Greenock Glenpark Harriers hold Bill Elder 10K race

The course is a fast out and back loop from Greenock Boat Club to The Point and was sponsored this year by BRBR (Kevin O’Donoghue), with a new special trophy being awarded to the handicap winner of the race in the day, presented by the family of the late club member George McCallum, who sadly passed away last year.

On a blustery day, every championship except the senior ladies was still to be decided. With table topper Neil Lafferty unable to run, current champion Dylan Crawford had the chance to battle it out again for top spot – and only a win would do for Dylan if he had any hope of retaining the men’s title for the second year in a row.

The race, featuring a field of 72 Harriers and three guests, set off at a tough pace with Dylan kicking off early into the front of the pack and taking the race to the rest of the runners.

The Bill Elder 10K was run in blustery conditions. (Photo: Lesley Dick) 
He didn’t have it all his own way in Neil’s absence and was pushed hard throughout by youngster Kyle Johnstone, who has been showing some excellent form of late.

However, Dylan’s experience came through in the end and he powered home in a PB time over the distance with 34.20 – though it wasn’t enough on the day to secure an outright championship win, with the men’s senior title ending up a draw between Dylan and Neil.

Kyle finished with a time of 35 minutes as the first junior boy, edging out fellow junior runner Lewis McCrae into third place and in doing so securing third place in the men’s senior table behind Neil and Dylan, an excellent season overall and showing much promise for the future.

With the ladies’ senior title long since secured, current champion Jill Cox still put in an excellent effort to win the ladies race with a time of 38:57, with the returning Sue Hewitson (42:50) over the line in second. Lorna Mitchell scooped third place with another fine run in 44:24.

Jill Cox was the first female runner over the line. (Photo: Lesley Dick) 

The race had no effect on the placing of the senior ladies’ championship top three, with ladies’ captain Lynne Harrison unable to make up any ground on daughter Evie in the championship table; the younger Harrison lady finished second and Lynne in third for the season overall.

Evie also finished the race today as first junior girl in 49:16, closing out rival Summer Taggart (54:14) over her preferred distance. The girls have also had a great season this year, battling out many club races; again, things look good for the future for both girls.

The handicap title, as ever, was open to a host of runners on the day with men’s captain Stephen Harrison three points ahead going into the race. However, disaster struck for Stephen, who had been on PB pace through the first 4k, when injury struck, forcing him to pull up and walk the remainder of the race - bad luck for Stephen but it opened up the field for several runners to leave it all on the course and clock up the points.

Stephen Harrison's hopes were dashed by a mid-race injury. (Photo: Lesley Dick) 

Some strong times from Graham McGrattan, Liz Heywood, David Thomson all put them into contention but in the end it was Lewis McCrae who took the title with a third place in the handicap table enough to finish two points clear for the season.

A huge thanks to the Glenpark handicap committee as once again the season came down to the final race.

Finally, the one we were waiting for was the presentation of the newest club trophy, the McCallum Cup, awarded to the fastest handicap time on the day; and it was possibly the loudest cheer of the afternoon when the winner was announced – a more deserving Harrier would be hard to find then the veteran Graham McGrattan, winning the HC race with a time of 32:15.

A special shout out to the ‘fantastic four’ runners, Helen Crawford, Debbie McKenzie, Stephen Hanley and Lynne Harrison, who competed in every club race this season – and to William Taylor, competing on his 40th birthday and a first venture into a new age category.

Evie Harrison took the junior ladies' honours in 49 minutes and 16 seconds. (Photo: Lesley Dick) 

Special thanks went to race sponsor BRBR (Kevin O’Donoghue), the McCallum family for presenting the new McCallum Handicap Trophy, the handicap committee for providing a fantastic exciting close to the season, and to the volunteers

Top finishers in each category were as follows.

Handicap trophy: 1 Graham McGattan 32.15, 2 David Thomson 32.36, 3 Lewis McCrae 32.54.

Ladies: 1 Jill Cox 38.57, 2 Sue Hewitson 42.50, 3 Lorna Mitchell 44.24

Gents: 1 Dylan Crawford 34.20, 2 Kyle Johnstone 35.06, 3 Paul Monaghan 35.23.

Junior ladies: 1 Evie Harrison 49.16, 2 Summer Taggart 54.14.

Junior gents: 1 Kyle Johnstone 35.06, 2 Lewis McCrae 36.54.

The Bill Elder 10K was the last club race of the Greenock Glenpark Harriers' season. (Photo: Lesley Dick) 

The Greenock club has gone from strength to strength once again this year, with a total of 641 runners taking part across their 11 race club season, as well as strong representation at district and national level.

Particularly pleasing is the consistent uptake of female runners, with a club record 215 ladies representations to 426 male runners participating over the 11 races, the highest turnout of runners in any Harrier season.

The Harriers also recorded the highest turnouts for all club races over a single season, made up of 172 different senior runners, again a club record.