Elswick Harriers

THE ladies team took part in the four-stage road relay championships at Sefton Park, Liverpool, for the first time and emerged with great credit by finishing in 16th place out of 45 teams.

Sophie Milburn ran 13.52 for the 4km course to bring the club home in 20th spot. Kim Davison then took the ladies through to in 17th with a time of 13.46. Angela Smee ran 14.45 on leg three with world double heptathlon C Hampton. Jacqui Elliott running 14.23 on leg four to enable the club to qualify for the national finals in 16th spot.

At the same event, Elswick men also qualified in 18th spot. David Anderson was fifth to record a fine time of 19.21 over the 6.4k course. Jim Bell then clocked 20.49 on the difficult second leg with Ieuan Ellis stabilising the club in 15th spot with a leg of 19.55. Stephen Horn ran 20.55 to also finish 15th. Martin Connelly then finished in 18th spot on leg five with 21.43 and Harry Matthews kept the side in a qualifying place with 22.07.

In the Blaydon Harriers MetroCentre cross county relays at Shildon Pond on Sunday, Elswick veteran men's team finished in second spot to Blaydon Harriers with Harry Matthews recording the third fastest time of the day in 12.54 over the 3.2k course. Ryan McLeod had the second fastest of the day in the U-17 men's event while in the U-15 girls 1.9k event Sam Crowe was second fastest in 7.42 with Kelly O'Neill eighth in 7.43.

l Entries are being taken for the Norman Woodcock Memorial Road Race on December 2, 2pm start in High Gosforth Park. The six-mile road race over the park course, is ideal preparation for the Morpeth-Newcastle on New Year's Day. Full details from Frank Watson, 224 Newburn Road, Throckley, Newcastle NE15 9RE enclosing SAE.

Shildon Running and AC

I the September monthly club handicap over 4.2 miles around the streets of Shildon, Paul Best was first in a time of 23-14 and the first lady was Myra Menamin in a time of 36.49.

Other results: 2 Bob Davieson 25-48; 3 Chris Griffith 27-38; 4 John Hupin 27-50; 5 Scott Ellwood 29-07; 7 Steve Scott 29-59; 7 Michael Ketley 31-26' 8 Kay Halton 31-41; 9 Baz Wilkinson 32-54; 10 Gary Bainbridge 35-14; 11 Peter Lawson 36-49, Myra Menamin 36-49; 12 Debbie Halton 39-25; Jean Best 29-25; Dorothy Borrowdale 39-25; 13 Ted Oswald 40-29.

The male handicap winner was Chris Griffith and Jean Best female handicap winner.

In the first of the Trafalgar Inter-Club Track and Field Competition held at the Stadium 2000 the host club Shildon ran out narrow winners over neighbours Crook AC with Newton Aycliffe taking third place.

Results: 1 Shildon R and Ac 53 pts., 2 Crook AC 46, 3 Newton Aycliffe AC 22.

The following Sunday, two club runners made the 200-mile round trip to the Noreham 10k, just south of Berwick. Scott Ellwood had a PB to finish 35th with a time of 42-08 and Ray Halton in 59th in 45-39.

The men's winner was Les Atkinson of Morpeth Harriers in 33:03 and the ladies winner was Isobel Knox from the Hunters Bog Trotters club in 39:19.

Hartlerpool Burn

Road Harriers

Three runners from Burn Road competed in the inaugural Kirbymoorside 10k. After a two-mile uphill start the course levelled out and runners were able to get into their stride. Karl Edwards, V1, gave a good performance to finish second veteran, eighth overall in 36:39. Getting fit again is a priority for Mark Edwards who after a long lay-off finished 84th (46:45) improving vastly on his last outing. Pat Hanson, V2, again the only lady representative for Burn Road, ran well to finish second in her category for 121st (50:31).

Northern 6 Stage Relay

In the Liverpool staged even, Burn Road's six-man team gave an excellent performance over the 3.9 miles course. First leg runner and team captain for the event was Mick Lamb who set the pace to finish in 21.02. Taking over from Lamb was Burn Road's up and coming Mark Armstrong who was given the same time as Lamb (although by Mark's watch the time was 21.00). lan Wilson, the youngest of the squad, ran well to come back in 21.45, and then veteran Steve Bailey, V1, who is not fully fit finished in22.30. Taking over from Bailey was Dave Knee, VI, who had an outstanding run considering he is the oldest of the squad, finishing in 21.25. The anchor man to complete the relay was Burn Road's all-round action hero, Paul Stephenson who had a solid run in 21.15 bringing the team position to 33rd out of 80 clubs. Unfortunately for Burn Road only the first 25 clubs go through to the national event, but they came away very pleased with their performance against very stiff opposition.

All concentration now will be applied to the cross-country season and Burn Road will have an Olympian task on their hands to defend their title for the third consecutive year.

NYSD League fixtures: October 15, Acklam Grange (12 noon); October 29, Barnard Castle (1pm); November 12, English Martyrs Hartlepool (1pm); November 26, Thirsk (1pm); January 14, Acklam Grange (1pm); February 11, Saltburn (1pm); March 4, Richmond (1pm).

Elvet Striders

A total of 96 runners supported the Rose Tree Five Invitation road/trail race, won by J McDermott of Houghton and Peterlee in 29.26. On form Sue Milburn, of Newton Aycliffe, won the ladies race in 35.48 closely followed by junior runner Robin Everson of Crook in 36.21.

The Simonside Fell Race, a tough 6.75 mile event was run in brilliant sunshine from Thropton show. Fiona Shenton was second lady and first veteran in 60.08, T Young 54.55, P Layton55.00 and J Young 69.00.

Geoff Watson was the club's sole representative at the Stanhope fell race, covering the 10 miles in 1.32 and in the Derwentside 10

Katherine Larkin-Bramley recorded 1.52