Morag McDonnell was awarded for a fantastic run in the Womens Northern 4 Stage Relays last weekend when she pulled Chester-le-Street from sixth to first on the third leg, with an England vest to run the Great Irish Run.

The 10km race took place on a hilly course in Dublin's Pheonix Park.

The Bishop Auckland School Teacher had another exceptional run to finish seventh in a personal best time of 34-30. The Elite Women were given a five minute head start on the men and team places were worked out by the times of the first three runners from each country as they crossed the line. McDonnell was second counter for England behind European Junnior Cross Country Champion Charlotte Dale. The team finished second to the hosts Ireland by only four seconds.

McDonnell said: "I have just got back into my running after a two week break so I am very pleased."

Her next race will be as part of Chester's team in the National 4 Stage Relay Championships at Sutton Park at the end of October.

Meanwhile, Darlington's Alison Raw turned the tables on clubmate Suzie Rutherford to win the second race of the Northern Runner Winter Fell Race Series, the Pinchinthorpe Plod, near Guisborough on Sunday. In the Northern Womens 4 Stage Relay at Warrington the previous weekend Rutherford ran nearly half a minute quicker than Raw over the two-mile course, helping Darlington to an impressive seventh place. However, on the hillier North York Moors Raw came home over a minute and a half clear of her younger clubmate. Teesdale's Denice Tunstall was a further two minutes back in third.

In the men's event International Duathlete Paul Lowe of Middlesborough AC lead from gun to tape. Although he was never completely in command as team mate Martin Webb tracked him all the way finishing only 30 seconds back at the end of the 5.5 mile race. Richard Hall from Thirsk and Sowerby was third.