IRVINR Running Club were competing at the Ayrshire cross-country championships at a very muddy Rozelle Park in Ayr.

Although not at their strongest Irvine still had a strong team competing and expectations were high that they could produce some good results.

As the race progressed, Ross Harvey, who has shown fine form over the roads during the summer forced himself onto the leading pack of four runners.

By the final lap Ross was sitting in second place which he held on to the finish line a mere twenty seconds behind the winner. This was an excellent result for Ross and a good winter’s cross-country racing should set him up for some fast times on the road next spring.

The next Irvine runners were Alec Allardyce proving the benefits of his Ultra running training in ninth and not far behind Mark Livingstone in 11th. The next finishers were the youngsters Lee Shaw in 16th and Owen McWilliams in 18th. Not too far behind was Colin Miller in 21st place and taking the over-60 title with Alan Douglas 23rd. When the results were totalled up Irvine had taken team silvers behind a strong Ayr Seaforth team.

Further afield Owen Williams competed in the National short course championships at Kircaldy. The race is held over a distance of 4000 metres and attracts the cream of Scottish distance runners.

Owen had a fine run finishing mid-table in a good time of 15:43 on a very wet course. The race attracted many international and national champions with the winner being 5000 metre Olympian Andy Butchart.