A HARDY bunch of junior and senior Harriers headed to Gourock promenade on Saturday in cold and windy conditions for Greenock Glenpark’s annual Docherty Cup 10-mile road race.

With the women dominating the Willow Bowl earlier in the month, the men had a point to prove and were keen to contest the top positions this time around, and this indeed proved to be the case.

First off from the 20 senior athletes was Susan Clark. Running towards Inverkip into a strong headwind in the first half of the race, Susan was to hold the lead until the latter stages of the race, eventually being passed by some of the later starters.

With around three miles to go, Robin McAuslan took the lead. Running confidently, he would prove to be a worthy contender for the handicap trophy.

Close behind however were Brian McCluskey and Duncan Anderson, who were both running well, and it was anyone’s race with only two miles to go. McCluskey took the lead from McAuslan before Anderson dug deep to catch McAuslan with just one mile to go. At this point it remained to be seen whether Anderson had the required strength to catch McCluskey with the finish line in sight.

However, with one final effort he passed McCluskey just before re-entering the promenade and never looked back along the finishing straight to lift his first ever running trophy, the Connie Gavin memorial trophy.

Steaming in behind, completing the second half of the race five minutes faster than the first half, was Stephen Trainer — smashing the course record by three minutes with the fastest time of the day to win the men’s scratch trophy and in doing so strengthening his position at the top of the overall club standings.

The men’s V40 and V50 honours went to Paul Monaghan and Danny McLaughlin respectively, who look like the men to beat in their age categories as the season moves into its second half.

Fastest lady on the day and winner of the scratch trophy and also a course record-breaker was on-form ladies’ captain Rhonda White. Drawing confidence from her dominant Willow Bowl victory and personal best in every race in March, Rhonda can be very satisfied with her performance once again as she adds to her earlier success.

V35 honours went to Marion Monk, who has upped her training in recent months and is now reaping the rewards. Victor of the V45 category went to long distance specialist Fiona Cushnaghan returning to club colours after winter marathon training.

In the junior races — over one lap of the promenade for the younger athletes and two laps for the older juniors, Harry McGill led a total field of 22 juniors — home in front of a fast finishing Jack McDaid in the U11s category.

Ruby McGill was first girl in a competitive U11s girls’ race.

U13s winners were the improving Alan Mollins and Beth McKenna. Moving to the U15s category, Shelby Morrison took first place but was made to work hard by Nicola Doohan.

Both girls have been training with the seniors lately and it is hoped they will both go from strength to strength.

A big thank you to time keepers Liz McAuslan and Gillian Forrest and on course marshalls David Carruthers, John Carruthers, Richard Davidson, Katie McAuslan, Silke Loehndorf and to all supporters who cheered the athletes round in testing conditions.

Greenock Glenpark Harriers would also like to thank The Spinnaker Hotel for their continued sponsorship of this annual race.

It is very much appreciated from all at the club. The next club race is the Willie Jukes Road Race over in Dunoon on 3 May and the club are hoping for a big turnout of runners and supporters that day.

Results (Scratch time in brackets): Duncan Anderson 90.18 (68.18) Brian McCluskey 90.37 (67.37) Robin McAuslan 91.08 (71.38) Danny McLaughlin 91.26 (62.56) Paul Monaghan 91.28 (58.28) Stephen Trainer 91.31 (53.31) Chris Jones 91.53 (63.23) Colin Campbell 92.04 (70.10) Andrew White 92.30 (61.30) Chris Watson 92.44 (64.14) Rhonda White 92.50 (73.20) Kevin Gill 92.59 (73.29) Paul Beaton 93.06 (66.36) Robert Dolan 93.38 (65.08) Susan Clark 94.37 (91.37) Sam McVicar 94.44 (63.44) Marian Monk 98.14 (83.14) Steven Campbell 99.14 (64.14) Jacqueline Haggerty 99.25 (78.55) Fiona Cushnaghan 101.56 (86.56).

U11s: Harry McGill 4.39, Jack McDade 4.51, Ewan Ferguson 5.06, Andrew McCluskey 5.25, Sean Haggerty 6.02, Ruby McGill 6.07, Bradley McAleese 6.20, Amy Cummings 6.38, Laura McFarlane 6.39, Francesca McKay 6.45, Olivia Trainer 6.47, Kate Ferguson 7.15, David McCluskey 7.31, Sophie Allan 7.42. U13s: Alan Mollins 10.29, Tom Forrest 10.53, Beth McKenna 12.03, Lisa Hanlon 12.30, U15s: Shelby Morrison 10.12, Nicola Doohan 10.18, Mia Forrest 11.11, Catriona Daisley 12.01.