The closest they came to winning medals was when Morpeth Harriers were pipped for bronze in the senior men's event just a few metres from the finish line.

Sunderland Harriers' hopes of a top ten placing were rocked before the start when North East Cross Country champion Mark Hood withdrew from the team because of illness.

Without Hood the team were always going to struggle for a respectable position in the 160 strong field.

But they set off  in determined fashion with Patrick Martin having a good run over the two-lap 5k course to finish 13th in 15.26 before handing over to his brother Jack.

Although tiring over the second lap, he held on to finish 15th with a respectable 15.49 clocking.

Hood's stand in Damien Weston ran as well as was expected dropp to 34th with his run of 18.18. Anchor man Gavin Massingham, moved up five places to a final 29th (1.05.44). But he would be disappointed with his
16.10 showing.

Morpeth were in second place 600 metres from the finish before Blackheath (1.01.36) and Bristol (1.01.38) clinched the minor medals behind winners Bedford (1.01.13). Morpeth clocked 1.01.40 after Ian Hudspith (15.20) had given his all in his unsuccessful charge to the finish.

The rest of the Morpeth team were Nick McCormick, with the fifth fastest time of the day (15.00), Chris Sampson (15.58) and Jonny Taylor (15.20).

New Marske ran well to finish 11th with Ricky Stevenson the fourth fastest overall with his stint of 14.59 behind the fastest, Blackheath's Mike Skinner (14.48).

Chester-le-Street, without Freya Murray and Alyson Dixon, did well to finish 11th in the women's relay. The team was Sarah Wilkinson (10.47), Maxine Czarnecka (10.53) and Tracy Laws (10.52).

The winners were Charnwood with Aldershot's Steph Twell clocking the fastest time with 9.36.

In the other races on the packed ten-event programme which attracted a few thousand to Berry Hill Park, Sunderland had teams in three other relays.

The under-13 boys' finished 43rd after a marvellous run from Luca Irvine on the first leg (7.13) saw him climb into eighth with a sparkling sprint finish.

The other runners were James Myers (7.55) and Jack Robinson (9.10).

The under-15 boys' were 59th with Dominic Hill (7.14), Hugh Danby- Platt (8.21) and Michael Wilson (7.10). The under-15 girls' took 66th through Chelsea Gill (8.33), Eve Rodgers (9.52) and Alix Waites (8.20).

Torrential rain and wind welcomed athletes to Gibside for yesterday's Fruit Bowl multi-terrain race.

A missing marshall at a vital turning on the course near the finish relegated Sunderland Harrier Ken Bell from a likely fourth finish and first veteran to 14th (45.32.).

The race winner was Ian Twaddle (NSP) in 41.31 from Billingham's Gary Grounds (42.39) and Gateshead's Conrad Franks (42.45).

Sunderland Harrier Paul Redman was second veteran in eighth (44.29) behind Elswick's Steven Grey (44.23).

Mick Jones (South Shields) was third veteran in 11th (45.11).
Sunderland Strollers had Mick Rennison in 12th (45.13) and Tim Allsop 15th (45.46).