THERE was yet another action-packed week for Irvine running and jogging group Ron's Runners.

The club had plenty of events from which to choose - from small local gala events up to large events with thousands of entries.

Close at hand was the Stewarton Bonnet Guild Gala race which is a tough and overall hilly well organised 5k distance.

The race saw Dayle Burnside back in action again this year, and a year on from her first race as a club member, Dayle posted 35:48 - chopping just over 13 minutes from last year’s effort.

The route takes runners out of Laisha Woods onto the road before the second mile returns to the woods, where some stiff hills bring the hardest part of the route, then downhill before a short flat finish. Also pleased with his race Mark Garton took 24:21 on his first entry to the event as indeed were Neil Kyle 21:56 and John Owens 21:37. First home for the club however and keeping his run of good form Cameron Miller recorded 19:30 while Andy Stewart also did well, finishing with 21:12.

The following weekend on a hot muggy Sunday with hardly the smallest puff of wind to bring relief to runners Mark Garton was back in action once more, this time in the Men’s 10k race in Glasgow. The race started at the riverside Museum and route passed by the Hydro through George Square then onto Glasgow green and back to the finish at George Square and was a fairly flat throughout. On this occasion Mark posted 48:04 while the club’s only other representative Graham Blair timed 48:50.

Taking the weather and the mass of runners which can impede the pace of individuals both should be well pleased with their efforts.

All-action girl Sylvia Mulholland also had a smashing time on the same muggy Sunday when, with a late invitation from the organisers, she lined up along with 49 others at the Arran marathon which doubles as a marathon race open to all and is also part of a triathlon.

Unusually for a race of this distance, the route consists of four laps with each lap following the same path in which there are some telling climbs. A lot of the race is on narrow paths though parts are on the road which with the high hedges either side make for extreme caution from participants. Five of those who started, all with high hopes of a finish, failed to complete testimony to the seasonal though unusual weather but also the soul sapping laps also played a part.

The winning male returned a time 3 hours and 11 minutes, while Sylvia finished as fifth lady with her time being an excellent and well deserved 3 hrs 59 mins and 22 secs just inside the cherished four-hour mark and 15th place overall. With more warning of the invitation and some specialist training her time may well have been better still. Describing her experience of “a unique Marathon” Sylvia said it was good training, running in an organised event with scheduled water stops provided, but found seeing the finish line a total of seven times unbelievably hard to bear.

The Saturday morning group started in Morton Park Kilmaurs and had a familiarisation run around the upcoming Kilmaurs Gala 5k route with a view to encourage some of the newer or beginner runners to enter a local well organised short distance race.

At Eglinton Park this week over the usual 5k course Cameron Miller led the club home in sixth with 18:37, with veteran Andy Stewart next posting 20:09 then Neil Kyle 21:46 to Neil McMullen’s very welcome return 22:07.

Jennifer Shaw was first lady back, clocking 24:26 followed by Paul McCallum - 25:05 ahead of Pamela Porteous 25:45.

Carol Rome continued her relaxed running, taking 28:49 this week before the next male Eric Pearson returned a fine 29:40.

Showing some true form Astrud Gibson timed 30:07 and in his first run for some time Graeme Shaw recorded 30:21.

Margaret Craig and Elizabeth Fairbairn ran together with Margaret awarded 30:30 to Elizabeth’s 30:32 Lynn Festorazzi took 31:46 this week and Hazel Anderson 32:42. In a very creditable first race, Yvonne McCalmont recorded 33:48 while Leesa Dunwoodie 34:01out-paced her mum Gillian 34:07.

Ann Hay, running with Alistair Kirkcaldy, recorded 34:54 and 34:55 respectively with Ann’s sister Mary Huggan close behind with 35:14. Gemma Davidson as “tail runner” timed 47:15

Main training sessions are Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6pm to which runners of all abilities are welcome. On Tuesdays they meet within Eglinton Park while Thursday sessions are at the bottom of the mall.