The Kirkcaldy coal merchant and twice runner-up has been trying for seven years to win this famous title and he produced the run of his dreams to power home 13 seconds ahead of Rosyth’s Barry Paterson, in a time of 4 minutes 34 seconds.

Delighted Jimmy beamed, “This is what I have been waiting a lot of years for. I have always been in contention for the top prize but each time have been pipped by younger, faster guys and I thought I would give it one last go. In this, the 21st anniversary race, I was determined to get to the winning line first and it is easily the best performance I have ever given.” The ladies’ race saw a split decision giving Dunfermline competitor Julie Menzies the verdict.

Julie was being tracked all the way by Rosyth woman Suzanne Gray and at the end of a dramatic race, edged home by less than half a second.

Julie was delighted, saying, “What a race, it was tremendous to just get there first.” The mascots’ race made for a light-hearted start to proceedings with Cobblers The Clown taking the title. The children’s races saw some excellent runs from big fields and the primary races were won by Ruaridh Broadbent, a pupil at Foulford Primary School, and Kelty Primary’s Louise Conway.

The senior secondary schools winner was Zac McQueen and the junior race winners were Lee Docherty and Lynn Reilly.

After the races, there was a band concert with three top combos playing at the health centre car park.

Organiser Michael Boyle said, “This was a brilliant day. The sun hid for the most part but there were only a few spots of rain and the races produced some really exciting finishes.

“A lot of people said that having the coal races separate from the gala was good as it gives two big community days.” Results:– Primary Schools Boys: Primary 5, 6 and 7 – 1 Ruaridh Broadbent (Foulford Primary); 2 Jack McArthur (St Joseph’s); 3 Lee Gibson; 4 Hayden McKenna; 5 Logan Moyes; 6 McKenzie Noble (all Kelty Primary). Primary Schools Girls: Primary 5, 6 and 7 – 1 Louise Conway (Kelty Primary); 2 Marissa Dow (St Joseph’s); 3 Ebony Keatings (St Joseph’s); 4 Katie Naismith (Kelty Primary); 5 Erin Greenhill (Kelty Primary); 6 Emma McQueen (St Joseph’s). Secondary Boys: S3,4.5 and 6 – 1 Zac McQueen; 2 Evan Seaman. Secondary Girls: S1 and S2 – 1 Lyn Reilly; 2 Isla Broadbent. Secondary Boys: S1 and S2 – 1 Lee Docherty; 2 James Meikle. Ladies’ race: 1 Julie Menzies (Dunfermline) 5.21.3; 2 Suzanne Gray (Crossford) 5.21.6; 3 Joda Quigley (Larbert) 5.37; 4 Vicki Taylor (Auchtermuchty) 5.40; 5 Kathryn Wardrope (Kelty) 5.41; 6 Claire Hamilton (Dunfermline) 5.51.

Men’s race: 1 Jimmy McIntyre (Kirkcaldy) 4.34; 2 Barry Paterson (Rosyth) 4.57; 3 Steven Miller (Blairhall) 4.58; 4 Jed Izatt (Kelty) 5.12; 5 John Donovan (Larbert) 5.19; 6 Ben Finch (Balgowan) 5.19.