MORPETH Harriers turned in a record-breaking performance to regain the coveted Royal Signals Trophy in the North-East Six-Stage Road Relay Championships at Hetton Lyons Country Park.

The Northumbrians, who won the North of England cross country relays title at Pontefract three weeks earlier, were given a perfect start by former North-East cross country champion Lewis Timmins who held off new Crook recruit, Paralympian Wondiye Indelbu, with the fastest 2.2-mile leg time of 10 mins 33 secs to hand over a one second lead.

From then on, however, Morpeth, the 2013 winners, gradually extended their advantage with Great Britain Mountain-running international Nick Swinburn recording the third fastest time of 10 mins 35 secs to finish over two minutes clear of defending champions Gateshead in a new record time of 65 mins 24 secs, with Tyne Bridge Harriers winning the bronze medals as Crook faded back to fifth, just behind Sunderland.

Morpeth also provided the fastest woman runner – Olympic Games 1500m finalist Laura Weightman – who was 14 seconds slower than her course record breaking run the previous year, clocking 11 mins 36 secs to move from 20th to third on leg two. Morpeth dropped back to finish eighth, however, as defending champions Birtley gradually made ground, with Great Britain junior international Lydia Turner taking the lead to win the race on leg four with the second fastest time of 12 mins 5 secs. New Marske won the over-35 women’s team title in a new course record time of 55 mins 52 secs.

Results – Senior Men (6x2.2m): 1 Morpeth 65 mins 24 secs (L Timmins 10.33 (1), T Straughan 11.11 (1), N Shurbb 10.59 (1), R Stephenson 11.14 (1), I Hudspith 10.52 (1), N Swinburn 10.35 (1); 2 Gateshead 68.09 (B Maskell 10.46(4), J Marshall 11.27 (3), C Franks 11.19 (2), J Cripwell 11.21 (2), R Dobson 11.40 (2), S Brand 11.36 (2); 3 Tyne Bridge 68.45; 4 Sunderland 69.31; 5 Crook 70.12. Fastest times: 1 L Timmins 10.33; 2 W Indelbu (Crook) 10.34; 3 N Swinburn 10.35.

Over-40 Veteran Men (6x2.2m): 1 Tyne Bridge 74.12; 2 Morpeth 75.47; 3 Sunderland 76.03. Fastest time: F Bates (Morp) 11.48. Over-50 North Shields Polytechnic 52.06; 2 Sunderland 53.32; 3 Morpeth 54.15. Fastest time: G Bracken (NSP) 11.09.

Senior Women (4x2.2m): 1 Birtley 51.33 (K Gunn 13.18 (5), P Chambers 13.48 (7), K Waugh 12.22 (2), L Turner 12.05 (1); 2 Jarrow & Hebburn 53.01 (C Simpson 13.25 (6), E Leslie 13.36 (6), A Sneddon 12.27 (1), M Czarnecka 13.33 (2); 3 Gateshead 54.30; 4 Richmond & Zetland (Guests) 54.57; 5 Gosforth 55.44. Fastest times: 1 L Weightmna (Morp) 11.36; 2 L Turner (Birtley) 12.05; 3 K Waugh 12.22.

Over-35 Women (4x2.2m): 1 New Marske 55.52; 2 North Shields Poly 55.55; 3 Elswick 58.05. Fastest time: J Heslop (Elswick) 12.13.