This Boxing Day marked the return of the Sunderland Harriers' Christmas Pudding run, the first in the best part of 25years. The sealed handicap provided plenty of excitement and discussion as the winner was not known until the results were revealed over 90 minutes after the start at the presentation in The Cavalier.

Forty seven hardy athletes finished the race in blustery conditions, that didn’t stop fast times and nine athletes recording season best performances. The race set off at breakneck speed on the rapid downhill start of the Sunderland 5km course, soon the early pace setter Jason Waite faded and it was left to Barry Maskell and Ian Dixon to battle for the honour of crossing the line first, it was the younger Maskell (16:25) who made the decisive break, getting a six second gap on the battling veteran which he maintained through to the finish. The third athlete across the line was Jack Tallentire in 17:00, the athletes continued to stream in with Women’s Team Captain Colleen Compson the first female finisher in a new pb of 20:49. With every second counting in the sealed handicap event athletes continued to push hard throughout the field.

The results were collated and handicaps subtracted, that left the race winner and 2016 Sunderland Harriers Pudding Run Champion as John Archer (27:34) with a handicap finish time of 13:04 after John smashed his pre-race time of 30 minutes, showing some of the determination he aims to instil in his young athletes. Another athlete who smashed their previous best was U11 Harry Clay (23:02) who finished a tremendous second with a handicap finish time of 14:12. Completing the podium was Darren Dodd (19:14) with a handicap finish time of 14:44. The battle for the minor placings was also eagerly contested with every second proving vital. In fourth was U17 Daniel Smith (20:22) with a time of 14:52, first female in fifth was Margaret Thompson (30:28) with a time of 14:58. Sixth place went to V60 Glenn Forster (21:48) in 14:58, second lady in seventh was Colleen Compson (20:49) in 14:59. In eighth was club secretary Michael Hill (21:57) with a time of 15:07, in ninth was Dubai based Jenna Wilkinson (20:57) in 15:17 and in tenth was Houghton’s Shaun Kerry (19:42) with a handicap finish time of 15:32.

A great day to round off the festive period and the running year as the Royal Blues now prepare for more success in 2017.