In 1999, the race moved to Musselburgh Racecourse.http://www.shga.co.uk/news.php?a=341 "The Powderhall Sprint [a unique event]", Shane Fenton, Scottish Highland Games Association, 29 December 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

In 1993, amateur athletes were allowed to compete for the first time without the risk of losing their amateur status.

Famous competitors

Harry Hutchens was the "scratchmarker eleven times between 1880 and 1895 and recorded a world record for 300 yards in 1884 at Powderhall off scratch in 30 seconds even time.

British Olympic medal winner Willie Applegarth was off scratch in 1915.

Willie McFarlane won the race two years in succession in 1933 and 1934, the latter from scratch- a record that still stands.

American gold medal Olympian, Barney Ewell was a competitor at Powderhall in 1950.

Geoffrey Harrington, who came from Brownhills and was off 7.5 yards, broke a 50-year-old record with a time of 11.85 seconds in the 1951 semi final, just pipping Australian runner, Eric Cumming, by an inch who was off two yards.

In the gift's centenary year of 1970, the winner was George McNeill who later won the world professional 120 yards record in 1972.

In 1983 American runner "Kipper" Bell won the 110 metre handicap event, then in 1987, the former United States collegiate 200m champion William Snoddy won.

Australian runners During the First World War, it attracted the Australian sprinters Arthur Postle and Jack Donaldson (off scratch in 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916) and another Australian runner Cyril J Mears finished third in 1915 and was the scratchmarker in 1918 and 1919. Mears was also the backmarker in the 880 yards handicap in 1919.

Donaldson won the 300 yards Handicap event at Powderhall, off scratch in 1915.

Middle distance runner, Charlie Burgmeier was the scratchmarker in the 1916 one mile handicap and the 880 yards event in 1918.

Some other Australian runners who competed in the Powderhall Gift in the 1930's were Malcom J Dunn and South Australian runner, Jim Hennessey trained for three months prior to running in the 1939 Powderhall Gift, while Gordon Andrews ran at Powderhall in 1953.

In 1951, Australian runner Frank Banner prepared for the Powderhall Gift for eight weeks at Gorebridge, prior to the event. Banner was off one and a half yards and fellow Australian runner, Eric Cumming was off two yards, with Cumming just beaten by an inch in the semi final by eventual 1951 winner, Geoff Harrington (off 7.5 yards). In 1952, the Australian sprinter Eric Cumming won the 130 yard handicap final.

Race venue

The Powderhall Sprint was so named after the district of Edinburgh, with the original venue being held on the Powderhall Grounds. The race later moved from Powderhall to the Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh and then onto Musselburgh Racecourse."'Powderhall Sprint' finds new home at Musselburgh", Doug Gillon, HeraldScotland, 30 December 1999. The move, in 1971, to the Meadowbank Stadium happened after the newly opened venue had hosted the 1970 Commonwealth Games.

From 2000 to 2020 the race was run at Musselburgh Racecourse over 110 metres, and in 2013 the winner received £4,000.

The race date was moved to mid-January in 2021.

Race Venue Timeline 1870 - 1881: Powderhall Grounds 1882 - Royal Patent Gymnasium Grounds 1883 - 1889: Powderhall Grounds 1890 - 1952: New Powderhall Grounds 1953 - Meadowbank Grounds 1954 - 1957: New Powderhall Grounds 1958 - Buccleuch Park in Hawick 1959 - Tranent Sports Stadium 1960 - 1964: Victoria Park Stadium, Newtongrange 1965 - 1970: New Powderhall Grounds 1971 - 1999: Meadowbank Stadium 2000 - 2020: Musselburgh Racecourse 2021 - East Lothian Athletics Arena 2022 - Meadowbank Stadium 2023 - Musselburgh Racecourse 2024 - 2026: Grangemouth Stadium

Sprint Handicap Distance Timeline 1870: 160 yards 1871 - 1877: 150 yards 1878 - 1881: 130 yards 1882: 125 yards 1883 - 1917: 130 yards 1918 - 1919: 100 yards 1920 - 1940: 130 yards 1941 - 1945: 100 yards 1946 - 1952: 130 yards 1953: 100 yards 1954 - 1957: 130 yards 1958 - 120 yards 1959 - 110 yards 1960 - 1970: 120 yards 1971 - 2026: 110 metres

