Tindle turns on the style to win main event at Earlston Games

In the February of this year Tindle broke a time record in the Scottish 200 metres senior indoor championships and is currently getting set to be involved in trials to gain a place in the British team for the forthcoming World Junior Championships.

On Saturday, however, the Berwick teenager switched from the amateur scene to the open athletic front to compete at Earlston Games. And it turned out to be a memorable occasion.

For the day before his 18th birthday, Tindle gave a five star show by turning on the style to win the main event on the Earlston card - the 90 metres handicap.

Coached by Bruce Scott and Henry Gray and representing the Tweed Leader Jed Track Club, Tindle showed he had something very special to offer when blitzing to victory in his heat in 9.44 seconds.

Competing from a back mark spot of scratch, Tindle then clocked up a winning time of 9.65 seconds in his cross tie. This triumph earning him a final spot along with Craig Knowles of Corstorphine (4.5m), Graeme Armstrong of Edinburgh (17m), Cameron Fisher of Jed AC (10.5m), Cameron Caldwell of TLJT (5m), Craig Bruce of Selkirk (7.5m) and Hawick’s Corey Wilson (10.5m).

Come the final the Berwick flyer did it all again with another superb run from the back to gain the honours in 9.53 seconds. Wilson emerged second and Fisher third.

Coached by Henry Gray, Berwick’s Fraser Garrett of TLJT (60m) emerged an impressive winner of the 800 metres handicap. Strong running Garrett clocked up a winning time of 2 minutes .075 seconds.

Back marker Rory Anderson (45m) from the Hawick based Alex Corbett running school produced the goods to the full to take the 1600 metres handicap in 4 minutes 43.45 seconds. Fellow Hawick runner Greg Walker (100m) was second and Andrew Thomson Jedburgh AC (100m) third.

Kyle Potts (24m) made it a double for the Corbett stable in edging out home town girl, lady runner Mhairi Henderson (46m) as well as Glyn Desport of Hawick (14m) in a thrilling 200 metres handicap final in 21.65 seconds.

Victory in the 400 metres handicap went the way of Charlie Carstairs of Lasswade (17m) in 52.93 seconds.

The final of the veteran’s 90 metres handicap brought about a dead heat. In what turned out to be an exciting duel in the sun, two former New Year sprint winners Tommy Finkle of Jedburgh (8m) and David Lauder of Hawick (7.5m) could not be separated, even after the judges had looked at the photo finish system.

Some tip top running was produced in the many youth’s events on the card.

Making his games debut, Struan Wells of Leithenburn (18m) came out on top in the youth’s 200 metres handicap ‘A’ race. The 200 metres youth’s ‘B’ handicap event was won by Samantha Dagg of TLJT (46m).

Chirnside’s Joey Brown (13m) was the victor of the youth’s 90 metres ‘A’ handicap while Abby Munro of TLJT (29m) gave a fine account of herself to win the youth’s 90 metres ‘B’ handicap.

Due to a storming finish down the home straight Craig Angus of Moorfoot (155m) did the business in the youth’s 1600 metres handicap and Hawick youngster Fraser Clyne (105m) was first through the tape in the youth’s 800 metres.