THE first instalment of the Advertiser’s sporting review of 2018 takes us through the year as we saw it from January until June.

Here’s just a few of the notable achievements covered by our sports team during the first half of the year…

JANUARY: Luss super welterweight Hannah Rankin secured a rapid 59-second stoppage against Klaudia Vigh. Then, Gordon Reid’s Australian Open singles campaign ended at the quarter-final stage as he lost to Japan’s Shingo Kunieda. His hopes of a second successive doubles title at the event were also dashed as he and Alfie Hewett were beaten in the final by Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer.

FEBRUARY: Helensburgh Hockey Club’s men’s first team entered the history books with a club record 12-0 victory against Uddingston. Nicki Skrastin was named in the 18-strong women’s Scotland hockey squad for the Commonwealth Games. And former Hermitage Academy pupil and Rangers youngster Aidan Wilson signed on to Stevie Aitken’s Dumbarton side on an emergency loan deal.

MARCH: Faslane-based Royal Navy submariner Brett Wild brought back two silvers and a bronze from the Winter Paralympics where he was a guide to the youngest member of the British team - partially sighted skier Millie Knight. And young Helensburgh swimmers won 12 medals in the Ren 96 annual open meet at Linwood Sports Centre.

APRIL: Two Helensburgh teenagers became the first members of Helensburgh Amateur Swimming Club in well over a decade to win medals at the Scottish National Age Group championships. Caitriona Stewart and Alex Johnson each won silver medals at the event at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. Meanwhile, a bumper crowd packed into the Commodore Hotel to celebrate 50 years of Ardencaple Football Club, while Helensburgh Hockey Club’s first team were crowned West District division two champions. Captain Gavin McWilliam said: “To win the league – the first trophy at the club in over 30 years – is a massive achievement.”

MAY: Gordon Reid secured his first singles title of 2018 with victory at the Korea Open in Seoul. The world number five, and tournament’s top seed, didn’t drop a set in his four matches. Members of the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club sailed to a convincing victory over the Royal Thames Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club in a three-boat team racing challenge in the waters off Helensburgh.

JUNE: Former Hermitage Academy pupil Hannah Rankin took a unanimous points victory to secure the WBC silver super-middleweight championship against Finland’s Sanna Turunen. In doing so, Rankin became the first Scottish female boxer to win a professional title. Gordon Reid, meanwhile, saw his hopes of Roland Garros glory end at the semi-final stage of the men’s singles and doubles in Paris.