Inverclyde AC grab relay bronze

Published 30 Sep 2009 14:00

Inverclyde AC's men's A team of Stuart Hodge, Craig Ruddy, Andrew Campbell and Neil McLaughlin all produced good, solid performances to win team bronze in the Renfrewshire Road Relay Championships.

The event was incorporated into the George Cummings 2.7 mile Road Relays hosted by Kilbarchan AAC on Saturday at Houston. Inverclyde AC's also finished fourth overall.

The very consistent Stuart Hodge got the A team off to a reasonably good start, coming home in 14th place, just holding off a determined Sean Gaffney of the club's B team, who made Hodge work hard all the way on the first leg.

Kilbarchan's Callum Hawkins was first home on the first leg.

Craig Ruddy had an excellent run on the second leg, taking the A team up to fourth overall and clocking the third fastest men's run in the event.

Ruddy was also only a few seconds down on his personal best for this course. He will be all the better for this run going into the McAndrew Relay this Saturday

Andrew Campbell did well to hold on to fourth place overall for the A team on the third leg, despite coming under pressure from the experienced Bobby Quinn of Kilbarchan.

Derek Hawkins clocked the fastest men's time of the day on this stage. Hawkins, running for Kilbarchan's A team, clocked a time of 12.43.

Neil McLaughlin who has been running really well recently had another consistent run to bring the A team home in third place in the Renfrewshire competition and fourth overall in the George Cummings Relay.

Winners of the men's race were Kilbarchan's A team, followed by Shettleston Harriers in second with Kilbarchan's B team in third.

Inverclyde AC youngster Paul Currie had the most improved run of the day for the B team on the very difficult anchor leg.

Other good runs came from Gavin Morrison and Robert Gray for the C team and John Smillie and Tom Tracey for the D team.

In the women's three-stage race over the same course, the winners were Springburn Harriers from Kilbarchan AAC, with Garscube Harriers third. Kilbarchan also took the Renfrewshire title, with local lady Elspeth Curran clocking the fastest ladies' time of the day on the first leg.

Curran proved that every second really does count as she just edged out Springburn's Danielle Brown by one second. Curran's time was 15.12.

Bellahouston Harriers took second place in the Renfrewshire, with Glenpark Harriers ladies' team of Emily Pollock, Terry Wall and Maria Reay taking the bronze in third.

Thanks to the timekeepers and to the club's supporters and everyone who helped with the transport.

Inverclyde AC times: A team - S Hodge 14.44, C Ruddy 12.51, A Campbell 14.31, N McLaughlin 14.37. B team - S Gaffney 14.50, J McFadden 15.15, S Cooke 15.19, P Currie 15.02. C team - R Shaw 17.00, D Mallet 17.09, R Gray 16.56, G Morrison 16.41. Incomplete D team - J Smillie 18.00, T Tracey 20.40.

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