JG CAMERON – Saturday 26th September 2026
It doesn’t seem so long ago we were watching a record turnout of runners on the Esplanade as we closed out our 2025-26 Season with the 10k Bill Elder, but the new season is once more upon us after six weeks of rest and recuperation (not!). The JG Cameron race is a 4km out-and-back road race, and is the club’s season opener. It features a fast, challenging course that includes a half circuit around the Battery Park. The weather was fairly decent with a North Easterly cross wind causing some concern, but not hugely affecting some brilliant perfomances on the day. A total of 118 runners took part across four races. The Seniors race attracted 92 runners, comprising 38 ladies and 54 gents. The Junior events saw 26 participants in total, with 5 runners competing in the 1k race and 21 runners in the 2k race.
JUNIORS: In the 1km race Ruari Barr and Abigail Gilmartin both recorded their first ever club wins. Ruairi with a 7 second PB, was pushed all the way by Alex Nelis. While Abigail finished strongly, pushing clear of Luke Watson and Caitlin Taylor.
It was a keenly contested 4km race with big improvements by everyone on the previous years race. Isaac Robin was a clear winner, but a tremendous 3 way battle ensued behind him, with Jay Eardley holding off Elijah Taylor and Lauryn McLaughlin – only 3 seconds separating the trio. Iona Quigley led the chasing pack, taking the runners up spot in the girls race, with Cadhlea Hair in 3rd.
Competing with the seniors in the 4km race were Johnny Lamont and Charlie Flynn along with the 2 Lucy’s; Mclaughlin & McGuinness. All four put in tremendous performances with the girls finishing in the top 10. Lucy Mclaughlin in 9th with a time of 18.31, an improvement of 28 seconds on last year; and just one place behind, Lucy McGuinness. The boys recorded almost identical results as the girls, with Johnny taking 9th in the Men’s race with Charlie in 11th.
- 1km: Ruairi Barr 4.02, Alex Nelis 4.11, Abigail Gilmartin 4.36, Luke Watson 4.51, Caitlin Taylor 4.59,
- 2km: Isaac Robin 7.06, Jay Eardley 7.19, Elijah Taylor 7.21, Lauryn McLaughlin 7.22, Iona Quigley 7.36, Cadhlea Hair 7.43, Orla Trainer 8.12, Nina McClafferty 8.28, Isabel Lafferty 8.30, Fearne Hampsey 8.40, April Smith 9.02, Lily Davies 9.02, Sam Fulton 9.02, Sami Robertson 9.12, Jacob Robin 9.13, Anna Nelis 9.14, Sophie O’Brien 9.16, Lily McCall 9.41, Jamie Fulton 10.04, Lucy Macfarlane 10.34, Sophia Harrington 11.20.
- 4km: Johnathon Lamont 14.54, Charlie Flynn 15.03, Lucy Mclaughlin, 18.31, Lucy McGuinness 18.47.
LADIES RACE: At the business end of the ladies race there would be no stopping ladies champion Jill Cox, who put down a dominant display to be the only female runner recording a sub 15m time with 14:42, and laying down a marker for the championship once again. There was a great battle for second between up and coming youngster Evie Harrison, and newcomer Anna McCrae – both U20 runners going shoulder to shoulder around the course. The girls have been training well together and it was exciting to see which girl would edge it. Their race went down to the wire, with Anna shading it in the end, just five seconds ahead of Evie with 15:27 to Evie’s 15:32. Brilliant times from both girls showing Jill will have to stay on top of her game in the upcoming season.
Jennifer Rooney is another lady with the potential for a strong season as she works back to full fitness, her time of 16:23 well ahead of Ashley Anderson in 5th with 17:11, Ashley another lady looking to overcome a niggle. Viki Smith had a strong run in 18:14, one second ahead of ladies captain Lynne Harrison’s pb time of 18:15. Fiona Macfarlane was next back in 18:29, followed by Lucy McLaughlin (18:31) and Lucy McGuinness (18:47) rounding out the top ten ladies.
MEN’S RACE: Lots to play for in the men’s race as club Champion Stephen Trainer was forced to sit this one out due to injury, and last year’s winner Dylan Crawford still working abroad, meaning we’d have a new winner this year. The bookies favourite was U20 runner Dee Waka, who has shown some blistering form of late, but the experience Neil Lafferty wasn’t going to let him have it without a fight. The two men set off at a strong, fast pace as each got the measure of the other and gradually pulled away from the pack. Neck and neck throughout, both men recorded times that were quicker than last year’s winner, with Waka taking a well deserved win with 12:19, just ahead of Lafferty in 12:23. Fantastic running from both men, both times among the fastest in the last decade of the race.
While it was good to see different faces in the top two spots, third, fourth and fifth positions, on the other hand, were in the same order as last year’s event – Andy McCall going one second faster in 13:19, followed by John Hampsey in 13:23 and Paul Monaghan in 13:40. John Hampsey’s run was even more remarkable given his recent Ironman efforts, and Paul managed to go a good 16 seconds faster this year. All top ten male finishers recorded times under 15 minutes – Lewis McCrae returned to harriers racing with 13:50, new men’s captain Daniel Doherty continued his fine run of form for 14:06, and Chris McCall (14:38), Johnathon Lamont (14:54) and Kev Craig (14:58) closed out the first ten for the men.
- The JG Cameron is a featured discussion on our Podcast.
- Next Up: We’re off to Port Glasgow for the Colin Shields 8k Road Race.
- Thank you to the Dolan Family for sponsoring the JG Cameron once again.
- Thank you to GBR Photography and Peter McLaughlin for the photos featured below.
