New Year Sprint

New Year Sprint
Date	New Year's Day
Location	Grangemouth Sports Stadium
Event type	Handicap sprint race
Distance	110 metres
Established	1870
Course records	11.5 seconds
Official site	New Year Sprint: Facebook
Participants	Amateur & professional athletes

Powderhall Stadium, Edinburgh, 1970

The New Year Sprint (formerly known as the Powderhall Gift) 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.^[1] The Powderhall Sprint was one of a circuit of professional handicap sprint races that prospered in the late nineteenth century in the United Kingdom.^[2] The handicap system meant the highly rated runners ran longer distance than less rated runners – the handicap being determined by previous results.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

In 1993, amateur athletes were allowed to compete for the first time without the risk of losing their amateur status.^[2]

Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh

Race venue

Musselburgh Racecourse

Athletic Stadium, Grangemouth

The Powderhall Sprint after the district of Edinburgh, with the original venue being held on the Powderhall Grounds.^[1]The race later moved from Powderhall to the Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh and then onto Musselburgh Racecourse.^[3][6] 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 GBP£4,000.^[1]

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

Famous competitors

Harry Hutchens: Backmarker 11 times between 1880 & 1895

Harry Hutchens was the "scratchmarker eleven times between 1880 and 1895^[7] and recorded a world record for 300 yards in 1884 at Powderhall off scratch in 30 seconds even time.^[8]

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.^[9]

American gold medal Olympian, Barney Ewell was a competitor at Powderhall in 1950.^[10]

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.^[11]

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.^[12]

Australian runners

During the First World War, it attracted the Australian sprinters Arthur Postle and Jack Donaldson (off scratch in 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916)^[13] 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.^[14]

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^[15] and South Australian runner, Jim Hennessey trained for three months prior^[16] to running in the 1939 Powderhall Gift, ^[17] 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.^[18] 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).^[19] In 1952, the Australian sprinter Eric Cumming won the 130 yard handicap final.

Winners list

Winners of the Powderhall Gift.^[20]

