JG Cameron 2025

Saturday 27th September saw the first race of the 2025/26 Season get underway, with the 4k JG Cameron race taking place in the predicted downpour – the weather living up to the forecast! Nevertheless, the heavy rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the 78 senior runners representing the Blue and Gold hooped vests who brought their running skill to the Greenock Esplanade / Battery Park looped course. 102 runners took part overall.

The turnout was again high for the race, and we’ve maintained impressive consistency in our senior participation over the last four years, seeing turnouts of $80,78,79$, and once again $78$. Even more exciting, the ladies set a new all-time record, beating the $2023$ figure of $28$ runners, with 32 ladies turning out this year – a fantastic showing!

In the senior men’s race there was a real sense of anticipation with the full return of former club champion and course record holder Stephen Trainer lining up alongside current champ Dylan Crawford. Both men have been training hard for the new season and the conditions only made things more interesting – would this be a tactical battle, or an out and out test of strength as the two favourites battled against the wind?

As it turned out, the race was brutally fast, with the two men racing into the lead from the gun and pushing each other right to the end. Despite Trainer’s relative lack of recent racing, both men remained shoulder to shoulder over the course and finished nearly 40 seconds ahead of third place. As the race moved along to the last 400 metres, it was Crawford who managed to find the final kick to head over the line in first place, finishing just 7 seconds ahead of Trainer (12:44) in a time of 12:37. Dylan’s was a brilliant run in terrible conditions, and was the fastest in the last 10 years, since David Henderson’s 2015 effort of 12:14.

A slightly out of sorts Andy McCall still ran extremely well for third in 13:20, and was followed in by John Hampsey – another runner who has been training well in the closed season. Fifth place went to the evergreen Paul Monaghan, 1st V50 in 13:56.

It was brilliant to see 21 senior men hit the sub 16 minute goal (and credit to the returning Mark Vance in 22nd place with 16m dead!), notable mentions going to Steven Campbell (2nd V50 14:27), Vice Captain Daniel Doherty returning from injury with a brilliant 15:01, Rabie Gohar in only his second club race at 15:09 and newcomer of the year Aaron Fullerton 15:31.

In the ladies race ladies Champion Jill Cox was looking very strong in first place with 14:44, despite still feeling the ongoing effects of injury. That being said, the ladies championship might be a little tighter this year with some other ladies showing some real promise. In second place u20 runner Evie Harrison has been working extremely hard in training and was the only other lady to go under 16 minutes (and beating her dad Stephen for the first time into the bargain!) with a brilliant 15:33, a comfortable pb for the JG Cameron. Ashley Anderson scooped third place with her run of 17:10 and was followed in by Melissa Magee (17:14). Fiona Macfarlane took fifth place in 17:43.

Ladies captain Lynne Harrison seems to have put her injury plagued previous season behind her, going over in sixth (1st V50 lady) with a pb over the distance at 18:31, and a brilliant effort from junior Orla Trainer saw her go under 19 minutes with 18:54. Further down the field, Cheryl Thomas had a “wonderful time and enjoyed every minute” of her 19:19 effort (we think that’s what she said, anyway!), and can’t wait to do it again next year. Helen Crawford is another lady who has been putting the training plans together and this showed with a great run to get under the 20 minute goal with 19:45.

Junior Races

Despite the wintry weather, there was a great turnout of 30 Junior Harriers at the JG Cameron road races.

In the 1km race it was James Mooney who led the field home along the wind and rain swept Greenock Esplanade – the only athlete to sneak under the 4 minute mark – with Ruari Barr and Sami Robertson chasing him down. The top girl was Fearne Hampsey who has started the new season with a fantastic PB, going 20 seconds quicker than last year and just ahead of Leia Killeen. Then came Faith Bradley, in close contention and first u10 girl. Also performing well in the tough conditions were new girls Robyn Northveth and Kassidy McCarn.

Over the 2km distance it was Elijah Taylor and Lauryn McLaughlin who immediately set out at pace, stretching out the field right from the gun. Isaac Robin and Cadhlea Hair followed behind working hard not to let the gap grow. The next group was led by Jay Eardley, outsprinting Harry Mooney to the line, then Isabel Lafferty 3rd girl.

The hard work in training in recent months paying off with big improvements from all the youngsters, none more so than Harry Mooney who was almost 2 minutes quicker than last year.

Six of the Juniors also lined up in the Senior 4km race, with the girls performing exceptionally well against their senior clubmates, with 3 in the top 8. Evie Harrison taking the runners-up spot, and Orla Trainer coming back strongly in the 2nd half of the race to just push ahead of Lucy McLaughlin in a tight finish. It was steady performances from Josh Deegan and Kian Begley well up the field with the promise of much more to come. Josh finishing in the top 10, and Kian 23rd in the large field of 78 runners.

The JG Cameron was sponsored once again by The Dolan Family – massive thanks to them and to all the volunteers who made it possible.