DURHAM City general practitioner Rob Hand suffered his first road race defeat since joining the veteran ranks two months ago when he was beaten into second place in the Wallsend 10K.

Hand, after victories at South Shields and Redcar, had to yield to younger rival Ivan Hollingsworth, of the host club, but had the consolation of winning the over-40 prize.

Hand, on high mileage as he prepares to challenge for the veterans' title in Sunday's Flora London Marathon, clocked 31 mins 40 secs, finishing 33 seconds behind Hollingsworth, with Belgrave Harrier Vince Wilson a further 27 seconds behind in third place.

North-East cross country champion Morag McDonnell led the way as Chester-le-Street AC provided the first four finishers in the women's race, with over-40 Heather Robinson finishing second ahead of Catherine Brennan and Caroline Bowman.

Men: 1 I Hollingsworth (Wallsend) 31.07; 2 R Hand (Durham City M40) 31.40; 3 V Wilson (Belgrave) 32.07; 4 L Atkinson (Morpeth M45) 32.44; 5 M Slessor (Jarrow and Hebburn) 32.55. M50 J Bell (Elswick) 34.27; M55 M McNally (Elswick) 35.42; M60 P Lancaster (North Shields Poly) 38.18; M65 B Cordes (Morp) 40.32.

Women: 1 M McDonnell (Chester-le-Street) 35.45; 2 H Robinson (ClS W40) 36.56; 3 C Brennan (ClS) 37.59; 4 C Bowman (ClS W40) 39.49; 5 V Hancock (Dur C W55) 40.26. W35 A Dickinson (NSP) 41.34.

* Morpeth Harrier Ian Hudspith, hoping to win selection for the Commonwealth Games, finished fifth in the European 10,000m Challenge B race in Camaiore, Italy, in 28 mins 56.41 secs. Another British runner, Sam Haughian, was 12th in the A race in 28:25.87.

* Few runners will ever have lined-up for their first Flora London Marathon better prepared than debutant Paula Radcliffe.

She is the best hope of a British victory since Liz McColgan's runaway success in 1996. Last week she achieved her highest-ever mileage rate without a hint of adverse affects after a knee injury.

Radcliffe was quoted third joint favourite by William Hill alongside two-time winner Joyce Chepchumba at 9-2. Last year's winner Derartu Tulu is 11-8 favourite .