IRVINE Running Club’s David Millar followed up his third place at the recent Troon 10k with an excellent 19th place at last weekend’s Great Birmingham 10k.

His time of 33 minutes 21 seconds was an excellent return in a large, high quality field with more than 1500 runners taking part. The race was won by three time Commonwealth Games champion Moses Kipsiro of Uganda in a time of 29minutes and 8 seconds.

The Helensburgh 10k is the first of the three race Babcock 10k series, which is run over three consecutive weeks, and attracts many of Scotland’s best club runners. Paul Lafferty was Irvine’s sole entry in the race and performed well with his time of 36 minutes and 10 seconds good enough to take 37th position behind winner Craig Ruddy of Inverclyde who recorded a time of 32 minutes and 6 seconds. The series continues with this week’s Dumbarton 10k with the final race, the Shettleston 10k, taking place at Glasgow Green the following weekend.

There were some good performances at the local Eglinton Parkrun with Joe McNamee the first Irvine runner to finish in a time of 23 minutes 55 seconds with Alison Gartland having an excellent run finishing in 25 minutes 5 seconds. Jim White (26:03) and Susan Rhodes (26:16) were next to cross the line with Janet Robertson having a superb run recording a new PB of 34 minutes 51 seconds for the 5k course.

At the Troon Parkrun, Paul Lafferty continued his run of good form following his recent marathon exploits and was the first to finish with a fine time of 17 minutes 42 seconds. Super veteran Ian McManus also took part with his time of 38 minutes 15 seconds - good going for someone who is more than 75 years old.