MORPETH Harriers, pipped by one point last season for the First Division senior men's team title, got off to a flying start in the opening Start Fitness North-East Harrier League, beating defending champions and arch-rivals Gateshead by an emphatic margin.

The Northumbrians were led home by17-year-old slow-pack runner Jonny Nisbet, who took full advantage of a five minute start to finish second, 59 seconds behind Gateshead's 18-year-old former Northumberland schools cross country champion, Calum Johnson, who also started with the front runners.

Morpeth packed brilliantly, having their six counters in the first 21 in a record field of 425 runners despite the overnight wintry conditions - and three of their top finishers were scratch-markers from the fast pack.

Teessider Jonny Taylor was the fastest overall, completing the near six-miles in 30 mins 54 secs to finish 12th overall and he was followed home by clubmates Nick Swinburn (14th) and former North-East senior men's cross country champion Lewis Timmins (18th).

Slow pack runnerSam Hancox completed the Morpeth counters in 15th place for an excellent score of 52, while Gateshead, with their their first four runners in the first 20 Division 1 competitors, slipped away to finish with 117 points.

There was also a record field of 179 in the senior women's race, won by Elswick Harrier Alison Dargie, who took advantage of a two minute start with the medium pack to beat Scottish international and scratch runner Emily Stewart, running for Newcastle University, by 24 seconds.

Results - Senior Men: 1 C Johnson (Gateshead, Slow Pack +5 mins) 32.51; 2 J Nesbitt (Morpeth, SP) 33.50; 3 M Bleasby (Shildon, SP) 34.27. Fastest times: 1 J Taylor (Morp, Fast Pack, scr) 30.54; 2 N Swinburn (Morp, FP) 31.42; 3 L Timmins (Morp, FP) 32.11. Division 1 teams: 1 Morpeth 52 pts; 2 Gateshead 117.

Senior women: 1 A Dargie (Elswick, Medium Pack +2 mins) 28.29; 2 E Stewart (Newcastle Univ, Fast Pack, scr) 28.53; 3 J Mullinger (Tyne Bridge, Slow Pack +4 mins) 28.56. Fastest times: 1 E Stewart 24.58; 2 A Dargie 26.29; 3 A Fox (Durham City, FP) 27.08. Divsision 1 teams: 1 Tyne Bridge 29; 2 Heaton 39; 3 Tynedale 40.