Double delight for Beavers after golden Championships
He competes in the English National Cross Country Championships on Saturday in the Junior Under-20 race at Nottingham and will be looking for a top six place after finishing third in the Northern Championship at Bedale last month.
Also competing at Wollaton Park on Saturday is Allan’s Houghton clubmate Will Bellamy, who will lead the Under-17 team of Chris Coulson, Samuel Gibson and Izaak Taylor.
Bellamy was part of the six man Houghton team that contained two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds, that surprised many with their third place in the Royal Signals Senior Men’s North East Road Relay Championships at Hetton Lyons Country Park on Saturday.
Houghton Harriers senior team for the National Championship is Alex Docherty, Lee Dover, Jonny Evans, David Gribben, Innes Hodgson and Shaun McGrath.
Sunderland Harriers have 16 senior athletes entered and they are Tony Allinson,
Shaun Bagley, Lee Coleman, Michael Edwards, Darren Fletcher, Chris Jackson, Jordan Latimer, Michael Laws, Dean Phillips, Andy Powell, Graeme Pullan, Steve Rankin, Paul Redman, Paul Roddy, Dale Wilkinson and David Wilkinson.
There are a total of 298 teams entered in the senior men’s race and a total of 2752 runners.
The Sunderland Harriers cross country grand prix will take on a new look after this event as two of the leaders will not be competing.
Andy Powell is out on the sidelines injured and Judith Thirlwell is not entered for the long journey to Nottingham.
The biggest points scorer of the grand prix is the English National Cross Country Championships with10 points up for grabs and an extra point if you are a team counter.
Points scoring: Harrier League plus Sherman Cup and Davison Shield 3 points North East Championships six points, Northern Championships eight points,
National Championship 10 points. Team counter additional one point.
The leading contenders are: Andy Powell 28 points, SteveRankin28,JudithThirlwell 27, Graeme Pullan 24, Lee Coleman 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 and Robyn Townsend 14.