TOMORROW'S Pier to Pier race from South Shields to Sunderland is rapidly establishing itself as one of the North-East's most popular events.

A limit field of 700 runners is expected - 550 have already entered - and all finishers will receive an Avia watch at the end of the 7.5-mile multi-terrain challenge.

Last year's winner, Great Britain international Michael Openshaw, has yet to enter, but he could decide to join the late registrations who must clock-in before 9.30am.

Openshaw, who competed over 5,000m for Great Britain in the last World Championships in Canada, has completed a string of successes as a late entry in regional road races, though he has not yet rekindled his old enthusiasm for track racing with Midlands club Birchfield.

The women's winner last year was another Chester-le-Street based athlete, Meryl Dodd, who competes for Yorkshire club Bingley. She is likely to be challenged for her title by former World Veterans double gold medallist Sheila Allen, who won in 2001.

The competitors, who are asked to keep off the highway, start on the beach at South Shields and run along the cliff top paths past Marsden Rock and Souter Point before racing down to the seaside at Whitburn and finishing on sands at Roker.

The race, organised jointly by South Shields Harriers and Sunderland Strollers, starts at 10am and late entries (£10 club runners, £11 unattached) will be accepted until 30 minutes before the off.

* Sunderland Harriers will be the only North-East club represented in today's British Veterans' Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield.

The Wearsiders, who were runners up for three consecutive years until 1998, will have Great Britain internationa Brian Rushworth in the eight-man team, but former London Marathon over-40 champion Dave Robertson has been forced to withdraw with a leg injury.

The Sunderland team, in running order, will be: Jeff Laws, Glenn Forster, Paul Collins, Rob Rush, John Watson, George Harden, Brian Rushworth and Steve Coxon.