1st November 2025 | Upper Port Glasgow
Clouds were gathering above the Inverclyde Hills as Greenock Glenpark Harriers headed to the Port Glasgow Industrial Estate for the second club race of the season, the Colin Shields 4.5 miler. The new course, being run for only the second time, is a double loop round the factory estates and along the cycle path, with a much-feared climb up Barrs Brae testing runners strength to the limit. The race is in a time trial format, with runners being released in groups every thirty seconds, meaning there is a lot of overtaking and passing adding to the excitement. The weather was not kind to the runners or volunteers, with the torrential rain and hail soon after the gun.
The men’s race saw some outstanding performances from the club’s top athletes. Anticipation was high for the sharp end of the race, with the on-form Stephen Trainer perhaps the bookie’s favourite in the absence of Lewis McCrae and the news club champion Dylan Crawford was carrying a slight injury, the two men setting off together with Andy McCall. Trainer’s return to club racing has been very impressive and he took the pace to the others, going out hard and creating a solid lead by the one mile point. Crawford had edged Trainer out in their battle in the previous club race but was struggling with his hip, which forced him to walk some of the hillier sections. McCall held on as best he could, hoping the lead man had gone out too hard, but there was to be no quarter given from Trainer as he went over the line in a new course record in 23:59.
This was Trainer’s 4th victory in the Colin Shields, but amazingly his first club win since the Harris Cup in 2017, showing just how strong his training has been and marking his status as a serious championship contender this year. Andy McCall finished in second with an excellent run of 25:03 and Dylan Crawford was third in 26:12.
There were several other outstanding battles in the mens race, with Steven Campbell and Paul Monaghan in particular scrapping shoulder to shoulder for long stretches. Monaghan set of 30 seconds after Campbell, hunting him down quickly, but Campbell knew the chasing man would go all out to catch him and paced his run it in the first mile. Both men raced together for virtually the next 3 miles until the last hill, where Campbell made his move – opening up a gap on Monaghan, but not a big enough one to get the seconds back. Great to see them both men on this sort of form, Paul finishing in 26:41 in fourth overall and first Veteran; Steven finishing fifth overall in 26:54. John Hampsey (27:01), Michael McLoone (27:42) and Stephen Hanley (27:48) also put in a great effort together, with Hanley in particular pleased with his run – noting that he finished in 8th spot rather than his traditional 11th!
In the ladies race there was no surprise to see Jill Cox finish in first for the fourth consecutive year, despite struggling with injury, a gutsy run and a new course record time of 29:07. However, the surprise of the day came from second placed Evie Harrison. The under 20 runner has shown remarkable improvement this season under coach Alan O’Rourke, and had an outstanding run to finish only 13 seconds behind Cox in 29:20. Harrison’s time would also beat the previous course record, and shows great promise for the season ahead. Ashley Anderson (32:07) was third home for the ladies, continuing her fine run of form. Ladies Captain Lynne Harrison (35:06) went over the line in fourth place and also 1st ladies Veteran.
Other great runs for the ladies came from Jill Aikman (35:34), Lix Gemmell (36:09) and another group battle between Lisa Boonsanong (37:01), Ladies Vice Captain Jill Turner (37:09), and Helen Crawford (37:13).
A big thank you to Race Sponsor Euan Morrison / The Harbour Barber and to McGowan Fitness Training for post race hospitality
Photographs by Peter McLaughlin, Andy McIntyre, Neil Lafferty
Credit to Andy McCall for contributing to the report
Next Up: The Terror that is THE WILSON TROPHY Saturday 13th December
