THE REGION'S cross country season opens today with the Farringdon Relays, when host club Sunderland Harriers will be bidding for their 18th senior men's victory in 21 years.

Last year the Wearsiders, fielding one of their youngest-ever teams, including teenagers Norman Younger and Patrick Martin, came from behind to win the 4 x 1.8-mile race, beating Gosforth Harriers by an emphatic 52 seconds.

This time Sunderland will be boosted by the return of ten-times North-East cross country champion Brian Rushworth who, despite being eligible to run for the veterans, is likely to opt for the tougher competition in the under-40 race.

Rushworth, who missed last year's race because of a long-standing ankle injury, has rapidly established himself as the North-East's leading veteran, winning the over-40 section of the classy Auckland Castle race last month, finishing 12th overall.

Team captain Tim Field, winner of the Houghton 10K two weeks ago, will use the race as a trial for the North of England Six Stage Road Relay Championships in two weeks' time, and there will be plenty of competition for places as Sunderland field three senior teams at Farringdon.

Last year's winning team of Field, Younger, Martin and Mark Hood are all available, while Rushworth and Steven Potts are also in contention to line up against some of the leading cross country exponents in the region.

Terry Wall, who ran the fastest leg last year, is expected to again spearhead the Morpeth Harriers squad after completing a hat-trick of victories in last weekend's Billingham Marsh House 10K, while former Great Britain international Stewy Bell will be in action for Chester-le-Street, without Martin Scaife after his 12th placing in last weekend's Glasgow Half Marathon.

Sunderland will also be bidding to retain their veterans' title and could be strengthened by the appearance of recent signing Tom Doughty, who recently won the silver medal in the World Veteran Duathlon Championships in Switzerland.

The eight-race programme at Farringdon starts at 1pm, with the senior men's race off at 1.45.

* Stephen Hepples, of Loftus AC, one of the region's most promising young athletes, is rewarded for recent eye-catching performances with selection for the North in tomorrow's Inter Counties 10K Road Race Championships in Cardiff.

The 23-year-old North Yorkshireman was a comfortable winner of last weekend's Great Scottish Run 10K in Glasgow in a time of 30 mins 17 secs, only two seconds slower than his time in the recent Auckland Castle 10K, when he was the first North finisher in ninth place.

Hepples recently became the UK's fifth fastest 5K road racer this year when he clocked 14.32 in the Marske Coast race, clipping nine seconds off Great Britain international Dominic Bannister's course record.

* Durham City Harriers have called time on the Croxdale 10 after a disappointing entry of only 106 in June. The race is likely to be replaced by a midweek summer event along the same lines as the popular Cathedral Relays.

* Paula Radcliffe will continue her return from injury and illness when she competes in the Flora Lite 5km race in London's Hyde Park tomorrow.

The world marathon record holder showed all of the ability which made her the IAAF World Athlete of the Year in 2002 with an excellent victory over 10km in Richmond Park last weekend as she competed for the first time since the London Marathon in April.

She ran an impressive 30mins 50secs on Sunday but will be tested this weekend by Olympic 10,000m champion Derartu Tulu, her long-time track, road-running and cross country rival.

The 31-year-old Ethiopian ran the fastest 5,000m of her career in last Friday's Brussels Golden League meeting and is now back in her very best shape.