Athletics

SUNDERLAND Harrier Brian Rushworth, who won the North-East Cross Country Championships senior mens' title for a record tenth time last month, suffered his first local defeat for four years when he was beaten at Blaydon by Durham University's Peter Grime in the six-mile handicap event.

The two fast-pack runners, who gave away a start of up to five minutes, finished eighth and tenth overall, with Grime crossing the line four seconds ahead of Rushworth, who had the consolation of leading defending champions Sunderland to victory in the team race.

Guest runner Meryl Dodd, of Bingley Harriers, won the women's race, coming home 12 seconds ahead of Houghton and Peterlee veteran Sheila Allen, who beat her for second place in the North-East Championships.

Results - Senior Men (6m handicap): 1 G Sharp (Morpeth) 31.34; 2 J Walsh (Durham University) 32.42; 3 M Slesser (Jarrow and Hebburn) 33.09; 4 S Holmes (Blaydon) 33.13; 5 A Toward (Morp) 33.37; 6 M Hood (Sunderland) 34.21; 7 N Smith (South Shields) 34.45; 8 P Grime (Dur Un) 34.45; 9 A Ford (Dur Un) 34.47; 10 B Rushworth (Sund) 34.49; 11 G Davison (Houghton and Peterlee) 35.07; 12 R Sewell (Morp) 35.10; 13 J Stephenson (Crook) 35.16; 14 R Delap (Elswick) 35.20; 15 A Hall (Els) 35.22.

Fastest times: 1 P Grime 29.45; 2 B Rushworth 29.49; 3 K Corr (J&H) 30.38; 4 R Hand (Dur City) 30.51; 5 I Ellis (Els) 30.55.

Teams - Division 1: 1 Sunderland 93 pts; 2 Elswick 100; 3 Durham City 119. Div 2: 1 Saltwell 104. Div 3: 1 Gateshead 76.

Under-17 Men (3.3m handicap): 1 D Bradford (Gateshead) 19.20; 2 B Hodgson (Quakers) 20.06; 3 J Graham (Gosforth) 20.24; 4 C lamb (Chester-le-Street) 20.29; 5 C Stoker (Sund) 20.32. Fastest times: 1 J Graham 17.44; 2 C lamb 17.49; 3 C Stoker 17.52.

Teams: 1 Gosforth 16; 2 Quakers 19; 3 North Shields Poly 44.

Under-15 Boys (2.5m handicap): 1 A Pratt (Tynedale) 14.48; 2 P Gillespie (Sund) 14.54; 3 M Taylor (Gates) 14.58; 4 C Howey (Birtley) 14.59; 5 A Elder (Wallsend) 15.22.

Fastest times: 1 M Armstrong (Blaydon) 13.43; 2 W Gordon (Sund) 13.50; 3 N Shrubb (Morp) 14.27.

Teams: 1 Birtley 21; 2 Sunderland 26; 3 Blaydon 42.

Under-13 Boys (1.9m handicap): 1 M Foggin (Sund) 11.33; 2 R Sydney (Gates) 11.51; 3 J Larkin (Gates) 12.00; 4 J Pearson (Els) 12.03; 5 S Brewis (H&P) 12.07.

Fastest times: 1 J Pearson 10.43; 2 S Brewis 10.47; 3 A Welford 10.51.

Teams: 1 Gateshead 24; 2 Elswick 36; 3 North Shields Poly 47.

Senior Women (3.3m): 1 M Dodd (Bingley, guest) 19.44; 2 S Allen (H&P) 19.56; 3 C Smallwood (J&H) 20.45; 4 A Dixon (Sund) 20.57; 5 J Elliott (Els) 21.13; 6 S Milburn (Els) 21.15; 7 H Robinson (ClS) 21.23; 8 J Nutt (Els) 21.42; 9 D Elliott (H&P) 21.52; 10 A Banner (Els) 22.19.

Teams: 1 Elswick 19; 2 Houghton and Peterlee 23; 3 Elvet Striders 51.

Junior Women (2.9m): 1 E Hind (Gates) 18.43; 2 H Pearson (Tynedale U17) 18.46; 3 A Hunter (J&H) 18.59; 4 L Davies (NSP U17) 19.07; 5 M Holt (Sund U17) 19.11.

Teams: 1 Tynedale 23; 2 Sunderland 33.

Under-15 Girls (2.5m): 1 J Scott (Sund) 16.02; 2 S Crowe (Els) 16.33; 3 S Davison (Dur C) 16.44; 4 L McKiernan (Blay) 17.05; 5 M Ward (Tyne) 17.14.

Teams: 1 Blaydon 21; 2 Elswick 29; 3 Sunderland 31.

Under-13 Girls (1.9m): 1 E Nesbitt (Morp) 10.55; 2 L Rawlings (Blay) 11.29; 3 J Fenwick (Gos) 11.30; 4 M Sage (Morp) 11.51; 5 C Gilmore (NSP) 11.53.

Teams: 1 Blaydon 27; 2 North Shields Poly 27; 3 Gosforth 36