Saturday 4th April 2026
The weather gods turned their back on the club as 48 runners headed to Gourock Promenade for the Docherty Cup, the longest effort on the race calendar at ten miles out to Inverkip and back. The first notice of ‘storm Dave’ arrived just as the conceding handicap race got underway, with conditions difficult from the off and getting progressively worse throughout the afternoon with strengthening, blustery winds and driving rain memorably enlivening the afternoon.
The handicap committee did their usual fantastic job of levelling the playing field, with first runner Charlotte McKay out at the new time of 12 noon, down to scratch runners Stephen Trainer and Neil Lafferty at 12.53.30, with no clear favourites emerging it was all to play for at the gun.
HANDICAP RACE
One of the many remarkable runs of the day came from Neil Lafferty, who has been hitting some outstanding form lately. His time 52:49 (HC 1:46:19) was the fastest run over the course since 2015 and put him home in third place. Ahead of him by just ten seconds was Dee Waka (56:09 HC 1:46:09), running the Docherty for the first time in his first season for the club. However, the HC is a great leveller, and it was another relative newcomer Andrew McKenzie who was over the line in first place, an excellent performance in the second half of the route for a time of HC 1:45:38 (1:04:38), a decent margin for the win.
In the ladies HC race, the top three ladies home were Kirsten Robin (1:31:14 HC 1:47:31), Jill Cox (1:02:31 HC 1:47:31), and Lisa Boonsanong (1:22:01 HC 1:48:01).
SENIOR LADIES RACE
Jill Cox’s second place in the HC race was all the more impressive as she recorded a second successive course record, going two minutes faster than her previous best time last year for the clear win, and a gauntlet well and truly thrown down for the ladies championship once again.
Another impressive run came from Ladies Captain Lynne Harrison with a massive PB for 1:16:39 (HC 1:48:39), showing how the effort in training is really paying off as Lynne is hitting some fine form after a difficult season with injuries last year.
In third place, Fiona Macfarlane had a difficult day with some minor niggles blowing up toward the last few kilometres really slowing her race down for a time of 1:21:45 (HC 1:53:45).
SENIOR MENS RACE
At the business end of the race, the handicap race really put an interesting battles together for this one, worth mentioning. A group of John Logan, Dee Waka, Daniel Doherty, Paul Monaghan, John Hampsey, Graeme Percival, Jamie McEwan and Steven Campbell all went off together and only really began to split up as the group left Lunderston Bay, brilliant to see a group of such strong runners working together.
As mentioned earlier, Neil Lafferty’s time was the fastest in the last decade and one which put him ahead of second placed Dee Waka. Stephen Trainer put in a gritty performance to battle home in third place despite recent injuries and having a tough time with his breathing and pace on the day.
As ever for a race of this distance, it can be a lonely affair in some poor conditions, and there were some great performances from those wearing the famous blue and gold; much discussed and dissected in the Spinnaker Hotel, who’s sponsorship allows the race to go ahead – huge thanks to them for the hospitality and donation.
A special shout out to all the volunteers who made it happen despite the conditions!
Next Up: We’re off to Dunoon for the Willie Jukes!
Saturday 2nd May
Photos coming soon – here’s your winners!
