The curtain comes down on the cross country season in theatrical fashion every year in the shape of the Scottish National Cross Country championships.

‘The Nationals’ always looms large on the running calendar and presents the sternest of tests when the weather has been dry, so you can only imagine the soggy sight which met Helensburgh AAC’s finest when they arrived at Callander Park in Falkirk to tackle the course at the weekend.

The 4km loop (which the ladies cover twice and the men three times) is certainly not flat and the phrase ‘river of mud’ cropped up in conversation more than once on race day.

It was a strengh-sapping test, which always starts with a stampede as hundreds of runners jostle for position but, as always, the HAAC runners got on with the task in hand.

Chris Moses was at the head of the HAAC men’s queue and managed to skip over the squelchy surface in an impressive time of 46 minutes and 44 seconds. John Ritchie (50:24) was next home for the club, followed by Damien Theaker (51:36), Stevie Bell (53:03), Derek Blount (56:11), Campbell Fullarton (56:55), Gordon King (58:48) and Colin Douglas (59:29).

The ladies put in some fine performances too. Michelle Hetherington continued her excellent vein of form, clocking 35:37 with Becky Beale (who is in the midst of marathon training) coming home in an excellent 36 minutes exactly. Rebecca Parry was not far behind in 37:40.

Now the attention will start turning to the road race season, at the heart of which lies the Polaroid Eyewear 10k series in May and early June. Entries are now open for the four-race series, which starts with the Helensburgh 10k on May 15 so don’t wait, get signed up and get training! Race details and entries can be found at www.helensburghaac.co.uk or www.polaroid-10k.co.uk