FOR most pensioners the period just after Christmas is a time to sit back and relax after getting the family 'off their hands' and a bit of time to themselves.

Not so former probation officer Tony Bowman, from Guiseley, who decided at the age of 71 to make the trek up to Scotland for the famous Powderhall Sprint - and emerged as the oldest ever winner of the event.

Bowman after a day of minor races and heats for the big one' found himself lining up for the final in front of the grandstand at Musselburgh Racecourse near Edinburgh.

After streaking to the tape in the handicapped event ahead of all his younger competitors he was thankful for at last deigning to use a modern contraption in the form of starting blocks!

Bowman only bought his blocks a few weeks before the race and was glad of them when he found himself on a slippery grass surface with the grass around three inches long and quite wet from the rain.

"They gave me a real boost at the start, perhaps I should have been using them before," said the man who since hitting the veteran stage when he passed 40 has won a string of medals all over the world.

However, none can compare with the legendary Powderhall - now known as the New Year Sprint.

Ewan McCombie started the final as the heavily backed favourite at evens, with Bowman second favourite at 6/4. The final turned into a procession led by Bowman from almost the start, to the finish.

The back and middle markers failed to mount a serious challenge, and Wendy Nicol, who started half a metre in front of Bowman, was hauled back within 20 metres of the start.

Once again, Bowman finished over a metre clear of his nearest challenger, but for once he dipped for the finishing line - possibly to please the crowd.

It is likely to be a very long time before The Sprint sees another runner of Bowman's years turning in a series of performances approaching the standard witnessed at Musselburgh Racecourse for the 138th New Year Sprint.

The New Year Sprint is the most enduring open athletics event in the UK. A handicap race held over 110 metres, the Sprint has been staged in Scotland on or around New Year's Day annually since 1870. First of all at Powderhall then at Meadowbank before moving to Musselburgh a few years ago.

Competitors, both amateur and professional, vie for prize money totalling over £8,000 while the Christmas National Hunt race meeting goes on around them.

The 110 metres New Year Sprint, with a £4,000 first prize, was supported by other events and Bowman also won the 90 metres Open and the 90 metres Veterans events making his performance in the main event even more special.

The New Year Sprint has attracted top-flight domestic and foreign runners throughout its history. Most recently, 1995 winner Doug Walker, went on to become European 200m champion. 1987 winner Bill Snoddy (USA) was formerly the world's fastest man (wind assisted) and world professional record holder over 120yds, George McNeill, won in 1970.

The Sprint is more than just a battle between the fleetest of foot. For this event features a handicap starting system to ensure that any runner, no matter what their ability, age or sex, has a chance of scooping the big first prize.

The longevity of the Sprint, the participation of champion runners, the prospect of a front marker clinging on for victory and the determination of all runners competing at the most inhospitable time of year are all ingredients that lend the Sprint an almost mystical air.

The young Bowman had his interest in athletics fired by his father who took him to watch the Olympic Games in London. He took up the sport and became Middlesex Schools hurdles champion but his interest in competing dropped in his mid-twenties.

He came back with a bang after passing the veteran mark at the age of 40 and with support from his wife, Betty, and son, Adam, he has gone on to compete all over the world in veteran and masters events.

He picked up a clutch of medals at the 2001 World Championships in Brisbane, Australia, with two silvers and a bronze breaking the British 300 metres hurdles record on the way.

He has competed in European Championships in Germany and Poland among other countries and also trekked to Puerto Rico for the 2003 World Championships.

It was that same year that glutton for punishment Bowman competed in his first ever pentathlon.

He has now claimed British, European and World Masters titles, but never one to look back he is looking forward to competing in the Scottish Indoor Championships in February, the British Masters in Enfield, the European Indoor Championships in Helsinki in March and the World Outdoor Championships in Italy in September.

His winnings at the Sprint will certainly come in handy for all his overseas trips which have to be self funded.

His standing in the sport has seen him become chairman in waiting for the Doping Committee of the British Masters, being vice-chairman at present.

Of his new role he quipped: "Most of the problems in the Masters come from the medication that the athletes are on for such as heart problems, diabetes etc, not from performance enhancing drugs!"