Regional round-up

Dec 14 2009 The Journal

SUNDERLAND'S Patrick Martin won his first North Eastern Counties senior title in Saturday's 104th Cross-Country Championships at Darlington.

Martin became the 15th winner of the event from the Wearside club since 1984.

In the ideal conditions, the leading group only started to break up on the first of the three large laps, when Morpeth’s Chris Sampson was shadowed by Morpeth’s Chris Sampson, 2008 bronze medallist Andrew Wiles of New Marske and former Blaydon Harrier Matthew Armstrong – running in the Coventry Godiva colours.

Armstrong lost touch on the second lap before Wiles was dropped with one lap remaining.

Martin made his bid for victory halfway round the final circuit, pulling away to a 17-second victory over Sampson. Wiles came home in third place ahead of Armstrong.

With six runners in the first 20, Morpeth retained the team trophy ahead of Gateshead and Sunderland.

Durham’s Rosie Smith, successful in the Centenary Championships at Bishop Auckland in 2005, regained the senior women’s title.

Smith’ s margin of victory was 26 seconds over the strong-finishing Jane Mooney of Morpeth.

Chester-le-Street’s Tracy Laws sprinted past Darlington’s Georgina Rutherford for third place. Laws led her club to a third successive team victory.

Former Chester-le-Street athlete Carl Smith, running for Leeds City easily won the under-20 men’s race from Russell Best of New Marske, with pre-race favourite Philip Hurst, of Elswick, in third place.

Jess Russon of New Marske retained her under-20 women’s title ahead of track specialist Stacey Smith of Gateshead.

Elswick’s Phillipa Williams took the under-17 title.

Michael Priestley of North Shields Poly overhauled early leader Mark Shaw of New Marske to win the under-17 men’s title.

Les Venmore