LEADING North-East clubs will be competing for the prestigious Sherman Cup and Davison Shield trophies at Temple Park, South Shields, today.

Morpeth Harriers are defending champions in both events.

The Sherman Cup is awarded to the club with the best performances over four men's age groups, senior, under-17, under-15 and under-13.

The Davison Shield, which was started in 2002 to introduce a women's team championship, is also decided over the various age groups, clubs having to finish teams in all events to qualify.

Sunderland Harriers, runners-up last season, won the Sherman Cup nine times up to 2000, while Morpeth's run of successes since then has been interrupted only once, by Gateshead Harriers, in 2008.

Morpeth have won the Davison Shield every year since its introduction.

The meeting starts at 12.15 with the under-11 race, which does not count in the main competitions. The senior men's race is scheduled for 1.15. Entry to the course is free but spectators must pay to park at the Temple Park Leisure Centre.

n New club Tyne Bridge Harriers have joined forces with Heaton Harriers to compete in next year's Northern Athletics track and field season. The Newcastle clubs will have a joint team in Div 4 East, which also includes Middlesbrough and Cleveland, Hartlepool, Tynedale, Blaydon, Elswick and Jarrow and Hebburn. Tyne Bridge - a breakaway from Wallsend Harriers earlier this year - won last month's Sunderland Open Cross Country senior men's race and this month's opening Start North-East Harrier League senior men's race, though they have started off in Division Three.

n Morpeth Harriers were the region's first men's team in eighth place as Aldershot, Farnham and District completed a rare double in the English Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield.

Teessider Jonny Taylor was sixth on the opening leg, only to slip back to 21st on the second circuit and it was left to veteran Ian Hudspith to lift Morpeth from 14th to eighth on the anchor leg with the day's 11th fastest time.

New Marske Harriers took the lead on the opening stage through Great Britain junior international Ricky Stevenson and there were good supporting runs from Andrew Wiles, Mark Shaw and Russell Best before the Teessiders slipped back to 15th.

Former Great Britain junior cross country international Rosie Smith was again in sparkling form, finishing second on the opening stage of the women's relay with the ninth fastest time of the day but her team, Durham City, gradually faded to 27th.