INVERCLYDE Athletic Club were given an early Christmas present after their masters team ran home in top spot at the West District Cross Country League meeting at Linn Park last weekend.

Rob Paterson, David Tambourini and Alan Callan took the team top spot at the event on Glasgow's south side.

Inverclyde's senior runners scooped up the top gong at Linn Park (Image: Peter McLaughlin) This is the first time in recent history that races have been held at Linn Park, with Giffnock North AC organising the event and taking credit for a well-set-out course.

The trio felt that this was the hardest course they had ever run and were more than delighted that the distance had been shortened to compensate the never-ending hills.

But the masters race wasn't the only one with Inverclyde AC representation at the event, with Sophie Coyle and Orlagh Kirkwood beginning the day by flying the flag for the club in the under-11 girls' race.

Orlagh Kirkwood put in a valiant effort in Glasgow (Image: Inverclyde AC) Sophie was first home, in her first club race, showing she wasn't overwhelmed by the hills, while the always-smiling Orlagh wasn't too far .behind and finished with a strong spurt of speed.

Inverclyde had a full team in the boys' race; Ollie Bonnar, returning from torn ligaments in his wrist, set off conservatively, but with two hills to go regained his confidence and started moving through the field to finish in a very creditable seventh place.

Ollie Bonnar did well in the Under 11's race (Image: Inverclyde AC) He ended up leading the team to a seventh place finish overall, alongside Rudy Byrne and Louis Sutherland.

Rosa Callan was the only IAC runner in the under-13 girls' race and, whilst finding the hills hard initially, she soon recovered to finish strongly.

The Under 15 girls' race featured five Inverclyde members, with the team finishing second across the two-lap course.

The under 15's showed up well (Image: Peter McLaughlin) In the second, longer, lap, Grace Barry, who was joint leader, caught her foot in a hole, and that was enough for Nicole Yates of Giffnock North to open up a gap, though Grace recovered well to finish second.

Cara McDougall, who has been showing great consistency recently, was next home, followed by Molly Farish, who pulled away from Lucy Nelson. Pearl Paterson completed the Inverclyde team.

Kay Greg was the only senior woman from Inverclyde taking part, running in the combined senior event; she finished 12th overall and felt that she had run a better race than her previous race in the West District programme.

But it was the Inverclyde men who stole the show in the masters race, with Rob Paterson finishing fourth, Daivd Tamburini seventh and Alan Callan 12th to seal the overall team prize.

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At the same time as the Linn Park event, some of Inverclyde’s juniors were competing at the Glasgow Athletic Association Christmas Bash held at the Emirates Arena.

Sol Currie achieed a new personal best in the 60m hurdles, whilst both Olivia Law and Lochlan Steele recorded season’s bests in the 60m.

On Sunday, coach and under 23 runner Hannah McGeehan ran in the Malaga Marathon - and despite describing the race as ‘brutal’, was delighted to complete her first marathon in under four hours.

A club spokesperson added: "Thanks to all our club coaches for their work with the athletes. Thanks must also go to Henry, our bus driver from Hardie’s Coaches, who was a great support at Linn Park, and to the coaches from Motherwell Athletic Club who helped erect the tent.

"Finally, the club are delighted to congratulate Louis Reid, Grace Barry, Olivia Lyne, Nuala Munro, Nynke Mulholland-Stummer, Andy Douglas and Ross Gray on being selected to represent the West District at the Inter District Cross Country Championships, being held in Alexandra Park, Glasgow on Saturday January 11."