Campbell has too much pace

Published 23 Sep 2009 14:00

Andrew Campbell used his excellent track speed at the finish to just hold off a determined Stuart Hodge to take the win for the first time in Inverclyde AC's 75 Trophy 5K (the trial) road race at the Battery Park on Saturday.

Under-20-year-old man Campbell, the current Celtic 1500m champion who has a best time of 3.58 for 1500m on the track, broke away from his rivals at the halfway stage along the Esplanade.

He only came under real pressure near the finish, coming into the Battery Park.

But his track speed held off a spirited late Hodge surge to take an excellent win in this event for the first time.

Hodge had the consolation of being the first male veteran finisher.

Campbell's main focus for the rest of this year and next is to lower his personal best times in the 1500m.

It was very close also for third fourth and fifth, with Neil McLaughlin having an excellent run to just edge out Inverclyde's Mr personal best, Sean Gaffney.

The man with the famous Scottish name, James McFadden, clocked an excellent pbB in fifth. McFadden is really looking forward to the short relays and is hoping to beat some of the young guns. The first under-20 lady to finish was Emma Rice in eighth place overall with an excellent, determined run to hold off the first senior lady, Rhona Bushfield.

Rhona was making a racing comeback after 15 months out through injury.

Bushfield exceeded expectations by clocking an excellent pb in ninth place overall. Third female finisher, and first under-17 woman Nynke Mulholland, had a good, determined run to finish 12th overall.

Other good runs came from Gerry Gaffney, Robert Shaw, Les McMahan and Glenpark's Ann Hay who was making a welcome return from injury after being tripped by a dog inside the Battery Park last month.

Councillor Iain McKenzie made a welcome appearance as a guest, using this race as a warm-up before the Kilmacolm 10K the following day.

It was also good to see Stephen Cooke back racing again. Thanks to the timekeepers Ian and Hugh Cameron and Helen Spence.

Thanks go to the many stewards who included Tommy Knight of Glenpark Harriers, to Jim Ruddy for his usual excellent work at the turn, and to Jan Gaffney and Josephine Newman for the excellent tea and cakes afterwards.

Thanks also go to Gerry Gaffney for the presentation and, on a day of firsts, to Cameron Spence who relayed the results to the clubhouse via a satellite link. Finally many thanks to the sponsors of the 75 Trophy Race - JAC car valet.

Results: 1, A Campbell U20 man 17.27; 2, S Hodge M50 17.29; 3, N McLaughlin 17.39; 4, S Gaffney 17.42; 5, J McFadden 17.44; 6, S Cooke 18.05; 7, G Gaffney M50 18.09; 8, E Rice U20 lady 19.01; 9, R Bushfield 19.28; 10, R Shaw M50 19.54; 11, D Mallet 20.21; 12, N Mulholland U-17 lady 20.34; 13, E Pollock U-20 lady GGH 20.45; 14, C Spence M55 20.52; 15, D MacKenzie U-20 man guest 20.56; 16, J Smillie M40 21.00; 17, D Moore U-17 lady 22.44; 18, A Hay lady GGH 22.48; 19, I McArthur lady 22.54; 20, I McKenzie M50 guest 23.05; 21, T Tracey M55 25.38; 22, L McMahan M65 27.07; 23, G Newman M65 30.04.

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