GATESHEAD Harriers, who have won promotion in each of their first two seasons in the British Athletics League, are set for a third elevation after climbing to the top of Division Two with a stunning victory at Swansea.

The Tynesiders lost out in their opening fixture to Liverpool but bounced back as the season reached the halfway mark and leapfrogged their rivals, who could only finish third behind host club Swansea.

Brilliant Teesside sprinter Richard Kilty was again in unbeatable form, winning the 100m in 10.81 secs and the 200m in 21.83 secs. The 17-year-old first-year junior who climbed to the top of the UK under-20 100m rankings last month when he won the North-East title in 10.79 and at Swansea beat his big rival Ben Stramkowski, of Derby, who finished third in the 100m (11.02 secs) and second in the 200m (22.12 secs).

Other Gateshead winners included Chris Parr, who took the 1500m A in 3 mins 55.53 secs and Andrew Sturrock (110m H 15.35 secs).

Match result: 1 Gateshead 343 pts; 2 Swansea 335; 3 Liverpool 307.5; 4 Herne Hill 299; 5 Derby 254.5; 6 Southend 246; 7 City of Edinburgh 245; 8 Bedord & County 141. League placings after two fixtures: 1 Gateshead 15; 2 Liverpool 14; 3 Swansea 13.

Triple North-East championships gold medallist Sara Todd was in sparkling form in the North of England Division 2E fixture at York, winning the 100m (12.3 secs), 200m (25.2 secs) and long jump (4.99m) before taking second place in the javelin (24.04m).

Match result: 1 Middlesbrough AC 373; 2 Scarborough 328; 3 New Marske 322; 4 Morpeth 319; 5 Border 221; 6 Gateshead 224.

North-East athletics has lost two popular road events from its racing calendar.

The City of Sunderland has decided to drop the Ryhope Races from its Sport in the Parks series, while car manufacturers Nissan has withdrawn permission for a 10K race on its Washington site.

The Sport in Parks series, organised by the City Council, usually started with the Ryhope race around Tunstall Hill, but has been cancelled because of safety concerns. The series this summer is reduced to two events at Hylton Castle (July 11) and Hetton (August 8), but it is hoped that a third race on Herrington Country Park - used in March for the English National Cross Country Championships - will be introduced next year.

The loss of the Nissan 10K after only one year is a blow to athletes looking to improve their personal-best times on a flat, traffic-free course. The race organisers, Chester-le-Street AC, had been hoped to make it an annual event.