Durham City harrier Rob Hand, the British cross-country veteran champion, turned his attention to track and field competition by competing in the Veterans' Athletic Association NE championship at Jarrow.

Running in the over 40 age group and making his championship debut, he went on to set a championship best performance of 4mins 9.9secs in the 1500m clipping 1.8secs off the old figure for a convincing victory. Rob went on to win the 5000m in a very good time of 15:29.1 to complete a great double.

British spring champion Brenda Elliott won her three gold medals in the Over 50 category, 100m (13.9), 200m (29.8) and 400m (68.6), an ideal workout for the weekend's British Track and Field championships at Barnet, North London, where she hopes to medal again.

Caroline Ratcliffe also ran very well completing a double by winning gold medals in the Over 35 category, 800m (2:33.8) and 1500m (5:04.7), fine performances as injury has curtailed her racing progress.

Middle distance athletes Stephen Nesbitt and Francis Turner finished fifth and sixth in the open 3000m at Jarrow recording fine times of 10:02.7 and 10:10.1 respectively.

Incidentally, Hand scored an excellent victor in the Low Fell Angel Fun Run over five miles less than 48 hours before to North-East championships reaching 25.52 while his son Matthew thrilled to win his first race in the U11 boys race over 1.2 miles in a good time of 7.39. Watch out dad I am on my way.

Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

The HDSRR League Handicap Race was held at Ripon last week and out of a possible 340 plus, only 96 runners participated, over what was a beautiful, testing course, on a fine summer's evening. The League's Individual winner, Ian Fisher of Otley, was the most heavily handicapped and did well to finish in 8th place. Ian Codling was the first T & S runner to finish, in 11th place, closely followed by Merv Burn and Kaye Mechie in 17th. Steve Harrison was in 40th place, Maureen Gibbs 61st, Pat Kirby 67th, Walter Busuttil 76th, Ernie Huck 86th and Pamela Sherlock 87th. What a pity more runners, from all clubs, did not support this very enjoyable event, which gives some of the "also rans" a chance. The very pleasant and scenic Thorp Arch 10k took place on Sunday, and four Harriers were involved in a field of about 100 runners. The event was won by J.Riley of Skyrac AC in a time of 32.53. Ernie Huck was in 19th place in 41.05, Ian Codling was 58th in 49.55, Pamela Sherlock 79th in 60.24 and Marian Codling 82nd in 62.00.

Shildon R & AC

On the weekend of the 12/13th of July five club athletes were on County school duty at the English Schools Track and Field championships held at Nottingham, best performance from the Shildon club was Matthew Lomaz who was competing in his first English Schools had a good run in the final of the Junior Boys 3000m, Matthew finished strongly to finish seventh place in a personal best time of 9:10:56.

Warren Robinson also competing in his first English Schools finished 17th place in the Junior Boys Triple Jump with a jump of 11:20 metres, also in the field events.

David Judge competed in the Junior Boys Shot Putt, David finished in 14th position with a throw of 13.06 metres.

Our only girl representatives were Gemma Brown in the Inter Girls 300m, Gemma finished in 6th place in 43:81, club mate Victoria Finn competed in the Senior Girls 400m, Vickie finished in 5th place in a time of 59:40.

The following Monday evening of July 15th at the Heaton Harriers Women Only run, a race of approximately 5.4 miles through the Heaton Park, and Jesmond Dene for women over 17, the race was won by Claire Smallwood of Jarrow and Hebburn AC in a club record time of 19:03.

First Shildon lady across the line was Jackie Robinson in 49th place in a time of 25.54, with Debbie Hollick in 96th place in 28:50, next came Dorothy Borrowdale in 143rd place in 31:24 and finally dead heaters Jean Best and Margaret Elsey in 186th and 187th giving the same time of 34.25.

The Shildon club, which caters for all sprint and middle distance events also throws and jumps, which train at the Stadium 2000 on Monday and Wednesday evenings (6pm) and Saturday mornings (10am), the age groups start from eight years to seniors, and also senior men and women who take part in road races especially those training for the Great North Run in October and cross country all standards catered for should contact the Club Secretary Neil Stockley on 01388 776083.

ESAA Championships

Leslie Richards was Cleveland's sole gold medallist in the ESAA championships at Nottingham and he joins an exclusive group of Teessiders who have gained titles at senior and intermediate level.

Anthony Barrumato also achieved this feat and has gone one to represent Great Britain at Olympic, European, Commonwealth, World at international level in recent years.

Richardson threw the discus 47.87m to triumph by 19cm over the pre-tournament favourite.

The senior boys squad finished as third team and almost one third of the squad achieved a top six place in the final and several personal bests were also set.

In the junior age group John Taylor again improved his personal best to finish sixth and in the intermediate section Charles Hogarth was fourth and a fast finishing James Minter was fifth both narrowly missing medals.

Cleveland School, results from ESAA championhips

Junior Boys

100m Ben Wilson, 4, 12.01; 400m Tommy Grant 6, 55.9; 1500 Scott Dixon 7, 4:29.31; 1500 John Taylor 6 4:12.79; 4x100 Cleveland 4, 47.90; DT Nick Gillespie 3.69.

Inter Boys

100m Adam Robson 4, 11.58; 200m John Baines 7, 22.98; 200m Dean Daniels 5, 22.69 (29.56h); 8900 Paul Stockton 6, 1:59.6; 1500 s/c James Minter 5, 4:31.62; 1500 s/c Steven Pogeu 10, 4:38.98; 4x100 Cleveland 2, 44.69; HJ James Herrin 1, 1.87; DT Gavin Hill 1, 38.38; HT Charles Hogarth 4, 52.58; 400m H Dale Jordan 6, 59.83.

Senior Boys

400m Stephen Gill 7, 50.54 (949.10h); 800m Andrew Teate 4, 1:56.67; 110m H Suote Nyananyo 5, 14.9; DT Leslie Richards 1, 47.87; HT Andrew Smith 5, 52.71.

Junior Girl: JH Caroline Sellars 1, 1.52.

Intermediate girls

200m Marise Barclay 5, 26.92; 1500 Samantha Hart 8, 4:51.31.

Senior girls - PV Sophie Dewell 4, 2.65

England v Scotland

A call has gone out for the region's veteran athletes to make a cross-border raid into Scotland to boost an annual contest. The north east hosts the event on alternate years.

The annual track and field match between teams of older men and women representing the region and Scotland is in danger of dying off due to lack of numbers. Team manager Bryan Mackay of Durham City AC would like to hear from men and women aged 40 years up to 70-plus to take part in the friendly competition at Wishaw near Glasgow on Saturday August 31.

The events range from 100 metres to 5000 metres and relays on the track, plus a full range of field events including long jump, triple jump, the shot, discus, javelin and hammer. Mackay can be contacted on 0191 384 2039. A bus will be organised if there are sufficient numbers, otherwise lifts can be arranged.

The North East Veterans Athletics Association is holding a social evening in aid of club funds at the Gateshead International Stadium on Friday August 22 (7.30). Tickets are £5.