Heaton Harriers, the first club to complete a Start Fitness North-East Harrier League double by winning the senior men's and women's titles last season, face a stern challenge to retain their trophies when the new competition gets underway at East Cramlington today.

Sunderland Harriers, Morpeth and Gateshead can be expected to snapping at the heels of the men's champions, while Heaton's main rivals in the women's section are again likely to be last season's silver-medallists Tynedale. The two championships will, for the first times, both adopt a three-pack handicap format, with the competitors split into fast, medium and slow packs depending on ability.

Sunderland are the league's most successful senior men's club, having won the coveted Sisterson Trophy 23 times since 1980. But last season, after winning the title ten times in 11 years, a series of disastrous results saw the Wearsiders slump to a worst-ever fourth placing, despite rallying to win two of the six Division One fixtures.

Today's meeting, hosted by Blyth Running Club, will use the course designated for the North-East Cross Country Championships in December. Competitors taking part in all six fixtures will each be awarded a special Harrier League T-shirt.

The Kielder 10K will be held on the roads around the Northumberland reservoir today, with the Kielder Marathon being staged tomorrow.