A MAN who won the Powderhall Sprint, and produced an Olympic competitor, before he helped develop some quality running talent in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, has died.

Jimmy Bryce, 88, was born and brought up in Alva but lived much of his life in Lochgelly and set up the town's athletics club in the late 1980s.

Jimmy's greatest success as an athlete was undoubtedly winning the famous New Year Powderhall Sprint in 1956.

A man who was proud to be able to call Jimmy a great friend, Scotland's top Highland Games handicapper from Lochgelly, Don Campbell, found the picture above of Jimmy winning at Powderhall.

Don recalled how Jimmy came to Lochgelly to work at the Taylor Instruments factory, in Auchterderran Road, and at that time he was still running on the Games circuit.

Said Don: "JB was literally running before he could walk and he developed into a fine sprinter and was to go on to claim what has always been seen as the top Scottish sprint double, winning at Powderhall in 1956, and then at Jedburgh Games in 1969.

"But Jimmy was always keen to help young runners and he became a very good coach and guided Dunfermline 400m runner, Linsey Macdonald, to become part of the British Olympic team for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow at the tender age of 16, where she made the 400 ladies final and then helped the 400m relay team to get a bronze medal, all under JB's watchful eye."

He would go on to compete on the Highland and Border Games circuits for a further six decades and was still competing well into his 70's, but living in North Street he knew there was a lot of young runners in the area desperate to get a chance to show what they could do so he started Lochgelly and District AAC.

This saw a host of young lads and lassies produce some good performances and do well in age group championships.

Jimmy coached athletes to a high level both on the mainstream Scottish Athletics circuit as well as Highland Games.

Under Jimmy's tutorship Gemma Nicol went on to compete at international level and to many Scottish Championship wins and she has contested six New Year Sprint finals.

Jimmy is one of the few people to have both won and coached a New Year Sprint winner, guiding Nick Smith to win the big race in 2001.

Added Don: "JB loved athletics and he could still be seen going to Highland Games meets well into his eighties.

"He was a fine runner and a prolific coach and someone who loved helping runners make the best of their talents."

Jimmy, who latterly stayed in Cowdenbeath, is survived by his daughter Julie and grandchildren.