AFTER celebrating a hat-trick of victories the previous weekend – including the National 12-Stage Road Relay Championships for the first time – Morpeth Harriers again struck gold when Ian Harding gave himself a belated birthday present by winning yesterday’s Sand Dancer 10K on the clifftops at South Shields.

Harding, 33 at the end of last month, had finished third in the big North Tyneside 10K two weeks earlier but he made no mistake on the traffic-free course, winning in a time of 31 mins 48 secs, 22 seconds ahead of local runner Andy Burn, of Jarrow and Hebburn.

Sunderland Harriers provided the next two finishers, Kevin Jeffress (32 mins 45 secs) and Craig Isherwood (33.17).

The host club’s Georgia Campbell, 26-year-old winner of last month’s Cragside 10K, clipped 61 seconds off her personal-best time, clocking 38 mins 10 secs to finish a comfortable 39 seconds ahead of Jarrow and Hebburn veteran and former North-East Harrier League champion Claire Simpson, who took the over-35 prize.

Results – Men: 1 I Harding (Morpeth) 31 mins 48 secs; 2 A Burn (Jarrow & Hebburn) 32.10; 3 K Jeffress (Sunderland) 32.45; 4 C Isherwood (Sun) 33.17; 5 I Twaddle (North Shields Poly M40) 33.37; 6 R Balbra (Unatt) 34.05; 7 A Murley (Durham City) 34.29; 8 G Wallace (Blackhill) 35.05; 9 K Emmitt (J&H M45) 35.41; 10 MHodgson (NSP) 36.12.

Women: 1 G Campbell (South Shields) 38.10; 2 C Simpson (Jarrow & Hebburn W35) 38.49; 3 E Leslie (J&H W45) 39.16; 4 R Dadswell (Birtley W35) 41.35; 5 S Marr (Tyne Bridge) 42.02.