MORPETH Harrier Nick Swinburn has been picked for the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team to compete in the European Mountain Running Championships in Turkey next month.

The 23-year-old all-rounder, who became the youngest North-East Half Marathon champion when he won at Redcar in 2007, finished third in the UK Mountain Running Championships and European Trial at Keswick earlier this month.

Swinburn, who has already represented Great Britain in the World Cross Country Championships and World Mountain Running Championships, was twice Great Britain and England junior fell-running champion.

The European Mountain Running Championships are being held in Bursa, Turkey, on July 10.

New Durham City recruit James Askew was only four seconds outside his best-ever time winning the Newton Aycliffe 10K in 33 mins 8 secs.

The 20-year-old, who was seventh overall and first junior the previous year, beat the experienced Mike Jeffries, of Billingham Marsh House Harriers, by six seconds, with Blackhill Bounder Robert Bee in third place a further two seconds behind. Previous winner Terry Wall (Morpeth) was first veteran in fourth place in a time of 33 mins 20 secs.

The women's race was won by former 23-year-old Loughborough student Alexandra Snook , the North-East 5,000m track champion, in 37 mins 49 secs, her fastest time this year. She beat Blackhill veteran Sarah Lister by nearly two minutes.

Results - Men: 1 J Askew (Durham City) 33.08; 2 M Jeffries (Billingham Marsh House) 33.14; 3 R Bee (Blackhill Bounders) 33.16; 4 T Wall (Morpeth M40) 33.20; 5 A Pearson (North York Moors M40) 35.00; 6 C Robson (Jarrow & Hebburn) 35.42; 7 L Smith (Heaton M40) 36.05; 8 G Arthur (South Shields M45) 36.07; 9 R Barkley (Blyth) 36.11; 10 K Stephenson (Hartlepool Burn Road) 36.15.

Women: 1 A Snook (Shildon) 37.49; 2 S Lister (Blackhill Bounders W35) 39.43; 3 J Clark (Blyth W35) 40.31; 4 J Keavney (Swaledale W45) 42.09; 5 H Christopher (Blyth) 42.25.