FORMER National champion Michael Openshaw will be hot favourite to win the senior men's title in today's North Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships on home ground at Chester-le-Street Riverside.

The 30-year-old, who started his athletics career with Chester-le-Street AC before moving to Midlands outfit Birchfield Harriers three years ago, was runner-up last year to Tynedale's Andrew Caine at Consett.

But Caine has decided not to defend his title, chosing instead to compete in the Reebok Cross Challenge in Edinburgh, and with top Morpeth Harriers Mark and Ian Hudspith also absent, the way is clear for Openshaw to claim the gold medal.

Openshaw certainly has the pedigree to be crowned the North-East's top cross country runner.

Two years ago he decided at the last moment to compete in the English National Cross Country Championships when they were staged in Durham City and was a surprise winner.

But Openshaw had also given an excellent account of himself on the track in the Europa Cup in Paris and was Great Britain's 5,000m representative in the 2000 World Championships in Canada, though he was disappointed with his performance in Edmonton and dropped out of international competition.

But following the birth of his first child last autumn, Openshaw has gradually rekindled his enthusiasm, winning a series of races, usually as a late entry, but recently he sent in advance entries for the Brampton-Carlisle ten-mile road race and the Leeds Abbey Dash 10K, notching up impressive victories.

Now he looks set to claim the North-East cross country crown, though he will be challenged by former Chester-le-Street clubmates Stewy Bell and Martin Scaife, while Morpeth's Terry Wall will also be a leading medal contender.

There will also be a new winner of the senior women's race, with Chester-le-Street's Morage McDonnell also chosing not to defend her title.

And with another top Chester-le-Street runner, Dianne Heneghan, absent after finishing 56th for Great Britain in last weekend's European Cross Country Championships in Croatia, the way is clear for former Wallsend Harrier Sonia Thomas, who runs for Sale, to claim her first regional senior title if she can beat off challenges from Jarrow and Hebburn's Claire Smallwood and Teessider Marie Stansmore, still without a club after leaving Middlesbrough and Cleveland.

Today's ten-race meeting starts at 11.30am, with the senior men's race off at 1.20. Host club Chester-le-Street will be assisted by Birtley AC in marshalling the events.