Around 150 competitors took to the undulating grasslands of the Rising Sun Country Park, Wallsend for the annual North East Masters Athletics Association Open XC championships.
Hosting a regional athletics event is challenging at the best of times but the flat exposed Pontefract race course and gale force winds from Storm Malik created tough conditions for both officials and athletes alike.
The new year Harrier League started with the annual visit to Thornley Hall Farm for a course with ankle deep mud, manmade and natural obstacles and 1000 competitors ready to take on the challenge.
Almost perfect cross country conditions for the majority of the nine-race programme for the 2021 North East championships hosted by Sedgefield Harriers.