Glorious mud for 300 young Glasgow runners

The pupils from across the Southside of Glasgow, took part in the Active Schools South Glasgow Cross Country Finals.

The sun was shining, but there was still plenty of mud for the P6 and P7 children as they raced their way around the 2K off-road course in Pollok Park.

It took them over Nether Pollok Playing Fields, on Haggs Road, and into the woods, before finishing next to the start line on the fields.

Some of the enthusiastic youngsters lost their shoes in the thick mud as they pelted towards the finish.

Students from Lourdes Academy acted as marshals around the course, directing the competitors towards the finish line.

A big crowd of supporters gathered around the start and finish lines to cheer on the runners from each team.

About 80 pupils took part in each of the four races – P6 girls, P6 boys, P7 girls, P7 boys.

Nine teams representing Bellahouston, Castlemilk, Hillpark, Holyrood, King's Park, Lourdes, Rosshall, Shawlands and St Paul's Learning Communities, entered the competition and medals were awarded for the first three individual runners in each race.

Team prizes were also awarded for each age group.

Rosie McKay, of Langside Primary, won the girls' P6 race in 7 mins 20secs, while Scott Reid, from Hillington Primary won the P6 boys' race in 6mins 44 secs.

The P7 girls title was taken by Kirsten Forster, from St Fillan's Primary in 7.16, and the P7 boys race was won by Luca Bardelli, from Our Lady Of The Annunciation Primary, in 6.32.

Shawlands took the P6 boys' team title and the P7 girls' team title.

St Paul's won the P7 boys' team prize and the overall winner of the P6 girls' team prize was Holyrood.

John Kynaston, Active Schools coordinator, said: "Everyone had a really great time.

"They are all winners because they had to qualify to get to this stage.

"This is the finals and these are the last children from each school.

"So we say congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who took part."

matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk