FORMER national cross country champion Michael Openshaw was a runaway winner of yesterday's Blackhill Bounders Fruit Bowl seven-mile trail race at Gibside.

The Chester-le-Street based Great Britain international beat former clubmate Stewy Bell for the second time in a month following his success in the Derwentside 10 by an emphatic 1 min 40 secs, although Bell had competed in the National Six Stage Road Relay Championships the day before.

Houghton and Peterlee's Sheila Allen completed a hat-trick of victories in the popular event, part of her build-up to next month's Home Countries Veterans International in Ballymena.

Allen, now an over-45, beat defending champion Fiona Shelton (Elvet Striders) by over a minute just a week after winning the Richmond Castle 10K.

* Morpeth Harriers took the silver medals behind Belgrave in the National Six Stage Road relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield.

The Northumbrians, winners in 2000, were lifted into second place on the fourth leg by Great Britain international Ian Hudspith, who clocked 17 mins 3 secs, the second fastest time of the day, for the six kilometre lap.

Stewy Bell finished second on the opening leg in 17.25, but his club, Chester-le-Street, faded badly to finish 42nd.

Junior international Stephen Hepples also made a bright start, finishing seventh on the opening circuit (17.42), but his team, Loftus, dropped back to finish 62nd.

* Shildon's Paul Best was first to cross the finish line in the opening Durham Pine North Eastern Harrier League fixture at Chester-le-Street, only to be disqualified for running from the wrong pack in the four-mile handicap race.

The race was awarded to Marc Elliott, of Gateshead, a slow pack runner, who finished 14 seconds behind the leader. Tynedale's Scottish international, Andrew Caine recorded the fastest time.

Blackhill Bounders Fruit Bowl seven mile trail race (Gibside) - Men: 1 M Openshaw (Birchfield) 38 mins 5 secs; 2 S Bell (Chester-le-Street) 39.45; 3 S Armstrong (Unatt) 41.47; 4 H Skov (Darlington) 42.29;M60 P Winter (Morp) 53.06.

Women: 1 S Allen (Houghton & Peterlee W45) 47.15; 2 F Shenton (Elvet W35) 48.19; 3 L Hayes (ClS) 50.41; 4 D Elliott (H&P W35) 51.34.

Durham Pine North Eastern Harrier League (Chester-le-Street) - Senior Men: 1M Elliott (Gateshead, Slow Pack +5 mins) 23.14; 2 N Younger (Sunderland SP) 23.33. Fastest times: 1 A Caine (Tynedale) 21.21; 2 T Wall (Morp) 22.25; 3 J Graham (Gosforth) 22.38.

Teams - Div 1: 1 Sunderland 99 pts; 2 Durham City 103; 3 Wallsend 140. Div 2: 1 Morpeth 113; 2 Gosforth 126; 3 Tynedale 178.

National Six Stage Road Relay Championships (Sutton Coldfield) 6x6K: 1 Belgrave 1 hour 44 mins 24 secs; 2 Morpeth (T Ranger (3) 17.28, M Morris (2) 17.47, M Brown (3) 18.12, I Hudspith (2) 17.03, I Hollingsworth (2) 18.04, M Hudspith (2) 17.40) 1:46:24; 3 Birchfield 1:46:52; 21 Sunderland 1:52:29; 42 Chester-le-Street (S Bell (2) 17.25 1:56:42; 55 Durham City (R Hand (18) 18.09) 2:01:16; 62 Loftus (S Hepples (7) 17.42) 2:05:02.