VETERAN Mike Scott showed his younger rivals the way home when he bridged a four-year gap to win the Brampton-Carlisle ten- mile road race a second time.

The 40-year-old Carlisle accountant, running for host club Border Harriers, clocked 52 mins 22 seconds in the 54th event, beating Quakers' Alisdair Tatham by six seconds to regain the trophy he won in 2001 in the much faster time of 50.25.

Scott, who won the Darlington 10K last year, cashed in on his first-hand knowledge of the undulating Cumbrian course, having finished third in 2003 and fifth the year before.

He managed to break clear of Tatham over the final mile, but the Darlington athlete had no complaints. He said: "It was a personal best for me and I'm really pleased with my run. It was just over the last mile that Mike Scott proved too strong for me."

There was the usual large turn-out from North-East clubs in the 600-strong field, with Morpeth second team home in the senior men's team race behind Border, with their veterans' team winning the over-40 prize.

Defending champion Hayley Haining, a Scottish Commonwealth Games marathon international, was a comfortable winner of the women's race in 54 mins 50 secs, finishing 11th overall to beat Bath's Holly May by nearly two minutes, with Darlington over-40 Alison Raw winning the veterans' title in fourth place (61.59). Morpeth took the women's team prize.

* Middlesbrough Mandale athletes filled three of the first four positions in the second North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League fixture at Windlestone Hall, Newton Aycliffe, with Joe Rafferty winning the 8.6K senior men's race in 29 mins 10 secs.

The Teesside teenager, who was runner-up in the opening fixture at Hartlepool three weeks ago, beat clubmate Rob Cole by 14 seconds, with Paul Lowe (North York Moors) third in 39.45.

Great Britain international triathlete Catherine Hare (Loftus), a winner at Hartlepool, was again too strong for her rivals, beating guest and former champion Kerry Matthew, now with Chester-le-Street, by 20 seconds.

The third NYSD meeting on Sunday, December 4, will be held at Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, and not Thirsk Racecourse as originally scheduled.