Gateshead are on the road to success

Mar 8 2010 by Les Venmore

GATESHEAD Harriers retained the senior men’s title and the Royal Signals Trophy when winning Saturday’s North Eastern Counties Road Relay title at Hetton Lyons Country Park.

Durham’s Shaun Moralee led home the field on the two-lap course at the event’s new venue after leg one before Michael Morris took Morpeth into the lead on leg two.

Morpeth held the advantage, until leg six, when Gateshead’s Chris Parr passed Mark Brown at the halfway point.

The margin of victory was 18 seconds, with Durham finishing three minutes adrift in third place.

Moralee’s time was shared as the fastest by New Marske’s second leg runner Andrew Wiles.

Sunderland won the veterans’ title for the third successive year.

Chester-le-Street easily won the womens’ race for the fifth successive occasion, their B team finishing third behind silver medallists Morpeth.

Wallsend, in fourth place, claimed the bronze medals because of the B team no-medal ruling.

Chester led all the way, with first leg runner Emma Raven clocking the fastest time.