CHESTER-LE-STREET based Michael Openshaw, fast establishing himself as the North-East's leading road racer, notched a fourth consecutive success in the Brampton-Carlisle ten miler.

The 31-year-old Great Britain international, who left Wearside to join Birchfield Harriers in search of greater competition, led the Midlands club to victory in the team race when he broke away after four miles, beating Loftus AC's Stephen Hepples by nearly a minute.

Openshaw has eased himself back into the sport following the birth of his first child a year ago, and, usually entering races on the day, has proved far too strong for most of his local rivals.

This time, however, he entered the race in advance and prepared specially for his first real test over the distance.

Openshaw was content to head a group of four in the early stages, but surged clear between three and four miles with a 4.45 mile, and passed the halfway mark in 23 mins 58 secs.

He clocked a personal-best 48 mins 35 secs, but would have gone faster but for a stitch which slowed him over the last two miles, adding to his victories at Derwentside, Gibside and in the Heaton Harriers Memorial 10K.

It was Hepples' first test over ten miles for four years and the 22-year-old former Great Britain junior international - the reigning North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League champion - clipped 2 minutes off his previous best.

* New Marske's Paul Welham and Claire Robson, of Teesdale, won the senior races in the opening North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League fixture at Newton Aycliffe.

* British Over-70 5K and 10K road race title holder Eric Appleby, of Heaton Harriers, and over-55 Jimmy Bell (Elswick) won gold medals in the Home Countries and Irish Veteran Cross Country Championships in Ballymena.

Rob Hand (Durham City) and Houghton and Peterlee's Sheila Allen were third in the men's over-40 and women's over-45 categories.