A SUPERB run by 22-year-old Nick McCormick failed to inspire Northern title-holders Morpeth Harriers to a medal-winning challenge in the National Six-Stage Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield.

Morpeth, without two of their best runners, looked set for one of their most disappointing performances at Sutton Park when they trailed in 19th at the halfway mark.

But McCormick produced the second-best run of the competition on the fourth leg to hoist the Northumbrians 17 places into runners-up spot behind eventual winners Belgrave Harriers.

Morpeth, the North-East's leading road, track and cross country club, were unable to maintain the impetus set by the former Northern junior 3000m track champion.

North-East half-marathon champion Terry Wall lost three places on the penultimate circuit and former Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist Ian Hudspith was unable to claw back any lost ground on the anchor leg as Morpeth finished fifth.

Redcar-based Stephen Hepples, who had led Great Britain home in 12th place in the Reims Half Marathon six days earlier, answered a late SOS from his British Athletics League club, Newham and Essex Beagles, recording the sixth fastest time of the day to move up 25 positions into seventh on the second leg, only for his depleted team to fade away to 24th.

Sunderland Harriers finished 25th after occupying 14th place on the first and second legs.

Men's Six-Stage results: 1 Belgrave 1 hour 44 mins 35 secs; 2 Aldershot, Farnham & District 1:45:55; 3 Birchfield 1:46:49; 5 Morpeth (D Samuels 18.21, A Towards 18.16, I Hudspith 17.51, N McCormick 16.41,T Wall 18.25, M Hudspith 18.03) 1:47:37; 25 Sunderland (M Hood 17.51, P Martin 18.14, G Massingham 18.39, S Potts 19.04,T Doughty 19.03, S Coxon 20.20) 1:53:11. Fastest times: 1 C Thompson (Aldershot) 16.39; 2 N McCormick (Morpeth) 16.41; 3 K Cullen (Highgate) 17.01; 6 S Hepples (Newham & Essex) 17.12.

* Defending women's champions Chester-le-Street, without two of their star runners, were never in contention, finishing a disappointing 11th.

The absence of the injured Morag McDonnell and Sarah Wilkinson proved too great a handicap and after Great Britain international Dianne Heneghan opened in eighth place the Cestrians slipped to 13th on the penultimate circuit before anchor-leg runner Alyson Dixon gained two places.

Women's Four-Stage results: 1 Bristol 57 mins 46 secs; 2 Windsor, Slough & Eton 59.20; 3 Wakefield 59.59; 11 Chester-le-Street (D Heneghan 14.48, K Waugh 15.39, S Robson 15.44, A Dixon 15.21) 61.32; 30 Morpeth (A Fox 15.47, J Mooney 17.07, D Watts 16.39, S Ellison 16.27) 66.00.

* Kelly Holmes won further recognition for her Olympic triumphs by taking two awards at the British Athletics Writers' Association annual dinner.

Holmes, Olympic champion at 800m and 1,500m in Athens this summer, was named female athlete of the year at the dinner at the Royal Lancashire Hotel.

It was the second time she has won the title, having been been named best female athlete in 1995.

She also won the Norwich Union prize for the best performance in a British vest for her stunning victory in the 800m.

The men's award was won by a team for the first time - the victorious 100m relay team of Marlon Devonish, Darren Campbell, Jason Gardener and Mark Lewis-Francis taking the honour.

The junior male prize was won by Richard Davenport, 19, who broke the British junior 400m hurdles record at World Junior Championships.

The junior female award went to Danni Barnes, 19, who came fourth in 1,500m at World Junior Championships.

The Ron Pickering memorial award for service to athletics went to Bill Adcocks, who has been involved in athletics on a daily basis for 45 years either as an athlete or an administrator.