TEN-TIMES regional cross country champion Brian Rushworth defied a five minute handicap to lead Sunderland Harriers to their fifth consecutive North senior men's title in the final North Eastern Harrier League meeting of the season, writes FRANK JOHNSON.

The 40-year-old Great Britain international, who only returned to competition after a 12 month injury absence, gradually worked his way through the field in the six mile race at Prudhoe to overtake all athletes given start with the slow (5 mins) and medium packs (21/2 mins) to cross the line nearly a minute ahead of his nearest rival.

It was a superb run by the Wearside schoolteacher, who has quickly established himself as the North-East's top veteran, wresting the crown from Durham City general practitioner Rob Hand, the reigning national veterans 10K road race and cross country champion, who finished a gallant second.

Hand, 41, who has spent just over a year in the veteran ranks, had the consolation of winning the over-40 title after victories at three previous meetings, beating Blaydon's Alan Dent by a comprehensive 12 points.

Rushworth had ruled himself out of the senior men's individual championship by running only two of the required four races, and the title went to Morpeth Harrier Terry Wall, absent from the last two fixtures after winning two and twice finishing second in the opening four meetings. He beat Sunderland's Tim Field - fourth overall and second senior at Prudhoe - by nine points for the title.

Field, however, was delighted to captain Sunderland to their 18th senior men's Division One title since 1980 and the Sisterton Cup has virtually been a permanent fixture in the Wearsiders' trophy cupboard.

South Shields and Alnwick Harriers won promotion from Division Two at the expense of Houghton and Peterlee AC and Sunderland Strollers. Division Three honours went to Low Fell and Gateshead.

Jarrow and Hebburn's Claire Smallwood won the women's race at Prudhoe to maintain her unbeaten record and retain her senior title, beating Gateshead's Phillipa McCrea by seven points, with Houghton's Sheila Allen taking the veteran's championship after four victories.

Second-placed Carolin Ratcliff, second vet at Prudhoe, helped Durham City win the senior women's team championship, though they lost the final race, beaten by one point by Tynedale.

Durham Pine North Eastern

Harrier League (Prudhoe)

Senior Men (6m): 1 B Rushworth (Sunderland, Fast Pack scr) 31.22; 2 R Hand (Durham City FP) 32.14; 3 F Smith (Saltwell, Medium Pack +2 1/2m); 4 T Field (Sund, FP) 32.18; 5 T Hall (Houghton & Peterlee, MP) 32.19. Teams - Div 1: 1 Sunderland 84; 2 Wallsend 139; 3 Blaydon 175.

Championships - Individual: 1 T Wall (Morpeth) 38; 2 T Field 29; 3 R Kay (Morp) 27. Veterans: 1 R Hand 40; 2 A Dent (Blaydon) 28.

Teams - Div 1: 1 Sunderland 10; 2 Wallsend 16; 3 Durham City 21. Div 2: 1 South Shields 17; 2 Alnwick 22; 3 Morpeth 32.

Div 3: 1 Low Fell 11; 2 Gateshead 15; 3 Jarrow and Hebburn 35.

Under-17 Men: 1 A Lawrence (Morp) 20.20; 2 J McCreerie (Sund) 20.33; 3 R Stephenson (North Shields Poly) 20.44. Teams: 1 Morpeth 10; 2 Sunderland 22.

Championships - Individual: 1 R Stephenson 38; 2 J McCrerie 29; 3 S Kirtley (Morp) 25. Teams: 1 Morpeth 8; 2 Gosforth 23; 3 Sunderland 29.

Under-15 Boys: 1 N Swinburn (Morp, SP +1.30) 11.38; 2 J Young (Morp, FP) 12.38; 3 R Floyd (Morp) 12.48. Teams: 1 Morpeth 6; 2 Houghton and Peterlee 39.

Championships - Individual: 1 J Young 39; 2 A Muir (Blay) 37; 3 R Floyd 34. Teams: 1 Morpeth 20; 2 Gateshead 21; 3 Houghton and Peterlee 27.

Under-13 Boys: 1 M Travis (Morp) 10.20; 2 J Gibson (Gates) 10.26; 3 R Cunningham (Birtley) 10.27. Teams: 1 Morpeth 15; 2 Sunderland 29; 3 Gateshead 37.

Championships: 1 R Cunningham 38; 2 J Gibson 38; 3 M Travis 35. Teams: 1 Gateshead 18; 2 Sunderland 19; 3 Morpeth 21.

Senior Women: 1 C Smallwood (J&H) 19.49; 2 S Allen (H&P) 20.21; 3 D Hales (Dur C) 20.29; 4 K Robertson (Tynedale) 20.33; 5 P McCrea (Gates) 20.48. Teams: 1 Tynedale 31; 2 Durham City 32; 3 Elvet Striders 45.

Championships: 1 C Smallwood 40; 2 P McCrea 33; 3 K Robertson 32. Teams: 1 Durham City 9; 2 Tynedale 17; 3 Elvet 19.

Junior/U-17 Women: 1 J Orr (Darlington) 17.03; 2 S Crowe (Elswick) 17.34; 3 L McKernan (Gates) 17.48. No complete team.

Championships: 1 J Orr 40; 2 D Watts (Morp) 36; 3 L McKernan 36. No team champions.

Under-15 Girls: 1 M Ferrier (Gates) 12.36; 2 L Wright (Gates) 13.06; 3 V Angus (H&P) 13.08. Teams: 1 Gateshead 7; 2 Tynedale 21; 3 Houghton and Peterlee 34.

Championships: 1 C Harrison (Sund) 36; 2 L Wright 34; 3 C Bellamy (Gosf) 30. Teams: 1 Gateshead 7; 2 Blaydon 19; 3 Jarrow and Hebburn 40.

Under-13 Girls: 1 S Smith (Tynedale) 10.11; 2 G Rutherford (NSP) 10.22; 3 L Dixon (Morp) 10.28. Teams: 1 Morpeth 20; 2 Sunderland 24; 3 Gosofrth 27.

Championships: 1 S Smith (Tynedale) 40; 2 G Rutherford 36; 3 E Spoor (Sund) 26. Teams: 1 Sunderland 11; 2 Gosforth 12; 3 Houghton and Peterlee 37