Sunderland Harriers used home advantage to put in their best performance of the season in the senior men’s race in the North Eastern Harrier League at Herrington Country Park on Saturday.
Over a gruelling three-lap course which climbed the highest hill of the park, the defending champions won the 10k handicap race for the first time this season.
This followed ninth, sixth and third places in the previous three league meetings and they have now lifted themselves into fourth place in the First Division with two fixtures remaining at Thornley and Alnwick.
While it looks as though that Tyne Bridge Harriers have the league title in the bag on seven points, Sunderland are only three points behind second club Morpeth, who have 16 points. Gateshead are third with 17 points.
The Wearsiders got off to a great start by placing their first three counters inside the first 10 in a field of 550.
It was Steven Duffy, running from the slow pack, who led the royal blue vests for most of the race until the closing stages, when he was passed by medium pack runners Michael Barker and Kevin Calvert....