A Coach to some of Scotlands best Track & Field athletes, Linda Nicholson is a coach with many accolades to her name…a BEM in the New Years honours list in 2016, Scottish Athletics Coach of the Year 2019, British Masters Long Jump record holder and founder of Peebles Netball Club.
On the 4th July, Linda added another – the first female coach to coach the winner of the New Year Sprint Meeting – a 152 year old athletics competition held annually, this year in Edinburgh Scotland.
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. Competitors, both amateur and professional, vie for a first prize of thousands of pounds.
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 (U.S.A.) was formerly the world’s fastest man (wind assisted) and World Professional Record holder over 120yds, George McNeill, won in 1970. Sprinters such as Willie McFarlane of Glasgow (1930s) and A. R. Downer of Edinburgh (1890s), who are considered the finest of their generation, also graced the event with superlative performances.
Linda’s dedication to her sport, her athletes and her Country is truly inspirational. She continues to fight for a better sporting environment for all, continues to support her athletes and fellow coaches and works hard to create a flourishing sporting landscape across Scotland.
As a performance coach, she currently has a number of athletes ranked in the top 10 in the UK, with 5 of her Long and Triple Jumpers ranked in the top 3 in Scotland.
We hope that Scottish Athletics, the governing body of the sport in Scotland fully recognises and celebrates the achievements and commitment of this coach. Without her, the Scottish sporting landscape would be a very different place.
Congratulations to coach Linda and athlete Molly!
