Sunderland Harriers kicked off 2016 with two North-East Masters relay titles in the Durham Cathedral Relays on Sunday. On a cold, crisp morning on the banks of the Wear, with ideal conditions underfoot, the Men's VM35 team of Ian Dixon, Kev Jeffers and Steve McMahon led from gun to tape in retaining their title by nearly a minute from Morpeth, whilst the VM55 triumvirate of Paul Merrison, Peter Richardson and Steve Coxon was also victorious. Fittingly Jeffress (9:38), McMahon (9:44) and Dixon (9:52) clocked the three fastest Masters times of the day.
Nathan Reed, Liam Roarty and Michael Laws closed in a creditable 5th place in the senior men's race, incidentally clocking 29:14, exactly the same time as the VM35's. Reed's 9:27 lead-off leg was 12th fastest of the day, behind Shildon international Cameron Boyek (8:52), and he was ably supported by Roarty, whose 9:38 was good for 15th fastest, and Michael Laws who held off Gateshead Harriers with a strong 10:09.
In the women's race, Jess Fox, Emma North and Sarah O'Mahoney improved by over a minute and seven places on 2015 to crack the top ten, in 9th, with Jess's 11:25 opening leg 6th fastest on the day, just 24 hours after finishing second in the senior race at the Durham County Schools cross-country championship at Meadowfield.
In all 16 Sunderland Harriers teams closed in, and all results are now posted on the Durham City Harriers website (www.durhamcityharriers.org.uk).