And on Saturday matters reached an even higher level, though, for Hawick produced its own 'magnificent seven' in pulling off an incredible seven wins overall at St Ronan's and Balloch Games.

Youngest gun of the 'seven' was 12-year-old Kyle Potts, who blasted his way to victory in the 200m handicap at St Ronan's Games.

Former Trinity primary pupil Potts, who starts at Hawick High after the summer holidays, has had his sights set on a win in recent weeks and has come close on several occasions. On the pastures of Victoria Park, Potts, however, hit his target.

Competing from a mark of 53m, the Hawick youngster made a big impression in his heat when soaring home in 22.88 seconds, which was the fastest time of the opening runs.

More was to come from young Potts in the final. And heading the field down the home straight, Potts knew challenges were coming in from the back. But his stride never faltered and showed great guts and determination to hold on and win in 22.79 seconds.

Ryan Goodfellow of Earlston (32m) came in second and Hawick's James
Parker (17m) was third.

Prior to his 200m outings, Potts had ran three times in the youths' 90m handicap. From a mark of 24.5m, he won his heat in 10.15 seconds, after which he reached the final by coming second in his cross-tie.

In the final Potts once again emerged second in coming in behind victor Ryan Laidlaw of Moorfoot AC, who broke the tape in 9.87 seconds. Teri James Parker (8.5m) was also third in this one.

Potts was thrilled with his 200m success and told the Hawick News: "I go to Jedburgh to train with the Jack Steede school. It's quite hard but I enjoy it and it keeps me fit.

"I tried hard to win the 90m but could only get second. But his made me try even harder in the 200m. My heat time was quite fast and I wanted to do the same in the final but I wasn't sure if I could. However, I ran my best and my time was even faster.

"That's the first time I have won a final and I'm really happy about it."

At the other end of the age group, 41-year-old Alex Corbett also made his mark by emerging victorious in the 1,600m handicap.

Out in front as the bell sounded for the last lap, Corbett duly lengthened his stride and raced on for a fine victory in four minutes 41.06 seconds.

The other placings going the way of John Thomson of Coaltown (65m) and Hawick's Kenny Short (130m).

Reflecting on matters, Corbett said: "At last I have managed to win something this season. I have been second twice and third once, as well as coming in fourth a few times. I was starting to think a win was never going to come along. This made me all the more determined to try and do something, though.

"Everything has just fitted into place this week. I have had no injury problems and have been going well at training. And today is the icing on the cake.

"The first race I ever won was the 800m at St Ronan's Games in 1989, so it's brilliant to have won here again."



Reece Taylor also shone for Hawick by taking pride of place in the 800m.
Giving an excellent account of himself, Taylor (50m) was just behind race leader Alistair Laurie of Selkirk (142.5m) with one lap to go. And showing good judgement, Taylor maintained a good pace to surge ahead, before going on to gain the honours in one minute 55.87 seconds.
Dean Philip of Lasswade (32.5m) coming in second and Hawick's Mark Young (75m) third.

Taylor's performance was a highly creditable one and he told us: "I am very happy to have won and I was quite pleased with my running. It was hard going towards the end but I just had to keep going.

"I owe everything to the guys I train with, for without their help I wouldn't have won anything."

Hawick sprinters Aiden Patterson (8.5m), Ross Weir (18.5m), John Paxton (13.5m), David Grieve (12m) and David Hush (19m) all reached the cross-ties of the 110m handicap. Patterson, Paxton and Grieve then all went on to reach the final of the event. But there was to be no Hawick win as Edinburgh's Graeme Armstrong (15m) stormed to victory in 11.44 seconds, with Grieve in second place.

Hawick's Ryan Trimby (20m) showed up well when winning his heat in the 200m handicap. And he was placed third in the final behind Kevin Turner of Dalkeith (29m) and Hawick-trained Colin Bruce of Selkirk (23m). The watch recorded a winning time of 22.10 seconds.

Hawick lass Bethan Douglas (23.5m) won her heat in the youths' 90m handicap.



A hat-trick of wins at St Ronan's was an excellent achievement, but at Balloch Hawick went one better.

Gordon McPherson hit the high spots in winning the youths' 90m handicap, while Ewan Imray triumphed in the youths' 200m handicap. Mark McEwan then nailed his colours to the mast by coming out on top in the youths' 800m handicap.

Also shining on a golden day for Hawick was Lee Marshall, who excelled in winning the seniors' 400m handicap.