GATESHEAD'S Adam Carmichael, running from the slow pack, easily won the individual senior men’s race at the penultimate Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League fixture at Shibdon Pond, Blaydon.

Carmichael covered the three laps nearly two minutes ahead of runner-up Norman Younger of Sunderland, with another Sunderland athlete Ken Bell taking third place.

The fastest time went to Jack Martin of Sunderland, who moved through the to fifth place in the field of more than 300 runners.

The Wearsiders, the defending champions, easily won the Division One team event, moving through to third place in the overall table, four points behind Morpeth who are now one point ahead of Heaton.

Sunderland provided the senior women’s winner too, veteran Ingrid Hope taking the honours.

Morpeth’s Jane Mooney again clocked the fastest time, moving through to second from the fast pack. The team event went to Morpeth ahead of title-holders Heaton, who now hold a nine-point lead over Tynedale in the table.

:: SUNDERLAND Harrier Brian Rushworth had to settle for bronze in the over-45 category at the British Masters Cross Country Championships in Birmingham.

The defending champion, who has achilles problems, clocked 27mins 48secs and was backed by Tim Field (28:38), Brian Bewick (29:11) and Paul Redman (29:53) as Sunderland took the team gold.

The North Shields Poly squad of Ian Twaddle, Gary Moore, Guy Bracken and Vaughn Hemy, won the silver medals in the over-35s.

Darlington’s Ian Barnes finished second in the over-75 race (30:04).