Published: Thursday, 4th January, 2007 12:00
Mum’s the word!
By Sportsdesk
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Pic by: Dunfermline Press
WENDY and Gemma Nicol entered the record books at the New Year Sprint in Musselburgh after becoming the first mother and daughter to reach the final in the event’s 136-year history.
For once, mum Wendy (44) eclipsed the achievements of 20-year-old daughter Gemma – recently named Scotland’s top under-23 athlete – finishing third under the handicap system used by race organisers, ahead of Gemma in sixth.
Wendy, a former Scottish cross-country champion, crossed the line in 12.21 seconds to pick up the £450 third prize.
Club mates Tony Cunningham and Wallace McGowan were also in the final, making it a proud day for the Dunfermline & West Fife athletics club’s chief coach, Jimmy Bryce, a famous former winner of the sprint in 1956.
It was the eighth attempt at the famous race for hairdresser Wendy, who stays with Gemma in McBeth Road, Dunfermline.
She told Press Sport, “I’m really pleased. I didn’t think I would get there as I’ve been struggling with a sore back and hip. I’ve been to the semi-final twice but it’s the first time I have ever got to the final so I’m fair chuffed.”
And she insisted her performance hadn’t earned her any bragging rights in the Nicol household.
“I’ve always wanted her to be the first woman to win it and even in that race I’d have been happy for her to beat me,” Wendy said. “I was given a head start of 29-and-a-half metres and Gemma got 15-and-a-half so she was giving me 14. She didn’t mind getting beaten by me. She was just happy we were in the final together.
“It was a nice moment when we were on the start line together. I had the second fastest time in the heats and even in the semi-final I was second-fastest.
“I was looking up at the boards for the odds before the start and saw ‘Nicol 5/1’ and said, ‘We all know which Nicol that’s for’.
“But then one woman shouted, ‘Go on hen, I’ve been betting on you’ so I just smiled and said thanks.
“I just kept myself to myself and was really surprised. If you’d have seen me the Sunday before, I was running terrible. I’d been working on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the previous week and standing cutting hair all day I had a burning sensation in my feet.
“Despite the crowds I wasn’t really nervous. I’m more nervous watching Gemma than when I’m running against her!”
Also at Musselburgh, Pitreavie’s Katheryn Pennel ran superbly to claim the youths 800 metres handicap title. Club mate John Newsom placed third in the senior 1600m handicap.
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