IT was a clean sweep of the top positions for Greenock Glenpark Harriers’ women as they totally dominated at the seven-and-a-half mile Willow Bowl race around the Greenock Cut. It was all the more remarkable as Rhonda White’s victory was the first time in the race’s long 32-year history that a woman had taken the title. Tommy Knight was the first athlete away in the conceding handicap race and was to hold that lead for over four miles, until the faster runners closed him down.

First to pass was Marian Monk who stayed in front until they reached just above Ravenscraig, when Rhonda White came storming through.

With just two miles to hold on, she was running so strongly her win was never in any doubt as the expected challenge from the men didn’t materialise.

Her closest rival was Jacqueline O’Donoghue 30 seconds behind who just managed to pass Donna Clark on the Long Dam with 400m to go.

O’Donoghue had the satisfaction of recording the fastest women’s time, reversing the positions with White.

Stephen Trainer bounced back from his injury to claim the Centenary Cup with the fastest overall time. His nearest challenger was the on-form Andrew Harkins. Steven Campbell was the quickest veteran with the third-fastest time overall.

In the other veteran categories, Mick McLoone, Robert Mitchell and Tommy Knight were tops respectively in the over 50s, 60s and 70s. Gillian Forrest and Nikki Walker took the honours in the women’s over-35 and 45s.

The Harriers would like to thank the Willow Bar for race sponsorship and post-race refreshments.

RESULTS (scratch times in brackets): R White 76.13 (59.36), J O’Donoghue 76.45 (59.08), D Clark 76.54 (60.17), R Slater 77.25 (53.48), M Monk 78.12 (64.35), A O’Rourke 78.52 (57.15), D Anderson 78.59 (58.22), R Wilson Snr 79.12 (58.35), K Arthur 79.17 (65.40), S Forrest 79.20 (57.43), G McGrattan 79.30 (51.53), S McLoone 79.31 (77.54), A Harkins 79.35 (45.58), P Monaghan 79.47 (48.10), K Gill 80.05 (59.38), G Forrest 80.12 (62.35), M McLoone 80.16 (47.49), S Campbell 80.21 (46.44), S Trainer 80.42 (44.05), R Mitchell 80.57 (57.20), R Adams 81.02 (51.55), R McAuslan 81.08 (59.31), J Bolton 81.30 (49.53), C Jones 81.35 (52.38), A McCallan 81.59 (58.22), C Campbell 82.01 (58.34), K Thomson 82.05 (58.28), K McAuslan 82.18 (75.31), D Carruthers 83.14 (52.37), N Walker 83.58 (69.21), K O’Donoghue 84.03 (50.26), V Wilkinson 84.53 (72.16), A White 84.55 (53.18), G Parker 85.26 (74.49), S McDade 86.47 (66.10), T Knight 86.55 (85.18), J Carruthers 89.03 (77.36).

For more information on the Harriers visit www.glenparkharriers.webs.com