DEFENDING champion Martin Scaife will be going for a hat-trick of victories in tomorrow's Darlington 10K - run for the first time in its 15-year history on a totally traffic-free course.

The 31-year-old Darlington bakery manager had a thrilling battle last year when he beat Chester-le-Street clubmate Stewy Bell in a desperate, eyes-out sprint finish to get home by the narrowest of margins.

During their enthralling duel there were one or two traffic problems, with motorists driving inconsiderately at times. But this year, after consultations with the police, it has been decided to close the roads used on the circuit from 9am until noon to make the course totally safe for the 900 competitors.

Race organiser Jeff Dawson, events manager for Darlington Borough Council, said: "A lot of work and organisation has gone into the race and the police have been very co-operative."

Darlington Harriers will be hoping for a repeat of last year's success in the women's race, when they provided the first three finishers to guarantee the team prize.

Last year's winner, 24-year-old former England cross country international Susie Rutherford will be defending her title and will again be challenged by previous winner Bernadette Taylor.

There will be a 3km fun run at 9.15am and a junior race, over the same distance for 13-16 year olds will start at 9.45am. The main event starts in High Row at 10.30.

* Wearside pole-vaulter Mark Christie shot to the top of the UK junior men's rankings when he cleared a personal-best 5.11m in the final North-East Athletics League meeting at Jarrow.

The 18-year-old, who competes for Sale Harriers, failed in his bid last month to gain the 5.10m qualifying height for the European Junior Championships, but was delighted to have leap-frogged southern rival Chris Tremayne to top the under-20 rankings by one centimetre.