The beginning
1870
The New Year pedestrian gala at Powderhall
Powderhall hosted a New Year pedestrian gala in 1870. Its main sprint covered 160 yards, with Dan Wight of Jedburgh winning from a 12-yard start.
History
The official story of more than 150 years of professional handicap sprinting.
Our story
From Powderhall to the present
The story begins with a wider New Year pedestrian gala at Powderhall in 1870, then follows the race through Meadowbank, travelling venues, Musselburgh and modern track racing.
Explore the milestones, people and places that have shaped the New Year Sprint across more than a century and a half.
1870Powderhall begins
A 160-yard main sprint within a professional pedestrian meeting. Dan Wight of Jedburgh won from 12 yards.
From the archive
Historic winners gallery
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A different Edinburgh venue
1953
Old Meadowbank
The 1953 event was held at Old Meadowbank rather than Powderhall.
The travelling years
1958
Hawick
Hawick hosted the New Year Sprint in 1958.
The travelling years
1959
Tranent
The event moved to Tranent in 1959.
A five-year home
1960–1964
Victoria Park Stadium, Newtongrange
From 1960 to 1964, the Sprint was staged at Victoria Park Stadium in Newtongrange.
Back at Powderhall
1965–1970
Return to Powderhall
The Sprint returned to Powderhall for the editions from 1965 to 1970.
The centenary
1970
George McNeill wins the centenary running
George McNeill won the centenary New Year Sprint in 11.61 seconds.
A modern Edinburgh home
1971–1999
The Meadowbank era
Meadowbank Stadium became the Sprint's main home from 1971 to 1999, establishing its modern synthetic-track era.
A new setting
1999–2000
From Meadowbank to Musselburgh
Around late 1999 and 2000, the event moved from Meadowbank to Musselburgh Racecourse. Early attempts to combine the Sprint with horse racing were disrupted by weather.
Musselburgh
2001
Runners and horses share the meeting
In 2001, the combined meeting of professional runners and horse racing was successfully staged at Musselburgh.
Racing on turf
2000–2020
The established Musselburgh final
Through the 2000s to 2020, Musselburgh became the established final venue. The final was run over 110 metres on turf.
COVID-19
2020–2021
The New Year schedule disrupted
COVID-19 disrupted the Sprint's normal New Year schedule in 2020 and 2021.
154th edition
2023
Return to Musselburgh
The New Year Sprint returned to Musselburgh Racecourse in 2023. Scott Tindle won the 154th edition in 12.03 seconds.
Modern track editions
2024–2026
Grangemouth Stadium
The completed editions from 2024 to 2026 were staged at Grangemouth Stadium.
157th edition
2026
Daniel Bruce wins the 157th edition
Daniel Bruce of Kilbarchan AAC won the 157th New Year Sprint at Grangemouth, running 11.51 seconds from a 9-metre handicap.
Hall of Fame
Notable champions
Champions whose achievements form part of the Sprint's wider sporting heritage.
Notable champion
1970
George McNeill
Winner of the 1970 New Year Sprint in 11.61 seconds, George McNeill later became world professional sprint champion and won Australia's Stawell Gift in 1981.
Sprint families
1974
Pat Mulgrew and Brian Mulgrew
Pat Mulgrew won in 1974 and his son Brian Mulgrew won in 1986, a recorded father-and-son success in the Sprint.
International champions
1984
Kipper Bell and William Snoddy
Kipper Bell, the 1984 champion, and William Snoddy, the 1987 champion, are recorded as the Sprint's first American winners.
Notable champion
Dougie Walker
New Year Sprint winner Dougie Walker went on to become European 200m champion.
Champion brothers
1998
Joseph Thomas and Jocelyn Thomas
Brothers Joseph and Jocelyn Thomas both won the Sprint. Jocelyn's 1998 victory made him the final Meadowbank winner.
Notable champion
2001
Nick Smith
Nick Smith won the 2001 Sprint and was its youngest winner at the time. He went on to a successful career as a Scottish sprinter.
A remarkable age record
2006
Tony Bowman
Tony Bowman won the 138th meeting in December 2006 at the age of 71, a notable age record in the Sprint's history.
Notable champion
2015
Cameron Tindle
Cameron Tindle won the New Year Sprint at 16 years old. He later became Scottish senior 200m champion.
Notable champion
2023
Scott Tindle
Scott Tindle won the 154th New Year Sprint in 2023, becoming the second Tindle brother to win after Cameron.
Explore the official record
Past Winners preserves the event's champions and results, while the Archive is the home of programmes, photographs and memorabilia from across the Sprint's history.