MORPETH Harriers continued their domination of the North-East senior mens distance running scene by filling the first two places in Sunday's Blaydon Nichol Hunter Memorial cross country relays for the second year in succession.

Last year the Northumbrians' B team snatched the trophy with a dramatic, last-gasp victory, but yesterday the A string proved to be much the stronger trio, with former Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist Mark Hudspith beating clubmate Mike Morris by an emphatic 34 seconds at the end of the 9K event.

Morpeth's opening runners, new recruit Nick McCormick and Tom Ranger appeared to cross the line together, both recording the fastest time of the race, 9 mins 52 secs, but the race referee gave the verdict to McCormick.

Dan Samuels opened up a decisive lead for the A team on the second circuit, beating David Swinburne, who slipped to third place, by 37 seconds.

* Julia Orr, of the Darlington Quakers club, finished second in the under-17 girls race in the opening Reebok Cross Challenge meeting at Callender Park, Falkirk.

Results - Senior Men (3 x 3K): 1 Morpeth A (N McCormick 9.52, D Samuels 9.59, M Hudspith 10.08) 29.58; 2 Morpeth B (T Ranger 9.52, D Swinburne 10.36, M Morris 10.05) 30.33; 3 Gosforth (P Hutton 10.27, D Graham 10.35, M Nicholson 10.23) 31.25; 4 Sunderland 31.33; 5 North Shields Poly 31.46. Fastest times: 1= N McCormick & T Ranger 9.52; 3 M Scaife (Chester-le-Street) 9.58.

Veteran Men (3 x 3K): 1 Sunderland A (T Doughty 10.30, D Robertson 11.06, B Rushworth 10.36) 32.12; 2 Sunderland B 34.23; 3 Wallsend 34.38. Fastest time: T Doughty 10.30.

Under-17 Men (3 x 3K): 1 Gateshead (S Hall 10.56, S Watson 11.00, T Patton 11.06) 33.02; 2 Morpeth 33.30; 3 Sunderland 33.55. Fastest time: L Timmins (Gosforth) 10.34.

Under-15 Bopys (3 x 2K): 1 Shildon (M Wilkinson 7.32, W Roberts 6.51, K Thompson 7.07) 21.30; 2 Gateshead A 21.35; 3 Gateshead B 21.49. Fastest time: W Roberts.

Under-13 Boys (3 x 2K): 1 Elswick (M Crowe 7.57, B Pearson 8.29, C Watson 7.15) 23.41; 2 Gateshead 23.57; 3 Shildon 24.52. Fastest time: C Watson 7.15.

Senior/Under 17 Women (3 x 3K): 1 Jarrow & Hebburn (A Hunter 12.26, S Evans 12.51, D Todd 13.00) 38.17; 2 Morpeth (D James 12.21, L Ranger 12.54, D Dawson 13.56) 39.11; 3 Gosforth 40.30. Fastest time: M Ferrier (Gateshead) 12.14.

Under-15 Girls (3 x 2K): 1 Gateshead (S Duffy 7.58, L Dodsworth 8.19, L Wright 8.17) 24.34; 2 Blaydon 24.52; 3 Morpeth 24.56. Fastest time: S Smith 7.45.

Under-13 Girls (3 x 2K): 1 Gateshead (C Fletcher 8.24, S Favier 8.59, J Hudson 8.40) 26.03; 2 Jarrow & Hebburn 26.10; 3 Sunderland 26.24.