BORDER raider Mike Scott got his figures spot on when he took the honours in yesterday's Darlington 10K.

The 38-year-old Carlisle accountant decided on a flying visit to the North-East after seeing details of the race on the Internet and the late entrant devastated the rest of the field to win by nearly a minute in the modest time of 31 mins 55 secs - the slowest since the new, traffic-free course was adopted three years ago.

Scott, who led Border Harriers to the three-man team prize, made his break just after three kilometres, kicking away from local runner Barry Stephenson and steadily opening up an insurmountable lead.

The only real threat to Scott was the heat - but he ignored water stations along the route to storm on to a comprehensive victory.

"It was a bit too hot, especially on the second lap" said the 2001 winner of the big Brampton-Carlisle race on home territory in Cumbria.

"I saw the race listed on the Internet and a few of us from Border decided to come over for the day.

"Once I got away I just concentrated on maintaining a steady pace to the finish."

Scott will return to the area on Sunday for the big Auckland Castle 10K, but he is realistic about his chances in a race full of international performers.

He said. "I was 27th last year and if I improve on that I'll be happy."

Second placed Stephenson thought he might stand a chance of victory on home soil when he saw that three-times winner Martin Scaife was in Australia on an extended holiday.

"I was counting a few chickens," admitted the 22-year-old former Darlington Harrier, who now lives in Kent and runs for Blackheath Harriers.

"Mike has beaten me before in the Great Cumbrian Run and he had the measure of me again today.

"I am a Darlington lad and I would love to win my local road race. Once he got away in that heat I knew there was no chance of catching him."

The women's race was won in 37 mins 57 secs by Susie Rutherford, who beat Darlington clubmate Bernadette Taylor by 29 seconds.

Rutherford, a 25-year-old council countryside events officer, improved on her fourth placing last year, when she helped Darlington win the team prize.

"I managed to get away from Bernadette between five and six kilometres and after that I just ran as hard as I could to the finish without looking back."

Taylor, 29, missed eight weeks' training with a foot injury after winning the Elswick road race at Easter. She said: "I've only been back in full training for two weeks and once Susie got away I knew she was very strong. But I'm quite happy with my run."

Results - Men: 1 M Scott (Border) 31 mins 55 secs; 2 B Stephenson (Blackheath) 32.43; 3 S Potts (Sunderland) 33.31; 4 T Doughty (Sund M40) 33.37; 5 S Murdoch (Border M40) 33.42; 6 I Archbold (NE Ambulance) 33.49; 7 D Lockett (Salford) 33.51; 8 M Grainger (Darlington M40) 33.55; 9 J McCready (Darl) 34.26; 10 S Miller (City of Norwich) 34.37. M45 B Shively (York Postal) 36.34; M50 E Taylor (Unatt) 38.44; M55 H Martthews (Elswick) 36.32; M60 R Wilson (Sund) 42.19; M65 I Barnes (Darl) 42.54. Teams: 1 Border 20 pts; 2 Sunderland 28; 3 Darlington 44.

Women: 1 S Rutherford (Darlington) 37.57; 2 B Taylor (Darl) 38.26; 3 D Richardson (Quakers) 39.47; 4 E Spencer (Holmfirth) 39.55; 5 T Waller (Hartlepool Burn Road) 40.19; 6 F Shenton (Elvet Striders W45) 41.08. W35 J Atkinson (Newton Aycliffe) 41.23; W40 C Jackson (Unatt) 42.49; W50 S Laws (Derwentside) 44.10. Team: Newton Aycliffe 35 pts.