MORPETH Harriers were comfortable winners, by 54 seconds, of last weekend’s Durham Cathedral cross country relays as their B team was just pipped for second place, one second behind Gateshead.

The Northumbrian winners were North-East cross country championships silver medallist Nick Swinburn, Nathan Shrubb and former regional champion Lewis Timmins, while B team anchorman Karl Avery clocked the fastest 3K leg.

The senior women’s relay was won by Birtley trio Sophie Burnett, Amber Leigh and Robyn Waugh, finishing exactly a minute ahead of Morpeth, while former Great Britain international Justina Heslop recorded the fastest leg helping Elswick to victory in the over-35 section.

Results – Senior Men (3x3K): 1 Morpeth 28 mins 12 secs (N Swinburn, N Shrubb, L Timmins); 2 Gateshead 29.06 (B Maskell, C Franks, D Johnson) 29.06; 3 Morpeth B 29.07. Fastest time: K Avery (Morpeth B) 9.11.

North-East Masters Championships: O/35: Sunderland 30.27 (I Dixon, K Jeffress, S McMahon); O/45 Tyne Bridge 31.39 (K McPherson, D Moir, S Cairns); O/55 Sunderland Strollers 36.34 (K Maynard, K Blyth, M Cox); O/65 North Shields Poly 45.52 (I Richardson, A Webb, P Payne)

Senior Women (3x3K): 1 Birtley 34.48 (S Burnett, A Leigh, R Waugh); 2 Morpeth 35.48 (J Carruthers, L MacDonald, J Cram); 3 Gateshead 35.58.

North-East Masters Championships: O/35: Elswick 36.28 (C Tumia, J Heslop, A Banner); O/45: North Shields Poly 39.40 (A Cummings, K Jones, K Davis); O/55: Elvet 46.01 (J Young, A Towers, F Shenton). Fastest time: J Heslop (Elswick) 10.49.