LEADING North-East club Morpeth Harriers take three senior men's teams to this afternoon's English Cross Country Relay Championships at Mansfield as they try to win the title for a third time.

The Northumbrians, runners up in last month's National Six-Stage Road Relay Championships at Sutton Park, were fifth in over the country, though their top runner, Ian Hudspith, had the distinction of clocking the fastest time of the day.

Hudspith and his elder brother, former Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist Mark, retain their places in the four-man team, but Morpeth promote the up-and-coming Michael Morris and newcomer Tom Ranger.

It will be Mark Hudspith's third competitive run and biggest test since he was forced to drop out of this year's Commonwealth Games Marathon in Manchester with mystery breathing problems.

But Ian has been going from strength-to-strength, and the World Cross Country Championships runner will be vying for a place in this season's European Championships.

Steve Platts and Terry Wall drop down into Morpeth's 'B' team, joining Ivan Hollingsworth and Mark Brown, an outfit which looks strong enough to win a top-ten position. While the third quartet, including former Darlington 10K and Loftus Poultry Run winner Craig McBurney, is also expected to finish well up the field.

The region's strongest team in the three-stage women's event is expected to be Chester-le-Street, who have enlisted the services of Great Britain international Dianne Heneghan, who joins North-East champion Morag McDonnell and Katherine Waugh.

l Loftus AC's former junior cross country international Stephen Hepples will start the defence of his North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League senior men's title at Newton Aycliffe tomorrow (1pm).

The League's opening fixture at the end of last month had to be postponed because parts of the Barnard Castle course were flooded.

Hepples clinched his first senior championship with a victory in the final meeting at Windlestone Hall last season and will be looking for a repeat performance.

l Fomer Chester-le-Street AC international, Michael Openshaw, now with Blackheath Harriers, could add to his recent run of North-East racing successes in tomorrow's Heaton 10K at the Town Moor, Newcastle.

Late entries will be accepted for the event, which is expected to attract a field of over 300 runners.

The start - at 11.02am after the Remembrance Day silence - is in Exhibition Park.