REGIONAL 10K champion Stephen Hepples has agreed to run for the North-East in the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Nottingham on March 15.

The 27-year-old Redcar-based Newham and Essex Beagle, who recently represented Great Britain in an international 5,000m track race in Japan, will join a strong regional team which includes former World Cross Country international Dominic Bannister and North-East cross country champion Mark Hood.

The North-East, which last won the senior men's Inter Counties title three years ago, are also expected to be able to call upon internationals Ian Hudspith (Morpeth), ten-times North-East champion Brian Rushworth and Ryan McLeod, who recently helped Great Britain win the under-23 team gold medals in this month's European Cross Country Championships.

The Inter-Counties Championships also serve as the trial for the World Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Edinburgh on March 30.

Hepples said: "It will be an honour to run for the North-East, especially in such a strong team.

It is a fast course in Nottingham and with it being the World Championships trial anything can happen."

Hepples, on his day one of the region's top cross country exponents, will test himself in the next North Yorkshire and South Durham fixture on home ground at Whitby on January 13, or by representing his London-based club in the Southern Cross Country Championships on January 26.

■ Elswick Harrier Ryan Mcleod, who followed in the illustrious footsteps of his father, Olympian Mike McLeod, when he won the annual Saltwell 10K last Sunday, beat former AAA 1500m champion and Commonwealth Games international Nick McCormick in the Boxing Day Christmas Pudding Run at Whitley Bay.

McLeod won the 5.5K contest in 16 mins 3 secs, 11 seconds clear of defending champion Mc- Cormick, with Sunderland Harrier Gavin Massingham third in 16 mins 37 secs.

■ Double world champion Bernard Lagat is aiming to achieve another victory at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham next year.

The naturalised American is set to return to the National Indoor Arena on February 16, the venue where he posted a national 3,000 metres indoor record at this year's meeting.

Now the Kenyan-born star, who during the summer became the first athlete ever to win the world 1,500m and 5,000m titles at the same championships, is aiming for a repeat success.

I'm really pleased to be returning to Birmingham,'' said the 33-year-old. I've always loved running there and of course had a great win in 2007. It would be great to come back and win again.

This year has been hugely successful for me, and if I can continue that in the indoor season it will be a great preparation for the Olympics.''