Success has its price

9:33am Saturday 29th November 2008

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DOUBLE North-East cross country champion Mark Hood will today be chasing an honour which would rule out his chances of a rare golden hat-trick.

The 27-year-old Sunderland Harrier has his sights set on winning selection for Great Britain’s European Cross Country Championships team in the trial at Sefton Park, Liverpool, and success would mean that he would be be unable to defend his regional title at Wrekenton, Gateshead, on December 13.

Hood has won three England vests in the past year and on his last international appearance earlier this month finished a creditable 13th in the Lotto CrossCup in Belgium, his best performance to date.

Now the primary school teacher is aiming to break into the Great Britain ranks for the European test in Brussels by drastically improving his 18th placing on Merseyside last year.

He said: “Last year I was only 20 seconds away from a top-ten position and I’m determined to go for it this time – I think it is a realistic target.”

Hood knows, however, he would have the consolation of a crack at a third consecutive North-East title if he misses out on European Championships selection.

“If I don’t win selection for Belgium I’d love to make it three wins in a row,” admitted Hood. “But it is a challenging course at Wrekenton and there will be a few lads wanting to win my title.”

Hood’s main contenders for the three automatic places up for grabs, Andy Vernon, Steve Vernon, Frank Tickner, Keith Gerrard and Mike Skinner, have all started the season solidly and should make it a close race.

The 2006 European cross country gold medallist, Mo Farah, will not compete but, along with 3000m steeplechase specialist Andrew Lemoncello, has informed the selectors he is available for Brussels.

Olympic 1500m finalist Andy Baddeley has also now decided he wishes to be considered for a place in the team.

Baddeley originally had the championships in his plans and his training has been progressing well after spending time out getting married and recovering from an Achilles injury.

Elswick Harriers’ former National Cross Country under-15 girls champion Justina Heslop, now 29 and competing for London club Clapham Chasers, will be racing in the women’s trial in Liverpool following her victory in the London Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill.