THE REGION'S young athletes did the North-East proud in the North of England Cross Country Championships at St Helens, winning two gold, three silver and three bronze individual medals.

Pride of place went to Lewis Timmins (Gosforth) and Mary Ferrier (Gateshead), who came out top in the under-17 men and women's races, while Morpeth Harriers won team gold in the under-20 women's event.

Ferrier won from Julia Orr, of Quakers, with Elswick's Sam Crowe third and Donna James (Morpeth) fifth.

Morpeth's Nathan Shrubb was fourth in the under-17 men's 6K, but had the consolation of leading Morpeth to the team silvers, while Newton Aycliffe's Lewis Moses was a creditable seventh.

Elswick's Johnny Pearson was pipped for the gold medal in the Under-15 boys' 4K, finishing three seconds behind the winner with Shildon's Warren Roberts fourth, while Chester-le-Street's Carl Bell was third in the youngest age group, the under-13s.

In the under-20 women Durham City's Rosie Smith finished runner-up, with Middlesbrough and Cleveland's Joanna Jackson taking the bronze as Morpeth earned the team gold medals.

In the senior events - with the region's top athletes conspicuous by their absence - Sunderland Harrier Mark Hood finished fifth in the men's 12K. Morpeth were the first North-East team home in fifth place, with Terry Wall top scorer in 18th position.

Wearsider Alison Dixon finished 12th as Chester-le-Street claimed fifth place in the senior women's 8K, with Angie Watson 30th, Maxine Czarnecka 34th and veteran Heather Robinson 71st.

Results (selected) - Senior Men (12K): 1 S Vernon (Stockport) 41.11; 5 M Hood (Sunderland) 42.00; 18 T Wall (Morpeth) 43.10; 27 S Platts (Morp) 43.50; 36 C Sampson (Morp) 44.24; 47 D Swinburne (Morp) 45.05; 58 S Bell (Chester-le-Street) 45.42. Teams: 1 Leeds 108; 5 Morpeth 128.

Under-17 Men (6K): 1 L Timmins (Gosforth) 20.08; 4 N Shrubb (Morp) 20.37; 7 L Moses (Newton Aycliffe) 20.46.

Under-15 Boys (4K): 1 L Walker (Warrington 13.31; 2 J Pearson (Elswick) 13.34; 4 W Roberts (Shildon) 13.37.

Under-13 Boys (3K): 1 M Jackson (Warr) 11.45; 3 C Bell (ClS) 12.03.

Senior Women (8K): 1 H Lawrence (Wirral) 31.13; 12 A Dixon (ClS) 32.50; 30 A Watson (ClS) 34.23; 34 M Czarnecka (ClS) 34.35; 71 H Robinson (ClS) 36.32. Teams: 1 Salford 67; 5 Chester-le-Street 93.

Under-20 Women (6K): 1 K Hawitt (Warr) 22.52; 2 R Smith Durham City) 24.13; 3 J Jackson (Mid & Cleve) 24.37. Teams: 1 Morpeth 88 (12 A Fox, 13 D Watts, 29 N Duggan, 34 R Adams).