THE REGION'S cross country enthusiasts can test themselves tomorrow over the course which will be used to host the North-East Championships at Hartlepool on December 9.

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League stage their second fixture at the English Martyrs School and have invited members of clubs outside the competition to run as guests.

The meeting starts at 1pm with the under-13 boys event and there will be races for all age groups, finishing with the senior men's race. The entry fee for senior guests will be £2, and £1 for the junior runners.

The opening fixture was won at Barnard Castle by a guest, Chester-le-Street's Martin Scaife, who is hoping to do well in the North-East Championships. The former Mandale Harrier will again be the man to beat tomorrow.

The NYSD men's championship promises to be another tussle between Middlesbrough and Cleveland's Paul Bentley, who became one of the youngest winners of the senior title last winter, and fast-improving runner-up, Shaun O'Grady, of New Marske Harriers.

On a very sticky course at Barnard Castle, Bentley took fourth place, just over a minute ahead of O'Grady, who was seventh.

Hartlepool Burn Road's Ian Cook, who ran as a senior last year despite qualifying for the veteran ranks, has decided to compete this year with the veterans and he will be trying to wrest the title from North-East Veterans cross country champion Tony Livingston, of New Marske.

l Sunderland Harriers under-17 men's team will be seeking their second national title in two weeks when they compete in the English Cross Country relays at Mansfield today.

At the end of last month the powerful Wearsider team of Junior Great North Run winner Chris Stoker, Richard Kemp and Partick Martin lifted the AAA Road Relay Championship at Sutton Coldfield.

Now, under the guidance of coach Ken Jefferson, Sunderland will be chasing a hat-trick of victories at Berry Hill