Winners list Winners of the Powderhall Gift, now called the New Year Sprint. Powderhall Gift WinnersNo.YearWinnerCity(from)Handicap(yards)Time(seconds)Backmarker1st Prize/Comments 11870Dan Wight Jedburgh 12 21871T Angus & Darlington4.5 J Dickie Leith 11.5 31872G AlexanderEdinburgh11.5 41873A McKenzie Edinburgh 13 51874J Grierson Edinburgh 12 61875J Aiken Johnston 15.5 71876F Kilgour Edinburgh 18.7514.00 81877F Kilgour &Edinburgh 13.5 14&1/4 Dan Wight Jedburgh scratch14&1/4 91878K Edwards Edinburgh 16.25 101879J Hill Kelso 14.5 111880J Change Edinburgh 19.00 Harry Hutchens 121881T P WilliamsonHawick 16.0012&1/4Harry Hutchens 131882R Muir Edinburgh 11.5 141883W Davies Edinburgh 10.5 151884W Clark Jarrow 12.5 Harry Hutchens161885T Elliot Sunderland13.5 Harry Hutchens171886T Hendry Newscastle14.5 Harry Hutchens181887J Hamilton S Queensferry13.00 191888G Grant Edinburgh 13.00 201889W Watson York 13.00 Harry Hutchens211890J Jackson Hawick 10.00 221891J Jack Leith 18.00 Harry Hutchens 231892W Hunter Shettleston 9.00 Harry Hutchens 241893A Douglas Edinburgh 15.00 Harry Hutchens 251894E Gordon Edinburgh 16.00 Harry Hutchens 261895S Boustead Byker 9.00 Harry Hutchens 271896 J Cowan Jamestown 12.50 281897W Russell Biggar 13.50 291898G Duncan Langholm 10.50 301899D Roberts Leith 16.00 311900E Nener Wavertree 6.50 321901D Roberts Leith 6.50 331902B R Day Glasgow 10.00 341903J Garside Edinburgh 13.00 351904J Muir Leith 14.00 361905J Innes Porsoy 12.50 371906W Maguire Edinburgh 15.50 381907R Raisbeck Edinburgh 12.50 391908G Walker Cupar 11.00 401909S Stewart Leith 15.00 411910R Riach Ratho 13.50 Charles Holway 421911J Paris Edinburgh 15.00 Charles Holway 431912F Donaldson Broughton 15.00 Charles Holway 441913M Hendry Jedburgh 11.00 11&13/16Jack Donaldson 451914W Haddock Stockton 10.512&14/16Jack Donaldson461915W R Stevens Glasgow 12.5012&2/5Jack Donaldson£100471916R Thompson Ferryhill 11.5012&2/16Jack Donaldson481917R Brunton Edinburgh 15.0012&1/2Pat Davies & Edinburgh Broughty-Ferry491918T Brandon Edinburgh 12.59&15&1/2/16Cyril J Mears Brandon: 45 yo501919J Edwards Edinburgh 7.50 10&2/16Cyril J Mears 511920T Eatock INCE 10.00 521921J Pentland Edinburgh 11.50 531922D Bell Donibristle11.00 541923J Riach Ratho 15.00 551924F Best Jarrow 14.50 11&15/16 561925N Thompson Clathill 10.00 £120571926C J Britee Portobello 7.50 581927G Howard Bury 9.00 591928 J Duffy Broxburn 11.50 601929J Henshaw Newarthill 14.00 611930A Morgan Llangewydd 8.50 621931T Tait Prestonpans 9.00 631932J Carl Elswick 8.50 641933Willie McFarlaneGlasgow7.00 £100651934Willie McFarlaneGlasgowscratch 661935J F McPhillipsEdinburgh 8.50 671936J H Mitchell Ashington 9.00 681937W H Scott Galashiels7.50 691938Jimmy Saxon London 15.00 701939Charlie JamesEdinburgh 9.5012&7/6 711940J Gillespie Leith 19.00 721941G Taylor Douglas 5.50 731942C Chatburn Chatburn 3.50 741943N Taylor Blyth 6.00 751944J Urquart Edinburgh 761945Richard GordonEdinburgh 5.50 (Sam Cain)771946A Mitchell Ashington 5.00 