INVERCLYDE Athletic Club’s annual junior Christmas event had a different look and venue this year.

Normally the Elves, Reindeer and Santa Chase would have been held at Lunderston Bay on an out and back course with all age groups starting together with different turning points.

Present conditions made this impossible and the venue was changed to Battery Park with four different races on the programme, which involved both those who attend the minis' session and the club’s under-13 section.

The mini elves (five to six-year-olds) were first off on their 800m course.

Ollie Bonnar was first over the finish line with Lewis McKenzie and Harry Gaffney having a close race for second and third. Zaras Hamilton was first girl mini elf to finish with Orla Kirkwood and Reenie Henry in second and third.

The elves (under-nine) had both club and minis taking part over their 1K course and had the largest field of the event, just managing to keep under the maximum 30 allowed in a race.

Rhuaridh McLaren was first to finish ahead of fellow club members Flynn McLellan.

Luke Hunter was first eight-year-old to finish ahead of Lucas Cameron and the minis were led home by Rosie Callan followed closely by Layna Morgan and Zach McAllister.

The reindeers' race over 1.5k was very competitive especially in the girls' event. Lucas Wagstaff was outright winner with Oliver Arthur in second and Ben Roxburgh in third.

Olivia Lyne - finishing in overall third place - came in just ahead of Pearl Paterson who had overtaken third-placed Grace Barry in the closing stages.

The final race, the Santas for under-13s over 2.5K, was also a close race, with Oliver Wagstaff retaining his unbeaten record in club events with a winning margin of one second over Ewan Docherty in second. Ewan had a gap of two seconds over third-placed Liam Kane.

Many thanks to coaches and club officials Keir Arthur, Rhona Bushfield, Donny Cameron, Kay Cooke, Abi Hammerman, Jane Lyne, Jennifer Lyne, Hannah McGeehan, George Newman and Rob Paterson for the help on the day and to parents and families for their support.

Many thanks to Ian Dyer and Stewart Burns of Inverclyde Leisure for their help in allowing the event to go ahead, and to Callum Robb of Inverclyde Leisure for his valuable assistance on the day.

Thanks also to the events team of scottishathletics for their invaluable advice in maintaining and complying with Covid-19 regulations for organising an event.

Unfortunately due to the new regulations in place, the planned club annual Boxing Day Race could not be held.