MICHAEL Houston started the winter season with a record-breaking win at the Inverclyde Athletic Club trial at the Battery Park.

Following a period of travelling, Michael looked as if he hadn’t missed a step on his return to Greenock with a great solo effort to win the 5k race in a time of 15min 41sec - a new course record.

Optimism was flowing behind, with the trio of Rob Paterson, Jason Kane and Alan Callan working together to all get under 17 minutes.

Greenock Telegraph:

Rob would prevail first out of them, crossing the line in 16:40 as first veteran, followed by Jason in 16:43. Alan would finish in 16:45, a new personal best, shaving seven seconds off his previous top time.

It was Rob’s quickest time over 5K in 20 years, coming back to the sport more recently; while Jason was just shy of a new best he'd set at Clydebank in June.

David Tamburini was running solo in fifth, scoring a new season’s best of 17:19, followed by Thomas Jamieson in sixth in 18:20.

Greenock Telegraph:

Jason’s son Liam Kane was the first under-20 in the field in seventh in a time of 19:44, managing to hold off the returning Adam Hay, who made his competitive return after a major injury, finishing in 19:52.

Faye Currie, part of the club’s jogging group, finished ninth in a time of 24:07.