Kings of the Road Salford Harriers hope to be at full strength for their assault on the National Six-Stage road relay title at the end of the month.

The Red Devils regained their North of England crown at Sunderland last weekend but were without a number of key athletes, including Andy Morgan-Lee, representing Great Britain at the world half-marathon championship.

However, they should have Morgan-Lee available for selection at Sutton Park, Birmingham on October 27 plus the likes of Billy Burns, Martin Cox and John Brown.

''We were delighted to win the Northerns again,'' says team manager Bob Merrill. ''But too many clubs seem to see it just as a qualifier for the National.

''It used to be a great event to win with clubs fielding their best sides. Hopefully, we'll have everybody available for the end of the month.''

History teacher Ken Chapman was only 10th spot after the first leg but there was a gradual improvement until Neil Wilkinson hit the front after stage four.

Duncan Mason carried on the good work and Andrew Thaike anchored the squad to victory with a cumulative time of 2hrs 01 min 47 secs. Phil Leybourne and Lee Dunn completed the line-up.

Trafford, bronze medallists last year, dropped to fifth. Yorkshiremen Bingley finished in third with Manchester marathon champion Chris Cariss running the anchor leg.

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