BRITISH Veterans' champion Brian Rushworth opens his cross country season on home ground at Farringdon today.

The 41-year-old Sunderland Harrier, who established himself as one of the region's best-ever winter exponents by winning a record ten North-East senior men's cross country championships, proved on a demanding riverside course at Durham in March that he is the UK's best over-40.

Rushworth could well run one of the fastest times in this afternoon's Farringdon Relays against much younger opponents, but he chooses to represent his club as a veteran.

And with world triathlon championships over-40 bronze medallist Tom Doughty and former London Marathon veterans champion Dave Robertson also in the A team Sunderland - second to Durham last year - should win back the trophy they won in 2002.

Their main challengers are likely to be Durham City, whose powerful team last year was former British Veterans cross country and 10K road race champion Rob Hand, Steve Everett, Ian Crampton and Steve Marshall.

The host club, which has suffered only four senior men's defeats since the relays were first introduced at Farringdon in 1983, were badly hit by holiday commitments in 2003, trailing in third almost four minutes behind the winning Morpeth Harriers team.

This time the Wearsiders will have a much stronger contingent to call upon, and club captain Mark Hood must choose his four runners from Tim Field, Patrick Martin, Graham Lancaster, Steve Potts, Paul Given and himself.

Morpeth, however, have some big guns to call upon, including brothers Mark and Ian Hudspith, but also have immense strength in depth if top runners choose not to compete.

The meeting starts at 1pm with the under-11 boys and girls one mile race, while the senior and veteran men's 4 x 1.8 mile relay gets under way at the earlier time of 1.30. Late entries will be accepted for a full age-group programme, with changing and registration at Farringdon School.

* Kelly Holmes may be almost worn out after her Olympic exertions but her competitive spirit might see her compete in two high-profile races in this weekend's IAAF World Athletics Final.

The 800 and 1,500metres gold medallist in Athens last month is provisionally planning a two-pronged attack for the prestigious WAF titles in Monaco.

Holmes will definitely race over 1,500m today and if there is any strength left in the legs she turn out and compete over 800m tomorrow.