781947W Spence Blyth 5.50 791948J S Wilson Mussellburgh9.50 801949A McLagan Methven 9.50 811950H Short Asgington 7.00 821951Geoff Harrington Brownhills7.511.85 £150831952Eric CummingAustralia2.012.19 841953F Wilson Kirkintilloch 851954F Scott Falkirk 861955N Robertson Perth 871956 J Bryce Alva 881957J Ball Blyth 891958W N AtkinsonBrampton 901959F Loss Ashington 911960A A Pow Interleighten 921961J Lothian Walkerburn 931962C Harrison Bedlington 941963Ricky DunbarEdinburgh 951964W McLellan East Wemyss 961965T Dickson Hawick 971966M Murray Barrow 981967E Cain Carlisle 991968R Swann Cardenden 1001969D Deas Buckhaven 1011970George McNeil Tranent 5.50 y11.61 1021971W Young Elphinstone 6.00 m11.10 1031972R Oliver Cowdenbeath 1041973J Kirk Lochgelly 1051974P Mulgrew Edinburgh 1061975J Connor Sunderland 1071976D Burgess Edinburgh 1081977J Stirling Ormiston 1091978Roy Heron Edinburgh 8.510.79 1101979A Forster Prestonpans 1111980D Valentine Edinburgh 1121981Gus McQuaig Dumbarton 1131982Andrew WalkerHawick 1141983Neil TurnbullPeebles 1151984Kipper Bell USA 2.2510.75 1161985Willie FraserBonnyrigg 1171986B Mulgrew Edinburgh 1181987William SnoddyUSA 1191988E Smart Whitley Bay 1201989T Finkle Jedburgh 1211990J Mallin Hawick 1221991D Donald Oakham 1231992M Elliot Hawick 1241993N Sneddon Edinburgh 1251994D Barbour Peebles 1261995Doug Walker Edinburgh AC 1271996K Campbell Edinburgh SH 1281997Josephus ThomasWoodford Green AC 1291998J Cunningham Haddington 1301999Joselyn Thomas Woodford Green AC 1312000R Pitt City of Edinburgh AC 1322001Nick SmithDunfermline & W Fife AC 1332002C Telford Newcastle 1342003D Lauder Hawick 1352004G Charlton North Shields 1362005Patrick Swan City of Edinburgh AC 1372006C Bowers Glenrothes 1382007Tony Bowman Leeds City AC28.5012.12 Oldest Winner.(71)1392008Craig RobertsonGala 9.5012.00 1402009L Marshall Hawick 8.0011.84 1412010D Paxton Hawick 9.5011.95 1422011M Patterson Clackmann 6.5011.91 1432012G Lister Kirkcaldy 12.5011.62 1442013Ben Robbins Edinburgh AC 7.5012.14 £4,0001452014D Ali Hawick 7.5011.59 1462015Cameron Tindle Edinburgh AC 5.0011.97 1472016Jazmine TomlinsonTLJT 20.5011.38 1st female winner1482017Greg Kelly East Kilbride AC 8.2511.54 1492018Callum McWilliamEast Kilbride AC 9.7511.80 1502019Greg Kelly East Kilbride AC5.5 11.50 1512020Ian Horsburgh Central AC 10.2511.81 1522021Molly Reville Edinburgh AC 26.0010.83 1532022Stacey Downie Edinburgh AC 17.0011.15 1542023Scott Tindle TLJT6.512.03 1552024Ryan McMichanEdinburgh 8.5011.35 1562025Craig Bruce Borderer 10.0011.74 £6,0001572026Daniel BruceKilbarchan AAC9.011.51 £6,0001582027 No.YearWinnerCity(from)Handicap(metres)Time(seconds)Backmarker1st Prize/Comments

1871 and 1877 were dead heats.

Links New Year Sprint: Facebook Page New Year Sprint: Roll of Honour & Winners List Powderhall & Pedestrianism: The history of the famous Sports Enclosure - 1870 to 1943. By David A. Jamieson Stawell Gift, Victoria, Australia. A similar race that is run in Australia.

References