Sunderland Harriers scored a glorious silver double in the British Masters’ Cross Country Relay Championships at Long Eaton, Derbyshire on Saturday.
The Over-35 Men’s and Women’s teams ran up to form to finish second in both highly competitive events.
The men’s team, which competed over five legs, had one 50-year-old, one 45-year-old and two 40-year-olds in the team. Ironically, it was 39-year-old Kevin Jeffress that took the Wearsiders into the lead on the third leg.
That came after Ian Dixon had opened with the club’s fastest leg and the eighth best overall (9.45) to finish third.
Rob Walker was next off and he dropped one place with his effort of 10.03 before Jeffress, the North East Masters’ Cross Country champion took over.
His leg of 9.52 claimed the Seaham man the joint 12th quickest time of the day.
It was another Seaham resident, Micky Thompson, the oldest in the team at the age of 50, who dropped to fourth on the penultimate leg with his solid run of 10.21.
Now it was left to Steve McMahon to do the business and get Sunderland back into a medal position on the final stage.
He set off full of intent and he was soon closing down on Charnwood and Leicester Coritanian. And at the finish there was just Notts AC left ahead of him. He had steamed round his lap in 9.55....