Harriers must use their Heads to be in with a chance of title
Sunderland Harriers need a win on Saturday in the North Eastern Harrier League at Akley Heads, Durham, if they are to close down on the leaders at the top of the table.
The Wearsiders are lying in third place, just two points behind Tyne Bridge and one point adrift of Morpeth. With just three fixtures remaining the royal blue vests know what they need to do as they chase their rivals in their hopes of retaining the Sisterton Cup.
Team Manager Jimmy Johnson said: “We have a solid team out on Saturday and I expect they will give a good account of themselves. We have two runners competing in the league for the first time this season, running from the slow pack. I would hope they will be up there at the front of the race at the finish.”
The duo are Owen Walpole and Joe Pomfret, with Paul Merrison and Mike Cherrington joining them. Chris Bell and Michael Rodenby compete from the medium pack in the handicap race and the fast pack runners are StephenJackson,MichaelBarker, Nathan Reed, Sam Thurlbeck, Michael Edwards and Mark Anderson.
Unfortunately, the clubs’ top man heading the individual league table, Liam Taylor, is doubtful through a foot injury.
In the Third Division, Houghton are in a promotion fight in third place on 11 points behind Sedgefield on 3pts and Tynedale with 10pts.
Sunderland’s women’s teamareincontentionforpromotion to the First Division. They are lying in second place two points behind Tynedale and one point ahead of Jarrow and Hebburn.
Despite having two teams in the first six in the Norman Woodcock Memorial Road
Relays at Gosforth Park, Sunderland Harriers came away without any medals.
The race around the ambulancetrackandoveradistance of 1.3 miles, with 76 teams takingpart,sawSunderlandfinish firstandsecondonthefirstleg. Atleastonefemalehadtobeincluded in the team.
It was Nathan Reed that took the accolade in winning the first leg in 8.03, but he was pushed all the way by his 16-year-old clubmate, B team runner Adam Hughes, who was just two seconds behind.
Next off for the A team was Amy Callaghan, who dropped to fourth with her time of 9.53 and B team runner Jessica Fox took sixth with 10.09. Steve Rankin maintained fourth spot for the A team with his 8.22 effort, while Joe Pomfret finished sixth with 8.34.
SunderlandAteam’soverall time was 26.18 and the B team recorded 26.59. The winning team was Tynedale 25.34, second was Morpeth 25.46 and Blaydon were third 26.11.
Fastest runners were: Conner Marshal (Morpeth) 7.58, Matthew Armstrong (Blaydon) 7.59, Nathan Reed (Sunderland) 8.03, Adam Hughes Sunderland 8.05.
Cardioproof recently helped Sunderland Harriers purchaseadefibrillatorbypart funding the cost of it. They are passionate and committed to helping clubs and schools throughout the North East to purchase their own defibrillator. As a thank you to Cardioproof, Sunderland Harriers’ youngsters decided to run a challenge and raise money for the charity.
The Sunderland three Peaks Challenge was adopted with a run from Tunstall Hill and onto Hastings Hill before finishingatPenshawHill,with club coaches in support. Elizabeth Hughes, William Young, Sam Thompson, Josh Wood, Ben Anderson, Jude Graham, Oscar Cotton and Oliver Andersonhelpedraiseover£700.