City of Durham Duathlon

The newly named City of Durham Duathlon produced a gripping duel between eventual winner Andy Swales (Durham Trio Club) and challenger John Bent (Northumbria Police) over an extended course at Meadowfield on Sunday.

Previously a run-bike event, the new run-bike-run format saw Bent take a one second lead at the end of the first 3.5 miles run. The lead was exchanged several times over the 16-mile cycle course, Swales taking a five-second lead into the final 3.5 miles run.

Again Bent tried to get away on the run but he was pegged back each time as Swales had the edge on the uphill sections to win by eight seconds in a total time of 1:18.12secs.

Gary Grounds (Cycle Force 2000) finished third in 1:21.20 after outlasting M40 veteran winner Sean Gilmore (Durham Ti) who headed him briefly going into the final run.

Jen Milsom (Cleveland Tri) was the first female home and 25th overall in 1:41.32. Ros Layton (Elvet Striders) was first F40 32nd overall in 1:48.04. George Knox was first novice 15th in 1:32.47.

Results: 1 A Swales; 2 J Bent; 3 G Grounds; 3 S Gilmour; 5 A Ord (Durham Tri); 6 P Utterson (Cycle Force); 7 P Bent; 8 M Turnbull; 9 M McKendry; 10 D Seddon.

Vets: 1 S Gilmour (Durham Tri); 2 D Seddon (Tyne Tri); 3 B Jones.

Women: 1 J Milsoml 2 H Stockport; 3 R Layton. Vets 1 R Layton; 2 S Main; 3 J Robertson.

Shildon R and AC

At the Rose Tree 5, hosted by Elvet Striders, Bob Davison finished 11th in 31.21sec, John Gray was next in 77th position in 43.19sec and Debbie Halton 86th in 47.11sec.

At the Derwentside 10-mile road race, Scott Ellwood had a good run to finish 63rd in 79.04sec, and Les Lump also had a good run to finish in 65th position in 79.18sec.

The club competed at the first cross country event of the season at Farringdon School, Sunderland and in the U-11 boys Neil Pennock finished ninth in 10.05sec with Simon Hewitson 13th in 10.50sec. Rachel Lindsay was the only lady competitor in the U-11 girls race, and she finished eighth in 11.22.

In the U-13 boys race Matthew Hewitson, brother of Simon Hewitson, finished 18th in 12.53sec.

Natalie Owens had a good run in the U-15 girls race, finishing 12th in 13.46sec while in the U-15 boys Adam Gibson finished 22nd in 12.42sec.

In the senior men's relay Chris Griffith ran the first leg finishing 19th in 12.22sec, Scott Ellwood was next to go an finished 20th in 12.50sec, Steve Scott ran the third leg in 12.53sec in 19th and Paul Best ran the final leg in 10.10sec in 18th overall.

The next day at Kirkbymoorside 10k the race was held for the first time and the course had a two and half mile uphill start with Scott Ellwood finishing 51st in 43.36 with Les Lump 83rd in 46.36.

The club has resumed training at the Sunnydale Leisure Centre and athletics track. Anyone from eight years upwards can join the club which holds training session on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. The club competes in indoor sprint competitions and cross country competitions over the winter months as well as road races.

The Friday evening training is for senior members. Anyone interested should contact club secretary, Mr N Stockley on (01388) 776083.

New Marske Harriers

At the Cleveland Classic, over rough terrain Shelli Kempson ran second overall and first lady in 6hrs 41mins knocking 25 minutes off the existing record over the 35 mile course.

In the Robin Hood marathon/half marathon, Graham Hall and Di Douglas ran 1:59.03 in the half with Keith Hennessey two minutes quicker in the full marathon. Chris Kelly clocked third in 37.10. This was the 13th marathon (fifth at Nottingham) and his second fastest ever raising money for Middlesbrough Hospice and South Cleveland kidney unit.

Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers

Billingham 10k

Oa flat fast course, Karl Edwards (V1) was first home for the club in second place in 35.27. New member, Alistair Robertson (V0-45) finished in (37.27). Next home came two of the club's 0-50 vets, Dave Clouston stretching his long legs over this course to finish 58th (38.52) and Geoff Gardner in 71st place (40.24).

Finishing in 96th (43.24) was Mick Lamb who was up with the front runners until a calf injury curtailed his race. He managed a smile at the finish as he ran the last 400m with his four-year-old son Aiden.

The first lady runner for the club was Pat Hanson (V2), who is gearing up herself for a personal best after achilles problems, ran well and improved yet again to finish in 143rd place (48.3 6).

Weighing three stone heavier than his last outing ten years ago, Mark Edwards, who is always ready for a challenge, propelled himself around the course to finish 165th (51.42) vowing to get back to fitness.

Battling it out over the last 400m with Edwards was Pauline Ranson (V1) who was the second lady home for the club and completed the squad in 166th position (51.44).

Brian Dodds, an unattached Hartlepool runner, finished 183rd in a time of 55.03.

Cleveland Classic

Long distance runners set record times on the 35-mile route of the 18th Cleveland Classic.

Brian Roberts, 43, from Eston, a Mandale Harrier, won first trophy in a record 5:25.00sec to maintain his record of consecutively winning at each attempt all four long routes used for the event. He also led his club mates Steve Hudson (5th), Mick Coates (7th) and Ged Dixon (9th) to claim the first team trophy.

Shelli Kempson, 22, from Skelton, a New Marske Harrier, won the ladies trophy in a record 6.41 finishing overall second from 116 starters who trekked the arduous moorland circuit in hot weather to the Botton Village checkpoint in Danby Dale and back.

First veterans trophy went to Ken Wilson, 58, from Nunthorpe finishing third in 6.47.

The 22-mile short route was completed by 80 competitors led by Kevin Carter, 42, from Marton, a Mandale Harrier, in 3.06 followed by Dave Chippet of York second in 3.08 and Rob Pollard (Mandale) in 3.12.

First lady was last year's winner Kate Woodall, 28, from Guisborough in 4.22 finishing joint sixth with her father Chris Woodall.

All proceeds from the classic supported by many local businesses go to the mentally handicapped at Botton