Final league event gives runners race experience

THE third and final event of the West XC league was another opportunity for Inverclyde AC’s juniors and seniors to gain race experience and team competition.

The courses at Barrwood Park, Erskine set out by Kilbarchan AAC were challenging and this new venue was given the thumbs-up by clubs and officials as a welcome addition to the cross-country venues used for competition.

Six girls from Inverclyde took part in the first race of the event with a couple competing outside home territory for the first time.

Boston Cannon was first to finish for the club after a sprint finish to move ahead of her sister Breagha. Emily Kane, Ella Pollard, Faye Holmes and Orlagh

Kirkwood completed the team to finish in a creditable eighth place.

Louis Reid not only had a team to compete with at this event but produced his best finish in the U11s age group to finish third and lead his team of Rudy Byrne and Dominic Burrows to fourth place.

The U13s girls also finished in eighth place with Amber McIlroy supported by Layna Morgan and Cara McDougall with all three competing in the league for the first time. Aaron Kirkwood was the sole athlete from Inverclyde in the U13s boys’ race and gained confidence in the latter stages.

Molly Farrish and Lucy Neilson

competing in the U15s girls’ race can also be pleased with their first race in this league as both finished strongly to take another eighth place for the club.

Club captain Sean Gaffney was joined by Mark Doherty and Pete Tucker for the senior event. Mark Doherty looks like being back to fitness finishing fourth overall to take the first place in the masters category.

Mark was followed home by Pete Tucker to take second place in the masters with Sean one place behind. Mark and Pete finished third in the master’s team event and with Sean the team finished sixth overall, having to take penalty points for being one finisher short.

Three juniors, Faye Homes, Orlagh Kirkwood, Louis Reid who had competed in all three events were presented with the club’s Zoomin’ Zebra Challenge 2024 medal.

This is the second year that the West XC League has operated, and it is proving to be a welcome and valuable competition opportunity for both seniors and juniors.

For more information about club activities, either go to the club website inverclydeac.org.uk and click on the dropdown button ‘Contact Us’ or email inverclydeac01@gmail.com.

Inverclyde AC is supported by Diodes Inc, Inverclyde Council, Inverclyde Leisure, Smiths of Greenock, Succession Wealth.

Inverclyde AC is an accredited club with Active Schools Inverclyde.