NORTH-EAST Harrier League veterans champion Tim Field hopes to become the second Sunderland Harrier to claim an over-40 medal in tomorrow's Flora London Marathon.

Washington hospital porter Dave Robertson won the London masters' title in 2002 and Field - in his first year as a veteran - will have to get close to his clubmate's winning time of just over 2 hours 27 minutes to challenge for a place in the first three.

The 40-year-old Wearside business studies lecturer has put in three months of specialist training under the watchful eye of marathon expert Glenn Forster, who ran a personal-best 2 hours 15 mins 8 seconds in London in 1984, which still stands as Sunderland Harriers' club record.

Forster won the Glasgow Marathon in 1982 and his international appearances for Great Britain included the World Cup in Japan. He has taken Field under his wing and has warned his protg not to get carried away on his first venture over the distance.

"Marathon racing is all about getting it right on the day," said Forster. "I just hope Tim can curtail his enthusiasm slightly on the big day because going off too fast can lead to major problems."

Field, who has been doing 90 miles a week in training, has also been running for over two hours on a Sunday and is looking forward to his big test.

He said: "Glenn has certainly got me to a peak for the marathon - I'm feeling really strong and it's now down to me to produce a run that we can be proud of.

"I know it's important I don't get carried away in the early stages and I'm setting myself a target of reaching the halfway mark in 76 minutes."

Former club captain Field has found a new lease of life since joining the over-40 ranks last year, helping his club win the North-East Cross Country Championship in its centenary year before retaining the Sisterton Trophy with a grand-slam of six victories in this year's North-East Harrier League.

* Sunderland have been elevated from third to second team in the British Veterans Cross Country Championships in Bournemouth last month.