SUNDERLAND Harrier Patrick Martin is battling to throw off a troublesome ankle injury before the defence of his senior men’s title in today’s rearranged 105th North-East Cross Country Championships at Temple Park, South Shields.

The 25-year-old Manchesterbased Wearsider has been unable to train properly over the holidays but is hoping that recent treatment on his Achilles will enable him to see off a strong challenge from the Morpeth Harriers’ contingent, which includes former Great Britain World Cross Championships international Ian Hudspith – now a veteran – and fell racing ace Nick Swinburn.

Sunderland clubmate Mark Hood, who won the men’s title three years in succession before missing the last championships at Darlington through injury, has been laid low recently by flu, but he is hoping to help his club defend their senior team title, albeit in the face of a fierce challenge from Morpeth, who will be without last season’s runner-up Chris Sampson, but have last weekend’s 10K road race winner Lewis Timmins in their ranks before his return to college in the United States.

Durham City Harrier Rosie Smith, winner of last year’s Darlington and Tees Pride 10Ks, also defends her senior women’s title.

The 2009 team champions, Chester-le-Street field a strong squad, including Maxine Czarnecka, Tracy Millmore, Claire Simpson and Melissa Turner, who will be tested by Morpeth’s formidable line-up, which boasts former champion Morag Stead and Commonwealth Games international Sarah Wilkinson, who both quit the Cestrians last summer.

Over 700 athletes are entered for the championships, which were postponed last month because the Temple Park course was under a foot of snow in places. Course admission is free.

Timetable: 11am Under-13 Boys; 11.15 Under-13 Girls; 11.30 Under-15 Boys; 11.45 Under-15 Girls; 12.00 Under-17/20 Women; 12.20 Under-20 Men; 1.00 Senior Men; 1.55 Senior Women; 2.25 Under-17 Men.

■ New Marske Harrier Ricky Stephenson, surprise winner of last year’s 4K race, heads a strong North-East contingent in the Great Edinburgh Cross Country International at Holyrood Park today. Former Elswick Harrier Ryan McLeod, now with Tipton Harriers, is in the nine-man Great Britain team which takes on America and Europe in the 8K race.

Shildon’s former European junior cross country bronze medallist Kate Avery and Chester-le-Street’s Freya Murray take part in a high class 6K race.

■ The North-East Indoor Championships will be held today (field) and tomorrow (track) at Gateshead International Stadium, starting 10am.