IT was a busy time for Irvine’s jogging and running group Ron's Runners to start the year with the first having a choice of Park 5ks on offer with both Eglinton Park and Ayr’s Rozelle hosting their races.

Eglinton was first to start. It did not take long for the more adventurous or perhaps less cautious to work out that with the Ayr event some hours later in starting there was an opportunity to perform in both events. The second was also busy as the club was heavily involved in helping Beith Harriers organise the long running Beith New Year Race.

At Eglinton 13 members shrugged off any lingering effect of celebrations to line up ready to start. James Chalmers came home first for the club in a respectable time of 20:30 followed by his uncle James McGill 23:02 and Neil McMullen 23:22 then former member Matthew Young posted 24:27. William Goggans was next home timing 28:35 before Eric Pearson had a comfortable finish with 34:29.

Sylvia Mulholland enjoying a few hours free of duty led the ladies home with 24:49 to be followed by Helen Marshall 27:03. Rachel Wood and her aunt Audrey Green jogged round together, accompanied by William Goggans, both sharing 28:34. Lynn Shearer was next over the line taking 30:44 then came Gillian Dunwoodie happily timing 31:33 ahead of recovering Rachel Cox easing herself round to post 35:28

Five of the above then hurried to Rozelle where Matthew Young timed 22:31 James Chalmers recorded his best time yet for the event with his 22:35. Neil McMullen returned with 24:50 just ahead of Sylvia Mulholland 25:45 and Helen Marshall brought the club home with 35:40.

With eight members heavily involved in organising the 4.8-mile Beith New Year race the club was well represented before registration even opened at 10:00am. The club had 11 members line up at the start from the field of 75 James McGill had the honour of leading them all home clocking 33:34 followed by Matthew Watson 34:11 and a fine effort from Mark Garton brought 36:27, just ahead of Thomas Hodgart happy with 37:27. Hughie Hood had an easier ay taking 37:57 then Gordon Burns posted 38:48 followed by his brother in law Ian Short 39:48.

Helen Marshall led the Ladies to the line recording 39:16 Ruth McLaughlan finished not far behind taking 39:35 and Hazel Anderson 39:59 was next. Completing the club’s entries Dayle Burnside and Angela Hamilton completed the race together in a time of 54:25.

At the Eglinton Parkrun, 5k first home for the club this week and setting himself a new personal best was young James Chalmers with a time of 19:36 Andrew Stewart was next home in 21:01. James McGill 21:58 was followed closely by William Goggans who also set a new pb with 22:54 John Owens 23:51 Mark Garton 24:30 First lady home for the club was Ruth McLaughlan with 26:12 Rachel Wood was next over the line 27:42 Pauline Steven 31:16 just beat Lynn Shearer 31:17, followed closely by Margaret Craig 31:25 Astrud Gibson 35:55 David Ridout 45:20 and finally Mary Huggan acting as tail runner 51:21, Fiona Wyper and Mary Huggan volunteered this week.

At the Troon Parkrun, first home for the club was Hughie Hood with a time of 24:09 Ian Short was next home with 26:46 Rachel Cox tail runner timed 48:30 Helen Marshall was a volunteer this week.