Harriers’ challenge set to go down to the wire
prix includes this event and it marks the halfway stage of the season with Steve Rankin and Andy Powell the leading contenders for the £150 first prize.
The prize list goes down to fifth place with values of £125 for second, third £100, fourth £50 and fifth £25.
The biggest points scorer of the Grand Prix is the English National Cross Country Championships at Nottingham on the 22nd February where 10 points are up for grabs.
Points scoring: Harrier League plus Sherman Cup and Davison Shield 3 points North East Championships 6 points, Northern Championships 8 points,
National Championship 10 points. Team counter additional 1 point.
The leading contenders are: Andy Powell 28pts, Steve Rankin 28, Judith Thirlwell 27, Graeme Pullan 24, Lee Colman 23, Dale Wilkinson 23, Tony Allinson 23, Darren Fletcher 20, Jordan Latimer 20, Dean Phillips 20, Paul Redman 20, Dave Lash 20, Colleen Compson 19, Shaun Bagley 17, David Wilkinson 17, Paul Reineck 17, Craig Gunn 17, Vikki Cotton 16, Michael Edwards 15, Chris Jackson 15, Andrew Hughes 15, Robyn Townsend 14.
In the North East Veterans Cross Country Championships, Sunderland Harriers, as well as winning the Over-35 team race finished third in the 45-54 age group.
The team counters were Tim Field M-50 27th (36.29) Darren Fletcher M-50 44th (39.02) and Alan Hodgson 91st M45 42.55.
Field also finished third in his category, Paul Redman was third Over 55 (38.34) and Paul Merrison was first Over-60 (38.31)
Sunderland Harrier Connor Prior, 15, won (20.44) the Run, Eat, Sleep 5k Trail Race at South Shields.
Clubmate Joe Pomfret, Imperial College, London, finished 51st in the British Students Cross Country Championships (BUCS) at Edinburgh. Sarah Knight, St Andrews, Scotland was 119th.
Despite the cancellation of the Durham County Schools Cross Country Championships at Barnard Castle, the county selectors have managed to pick teams on known form for the Inter Counties Championships, at Lowther Country Park in Cumbria on Saturday. Durham take on Cumbria, Northumberland and Cleveland.
Teams then will be selected for the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Sefton Park, Liverpool on Saturday, March 14.
There are three events for Juniors (Under-15), Intermediates (Under-17) and