GREAT Britain international Brian Rushworth, who won the North-East Cross Country Championship for a record tenth time, now has his sights set on the Durham Pine North-East Harrier League senior men's title.

The 38-year-old college lecturer was not expected to be a regular competitor in the series after winning the opening fixture at Wallsend and missed the next two meetings.

But athletes need to run in only four of the six races to be considered for the championship and the Sunderland Harrier, embarking on a full cross country season, has decided to compete in the remaining three fixtures, starting at Blaydon tomorrow.

Rushworth, an automatic choice for the North-East in the Inter Counties Championships after winning the regional title at Hartlepool, also intends running in the Northern and National cross country championships.

Rushworth's decision to compete in the three remaining Harrier League meetings will delight his club, who are trying to retain their senior men's team title, but it is a blow to the title hopes of clubmate Tim Field.

Field, a regular competitor in the event, was runner-up last season to Welsh international Ieuan Ellis, and has been a regular top-three finisher without ever taking the title.

At the moment Field heads the table - but unless there is a major upset it looks as though he will have to be satisfied with second place.

World Veterans Championships double gold medallist Sheila Allen, fresh from her best-ever victory in the Morpeth-Newcastle road race, will spearhead Houghton and Peterlee's defence of their senior women's team title in the face of a stern challenge from Elswick Harriers.

l Reigning North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League senior men's champion Paul Bentley, who is hoping to be chosen for the North-East Inter Counties team after finishing a creditable eighth in the area championships, will be out to consolidate his lead in the fourth league meeting at Acklam Grange, Middlesbrough.

Bentley has finished behind guest runners in each of the first three fixtures, but has taken maximum points in the senior men's section, with Mandale's Rob Cole and New Marske's Shaun O'Grady his nearest challengers.

Middlesbrough and Cleveland's Marie Stansmore, who won the North-East title for the third time in four years, is unbeaten in the NYSD women's category, with victories at Hartlepool and Thirsk