Darlington Harriers: Harriers travelled to Warrington on Saturday to compete in the NoEAA Road Relay championships and came away with two excellent results.

The women's team of Bernadette Taylor, Alison Raw, Jo Short and Susie Rutherford had a superb race to finish seventh overall. Bernadette ran the first leg in 12.07 against some very strong opposition and came home eight. Alison took over having run the Great North Run and the Simonside fell race last weekend ran 12.26 for 11th place. Jo Short, who has been selected for the World Triathlon championships in Madrid next year, ran a hard leg in 12.51 but picked up to 10th. The final leg saw Susie Rutherford pull the team up to a marvellous 7th place after a very gutsy run in 11.58.

The men had a harder task against some of the best teams in the country and were running four miles each leg, twice as far as the women. Martin Grainger, who has had an excellent season on the roads, set off in fine style to record 21.59 and come home in 35th place. Simon Rutherford ran a poor leg, for him in 25.47 to drop to 69th but that gave Nigel Orr the chance to pull back 12 places to finish in 57th with a time of 22.31.

New club member Joe McCready continued the climb back and with a time of 23.19 was up to 50th. Jack Mason, another prolific roadrunner who has had a string of personal best performances this summer, maintained the position with 23.55, which left Ben Wilson on the final leg. Ben came home in style gaining another five places with a time of 23.36 to bring the team home in a very good 45th place.

* The Harriers train at Eastbourne stadium on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.15pm and anyone who wants to be part of this successful athletics club and train at the best facility in the area is welcome. Ring (01325) 252834 for further information.