PUPILS from eight local primary schools battled it out to be the best at this year’s Cross Country Relay Championship at Duchess Woods.

More than 90 pupils from primaries six and seven participated in the three-team relay officiated by Martin Caldwell, of Active Schools, Margery Taylor, head of PE at Lomond School, and Denise Walker, who just retired from Hermitage Academy, with the help of Lesley Serpell, Wilson Hamilton, Claire Bowman and Sports Leaders from Lomond School.

The first race was the primary six girls and each member of the team had to run the course before tagging the next runner. It was the Cardross trio of Eva Rooney, Maddie Rooney and Rowan Mair who won the gold medals. Millie Keightley, Samantha Barella and Naeve Southgate-Mozely, from Colgrain scooped second place while the Hermitage Primary team of Madison Stephan, Emily Nealon and Caitlin Lawn finished in third place.

The primary six boys race was a closely fought competition with only one second separating the first and second place finishers. The Hermitage Primary team of Theo Field, Gethin Davies and Calum Poirier just pipped the boys from Rhu to first place. The Rhu team of Alex Brown, Oliver Impey and Ross Wilson were awarded silver and Colgrain finished in third place. Jamie Godwin, Fraser Murray and Taylor McDonald collected their bronze medals.

In the Primary 7 girls race, Rhu Primary won in style with Louisa Brown, Roisin Kavanagh and Sasha Walker being presented with the gold medals. The Hermitage Primary team of Lucy McRae, Heather Cromar and Joy Fletcher scooped the silver medals and it was Colgrain Primary who finished third, with Caitriona Stewart, Lauren McAuley and Joscelyn Peddie-Temple receiving the bronze medals.

The last race of the morning was the closest competition of the day and all teams kept in sight of each other throughout the three legs of the race. After a very exciting finish it was Colgrain Primary who took the gold medal with Ben Willis, Jamie Senior and Archie Blackburn deserved winners. Rhu Primary ran exceptionally well to finish second and Max Brannan, Cameron Carmichael and Ross Carmichael received the silver medals with the Cardross Primary team of Andrew McNair, Cameron Williams and Lewis Tokeley being presented with the bronze medals.

The medals were presented by Denise Walker with the help of Lomond School’s primary head teacher Ailsa Lawn.

The final awards to be presented were the team shields. The primary six team shield was presented to the fastest times from both the girls and boys races.

Taking third place was Hermitage Primary with a time of 26 minutes and 37 seconds. Second place was Colgrain with a time of 26 minutes and 36 seconds. The gold medals went to Cardross Primary with a time of 26 minutes and 5 seconds.

The Cardross Team consisted of Eva, Maddie, Rowan and Matthew Gall, Gregor Stewart and Calum Sharp.

In the primary seven shield Rhu Primary took gold with Louisa, Roisin, Kavanagh, Sasha, Max, Cameron and Ross all being presented with the medals and shield.