THE Inverclyde 5 Mile and RAAA Road Race Championships hosted by Inverclyde AC was a success despite the weather conditions last Sunday.

It was great to see so many juniors participating across the age groups and gaining team medals to boost their confidence.

There were also some individual successes and perhaps the best boost for the club was that the Ladies team were on the podium for the first time in many years with Millie McClelland-Brooks, Nynke Mulholland-Stummer and Faye Currie representing the range of the section.

Inverclyde AC thanks the staff of Inverclyde Leisure at Battery Park, club volunteers, Scottish Athletics officials and Protay Timing Systems.

RAAA comprised of 6 clubs, Bellahouston Harriers, Bellahouston Road Runners, Giffnock North AAC, Greenock Glenpark Harriers, Inverclyde AC, & Kilbarchan AAC.

Inverclyde’s John Bell set out with determination to take the Championship title and led the U20 and senior participants on a lap round the park before heading out to the Esplanade.

Once the last of the 130-plus runners had left the park, it was the turn of the youngest competitors to be on the start line.

The Minis race for five to eight-year-olds was one lap of the park with 18 youngsters participating.

First to finish was Reenie Henry ahead of Elsie Tyler in second.

John Bell returned to the park having opened the gap to finish nearly a minute ahead of second placed Ross Goode of Giffnock North AAC, who had an eight-second gap on third place Matthew O’Connor of Bellahouston Harriers.

First female to finish was Inverclyde’s Millie-McClelland-Brooks, taking the U20 women’s gold medal; second was teammate Nynke Mulholland-Stummer who won the senior gold medal.

Inverclyde’s David Henderson took the gold medal for the M40 category with Rob Paterson winning in the M50 category. In the M40 category there were solid performances from Alan Callan in 5th place and Thomas Jamieson in 13th.

Inverclyde AC were then on the team podium with the men in silver position; John Bell supported by David Henderson, Jason Kane, Robert Paterson, Alan Callan and Club captain Sean Gaffney. The ladies were also on the podium with Faye Currie F40 joining Millie and Nynke for the bronze medal.

The fields were smaller in the U15 race over 3k and unfortunately despite the best efforts of Oliver Arthur in fifth place and Jack Hughes in seventh, missing a third finisher meant there was no team position.

The U15 girls, however, did not share this fate and with Kiera Gregory supported by Molly Fairish, Lucy Neilson and Pearl Paterson, Inverclyde AC were on the podium again to take their fifth silver team medal.