Philiphaugh is the place to be on Saturday as local runners go under starter’s orders and local trainer David Knox is in an optimistic frame of mind as his young school prepares for its big day.

Selkirk athletes travelled to Hawick last Sunday for the second meeting of the Borders series and there was more success for the Knox school following his own victory the previous week at Earlston.

Allan Smith (15m) produced the goods to the full to take pride of place in the youths’ 200m handicap.

Budding footballer Smith, looked the part in winning his heat in 23.06 seconds, and in a thrilling finish to the final, the 15-year-old edged out Johny Berry of TLJT (33m) on the tape in 23.97.

Allan told The Wee Paper: “I didn’t think I had won the final. It was very close, but I thought I was second, so it was great to hear my name being announced as the winner.”

Speaking about his young protegé, Knox said: “We’ve got a lot of young runners who are still finding their feet, but I’m hoping the likes of Rory Hamilton, Jack McDonald, Andrew Nisbet and Mark Rutter will soon be following Allan and picking up a win on the circuit.

“Smithy has trained really hard this week and is desperate to do better than his third in the Hawick sprint.

“A few of the boys, like Scott Nisbet, Jack Stanners, Christopher Sanders and Allan Rutter, need an extra few metres on the handicap, but will still be giving it their best shot.

“The more experienced runners like Skye and Ryan Shiell, Iain Douglas, Ben and Donald Purves, Alex Godsmark and Mikey Turnbull are all capable of finishing in the frame and they’ve been training hard for the Selkirk Games.

“Craig Douglas has been aiming for the Selkirk 200m since Christmas and has a great chance of reaching the final, while James Purves won’t be far away from reaching the final, either.”

Knox himself suffered hamstring problems in the Hawick final and Marc Cockburn pulled a calf muscle in his heat at the same venue, and both are struggling to be fit for this weekend.

Knox added: “We’ve got around 30 regulars at the school now with a few runners like Greig Gibson, Alan Earsman, Darren Knox and Gordon Dawtry getting ready to make their seasonal debuts over the next few weeks.”

Marks for Selkirk runners gunning for glory in this weekend’s sprint are: A. Godsmark (8.75m); D. Knox (18m); G. Keen (9.5m) and J. Purves (18.5m).

Andy Laurie is the sole Selkirk entry for the 1,600m handicap, where he runs from 285m.

The Selkirk card also has a full programme of youths’ events, where a good squad of young Souters are due to appear in the 90m handicap.

Amongst those set to bid for honours are local runners C. Sanders (9m); J. McDonald (17.5m); A. Smith (7); A. Nisbet (13.5); S. Nisbet (21.5); A. Rutter (12m) and C. Bruce (18.5m).

Hawick Results – 110m handicap: J. McKenna, Edinburgh (10.5m) 11.65 secs; J. Armstrong, Edinburgh (8.5m); I. Barskanmay, Hawick (7.5m).

200m handicap: L.