And, regularly, the 46-year-old Souter gets overtaken in the latter stages of a race.

Last Saturday, however, at the Kelso Border Games, the former amateur boxer proved to be a knock-out and from his mark of 290m, lion-hearted Laurie led from the gun.

Challenges came in from the back down the home straight, but Laurie was having none of it and held on to take the honours in 4.33.60. Kelso twosome Chris Black (77.5m) and Wayne McIntosh (95m) finished second and third.

Reflecting on his winning run, Laurie told The Wee Paper: “I hope every time I turn out hat I might get a win.I’ve been hoping for this for a while, but nothing has really happened until today, so I am really chuffed.

“It would be nice to say that I felt strong at the finish.

“But that would be a lie, as I am absolutely shattered.”

Jedburgh’s Craig Grieve emerged the victor of the main event of the day on the Poynder Park card – the 100m handicap.

Sixteen-year-old Grieve, who is coached by Chico Woods, did not get off to a winning start, beaten in his heat by Selkirk’s Ben Purves in a photo finish.

He made it to the cross-ties as a fastest loser, though, and then made the final with a win.

Lining up in the final against Purves (11m), Linda Nicholson (23.25m), Craig Sowerby, Worthington (7.5m) and Hawick pair Daniel Paxton (7.5m) and Ross Weir (17.5m), Grieve duly left his best running to last to hit the tape in a time of 10.75. The other placings went the way of Purves and Weir.

Selkirk’s James Purves (54m) and Rowen Marr (180m) also took second places in the one-lap and youths’ 1,600m events respectively.

This weekend, Selkirk runners travel the short distance to Tweedbank for the first of two Border Games meetings at the venue.

Racing starts at 2pm.