NEWLY-CROWNED regional cross country champions Sunderland Harriers were made to struggle for their third consecutive Start Fitness North-East Harrier League victory after a poor turnout on home ground at Farringdon.

The Wearsiders were expecting to call upon a strong contingent at the halfway mark of the season, but were left to thank three veterans for their 11-point victory over arch-rivals Morpeth Harriers.

Sunderland were led home by over-40 Tim Field in third place - and another veteran, Brian Bosher, was sixth counter in 39th place to clinch victory.

But the competition was keen, with Morpeth and Durham City in close contention, and no-one was sure of the outcome until the results were fed into a computer.

Sunderland secretary Les Arnott admitted: "We are very relieved to have won again.

"But I am very disappointed about the turn-out for what was in effect a home fixture."

Morpeth, who were beaten on count-back for the Division One title last season, looked like winning the event with three counters in the first nine, leading the Wearsiders by five points.

But the defending champions rallied to finish with 96 points, while Morpeth's six slipped to 107 points.

The 5.7-mile handicap race was won by Alnwick Harrier David Kirkland, who took full advantage of a five minute start to beat fellow slow-packer and former North-East junior champion Chris Lamb (Chester-le-Street) by an emphatic 70 seconds.

Sunderland were also handicapped by a depleted women's team. Michelle Holt won the handicap race with a 2 mins 40 secs advantage from the slow pack - but her two team-mates missed the start and the Wearsiders, unable to finish a team, found themselves placed last and hit by a five-point penalty which effectively rules them out of medal contention, even though there are still three meetings left.

North-East under-15 champion Kate Avery (Shildon) suffered a surprise defeat, being beaten by two seconds by Laura Weightman, who led Morpeth Harriers to victory in the team race.

* Scarborough's Daniel Augustus won the fourth North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League meeting at Whitby yesterday.

He clocked 31 mins 3 secs for the 9kms at Caedmon School, beating New Marske's Rob Cole by 39 seconds, with Thirsk and Sowerby's Gary Dunn third (32.41). Host club Loftus won the team race.

International race-walker Johanna Jackson, who will represent England in the Commonwealth Games, led Middlesbrough and Cleveland to a team victory in the women's 5.5K women's race in 22 mins 25 secs.

Jackson beat Chester-le-Street guest Kerry Matthew in to second place by 11 seconds, with Teesdale's Claire Robson third (23.12).