PUPILS from across Helensburgh and Lomond’s primary schools lined up at Helensburgh Cricket and Rugby Club’s Ardencaple grounds to do battle in the annual Live Argyll Active Schools and Helensburgh AAC primary cross-country championships.
An impressive total of 450 P6 and P7 pupils from across the area signed up for this year’s event – and provided quite a spectacle in spite of the overcast conditions and wet weather forecast.
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
More than 100 pupils took part in the P6 girls’ race, with Erin Packham finishing in first place in a time of four minutes 46.6 seconds, with Abbie Balfour second and Eilidh Smith third.
The team result for the race, based on the best three placings per school, saw Rhu Primary finish first, with Hermitage Primary runners-up and Cardross Primary completing the podium.
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
The P6 boys’ race saw a strong run and finish by Jacob Tyson to secure the win, with Calum Smith winning a close contest for second place in 04:31.2 and Finlay McLean finishing just two seconds behind in third. Lomond School won the teams contest for this race, followed by Rhu Primary and with St Joseph’s Primary in third.
Next up were the P7 girls for a race in which Zoe McPherson powered clear to win by 14 seconds from runner-up Hazel Young, with Laura Wilson finishing in third place.
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
Hermitage Primary secured top honours in the team event with Colgrain Primary second and Rhu third.
The final race of the morning was the P7 boys’ event – which featured the biggest field of the day and saw an impressive run from Seth Ritchie, who led from the front for most of the race and never looked back, finishing in 04:12.0.
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
Tobias McLaughlan was second over the line, with Donnie McLean holding on for third; Rhu Primary took the team honours, with Cardross second and Colgrain third.
Martin Caldwell, Live Argyll’s Active Schools co-ordinator for Helensburgh and Lomond, admitted afterwards that he was delighted at the smooth running of the event after many weeks of careful planning.
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
He said: “An event of this size requires lots of support and partnership work to bring it together.
“A huge thank you to Helensburgh Amateur Athletics Club (HAAC), in particular to Daz Murphy and the fantastic group of HAAC volunteers; to Helensburgh Rugby Club for sharing their wonderful facilities on the day; and to Chris Bull from the club for being on hand to help with this side of things.
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
A total of 460 pupils took part in the annual Helensburgh and Lomond primary school cross-country championship
“Well done also to all the school staff and parents who motivated the runners round the course, and finally to the pupils themselves who all challenged themselves during the race and represented their schools to a high standard on the day.”
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