FORMER Junior Great North Run winner Nathan Shrubb took full advantage of an absence of top local seniors to retain his title in the annual Morpeth 11K road race.

The 18-year-old Tynesider's knowledge of the undulating course on the outskirts of the Northumberland town held him in good stead as he pushed into the lead after two miles and gradually extended his advantage to the finish, beating over-50 clubmate Les Atkinson by a comfortable 43 seconds.

A delighted Shrubb said: "I felt strong early in the race and I just pushed on after two miles and kept a steady pace through to the finish."

Former Gateshead Harrier Sarah Heatley - an over 40 - scored her first victory in Morpeth colours with an emphatic win in the women's race, beating her nearest rival by 55 seconds. Last year's winner, Nicola Duggan, of the host club, has to be content with fourth place, over three minutes behind the winner.

l Steve Potts became the sixth consecutive Sunderland Harrier to win the Old Monks six mile multi-terrain race at Hartlepool yesterday.

The recent winner of the Derwentside 10 proved too strong for Mark Armstrong, of the host club, Hartlepool Burn Road, winning by a comfortable 29 seconds, with another local runner, Adam Churchill a further 33 seconds away in third place.

But the women's race was won by Hartlepool veteran Tracey Waller, beating Teessider Kerry Matthew, a former North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League champion, by 40 seconds.

* Former biathlon international Paul Lowe, of North Yorks Moors AC, won the Captain Cook's fell race when he beat Bingley's Alistair Brownby by 52 seconds.

Newly-crowned North-East junior women's cross country champion, Johanna Jackson (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) beat former senior women's title-holder Morga McDonnell (Chester-le-Street) by two seconds.