GREAT Britain international Michael Openshaw stepped out of the shadows yesterday to score a runaway victory in the 7 mile Pier to Pier race between South Shields and Sunderland.

The 30-year-old Birchfield Harrier, who competed in last summer's World Athletics Championships in Canada, has only run a couple of events since the birth of his son in November and faces a race against the clock if he decides to try to qualify for the forthcoming European Championships or Commonwealth Games.

The former Chester-le-Street AC runner has proved himself to be one of the UK's top middle-distance athletes over the past five years, narrowly missing out of selection for the Olympic Games in Sydney, but he could have left it too late if he is to make a last-ditch bid for this summer's major championships.

Openshaw was never threatened in yesterday's multi-terrain race on an undesignated course along clifftop paths and the seashore between the two piers, being chased home by 19-year-old Mark Slesser, of Jarrow and Hebburn, who was nearly two minutes adrift.

Women's winner Meryl Dodd, of Bingley, also put five weeks of back trouble behind her as she romped home in 16th place overall in the 500-strong field, beating Elswick Harrier Judith Nutt by over two minutes.

* North Shields Polytechnic's Claire Brason won the Northern junior women's 400m hurdles championship (61.01 secs) for the third consecutive year at the new City of Manchester Stadium, which will be used to host the Commonwealth Games.

Kieron Flannery, of Gateshead, won the second event of the meeting, the under-17 400m hurdles (57.89 secs), while Morpeth's David Riley took the junior men's 100m title in 11.04 secs, with Mandale's Peter Vickers third in 11.07.

Gateshead's Lewis Robson competed as double in the under-15 100m hurdles (12.2 secs) and the shot (12.04m) while clubmate Graham Jackson won the under-17 triple jump, clearing 13.81m.