PH RACING Club's men's masters are cross-country champions after they topped the standings following the final East League match.

A total of 27 athletes from the club took part in the final race, which was held at Dechmont Law in Livingston, and the men's masters team went into it holding an eight-point cushion over nearest challengers Corstorphine AAC.

They only needed three counters to complete the team, positions filled by Andy Davis (second master in 31 minutes and seven seconds); Andrew Wright (fourth, 31:59); and Paul Kieran (ninth, 32:44), with the latter being the only team member to be a counter in all three races.

They were followed by Ewan Taylor, Mark Ryan and Robert Sellar, who all placed inside the top 20, and PH debutant Scott McDonald, who placed 21st in 34:44 to help them to a convincing win ahead of Central AC and Corstorphine.

Further good performances over the course of almost nine kilometres came courtesy of Mark Webster, a counter in the first two races, as he held off Stuart Meiklejohn, running his first cross-country race since joining PH; Mark McLean and Scott Love; and the rest of the masters contingent, which consisted of John Crookston, Alan McGowan, Mark Western, Malcolm Hammond, Ed Norton and Michael Stewart.

From a strong position, the overall men's team secured their best-ever league placing of fourth place, with five of the six counter places being filled by masters athletes.

Under-20 Aaron Bennet completed the team, finishing 60th overall in 32:49, while just outside the counters – and placing in the top 100 overall – were Phil Waring (34:52) and Michael Lindsay (38:11).

Prior to the men's races, PH's females were on the course – held over two laps of almost 6K – and they would finish seventh on the day and third in the masters competition.

Julie Menzies was the club's first athlete home, finishing as the sixth master in 24:24, followed closely by Kristin Lownie (eighth master, 24:34), while Louise Lessels was the team's final counter, finishing 28th in 28:21.

Four counters were needed in the main ladies' competition and Clare Graham took the final spot, with a run of 29:25, while Susan Allan – the only ever-present in the team for the season – ran 30:38 to help ensure the ladies finished ninth overall, and sixth in the masters category, over the course of the league programme.