Champs on course for title

The defending champions had hoped to complete a grand slam of victories after comfortably winning the opening three Division One fixtures but were then stopped in their tracks at Blaydon and Consett.

But they are still five points clear at the top of the table from their nearest rivals, Wallsend Harriers, and only a complete slump will prevent them winning the coveted Sisterton Cup for a fifth consecutive year.

The individual title looks set to go to Morpeth Harrier Terry Wall, who has a commanding lead, despite missing last weekend's fixture at Berry Edge. But there is a keen tussle for runners-up position, with the main contenders Jonathan Graham (Gosforth), Tim Field (Sunderland), Richard Kay (Morpeth) and Michael Thompson (Gateshead).

In Division Two, the leading contenders for the title are South Shields and Alnwick, while Gateshead and Low Fell are pushing hard for promotion from Division Three.

In the younger age groups Gateshead Harriers lead the under-15 and under-13 boys' sections, while Morpeth top the under-17 men's table

In the women's league, prolific racer Sheila Allen looks sure to clinch the veterans' title.

The 45-year-old Wearsider, who was a double gold medallist when the World Veterans Championships were held at Gateshead and has enjoyed a host of North-East championship successes on road and cross country, showed her younger rivals the way home last Saturday at Consett, maintaining her status as one of the league's most consistent performers for many years.

Today's meeting starts at 12.30pm, with the senior men's six-mile handicap race off at 1.15.

* Jon Brown (Sheffield AC) and Mark Draper (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow AC) have withdrawn from the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Lausanne.

Brown has a hip injury and Draper is in hospial with a partially collapsed lung.