Kevin Jeffress is the new British Masters V-35 Cross-Country Champion. Kevin took the title at the British Championships in Bath last weekend with club-mate Steve McMahon bagging the silver medal.

Both men have put themselves in a strong position to gain selection for the England team to compete at the British Masters International in Glasgow on November 12th, as did Paul Merrison, who had his best run of the winter in taking third place in the V-55 category, but crucially was second Englishman which will further enhance his chances of bagging that coveted international vest.

In all, seven Harriers made the 300-mile journey to the West Country to contest the 8km race around the picturesque campus of Bath University. Tim Field was third Sunderland man home, placing 11th in the hugely competitive V-50 category, whilst Alan Hodgson was 15th in the V-45, Dean Phillips 18th in the same age group, and Tony Allinson was 6th V-40 to finish.

Jeffress is hoping to be joined in Glasgow by McMahon and Merrison, and feels he has unfinished business in this fixture, having finished a disappointing 76th (26th in age group) in Dublin in 2015 when severely hampered by illness. Given a clean bill of health and a solid block of training over the next eight months, all three Sunderland Harriers can and will do the club proud north of the border, but for now they should relax and enjoy their terrific achievements in Bath.

At the time of writing, team results were still unavailable, however unofficial calculations suggest there is every chance another medal will be winging its way to the north-east.