FORMER North-East 5,000m track champion Simon O'Donnell bridged a four-year gap by winning yesterday's Pier to Pier race between South Shields and Sunderland.

The 27-year-old Chester-le-Street runner waited until he was in sight of the finish at the end of the 7.5-mile multi-terrain event before sprinting home past course record holder Tim Field, of Sunderland Harriers.

The two men had battled it out along the cliff tops and along the Seaburn promenade before turning on to the beach at Roker locked in an intriguing duel. Field, 37, tried to break clear, but his younger rival hung on and proved to have the stronger finish over the final 400 metres, eventually winning by 17 seconds.

It was a great confidence-booster for O'Donnell, who was rated as one of the region's brightest young prospects until being hit by a series of injuries three years ago, including a serious foot problem.

"I'm pleased I'm over all that now and a win like this is a lovely confidence-booster," said the Nissan motor company engineer.

"Tim tried to get away along the promenade but I managed to hang on and once we got on to the sand with the finish in sight I fancied my chances in a sprint finish."

New recruit Alyson Dixon made it a double for Chester-le-Street, when she won on her race debut, beating Quakers' Dawn Richardson by nearly two minutes.

Dixon admitted: "It was my first time in the race and I wasn't sure of the course so I just followed the men in front of me - I wasn't aware of any other woman chasing me."

The 24-year-old sports assistant's decision to team up with Chester-le-Street will make the Cestrians - national cross country champions - even stronger and easily the region's foremost women's club.

Results - Men: 1 S O'Donnell (Chester-le-Street) 39.27; 2 T Field (Sunderland) 39.45; 3 A Tatham (Quakers) 40.27; 4 S Coxon (Sund M40) 40.27; 5 M Slessor (Jarrow & Hebburn) 40.5; 6 I Handyside (Unatt M40) 41.20; 7 S Clark (North Shields Poly M40) 42.42; 8 A Henderson (Unatt) 42.56; 9 M Jones (South Shields M40) 42.58; 10 P Dunn (Elvet M40) 43.09. M45 T Power (J&H) 43.17; M50 R Hall (Blyth) 43.39; M55 B Price (Sund) 48.28.

Women: 1 A Dixon (Chester-le-Street) 44.19; 2 D Richardson (Quakers ) 46.09; 3 S Allen (Houghton & Peterlee W45) 46.19; 4 D James (Elvet W35) 46.40; 5 J Atkinson (Quakers W35) 48.41.

* Sunderland Harriers - the only North-East team - finished ninth behind Scottish winners Cambuslang in the British Veterans Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield.

* European 100metres champion Dwain Chambers will be searching for an urgent change in his fortunes after finishing last over 200m in the IAAF Grand Prix Adidas Oregon Track Classic in Portland.

Although not a half-lap specialist, Chambers expected to have run quicker than 21.20 seconds, a time bettered by 15 other Britons in 2002.

That saw the 24-year-old Londoner finish well behind winner John Capel, the Sydney Olympic finalist getting the judges' verdict in a photo-finish with Darvis Parton as both runners clocked 20.38secs.