Sunday 8th September
Great North Run: On an unusually wet late summers Sunday GGH had two Harriers taking part in the iconic Great North Run along with 60,000 other runners. Both Cheryl Thomas and Gerard Robertson are no strangers to the event having taking part in their fourth and ninth events here respectively. The course is far from flat or fast but both runners managed Personal Best performances. Cheryl described the course as a tough undulating course with hills at both 11 and 12 miles followed by a killer downhill which trashes your already tired legs.
Both runners would urge anyone looking for a brilliant event to get signed up, the atmosphere and support around the course is outstanding. Huge well done to both runners!
Cheryl took 10 whole minutes off her previous best GNR performance! Despite a trip to the medical tent at the end Gerry also managed a huge PB and we are delighted to see that Gerry recovered and already looking forward to the next race.

Results
- Cheryl Thomas – 1:46:39
- Gerard Robertson – 2:07:53
Kilmacolm Running Festival
Unfortunately, race schedule conflicts meant a much reduced Harriers presence at Kilmacolm this year but we still had some notable results!
3km Results
- Elijah Taylor – 11:55 (First 6-9 year old)
- Isaac Robin – 13:41
- Jacob Robin – 17:16

10km Results
- Jennifer Rooney – 48:23 (7th female)
- Summer Taggart – 48:58 (1st U20 female)
- David Williamson – 50:33
- Roslyn Morrison – 51:03
- John Green – 64:50
- Mary Robinson – 72:35
Half Marathon Results
- Kevin Begley – 1:45:14
- Nathalie Smith – 1:48:24
- David McDiarmid – 2:08:32
- Steven McDougall – 2:24:40
Podfather Stirling 10km (inc Scottish Athletics 10km champs)
Results
- Paul Monaghan – 34:59
- Oliver Reilly – 35:51
- Liz Heywood – 50:20
Kyles 10 miles
- Donald Shaw – 13 years in a row and quickest time on the course and highest position. 1st V50 and 5th overall.
- Wes Pattison – Fantastic run from Wes, finishing in first place overall!
Results
- Wes Pattison – 59:21 (1st place!)
- Donald Shaw – 65:01 (5th & 1st V50)
- Mary Robinson – 2:03:58
Saturday 14th September
Dunoon Ultra Marathon: Leaving from Benmore Gardens, organisers were forced to reroute the race this year after heavy postponed last year’s event, and destroyed large swathes of the course. The new route is 48km / 30miles long with ~1200m / 3950ft of elevation and this cause some problems for the front runners, adding a few miles to the route due to a lack of signage. A strong representation of Harriers made the trip this year in both individual and team disciplines, with Kyle Wilson achieving a remarkable first place overall. Lorna Mitchell continues her Ultra form with an impressive 3rd age category and 6th female overall.

Ultra Results
- Kyle Wilson – 1st overall! 4:05:23
- Lorna Mitchell – 5:26:06 (3rd V40, 6th female)
- Viki Smith – 5:47:44 (5th V50)
- Craig Hyslop – 6:08:39
- Lee McLaughlan – 6:23:56 (1st ever Ultra!)
- Fiona Cushnaghan – 6:53:55
Team results
- 14th – Lynsey Mooney, Heather Lafferty & Lisa Boonsanong (5:37:25)
- 17th – Abbigael Crawford, Wenda Crawford & Sharon Black (5:53:34)
Sunday 15th September
Kelvingrove 10km
Unbelievably, new member Lee Mclaughlin not only just smashed his first ever Ultra race in Dunoon, just yesterday! He went to Kelvingrove to run the 10km race as a ‘warm down’. 48:35.

Other races over the weekend…:
- Tiree Ultra Marathon – Lorna Mitchell –
- Glenmore 24 Trail race – Viki Smith 74.85 miles covered over the 24 hours.
Greenock Glenpark Harriers shine at Masters Championship
The Dumfries Half Marathon doubled up as the British Masters Championship event at the 13-mile distance. The race was won by local athlete Tom Cammack in an incredible time of 1:13:56.
Greenock Glenpark Harriers were represented by Andy McCall, Neil Lafferty and Paul Monaghan, all of whom have been coming into great form at the right time, and the race would prove to be a highly successful one for the local club.
First home for the Harriers was Andy McCall, who finished in an incredible third place overall in the race behind runner-up Marcus Scotney.
Andy McCall was the first Harrier across the line. (Image: Mad Mac Photography)
This had been a key race for Andy as he set his sights on breaking a 17-year-old personal best time at this event; he came agonisingly close to doing so, finishing just six seconds outside his target time, but his overall third place won him the British title in the Masters V35 category in a time of 1:15:54.
Neil Lafferty and Paul Monaghan battled it out together from the starting gun, and both athletes were trading places with each other throughout the race.
Neil Lafferty won silver in the V45 class. (Image: Mad Mac Photography)
It was club champion Neil who made the decisive move with around one mile to go as he looked to secure his place on the podium; Neil’s marathon preparations are clearly paying off as he ran a new personal best time of 1:17:41, securing the silver medal in the British Masters V45 class. Only six seconds separated Neil from the Harriers’ most experienced and decorated Masters athlete Paul, who has been finding his form once again, and was delighted to see his hard training coming together to secure a silver medal in the British Masters V50 category with a time of 1:17:47.
Paul Monaghan brought home a silver medal in the V50 category. (Image: Mad Mac Photography)
The efforts of the Greenock men meant that Glenpark Harriers were awarded the first team prize, rounding off a hugely successful day out for the local club on the national stage.
Thanks to Andy McCall for contributing to this report!