Powderhall Gift Winners
No.	Year	Winner	City (from)	Handicap (yards)	Time (seconds)	Backmarker	1st Prize/Comments
1	1870	Dan Wight	Jedburgh	12
2	1871	T Angus &	Darlington	4.5
		J Dickie	Leith	11.5
3	1872	G Alexander	Edinburgh	11.5
4	1873	A McKenzie	Edinburgh	13
5	1874	J Grierson	Edinburgh	12
6	1875	J Aiken	Johnston	15.5
7	1876	F Kilgour	Edinburgh	18.75	14.00
8	1877	F Kilgour &	Edinburgh	13.5	14&1/4
		Dan Wight	Jedburgh	scratch	14&1/4
9	1878	K Edwards	Edinburgh	16.25
10	1879	J Hill	Kelso	14.5
11	1880	J Change	Edinburgh	19.00		Harry Hutchens
12	1881	T P Williamson	Hawick	16.00	12&1/4	Harry Hutchens
13	1882	R Muir	Edinburgh
14	1883	W Davies	Edinburgh
15	1884	W Clark	Jarrow			Harry Hutchens
16	1885	T Elliot	Sunderland			Harry Hutchens
17	1886	T Hendry	Newscastle			Harry Hutchens
18	1887	J Hamilton	S Queensferry
19	1888	G Grant	Edinburgh
20	1889	W Watson	York			Harry Hutchens
21	1890	J Jackson	Hawick
22	1891	J Jack	Leith			Harry Hutchens
23	1892	W Hunter	Shettleston			Harry Hutchens
24	1893	A Douglas	Edinburgh			Harry Hutchens
25	1894	E Gordon	Edinburgh			Harry Hutchens
26	1895	S Boustead	Byker			Harry Hutchens
27	1896	J Cowan	Jamestown
28	1897	W Russell	Biggar
29	1898	G Duncan	Langholm
30	1899	D Roberts	Leith
31	1900	E Nener	Wavertree
32	1901	D Roberts	Leith
33	1902	B R Day	Glasgow
34	1903	J Garside	Edinburgh	13.00			[21]
35	1904	J Muir	Leith
36	1905	J Innes	Porsoy
37	1906	W Maguire	Edinburgh
38	1907	R Raisbeck	Edinburgh
39	1908	G Walker	Cupar
40	1909	S Stewart	Leith
41	1910	R Riach	Ratho			Charles Holway
42	1911	J Paris	Edinburgh			Charles Holway
43	1912	F Donaldson	Broughton			Charles Holway
44	1913	M Hendry	Jedburgh	11.00	11&13/16	Jack Donaldson	[22]
45	1914	W Haddock	Stockton	10.5	12&14/16	Jack Donaldson
46	1915	W R Stevens	Glasgow	12.50	12&2/5	Jack Donaldson	£100[23]
47	1916	R Thompson	Ferryhill	11.50	12&2/16	Jack Donaldson	[24]
48	1917	R Brunton	Edinburgh	15.00	12&1/2	Pat Davies &
			Edinburgh			Broughty-Ferry
49	1918	T Brandon	Edinburgh	12.5	9&15&1/2/16	Cyril J Mears	Brandon: 45 yo[25]
50	1919	J Edwards	Edinburgh	7.5	10&2/16	Cyril J Mears
51	1920	T Eatock	INCE
52	1921	J Pentland	Edinburgh
53	1922	D Bell	Donibristle
54	1923	J Riach	Ratho
55	1924	F Best	Jarrow	14.50	11&15/16		[26]
56	1925	N Thompson	Clathill	10.0			£120[27]
57	1926	C J Britee	Portobello
58	1927	G Howard	Bury
59	1928	J Duffy	Broxburn
60	1929	J Henshaw	Newarthill
61	1930	A Morgan	Llangewydd
62	1931	T Tait	Prestonpans
63	1932	J Carl	Elswick
64	1933	Willie McFarlane	Glasgow				£100
65	1934	Willie McFarlane	Glasgow				[28]
66	1935	J F McPhillips	Edinburgh
67	1936	J H Mitchell	Ashington
68	1937	W H Scott	Galashiels
69	1938	Jimmy Saxon	London	15			[29]
70	1939	Charlie James	Edinburgh	9.5	12&7/6		[30]
71	1940	J Gillespie
72	1941	G Taylor
73	1942	C Chatburn
74	1943	N Taylor
75	1944	J Urquart
76	1945	Sammy Cain	Edinburgh				[31]
77	1946	A Mitchell
78	1947	W Spence
79	1948	J S Wilson
80	1949	A McLagan					[32]
81	1950	H Short
82	1951	Geoff Harrington[33]	Brownhills	7.5	11.85		£150[34]
83	1952	Eric Cumming	Australia	2.0	12.19		[35][36][37]
84	1953	F Wilson
85	1954	F Scott
86	1955	N Robertson
87	1956	J Bryce
88	1957	J Ball
89	1958	W N Atkinson
90	1959	F Loss
91	1960	A A Pow
92	1961	J Lothian
93	1962	C Harrison
94	1963	Ricky Dunbar	Edinburgh				[38][39]
95	1964	W McLellan
96	1965	T Dickson
97	1966	M Murray
98	1967	E Cain
99	1968	R Swann
100	1969	D Deas
101	1970	George McNeil	Tranent	5.50 y	11.61
102	1971	W Young	Elphinstone	6.00 m	11.10
103	1972	R Oliver	Cowdenbeath
104	1973	J Kirk	Lochgelly
105	1974	P Mulgrew	Edinburgh
106	1975	J Connor	Sunderland
107	1976	D Burgess	Edinburgh
108	1977	J Stirling	Ormiston
109	1978	Roy Heron	Edinburgh	8.5	10.79
110	1979	A Forster
111	1980	D Valentine
112	1981	Gus McQuaig
113	1982	Andrew Walker
114	1983	Neil Turnbull
115	1984	Kipper Bell	USA	2.25	10.75
116	1985	Willie Fraser	Bonnyrigg
117	1986	B Mulgrew	Edinburgh
118	1987	William Snoddy	USA
119	1988	E Smart
120	1989	T Finkle
121	1990	J Mallin
122	1991	D Donald
123	1992	M Elliot
124	1993	N Sneddon	Edinburgh
125	1994	D Barbour	Peebles
126	1995	Doug Walker	Edinburgh AC
127	1996	K Campbell	Edinburgh SH
128	1997	Josephus Thomas	Woodford Green AC
129	1998	J Cunningham	Haddington
130	1999	Joselyn Thomas	Woodford Green AC
131	2000	R Pitt	City of Edinburgh AC
132	2001	Nick Smith	Dunfermline & W Fife AC
133	2002	C Telford	Newcastle
134	2003	D Lauder	Hawick
135	2004	G Charlton	North Shields
136	2005	Patrick Swan	City of Edinburgh AC
137	2006	C Bowers	Glenrothes
138	2007	Tony Bowman[40]	Leeds City AC	28.50	12.12		Oldest Winner.(71)
139	2008	Craig Robertson	Gala	9.50	12.00
140	2009	L Marshall	Hawick	8.00	11.84
141	2010	D Paxton	Hawick	9.50	11.95
142	2011	M Patterson	Clackmann	6.50	11.91
143	2012	G Lister	Kirkcaldy	12.50	11.62
144	2013	Ben Robbins	Edinburgh AC	7.50	12.14		£4,000
145	2014	D Ali	Hawick	7.50	11.59
146	2015	Cameron Tindle	Edinburgh AC	5.00	11.97
147	2016	Jazmine Tomlinson	TLJT	20.50	11.38		1st female winner
148	2017	Greg Kelly	East Kilbride AC	8.25	11.54
149	2018	Callum McWilliam	East Kilbride AC	9.75	11.80
150	2019	Greg Kelly	East Kilbride AC	5.5	11.50		[41]
151	2020	Ian Horsburgh	Central AC	10.25	11.81
152	2021	Molly Reville	Edinburgh AC	26.00	10.83
153	2022	Stacey Downie	Edinburgh AC	17.00	11.15
154	2023	Scott Tindle	TLJT	6.5	12.03		[42]
155	2024	Ryan McMichan	Edinburgh	8.50	11.35		[43]
156	2025	Craig Bruce	Borderer	10.00	11.74		£6,000[44]
157	2026	Daniel Bruce	Kilbarchan AAC	9.0	11.51		£6,000
158	2027
No.	Year	Winner	City (from)	Handicap (metres)	Time (seconds)	Backmarker	1st 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

1. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/more-sport/athletics/powderhall-athletics-tradition-a-tribute-to-champion-1-3251446 "Powderhall athletics tradition a tribute to champion", Sandy Sutherland, The Scotsman, 13 April 2013.
2. "New Year Sprint". www.sportingworld.co.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
3. Pearson, Harry (22 December 2011). "Days of bookies, fast bucks and foot soldiers at the Powderhall Sprint". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
4. "New Year Sprint - History Last of an Era". ResultsNet.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
5. 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.
6. "'Powderhall Sprint' finds new home at Musselburgh", Doug Gillon, HeraldScotland, 30 December 1999.
7. "New Year Sprint - History Last of an Era". ResultsNet.uk - For Traditional Scottish Games Results. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
8. "1913 - "THREE HUNDRED" IN EVENS". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930). 12 February 1913. p. 16. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
9. "The New Year Sprint (Brief History)". Sportingworld.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
10. "1950 - Ewell runs in Glasgow". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954). 3 September 1950. p. 40. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
11. "2002 - Scottish Hall of Fame". Scottish Sports. 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
12. "2019 - New Year Sprint memories and the 'day of days' for the oldest surviving winner". The Herald: Scotland. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
13. "1915 - Sporting Notes: Athletics". Bealiba Times (Vic. : 1915 - 1918). 8 January 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
14. "1915 - Donaldson wins the sprint". Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954). 5 January 1915. p. 15. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
15. "1934 - DUNN WINS IN EDINBURGH". The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954. 2 January 1934. p. 16. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
16. "1938 - Training For Powderhall". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954). 26 October 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
17. "1939 - Footrunner Returning". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954). 8 March 1939. p. 17. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
18. "1950 - BANNER READY FOR POWDERHALL". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 30 December 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
19. "1950 - Unlucky To Lose The Powderhall". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954). 24 February 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
20. [http://www.sportingworld.co.uk/cgi-bin/newyearsprint/rollofhonourexresp.pl?Dist=10&Race=h&Age=o&Startyr=1870&Startedn=1&Endyr=2026&Endedn=157&Initials=&Name=&Town=&RecentFirst=on/
21. "1903 - THE POWDERHALL 180yds NEW YEAR'S HANDICAP". Trove Newspapers. Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 18 February 1903. p. 6. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
22. "1913 - AT POWDERHALL. HENDRY, OF JEDBUBGH, WINS SPRINT". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 5 February 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
23. "1915 - Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939)". THE POWDERHALL MEETING. 17 February 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
24. "1916 - THE POWDERHALL HANDICAP". The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918). 11 March 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
25. "1918 - THE POWDERHALL HANDICAPS". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 27 March 1918. p. 10. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
26. "1924 - PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 5 March 1924. p. 11. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
27. "1952 - PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 18 February 1952. p. 9. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
28. "1934 - PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS Powderhall Gift Winner". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 17 February 1934. p. 25. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
29. "1938 - WON POWDERHALL AT 14th TRY". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954). 26 January 1938. p. 13. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
30. "1939 - Gift To James At Powderhall". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954). 25 January 1939. p. 15. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
31. "2019 - New Year Sprint memories and the 'day of days' for the oldest surviving winner". The Herald. Scotland. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
32. "1952 - Star English Runner Coming To Australia". The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955). 4 December 1952. p. 17. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
33. "2015 - Ninety years, a true Brownhills sportsman". BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
34. "1951 - Victorian Runners Fail in Scotland's Powderhall Gift". Labor Call (Melbourne, Vic. : 1906 - 1953). 4 January 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
35. "1952 - CUMMING WINS POWDERHALL". The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955). 3 January 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
36. "1952 - Powderhall Winner Back". The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 31 January 1952. p. 14. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
37. "1952 - USE OF BLOCKS' BANNED". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 1 January 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
38. Martin Flanigan (25 May 2017). "2017 - Ricky Dunbar - 77 and still running". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
39. Jack Davidson (27 October 2021). "2021 - Scotsman Obituaries: Ricky Dunbar, world class Scottish athlete of the Sixties". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
40. "2007 - Bowman sprints to victory at 71". The Guardian. 2 January 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
41. "New Year Sprint - History Last of an Era". ResultsNet.uk - For Traditional Scottish Games Results. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
42. "2023 - 154th New Year Sprint - Full Results of New Year Sprint". ResultsNet.uk For Traditional Scottish Games Results. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
43. "2024 - New Year Sprint". Edinburgh Athletics Club. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
44. David Ferguson (23 February 2025). "2025 - New Year Sprint winner dedicates victory to late coach". BBC. Retrieved 12 January 2026.