Sunderland back on course to retain the title

Dec 17 2007 The Journal

DEFENDING champions Sunderland are back on course to retain the senior men’s Division One title.

They captured the team event in the second fixture of the Start Fitness North-Eastern Harrier League at Cramlington Nature Reserve on Saturday. After an indifferent start in the first fixture, the Wearsiders now lie fourth behind Elswick, South Shields and Tynedale.

Heaton, only two points behind Sunderland on the day, lead Morpeth by one point in Division Two. No Division Three teams closed in.

Newcomer Kristopher Russell of Low Fell was an easy winner in the individual event. Medium pack runners Andrew Teate of Gateshead and Matthew Armstrong of Blaydon finished second and fourth, with former top junior Richard Kemp leading Sunderland home in third place. Mark Brown of Morpeth clocked the fastest time, finishing in seventh from the fast pack.

Kerry Matthew of Chester-le-Street was an emphatic winner in the senior women’s race from Helen Johnson of Heaton. Aiveen Fox of Morpeth finished third. North Shields Poly won the team event from Tynedale and Heaton, who now share the overall lead.

North-Eastern champion Mary Ferrier of Gateshead clocked the fastest time in the Under-20 women’s race, finishing second to Gosforth’s Emma Masson.

Liam Ayton of Durham took the Under-15 boys’ race, while in the Under-13 event, regional champions Morpeth excelled with four runners in the first five.

Jonathan Nisbet was the individual winner while the North-Eastern champion Adam Harrington clocked the fastest time in fifth.

Gosforth’s Rachael Lundgren again clocked the fastest time, finishing second in the Under-15 girls’ race.

LES VENMORE