Saturday 14th February 2026 – Greenock Cut
The best conditions in recent years greeted 53 runners heading off around Greenock Cut’s 12.5k loop for this year’s Willow Bowl race, with the weather fresh and clear the Harriers were loving our Valentine’s Day efforts. The race is a conceding handicap, runners being set off at staggered intervals which always leads to one of the most exciting finishes of any club race. 36 gents, 16 ladies and 1 guest took on the challenge this year.
HANDICAP RACE
Always a point of discussion ahead of the start, the handicap event is never easy to predict and the committee did another great job of keeping us guessing. However, the smart money had one clear favourite on the day and so it proved on the course, with Graeme Percival’s run time of 47:58 / Handicap 1:21:58 being far enough ahead to scoop the first place. In second, Neil Lafferty’s outstanding performance (more on that later) put him in second with 42:37 / 1:23:07 HC and just ahead of another great run from Jamie McEwan 48:18 / 1:23:18 HC for third. First lady home in the handicap race was ladies captain Lynne Harrison in 5th with a race pb of 1:01:18 / 1:24:18.
Winner of the Tommy Knight Trophy for 1st Vet home was Stephen Reid in HC 4th, 1:00:05 / 1:23:35 HC. Great to see Stephen pick up his first club trophy (note: although Neil was a faster veteran on the day, new club rules mean you can only win one trophy per race so as next veteran in the HC, Stephen get’s the trophy).
GENTS RACE
As mentioned earlier, the outstanding run on the day came from Neil Lafferty, not only winning this year’s race, but his time of 42:37 was the quickest Harrier around the course since Alan Puckrin in 1996 (41:28), and also we believe Neil’s run is the second fastest veteran run in club history, behind Dick Hodelet’s time of 41:37 way back in 1984. Only five times have been quicker than Neil’s time – Dick Hodelet 41:37, Tommy Murray 40:16, Hammy Cox 41:31, Alan Puckrin (twice) 40:57 and 41:28. This comes off the back of Neil’s Masters Relay bronze three weeks ago, and his his masters XC Gold two weeks ago – Neil is hitting some fine form at all levels as the season heats up. Despite coming back from a recent injury, Stephen Trainer had a strong run for second place in 43:39, and Dee Waka continues to impress in third with 47:19.
LADIES RACE
The senior ladies race saw 16 runners take to the course, and once again our current champion Jill Cox showed her strength by running her second fastest ever time of 51:11, a real statement of intent for the season and not far off the course record (also set by Jill in 2024 in a time of 50:26). Jill finished over a minute ahead of second placed Evie Harrison (52:32), running the Willow race for the first time. Ashley Anderson had another great run for third place with 56:36, the only other lady to go under the hour on the day.
GUEST RUNNER
IAC’s John Bell was fastest on the day…, if only we had a sign up form waiting at the finish his time of 40:37 could have been recorded close to Tommy Murray’s course record of 40:16. Alas, unless you’re wearing the blue and gold vest, it’s a training run.
Special thanks to Race Sponsor Dick Hodelet – as a club we owe so much to Dick and our other long term members who built the foundations to the fantastic club we have today. Extra special thanks to our amazing volunteers – All 22 who where on the cut today, plus our ladies captain Lynne Harrison who arranged the numbers to our amazing handicap team who create another super exciting race, and to Lana who was not only on the cut but also provided the refreshments back in the Club!
Next Race: It’s the longest club race of the season, the 10 mile Docherty Cup! Saturday 4th April 2026. Save the date!
