Sunderland Harriers fielded two teams in the Northern six stage relays hoping to improve on last year's performances of 32nd and 68th respectively for the A and B team at Blackpool.
The A team were targeting a top 15 finish and qualification to the national six stage on the 8th October. Before the race Sparrow Morley was in confident mood stating "Qualification was a formality". The club certainly had the runners capable but as we have seen in recent years anything is possible in a relay, especially if you are in royal blue!

Andy Powell led the charge for the royal blue on Leg One, after a frenzied start from the track which saw over 100 runners heading off around the Etihad stadium. After a steady start Andy worked his way through to 39th position at the finish (17.53). The times of the lead runners, low 16mins showed the course was a lot shorter than the advertised 6.8km, but it's not the first short course in Manchester in recent years. Steven Duffy had a strong finish on the B first leg to get past a small group of runners heading on to the track to finish in (19.04). Next off for the royal blues was Kevin Jeffress who paced it well for the distance of approx 3.5mi, after being informed of the less than expected distance by his clubmates. He cut through the field gaining 13 positions to come home in 26th (17.51). Meanwhile Jason Waite showed he is returning to form by bringing the B team through to 59th. Steve McMahon ran Sunderland's fastest time of the day after a stuttering start, not noticing the fast finishing Jeffress cross the line. However, he soon made up for this and got the royal blues in to the top 20 for the first time in the day, coming home 19th (17.31). Michael Edwards came home in 62nd for the B team on the third leg (19.48).
Going on to the second half of the race, the Wearsiders aim of a top 15 finish was still on course. Sparrow Morley worked hard through the middle section and with his trademark fast finish maintained 19th position (17.53). On this lap Jake Jansen recorded the fastest time of the day out of the royal blue B team gaining 13 places in the process, coming home inside the first 50 in 49th (19.03). The fifth leg saw the royal blue debut of Barry Maskell, he showed signs of his undoubted talent quickly closing down on those in front, although tiring towards the end after a long spell on the sidelines to injury he gamely battled in bringing home the Wearsiders in 17th place (17.54). Also making a debut for the Harriers at the six stage was B runner Craig Harriman, after his battling leg he returned in 52nd place (20.01). The aim of completing a top 15 finish was down to last leg runner Jack Tallentire, who had just turned 20 year old. Jack proves he deserved his place in the A Team which saw him catch local rivals Gateshead Harriers despite starting over 1minute 20 seconds in arrears. Roared on by his clubmates Jack gave it everything up the drag back to the track and despite losing out to Gateshead over the last 200m, Jack held off Vale Royal by two seconds to secure 15th place (18.29) for the royal blues. Fellow U20 Jonathon Howe returned from a long spell out with injury to bring the B team home in 52nd place(20.22).
The race was won by Liverpool from Derby and Morpeth first North East club home in third. Next stop the National!