KEEP your fingers crossed for decent weather this Sunday at the Gourock Highland Games in Battery Park.

The event has taken on a vibrant new lease of life since moving to the park last year, when it was thronged by lots of people having a great time.

Gourock proudly holds the distinction of kicking off the Scottish piping and Highland Games season, and it includes the West of Scotland Highland Dance Championships, which actually had its beginnings here.

This year’s innovative ‘come and try’ sports section could be the start of a new way of life for those who pluck up the courage to have a go.

There are probably many who would love to get involved in sport, but just need an incentive to take the plunge. Now here is your chance to sample football, tennis, golf, cricket, bowling, sailing, archery and curling.

Staging the Games takes a lot of planning, so hats off to Inverclyde Council, River Clyde Homes, Inverclyde Active Schools, Gourock Community Sports Hub and Gourock Festival of Sports for all their hard work.

Meanwhile, on the national sporting front, there will be much sympathy for legendary runner Paula Radcliffe, who could lose her marathon world record because she has been caught up unfairly in a controversial proposal to tackle worldwide drug cheats.

She is renowned as a ‘clean’ athlete who has campaigned vigorously against drugs in sport. So why should she lose her formidable record?