PICTURES: Inverclyde primary schools on the run in cross-country challenge

PUPILS from 16 local schools went on the run at the 22nd Inverclyde Primary Schools Cross-Country Challenge in Gourock.

The first and last events had the better of the weather at Tower Hill Park, while the threatened rain on the morning of the second event didn’t materialise - though in the end it was the wind which provided the main challenge to the young athletes.

The challenge started back in 2001, with National Semiconductor providing the initial support, which has continued as Texas Instruments and now Diodes Inc have taken over.

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) The event is part of Diodes' grassroots athletics support to Inverclyde Athletic Club who, in partnership with Active Schools Inverclyde, organise and deliver the three events in the challenge.

A spokesperson for the partnership said “We are indebted first to Gerry Edwards, who was the managing director in 2001, and to current managing director Gerry McCarthy, who have shown such marvellous support and commitment over the past 23 years to grassroots athletics in Inverclyde.

"It is also great to see former participants from the early years returning to support their children taking part."

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) More than 400 pupils from P5, P6 and P7 entered the challenge, with medals presented after each race to the first three individuals and teams in each group, with three to count for the team awards.

After the completion of the final event, trophies wee presented to the series champions by Kay Cooke, an employee of Diodes Inc, who is responsible for securing the company's long-term support.

The Diodes Shield for Best School Performance was presented to the school who came out on top once all the results for each level and each event were considered.

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) As in the past, the P5/6 girls' races had the greatest numbers competing, with more than 130 finishers.

It also proved to be the most competitive, as going into the final there were two athletes in equal first place in the P6 series, with Boston Cannon of Whinhill Primary and Anna Shearer of Ardgowan Primary each having won one race and finished second in the other.

The race was close right to the finish, with Anna just squeezing past Boston for a victory margin of just one second.

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) Jessica Hanley took third place overall, showing consistency over the three races to finish in third place at each.

Mila Okai, of Moorfoot Primary, finished fourth overall in the final race and secured her position as the P5 series champion, with Leah Laufer of Gourock Primary second and Fia Boyle of Ardgowan Primary third.

Ollie Bonnar of St Mary’s Primary repeated his winning performance in last year’s P5 series to win the boys' P6 series this year, with three overall wins to his credit.

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) James Archibald of Gourock Primary finished second in the series, with Oscar Docherty of Inverkip Primary in third.

Elijah Taylor of Newark Primary won the P5 Series, finishing in overall third place in the first race and second place in the latter two, while Sonny McNeil of Gourock Primary finished second in the series and William Laird of Kilmacolm PS third.

The joint P7 race saw both the girls' and boys' series champions winning all three races in their category - and once again it was last year's P6 champions who continued their successes into this year's P7 series.

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) Rosie Callan of Moorfoot was a clear winner in the girls' series, with Gabriella Amadei (St Ninian's Primary) and Annie Henry (St Mary's Primary) joint second.

In the boys' P7 series, Louis Reid crossed the line first in all three races to win his third series championship, with team-mate Rudy Byrne in second and Desmond Ebinedra of St Patrick's Primary in third.

The excitement continued in the team event, with Ardgowan Primary taking first place in two of the P5/6 group races and Moorfoot Primary winning the third.

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) The P5/6 boys from St John's Primary were victorious in two races, with Ardgowan adding another race win to their credit.

Moorfoot, with two wins, and St Mary's, with one, were the top teams in the P7 girls' race, while Ardgowan's team dominated in the P7 boys' event by taking all three victories.

Once all the team places were calculated, Ardgowan Primary retained the Diodes Inc Shield for another year, while St Mary’s Primary finished in second place and Moorfoot Primary in third.

All athletes who completed the challenge of finishing the three races will receive a commemorative certificate.

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) A spokepserson for the organising team said: "Events like this don’t just happen and in addition to thanking Diodes Inc, the following were of great support in the planning of the event: Ian Kearns, of Inverclyde Council's environmental and public protection team; the Inverclyde Leisure booking office staff; Gary Forbes and Craig Mullan of Active Schools Inverclyde; Gerry Gaffney, of Inverclyde AC; Inverclyde Council's corporate communications team; and the St Columba's High School PE department.

"The team of volunteers over the three events cannot be praised and thanked enough for their efficiency in declarations, setting up and dismantling the course, and for their expertise and good humour while involved in marshalling and recording the results of the races.

"From Active Schools they were Gary Forbes, Gillian Hughes, Mhairi Lyle, Claire Munn. Ross Stewart, Brad Cathie and Mitchell Morris; from Inverclyde AC, Keir Arthur, Kerry Bolton, Rhona Bushfield, Alan and Morven Callan, Kay Cooke, Rachael Cunningham, Faye, Leo and Sol Currie, Gerry Gaffney, Norrie Hay, Dougie, Erin and Janice Hendrie, Geraldine Henry, David Holmes, Graeme Hyett, Elaine Kirkwood, Kim Law, Charlie, Jane and Olivia Lyne Collette, Hannah McGeehan and Orla McGeehan, Peter McLaughlin, Lynne Owens, Veronica Pollard, Nicol Reid and Lyndsay Stevenson; and from Inverclyde Literati, Anne Hay and Marianne Stetz.

(Image: Peter McLaughlin) "Many thanks also to the janitor at St Columba’s High School, and to the school staff and parents who prepared and supported the young athletes for this event."

The next event in the Inverclyde schools' athletics calendar is the cross country championships for both primary and secondary schools, taking place on Wednesday, November 6 at Parklea Playing Fields.

(All photos by Peter McLaughlin)