The Pathfinder 25 Challenge

Mandale Harrier Bob Firth from Billingham, a 51-year-old chemical porker for Huntsman, was the winner of the hike and fell race - run for the 17th year from the Raven Gill Scout Champ in Commondale - for the fourth successive year.

He completed the tough 25-mile route via checkpoints over Guisborough, Westerdale and Danby Moors, in 3 hours 42 mins.

He was hotly pursued by clubmate rivals Vince Thwaites of Thornaby, second in 3.46, and Chris Wright from Castleton fourth in 3.53. Third place went to Kendra White from East Harsley in 3.51 improving on last year's time when she was also first lady.

Second lady, still recovering from her success last month in the 35-mile Cleveland Classic, was New Marske Harrier Shelli Kempton in 4.04 and third lady was the former Everest Marathon record holder Cath Worth of Mandale in 4.25. The first veteran place also went to last year's winner Brian Emmerson, 64 from Thornaby in 4.37 and second vet Peter Braney from Billingham in 5.01.

Finish officials Elise and Nerys Bennett from Coulby Newham said that apart from Bob Firth winning the event now seven times he also held the record of 2.48 set ten years ago.

Further trophies were also presented for organisers, the 25th Middlesbrough Pathfinder Scout Group, by Bill Bennett to first walkers in boots, Trevor Stapleton from Morpeth in 6.30 and Anita Isles from Hartlepool in 6.45. The first youth team trophy was won by Central Redcar Scouts Alan Jones leader, Benjamin Jones 14, Samuel Jones 13, Neil Christie 15, Robert Brunton 15 and Andrew Brunton 13, who improved on their time last year by an hour to finish in 9.40. Mr Bennett said that 155 competitors started the event and thanked event helpers and local business supporters Brambles and CATS.

Further top placings: 5th Brian Graham, (Nunthorpe) 3.56, 6th Ken Wilson (Nunthorpe) 3.56, 7th Steve Wathall (Retford) 3.58, 8th Shelli Kempson (New Marske) 4.04, 9th Kevin Thwaites, 4.04, 10th Philip Hall 4.08, 11th Gerry Parsons 4.13, 12th Bob Worth 4.13, 13th Steve Hudson 4.19 (all Mandale), 14th Anthony Scott 4.19 (Thornaby), 15th Cath Worth 4.25 (Mandale), 16th Gary Hughes 4.26 (Middlesbrough) and 17th Ian MacPherson 4.30 (Mandale).

l Full results and future entry details by SAE 45 Woodvale, Middlesbrough. TS8 0SH.

Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers

At the 5.8 miles Houghton Feast road race, Ian Cook (V-40) surprised himself with an excellent seventh position. He recently lost his appetite for the sport but proved he is still a force to be reckoned with and finished the hilly course in 31.09.

Mark Armstrong and Mick Lamb hotly contested the next few places and on this occasion Armstrong said farewell to his teammate on the last hill to finish 17 seconds ahead of Lamb who had no response to Armstrong's late challenge and was full of peraise for Lamb's rise through the ranks. Armstrong finished 11th (31.35) and Lamb 13th (31.52).

Next home was newcomer and former footballer Paul Harrisskitt who proved his worth with a strong run to finish 31st (34.13) and will be a welcome asset to the cross-country team. Super-vet Mike Frostick (V-50) again had an excellent race for 33rd position, seconds behind Harrisskitt (34.18). Frostick has raced consistently over the last six months and naturally was among the prizes yet again.

Terrier-like Graham Stevens again hung onto his training partner Frostick as long as he could to finish in 39th position (35.18).

Completing the squad was another consistent performer Geoff Gardner (V-50) who was pleased to actually start this race as two of his previous races started without him. He finished 61st in 38.11.

In the Langdale Half Marathon, Dave Knee (V-40) had an outstanding run in the mountainous region of Langdale, competing in the annual half marathon. He finished sixth and won the Vet-40 prize in a time of 1.21.48.

Crook and District AC

Runners had to overcome congested starts at the Great North Run before getting into their stride for some good performances

Results: Malcolm Ingram 77mins, John Dennis 77.40sec, Colin Everson 84.17sec, Peter Shuttleworth 86.15sec, Martin Lowrie 90.20sec, Gerry Hehir 91.25sec, and Martin Orrick 150 mins.

Club captain, Dennis Brown and his brother Neale had their regular task of ensuring safe passage round for the BBC weather team and completed the course in just over two hours.

Newton Aycliffe

The club took 17th place at the Farringdon cross-country relays, racing against the best clubs in the area. Peter Milburn, Paul Guy and Colin Gibson all clocked identical times to record 11.28 with Michael O'Sullivan fourth in 12.59. In the senior ladies race, over the same distance, Sue Milburn finished 20th in a strong field with a time of 13.13. Adam Gibson in his first U-15 race managed an excellent 12.40.

The Auckland Castle 10k saw the biggest turnout this month with Peter Milburn a leading light in 35 mins, Paul Guy close behind in 36, then Tom Vinall 38, Sue Milburn 41, John Burnside 42, Mick Beadle 43, Jed Hodgson 48, Karen Newboud 49, Anne McLoughlin 52, Dave Mcdonal4 44 and Rachel Scholey 56 making up the 800 strong field.

In the Houghton Feast 10k Peter Milburn, in fine form, finished in 33 mins, ahead of Michael O'Sullivan in 40 and Ray Todd in 43.

At the Bridlington half marathon Peter and Sue Milburn worked hard round the undulating course to finish in 1 hour 38 mins.

Dave Thompson was the club's only participant in the Nottingham half marathon and recorded 1 hour 57 mins.

Sue Milburn finished sixth over the tortuous course in the Shildon 4.2 mile handicap race, clocking 28.18. Trevor Needham tan a very good 27.26, just beating Michael O'Sullivan by two seconds with Jed Hodgson managing a personal best 33.01.

Dave Thompson was the club's only competitor in the Jelly Trace race, over 10 miles, and finished in a time of 1 hour 6 mins