FORMER Great Britain international Stewy Bell was made to fight all the way for his seventh victory in yesterdayfs Blackhill Boundersf Gibside Trail race.

The 40-year-old Chester-le- Street athlete, whose mother, Joy, organises the seven-mile multi-terrain event, found himself crossing swords again with former double North-East cross country champion Neil Wilkinson after beating him in last monthfs inaugural Hellhole 10K.

Wilkinson, on the comeback trail after recovering from injury, again pushed his rival all the way before Bell, who competes for England in the veteransf international in Belfast in two weeks, managed to break clear of his younger rival to win by nine seconds in 38 mins 32 secs. Heatonfs James Buis was third in 40.28.

Exciting newcomer Kim Simpson, a 24-year-old Newcastle University medical student running in the colours of Gateshead Harriers, finished 35th overall in 45 mins 23 secs, beating Tynedale fell runner Karen Robertson by 1 mins 26 secs.

Northern road relay champions Chester-le-Street, runners-up last year, finished a disappointing fifth in the National Cross Country Relays at Mansfield.

The Cestrian trio of Kathryn Waugh, Alyson Dixon and Freya Murray, finished 1 min 16 secs behind winners Havering.

The North-Eastfs only medals came in the under-15 boysf race, where Sunderland took the bronze medals, 34 secs behind first-placed Aldershot.The Wearsidersf Scott Younger lifted his team from 63rd to fourth on the second leg with the fastest run of the day before anchor-man Jake Archer moved up to third.

Redcar-based Stephen Hepples won yesterdayfs Derwentwater 10-mile road race in 52 mins 9 secs.

New Marske junior Dominic Shaw beat all the senior men in yesterdayfs third North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League meeting at Flatts Lane Country Park, Normanby.

In the absence of defending champion Gary Dunne (Thirsk and Sowerby), Shaw beat another under-20, Middlesbrough-Mandalefs Andy Wiles, by 68 seconds.

Hartlepool Burn Road veteran Tracey Waller won the womenfs race.