SUNDERLAND Harriers scored a rare double in the Royal Signals North-East Road Relay Championships at Gateshead after splitting their senior men's and veterans' teams.

The Wearsiders knew they would go into the senior event with little hope of a medal unless they enlisted two of their leading over-40s, double British Masters cross country champion Brian Rushworth and former club captain Tim Field.

The tactical switch paid handsome dividends as Sunderland won the coveted Royal Signals Trophy for an 11th time, with Rushworth taking the lead on the fourth leg.

The depleted Sunderland veterans team was still strong enough to take the over-40s' title for a fourth time in succession, beating Morpeth Harriers by a minute and a half after taking the lead on the second circuit.

The senior women's championship saw the return of two of the region's top athletes, Dianne Heneghan, who led Chester-le-Street to victory, and Claire Simpson, anchoring Jarrow and Hebburn to the silver medals.

It was Heneghan's first outing for over a year and she eased her way back with a modest third place on the opening leg.

Maxine Czarnecka shot the Cestrians into the lead on the second circuit and Alison Dixon ran the fastest leg of the day on the final stage to finish nearly four minutes ahead of Jarrow and Hebburn, with defending champions Gateshead in third place.

Results - Senior Men (6x3K): 1 Sunderland 56 mins 9 secs (T Field 9.24, J Martin 9.45, S Potts 9.32, B Rush 9.16, M Hood 9.07, P Martin 9.05); 2 Gateshead 57.04 (S Rhodes 9.50, J Creegan 9.45, C Parr 9.01, M Thompson 9.47, A Buckley 8.57, M Elliott 9.44); 2 North Shields Poly 58.49; 4 Chester-le-Street 58.55; 5 Elswick 60.13; 6 Hartlepool Burn Road 61.23; 7 Newton Aycliffe 61.53; 8 Low Fell 62.07; 9 Heaton 63.30; 10 Alnwick). Fastest times: 1 R McLeod (Elswick) 8.54; 2 A Buckley 8.57; 2 C Parr 9.01.

Veteran Men (6x3K): 1 Sunderland 61.33 (S Coxon 10.06, R Rush 10.18, G Harden 10.18, T Doughty 9.36, J Watson 10.52, D Robertson 10.23); 2 Morpeth 63.10; 3 North Shields Poly 63.27; 4 Tynedale 65.04; 5 Elswick 65.13. Fastest times: 1 T Doughty 9.36; 2 M Frost (NSP) 10.04; 3= T Wallett (NSP) & S Coxon 10.06.

Senior Women (4x3K): 1 Chester-le-Street 43.34 (D Heneghan 11.05, MCzarnecka 11.02, K Waugh 10.56, A Dixon 10.31); 2 Jarrow & Hebburn 47.11 (A Hunter 10.59, V Hood 13.21, S Evans 11.29, C Simpson 11.22); 3 Gateshead 47.39; 4 Sunderland 47.49; 5 Morpeth 48.51. Fatest times: 1 A Dixon 10.31; 2 P McCrea (Gates) 10.52; 3 K Waugh 10.56.

* European silver medallist Jade Johnson was thrilled to return to competition following a career-threatening injury, despite defeat at the Norwich Union World Trials and AAA Championships.

Johnson suffered a prolapsed disc in her back but returned in Sheffield to finish second behind Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton.

The Herne Hill harrier registered just one legal jump, an effort of 6.35 metres, but was relieved to have competed pain-free at the English Institute of Sport.

She said: ''I'm really happy to get a jump in, even though it was not my standard, after what I have been through over the last year; being told I might not jump again.

''It was a bit scary and I had a few tears and stuff because this is what I love to do.

''I'm happy to be out there and pain free.''

Sotherton set a new personal best of 6.53m in a consistent set of jumps.

''It's nice to get out of the 6.40s'' said Sotherton. ''It's been a long time coming and it's nice to get it here as I don't normally do well here.''