Champions Sunderland got off to a flying start with a comfortable victory in the opening Start Fitness North-East Harrier League fixture at Chester-le-Street yesterday. And the Wearsiders' cause was boosted when a disqualification relegated arch-rivals Morpeth Harrier to third place in the senior men's race.

Last season Sunderland came a cropper on the Riverside course, finishing fourth, and only retained their title on count-back after beating Morpeth in three of the four races in a weather-reduced programme.

The stage was set for another fascinating duel. But Morpeth's hopes suffered a severe setback when one of their best runners, Chris Sampson, missed the start whistle and joined in the race behind the fast-pack, 100 metres down the course along with Morpeth veteran Les Atkinson.

Both were disqualified by race referee Bill McGuirk but ran on, unaware of the decision.

Sunderland finished first on 70 points, with slow pack runner Patrick Martin second and fastest-of-the-day Mark Hood, best of the fast-pack, third.

Sampson finished in 24th place and would have been Morpeth's fourth counter. But his disqualification meant that veteran Archie Jenkins was brought in as final counter in 46th position and instead of finishing second with 101 points last season's runners-up finished with 123 points - one behind Durham City Harriers, whose Shaun Moralee was first man home from the slow pack.

Hood, the former North-East 10K road race champion, ran from the medium pack, receiving 2 minutes start from the fast-pack. But he was still the fastest over the nine kilometres, clocking 28 mins 14 secs, 11 seconds faster than junior international and fast-packer Ryan McLeod.

Hood, who will try to prevent Morpeth Harrier Terry Wall - absent yesterday - completing a hat-trick of individual championships, will run from the fast pack in the remaining five races.

There was a surprise in the women's race when defending champions North Shields Polytechnic could only finish fourth behind winners Heaton, who had three runners in the first ten.

The fastest runner in the 4K handicap was Phillipa McCrea, who finished fourth overall giving away 2 mins 20 secs with the fast-pack, leading Gateshead into second place.

* Scarborough Harrier Daniel Agustus won the opening North Yorkshire and South Durham fixture at Hartlepool, covering the testing 8.4km senior men's course in 28 mins 2 secs, 22 seconds clear of Mandale teenager Joe Rafferty, with New Marske's Rob Cole a further 11 seconds away in third place.

The 5.6km women's race was won by Great Britain international duathlete Catherine Hare in 21.59, 50 seconds ahead of Carolyn Summersgill, who led Middlesbrough and Cleveland to team victory.