Results from the 2024 Inverclyde Schools Cross Country Championships

More than 500 pupils from Inverclyde primary and secondary schools have participated in the 2024 Inverclyde Schools Cross Country Championships.

The event, held at Parklea Playing Fields, was organised by Inverclyde Local Partnerships, which includes Active Schools Inverclyde, Inverclyde Council, Inverclyde Leisure, Inverclyde Schools Athletics, and Inverclyde Athletics Club.

The weather remained dry throughout the morning, but some sections of the flat course were muddy, adding to the challenge.

Sprint - The start of the P5 and P6 boys race (Image: Peter McLaughlin)

The first event of the morning was the race for girls in P5 and P6, with more than 130 girls finishing the 1.2k course.

The event was won by Anna Shearer, P6 of Ardgowan Primary School, with Lilia Boucetta of St Columba’s High School in eighth place winning the P5 girls' gold medal.

There was a joint first place in the team event with the Moorfoot team, and third place went to Ardgowan Primary School.

Go - P5 and 6 girls start line (Image: Peter McLaughlin)

A slightly smaller field of just over 100 took part in the P5 and P6 boys' race over the same distance.

There was some exciting racing as Ollie Bonnar of St Mary’s Primary School finished one second clear of Alexander Jones of Moorfoot Primary School to take the P6 boys' gold medal.

More than 70 girls completed the P7 Girls 1.5k race with Rosie Callan opening up a five second lead over Rosie Stein of St Columba’s High School to take the gold and silver.

Muddy - P7 Girls in action (Image: Peter McLaughlin) The P7 Boys race over the same distance also had just over 70 finishers with Louis Reid of Ardgowan Primary School a clear winner over the duo from St Columba’s, Ruairidh Hudman and Blair Morrice.

Running - The start of the S7 boys (Image: Peter McLaughlin)

The secondary events started with the S1 and 2 girls race over 2k. As expected, numbers were lower than the primary events, but this race still had over 60 finishers and was won by Olivia Lyne of Clydeview Academy.

The distance increased for the S1 and 2 Boys to 2.6k where Charlie Lyne repeated his twin’s dominance and won with a margin of 38 seconds.

Over the same distance, the next race was a combined race for S3 to S6 girls, which saw Grace Barry of St Columba's High School take the title.

Event - The start of the S3 and S6 girls race (Image: Peter McLaughlin)

The final and longest race of the morning, the S3 to S6 boys over 3.5K had 30 finishers with 5 teams completed.

First to cross the line was Finlay Morrice of St Columba’s High School, who had outsprinted Jack Hughes of St Columba’s High School in the finishing straight

Amazing - The S3 and S6 boys race (Image: Peter McLaughlin)

Bosses at Inverclyde Schools Athletics say they are indebted to both Active Schools Inverclyde and Inverclyde Athletic Club, who fulfilled all the duties required for this competition in both the preparation stages and on the day of the event.

The next event will be the Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships, scheduled for early June at Ravenscraig Stadium.