International runners Steve Sharp and Nick Goolab have been forced to change their training schedule to race for Belgrave Harriers in tomorrow’s English national 12-stage road relay at Sutton Park, Birmingham.

UK Athletics’ 2010 calendar and Belgrave’s own fixture list both incorrectly showed the event would take place on Saturday, April 10.

It was only when Belgrave finished second at last month’s South of England Championships at Milton Keynes that team manager Alan Mead discovered the truth.

“It has been terribly confusing,” said Mead.

“We are keen to ensure we have our strongest possible team and Nick and Steve are key members of it.

“They have had to change their warm-weather training plans and have gone earlier than planned.

“The club has decided to pay the extra cost they incurred as a result of the change and we plan to stage events such as quiz nights to raise the cash.”

Phil Wicks will run a long stage for the reigning champions despite scrapping plans to run the following weekend’s London Marathon.

Another member of last year’s winning team, James Kelly, will run a short stage despite suffering from a stress fracture.

Other members of the team are Mark Pollard, Will Cockerell, Richard Stannard and Surrey cross country champion Pascar Owor.

Mead expects Newham & Essex Beagles, who beat Belgrave in the South of England race, to provide the strongest challenge.

But they will be missing Twickenham-based Mo Farah, who is on honeymoon, and Moumin Geele.

Belgrave also won in 2002, 2003 and 2005 and Mead added: “If we don’t win, but finish in the top three, it would be quite an achievement to be placed in the event for 10 consecutive years.

Herne Hill and Thames Hare & Hounds, who finished sixth and seventh last year, are also sending teams to Sutton Park.

Belgrave and Serpentine also have teams in the women’s six-stage relay.