ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET...GO! PICTURES BY MARC TURNER

MORE than 300 youngsters took up the challenge as they raced round a cross country course.

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.