SUNDERLAND Harrier Roger Wilson gave himself a belated birthday present by winning yesterday's 42nd Blyth Sands handicap race.

The Wearside veteran joined the ranks of the over-60s last month and so qualified for a seven minute start in the 5.2 mile event across the beach and back between Blyth and Seaton Sluice.

Wilson gave chase to long-time leader Liz Graham, of Coquet, who had an 11 minutes start and hit the front with 600 metres of the return trip to win by a comfortable 14 seconds.

Wilson was the latest in a long list of over-60 winners of the race, which included Morpeth's Walter Ryder, who was unable to try for a fifth consecutive success because he was attending his son's 40th birthday party in Barcelona.

The fastest time was recorded by scratch-marker Terry West, making his return to competition after a frustrating 20-month lay-off with a serious ankle injury which kept him on crutches for three months.

The 32-year-old former Great Britain international middle-distance runner, who was giving away up to 12 minutes start, threaded his way through most of the 130-strong field to finish in ninth position.

The Tyneside teacher said: "After all the problems I've had over the last couple of years it was just great to be back into competition.

"I know it's not a high-profile event but it was a race I needed and I'm delighted with the way things went."

The fastest woman was Jarrow and Hebburn's Claire Smallwood, who took advantage of a five minute start to finish an excellent fifth overall in her race debut.

She said: "I really enjoyed the event - it was certainly something different!"

Blyth veteran runner Cath Young finished in third place to lead a mixed foursome, which included three over-45 women, to victory in the team race.

Results - 5.2m Mixed Handicap: 1 R Wilson (Sunderland M60) 25 mins 29 secs; 2 L Graham (Coquet W45) 25.43; 3 C Youth (Blyth W45) 25.51; 4 S Greener (Blyth W50) 26.16; 5 C Smallwood (Jarrow and Hebburn W) 26.20; 6 A Potts (Blyth W45) 26.29; 7 A Jenkins (Morpeth M45) 26.49; 8 J Young (Elvet Striders W45) 27.23; 9 T West (Gosforth M) 27.29; 10 Y Swinhoe (Elswick W40) 27.54; 11 A Toward (Morp M) 28.02; 12 R Hall (Blyth M50) 28.14; 13 E Armstrong (Tynedale W60) 28.18; 14 C Weightman (Coquet M50) 28.31; 15 G Hume (Low Fell M60) 28.33.

Fastest times: 1 T West 27.29; 2 A Toward 28.02; 3 D Stafford (Blyth) 30.07. M40 S Brown (Tynedale) 32.02; M50 R hall 32.14; M55 M Brown (Morp) 35.27; M60 R Wilson 32.29.

Women: 1 C Smallwood 31.20; 2 J Elliott (Elswick) 35.21; 3 E McFarlane (Elswick) 35.36. W35 H Morris (Blyth) 38.16; W40 Y Swinhoe 36.54; W45 L Graham 36.43; W50 S Greener 38.16; W55 E Armstrong 40.18.

Teams (mixed): 1 Blyth 25 pts; 2 Blyth B 101; 3 Elswick 112.

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