EVERGREEN Stewy Bell is relishing the prospect of moving up into the veteran ranks after ending a two-year injury nightmare with two victories in the space of two weeks.

The 39-year-old Chester-le-Street runner, who is one of the region's most prolific competitors despite a frustrating series of injury set-backs, scored his first victory since his success in the 2005 Wallsend 10K by winning the Tynedale Harriers Pie and Peas 10K between Ovingham and Prudhoe.

And as the over-40 ranks fast approach Bell underlines his welcome return to form by winning the North-East 5K road race championship at Silksworth, Sunderland.

A delighted Bell said: "I'm really pleased - that was my best run for two years."

Perseverance has paid off for the former Great Britain international, who has won regional titles on road, track and country before sustaining his first serious injury while competing in the London Marathon.

He said: "I have had lots of different injuries and they just seemed to pile up.

"I was getting a bit cheesed off but I persevered and it seems to have done the trick."

After his victory at Silksworth he said: "This was my last race as a senior and I am moving up into the over-40s - it will be interesting to see what happens."

Bell had to work hard for his last sunness a s senior, holding off challenges from younger rivals Nick Swinburn, the Great Britain junior fell running champion, and Mark McLeod, son of Olympic 10,000m silver-medallist Mike McLeod, to win in atime of 14 mins 58 secs.

The women's race was won in 17 mins 42 secs by Teesdale's Claire Robson, who beat Morpeth Harrier Aiveen Fox, winner of the Raby Castle 10K, by four seconds.

Results - Senior Men: 1 S Bell (Chester-le-Street) 14.58; 2 N Swinburn (Morpeth) 15.01; 3 M McLeod (Elswick)15.02; 4 C Lamb (ClS) 15.15; 5 B Rushworth (Sunderland M40) 15.18; 6 M Crawley (Durham City) 15.20; 7 M Nicholson (Gosforth) 15.24; 8 S O'Grady (New Marske) 15.50; 9 P Coulson (ClS) 15.55; 10 I Twaddle (North Shields Poly) 15.56.

Women: 1 C Robson (Teesdale) 17.42; 2 A Fox (Morp) 17.43; 3 T Laws (ClS) 17.51; 4 A Hunter (ClS) 17.56; 5 A Geragusian (Trafford) 17.57.

International athletics returns to Hexham this weekend with the annual Combined Events meeting. The Wentworth Park record of 7,842 points, set in 2004 by Dean Macey, is expected to come under threat as Francois Gourmet (Belgium) and Rudy Bourguignon (France) attempt to win their way to Oaska, Japan, by getting the World Championships qualifying mark of 8,000 points.

Late entries will be accepted for tomorrow's New Marske Harriers' Victorian 10K, which starts at 10.15am.