CHIRPY Chester-le-Street continued their run of top form by winning two team gold medals in the Gosforth Harriers Ernie Thompson Memorial Road Races at Gosforth Park.

Chester-le-Street's men's squad carried off the trophy in the main event, the senior relay, leading all the way, while the women were first team home in their race.

The men's quartet were given a flying start by former Mandale Harrier Martin Scaife, who handed over a 16 seconds lead, and Simon O'Donnell, Stewart Bell and Andrew Roberts carried on the good work to give the Cestrians a 54 seconds victory over second team Morpeth, who were without leading runners Mark and Ian Hudspith.

Scaife covered the three miles in 14 mins 33 secs, but was beaten for the fastest time by Elswick junior international Ryan McLeod - son of Olympic Games 10,000m silver medallist Mike McLeod - who was ten seconds quicker.

Chester-le-Street's newly-crowned English National women's cross country champions were given a week off by coach Lindsay Dunn, but the senior women's squad was still strong enough to take the team prize in three-mile race, won by defending champion Alyson Dixon (Sunderland University).

The Cestrians were led home by fourth-placed veteran Caroline Bowman, closely followed by Angie Watson, fifth, and Dawn Elliott, seventh.

* Mandale Harrier Rob Cole and Loftus AC's Catherine Hare won the senior events in Sunday's fifth and penultimate North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League meeting at Hartlepool.

But Paul Welham (New Marske) retained his lead in the individual table after finishing fourth, while second-placed Louise Jackson (Richmond and Zetland) also still tops the women's list.