MORPETH Harrier Rob Holladay completed a hat-trick of victories in yesterday's 17th Loftus Poultry Run.

The non-appearance of previous winner Craig McBurney meant that Holladay's main challenger was clubmate Ken Harker.

But the 26-year-old Guisborough teacher quickly assumed control at the front of the race, breaking away after 1 miles to charge on to a runaway win.

Holladay was by far the most accomplished runner on both the road and cross country sections of the eight-mile course, and he crossed the line one minute 22 seconds clear of Harker.

Holladay, who has established himself as one of the region's leading athletes since moving to Teesside, was disappointed not to cross swords with local man McBurney, who won in 1999 when the Yorkshireman was moving house.

He said: "I would have enjoyed some company. It's a tough course and I ran for most of the way on my own.

"But it was a good, hard work-out for me and I'm sure it will help my winter programme.

"I'm sure I'll be back next year. It's a local race and I want to support it."

There are much bigger tests ahead for Holladay, who helped Morpeth win this year's Flora London Marathon team title on his long-distance debut and now believes he can run a lot faster than the 2:19:26 which earned him an excellent 20th place.

Holladay demonstrated his improvement by finishing behind top Great Britain internationals John Mayock and Carl Thackery in Sheffield this month and he will return to South Yorkshire for a race on Boxing Day before competing in the Morpeth-Newcastle Road Race, which has been moved back to January 13.

The former AAA 5,000m junior track champion said: "I think I've improved tremendously since moving to the North-East, and in particular I've benefited from training with a top-class squad.

"Finishing 20th in London was my best achievement in athletics and I'm hoping to improve on that next year. I'm confident I can bring my time down."

While Holladay had it all his own way in the men's race there was a ding-dong battle in the women's section, with the lead changing three times before Jarrow and Hebburn's Claire Smallwood finally got the better of British Veterans cross country champion Sheila Allen.

"I was happy until we got to the mud," said the 24-year-old leisure centre receptionist.

"I kept sliding about and Sheila flew past me twice on the cross country bits.

"I was glad to get back on the road again and I managed to catch her. And this time I was able to stay in front."

Smallwood, who went on to win by 30 seconds, said: "I was stronger on the road but I certainly couldn't match Sheila on the muddy parts of the course."

Defending champion Allen, 44, said: "I was racing in fell-running shoes and that made a big difference.

"I was catching Claire on the off-road sections and I thought I'd got her when I went into the lead a second time.

"But she was much faster than me when we hit the road again and in the end I was happy with second place. I think it just goes to show that really I'm a mudlark - I love fell running."