MULTI-TERRAIN enthusiasts disappointed by the enforced cancellation of the Michael Page Memorial race have switched to the annual Derwentside Hellhole event at Stanley tomorrow.

Houghton Harriers had little choice but to call off their fundraiser at Hetton Park when Sunderland City Council demanded £1,200 – five times what the club took in entry fees last year – to temporarily close a little-used bridle path on part of the course on health and safety grounds.

The Derwentside club were also advised they could not use a similar bridle path, but were cleared by the sport’s governing body, UK Athletics, who are providing insurance for the race which uses country roads and footpaths, including Hellhole Wood, before finishing at the Louisa Sports Centre in Stanley.

Meanwhile, Teessider Rick Betts, who advises Middlesbrough’s England international triple-jumper Ade Babetunde, the England Closed Championships silvermedallist, was voted development coach of the year at the England Athletics North-East Regional Awards ceremony.

The performance coach award went to Barry Foster, who guided Chester-le- Street’s women’s team to many national and regional titles before stepping down this summer, while Tynesidebased grade one timekeeper Les Venmore was voted official of the year.

Tynedale president George Ogle, who died last month after a lifetime in athletics, was chosen for the services to officiating award, which was presented to his widow, Audrey.

The inaugural North of England Cross Country Relay Championships for all age groups will be held at Graves Park, Sheffield, today, in conjunction with the South Yorkshire Championships and Yorkshire Veterans Championships.

The ten-race programme starts at 11am with the South Yorkshire under-11 relays and concludes with the fourstage Cutlers Relay for junior and senior men at 2.15pm.