POWDERHALL SPRINT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20669, 6 March 1937, Page 16 (Supplement)

POWDERHALL SPRINT

BIG SCOTTISH FOOTRACE Surprise Sprung in this Year’s Final To W. M. Scott, former Galashiels harrier and one of the most exposed Scottish runners, worthily go Powerhall sprint honours of 1937, writes a critic in London “Sporting Life” of January 4.

In defeat, the massive Welshman, J. Williams, a raging hot favourite and the sole competitor to beat 13s, must be commiserated with.

Scott’s was a brilliant victory, and once again demonstrated that on the track youth, aided by natural ability,

will always prevail against a more crude and less experienced senior dependent upon sheer strength for 1 his runfling.

It is open to question if there is a speedier starter at the game than Scott. In contrast Williams is clumsy and ties himself up in the style of a novice.

Some of our old-time pedestrian trainers would extract a couple of yards additional speed out of the runner-up.

Scott literally stole the race from Williams out of the holes. Rain made the track more loose and holding, and a gale was dead against the competitors, accounting for the slow times. It would be difficult to imagine a finer group of finalists, all, with the exception of Pentland (the greyhound type), of magnificent physique. Little time was wasted in the preliminaries. After a brief limbering up, all got down and set, rising to a perfect start. Extraordinarily swift into his stride, Scott left his mark at a terriffic gait. Conceding Williams a yard and a half, the Borderer was that margin ahead at 50yds, and maintained his machine-like movement. All except Williams and Fergusson faltered. Then Williams’ phenomenal though deceptive pace became manifiest. He tore after Scott, almost retrieved the arrears, started straggling, and perceptibly “lifted.” Running through straight as a gunbarrel, Scott carried on as if possessed and drew further away. Victory was not only decisive but extremely popular. With every justification the crowd rose to Scott on his f remarkable feat.

Born at Galashiels 24 years ago, Scott, who scales 11.7, an ideal sprinter’s weight, and stands sft 10-iin is single, and a clerk in a wholesale clothing factory at his home town.

Until a week before the race Scott was working and training at night only at Galashiels, afterwards going to Dampark, Ayr, to be finished off by Marshall Braidwood.

Bolder amateur sprint champion in 1933. Scott has won approximately 200 prizes under S.A.A.A. rules, . and is value for evens.

During the summer games he was successful in the Jedburgh and Greenlaw (Berwickshire) sprints, and second to Duffy in the St. Ronan’s 120yds at Inverleithen.

In 1935 the Llanhilleth ped. ran Jock KcPhillips and Chester to a foot

The placings were W M Scott. (£lOO and gold medal). 1: J. Williams 2, W. Fergusson. 3; J. Pentland 4. Also ran; C. Weaver.