(incorporation North-East Championships, Saltwell Park, Gateshead)

SUNDERLAND Harrier Mark Hood, 20, became the first junior to win the North-East 10K Road Race Championship when he beat 19-year-old Mark Slessor, of Jarrow and Hebburn, in a dramatic sprint finish in Saltwell Park.

Durham Pine North-East Harrier League champion Claire Smallwood claimed her first North-East road title with a runaway victory in the women's race.

Senior Men (10K): 1 M Hood (Sunderland) 32 mins 7 secs; 2 M Slesser (Jarrow and Hebburn) 32.07; 3 A Toward (Morpeth) 32.46; 4 T Wall (Morp) 33.23; 5 M Smith (Unatt) 33.32; 6 L Atkinson (Morp M45) 33.40; 7 J Moore (Heaton) 34.24; 8 P Coulson (Highgate) 34.32; 9 P Walker (Blaydon) 34.37; 10 T Power (Jarrow and Hebburn M40) 34.48. M50 I Richardson (North Shields Poly) 39.39; M55 M McNally (Elswick) 36.21. Team: Morpeth 12 pts.

Women (10K): 1 C Smallwood (J&H) 36.11; 2 A Dixon (Sund) 37.54. 3 H Robinson (Chester-le-Street W40) 38.51; 4 K Reynolds (Aurora) 38.55; 5 J Nutt (Elswick) 39.08. W35 K Bentley (Houghton and Peterlee) 43.39; W45 A Adams (ClS) 45.16; W55 V Hancock (Durham City) 41.51. Team: Elswick 23.

Under-17 Men (2.6m): 1 C Lamb (ClS) 12.45; 2 G Taylor (J&H) 12.55; 3 R Stephenson (NSP) 13.29; 4 A McRae (H&P) 14.22; 5 K Watt (NSP) 14.48. Team: Wallsend 23.

Under-15 Boys (1.4m): 1 J Creegan (Blackhill) 7.06; 2 D Old (Birtley) 7.12; 3 Z Scott (Birt) 7.31; 4 G Edmundson (Walls) 7.37; 5 S Brewis (H&P) 7.46. Team: Houghton and Peterlee 23.

Under-13 Boys (1.4m): 1 M Docherty (Birt) 7.55; 2 R Cunningham (Birt) 7.59; 3 G Docherty (Birt) 8.02; 4 B Knighton (Walls) 8.21; 5 M Crowe (Els) 8.24. Team: Birtley 6.

Under-17 Women (2.6m): 1 R Simpson (Blackhill) 15.56; 2 S Evans (J&H) 16.03; 3 A Gibson (Els) 16.23; 4 G Barry (H&P) 17.19. No Complete team.

Under-15 Girls (1.4m): 1 S Crowe (Els) 7.56; 2 P Wilson (New Marske) 8.28; 3 R Barnes (J&H) 8.35; 4 R Forster (J&H) 8.47; 5 S Dodd (Els) 8.50. Team: Elswick 12.

Under-13 Girls (1.4m): 1 L Wright (Blackhill) 8.29; 2 C Wood (Els) 8.50; 3 A Bell (J&H) 9.01; 4 C Donnan (Birt) 9.10; 5 K White (Els) 9.14. Team: Birtley 20.

Durham City Harriers

Rachel Abbs, 15, competed for the North-East Counties in the Under-18 long jump at Shudworth, Barnsley and was absolutely thrilled on breaking her personal best jump of 5.20 with a score of 5.37 for new pb, 5.34 and 5.22 to finish an excellent second.

The in-form and newly crowned British veteran cross country champion Rob Hand took part along with thousands of other athletes in one of the greatest marathon races of all time, the Flora London Marathon.

Rob was aiming to win the Over-40 first prize of 1,000 dollars on offer, stomach problems in the early stages of the race clearly upset his plans. He managed to finish fifth over-40 veteran in a good time of 2:31.25.

Other Harriers: Peter Clark 3:29.19; Alastair Adams 3:40.02, Gary Coulter 3:43.25; Joe Harker over 60 3:52.22pb; Ian Essler 3:53.55.

In the Adidas London mini marathon over the last 2.65 miles of the main course Rosie Smith finished eight in 15.39; Joanne Ritson 26th in 16.23; and Jeni Page 41st in 16.54 in the 15-17 girls race with Samantha Coleby 12th in 17.21 in the 11-12 girls race, all of whom were representing Durham County Schools an everyone running well on this historic day.

Samantha Coleby and sister Nicola also competed in the Balmoral Bupa Junior Caledonian 2km road race with Samantha finishing fourth and Nicola 15th, both having fine runs in the U15 girls section.

* The annual club presentation and social evening will take place on Saturday, April 27 at the Salutation Inn, Framwellgate Moor and tickets can be obtained from Bryan Mackay on 3842039.