Sunderland Harriers were pushed into fourth place in the women’s Davison Shield and fifth in the men’s Sherman Cup cross country events at South Shields on Saturday.
The competition, based on the overall strength of clubs, encompassing all age groups, saw the Wearsiders having very little to cheer about.
They saw the Elswick women’s team snatch the Davison Shield bronze medals in the last event of the day, the veteran women’s race, finishing third team to Sunderland’s eighth position.
Gosforth retained the Davison Shield, scoring 20 points for the five events.
Durham City claimed second on 32, Elswick finished third 33 and Sunderland ended fourth with 39 points. Houghton Harriers were eighth.
In the men’s Sherman Cup event, Sunderland failed to field a team in the Under-17 men’s event, finishing complete teams in just four of the five races.
Morpeth won the Sherman Cup title once again on 11 points, with Durham second on 21, Gateshead third (34) and Gosforth fourth (40). Sunderland were fifth and Houghton sixth.
The Wearsiders gained their best result in the veteran men’s event, finishing in second place to Elswick on countback.
Sunderland’s Ian Dixon was the first Over-40 in 21st (31min 57sec), followed by Simon O’Donnell in 39th (34.05) and Paul Merrison in 72nd (35.35).
Sunderland’s best result in the Davison Shield came in the Under-17/20 women’s race where they finished second to Gateshead thanks to good runs from Sarah Knight in sixth, Eve Quinn ninth and Hannah Wight 19th...