THE cross-country athletics season began in style for a West Fife club as their men's masters team triumphed at the East District XC Relays.

PH Racing Club's Mark Ryan, Robert Sellar, Michael Combe and Paul Kieran mastered tricky conditions over the 4k course in Livingston to strike gold.

They were led off by Ryan, who contributed the sixth-fastest masters lap of 14 minutes and 31 seconds, before Sellar (15:10) and Combe, who was fastest for PH and the fifth quickest masters runner overall in 14:08, paved the way for Kieran to overhaul Corstorphine AC on the anchor leg.

His run of 14:32, the seventh best masters time of the day, ensured he clinched victory for PH.

Their senior team of Andy Jannetta, Aaron Bennet, Philip Waring and Stuart Meiklejohn finished a creditable 25th, with Bennet the swiftest at 14:48, just a second faster than Waring.

The masters 'B' team of Alan McGowan, Johnny Cassells, Graham McInnes and Scott Love placed 13th, whilst Dave Morton, Wright Beveridge and Mark Webster produced some good runs for the masters 'C' team, which was incomplete after a last-minute drop out.

Elsewhere, PH's Ewan Taylor placed third overall, and won the V40 age category, at the Aviemore Half Marathon in a time of 1:22:59, whilst Isobel Robertson posted a new PB of 3:19.22 at the Chicago Marathon.

Michael Combe was the first V40 competitor, and 19th overall, at the Great Scottish Run 10k with a time of 34:49, whilst Andrew Wright (34:23) placed second at the Strathcarron 10k race.

Several PH runners were in half marathon action in Glasgow, with Peter Gibson (1:24:44) the fastest of their male contingent, ahead of Johnny Cassells, Wright Beveridge and Darren Neilson.

Sarah Paterson (1:34:14) was their fastest female finisher, whilst Judy Turner (1:36:45) was the second V50 competitor.