HERMITAGE Academy pupils rubbed shoulders with some of the best young road runners across the country, at the recent Scottish schools road relay championships.

And despite taking on pupils from the likes of George Heriots School, Aberdeen Grammar, High School of Glasgow and Glasgow Academy, the youngsters held their own against the cream of the crop of both state and independent schools.

Leading the way for the Burgh side were the first year boys, with Bryn Davies heading out first and gaining a great position for his team mates.

Bryn’s gritty run then inspired young Michael Miller who excelled and progressed his team up to second place.

It was left to young Craig Andrews to run a great race, competing with some of the best runners in Scottish schools athletics, finishing in an impressive fourth place overall.

The boys ran a combined time of 16.45 minutes, coming out on top of schools such as Hutcheson’s Grammar, Bouroughmuir High School and Robert Gordon’s College.

The medley boys also ran an incredibly tight race to finish sixth overall, with gritty performances from Gregor Chambers, Lewis Campbell, Joe Barton and Fin Ritchie.

Academy’s medley girls also upped their performance, with young Kara Bruce, Mhairi Cromar, Mellissa Robinson and Morag Patterson running an impressive 35.12 minutes, finishing in sixth place for four laps of the 2,237 metre course.

And the first year girls team ran out with Sorcha Hicks leading the way, followed by Jessica Noble and Holly Walker finishing in ninth place with a time of 19.06 minutes for the three laps of a 1,400 metre race; coming in ahead of a number of other impressive runners.

After watching the 12 pupils shine, Sean McNee, active schools co-ordinator at Hermitage Academy, said: “It was a sign of great promise when our young local Hermitage Academy pupils were running their hearts out, against these Scottish schools giants, and in most cases running past them.

“With such impressive and competitive finishing positions for all of our teams, it is clear that the future for athletics in Helensburgh and Hermitage Academy is very bright.

“This is a testament to the hard work from the volunteers of Helensburgh Amateur Athletics Club.”