Burn Road Harriers got the defence of their NYSD League cross country title off to a great start with a win in the first race of the season. The Hartlepool club's senior men faced atrocious conditions at Barnard Castle but grabbed victory by two points. Burn Road finished with 131 points, two ahead of new Marske on 133 and an impressive 32 points clear of last season's challengers Knavesmire. Burn Road had an impressive turn-out of 21 senior men and the win will boost the club's ambitions to grab a hattrick of championships. Seven-times cross country champion lan Cook again led the way home on the sodden 5.1 miles course with a brilliant run for ninth place (28.29). Cook has let his intentions known that this may be his last season and he would like the team to win the championship title for the third consecutive year. U-20 runner lan Wilson gave a great performance underlining his bid to become the club's top man finishing in a superb 18th position (29.05). Closing in on Wilson was Paul Stephenson with a determined run to finish 20th (29.20). Next home came three athletes who will be challenging each other throughout the season. Mick Lamb put in an excellent performance for 27th place (29.5 1) and just managed to keep off a late challenge from the ever-improving Mark Armstrong in 29th place (29.55). Completing the trio and the scoring team was Ken Johnson 30th (29.59) who had ran brilliantly throughout and was just overtaken by Lamb and Armstrong on the last section of the race.

Other placings: Dave Knee VI 53rd (31.12), Karl Edwards VI 61st (31.45), Mike Frostick V2 72nd (32.08), Graham Stevens VI 88th (33.05), Dave Edwards VI 89th (33.14), Eddie Rudd VI 95th (33.56), Graig Foster 99th (34.13), Mick Ludgate V2 100th (34.15), Dave Clouston V2 100th (34.35), Dave Kirk VI 109th (35.02), Keith Gilbraith VI 115th (35.21), Geoff Gardner V2 110th (35.40), Alan Musgrove V2 140th (37.25), Peter Johnson VI 145th (37.44), Mick Gordon V1 160th (39.27). In the Under15 boys race David Johnson battled his way to finish 21st (17.37).

Despite a large number of senior female members Burn Road were disappointingly unable to field a team of three on the day. Despite the atrocious conditions, and recovering from a recent injury, Tracey Waller ran superbly and finished the three mile course in 12th position (20.11). Pat Hanson battled her way in to finish 61st, (25.51). Under-17 woman Alex Clark, unhappy with the cold and wet conditions, found the going tough and finished in ninth position (21.44) and 33rd overall. In the Under-15 girls race the ever-consistent Felicity Beedle came in 10th (14.20), less than one minute behind the winner. For Under-l3 girl Kayleigh Armstrong (following in her father Mark's footsteps) this was her first race and in the terrible conditions she finished 26th (16.48).

In the previous week's Great North Run, one of Bum Road's newest members, Janice Smith was happy to complete her first road race in 2.01 to raise cash for Cancer Research.

Newton Aycliffe

The Barnard Castle cross-country saw a club record broken with a 40 per cent turnout of all members.

An astonishing 16 runners lined up in the Senior Men's race which helped the club to a gallant eighth team place overall. Top man was Ian Monkman in 30th place closely tracked by Peter Milburn 37th and Paul Guy 42nd, Colin Gibson 71st, Graham Whitchurch 77th and Tom Vinall 86th.

Other notable performances included the debut of George Reid who ran 35 mins, John Burnside 36 mins, Ian Monroe, Mike O'Sullivan and Dave Middleton all 37 mins, Rob Nicholson and John Beamson 38, with Dave Thompson and Ray Todd both under 41 mins.

The U-13 girls race saw our first ever team with the impressive Alex Newbould running 14 mins, the talented debutante Charlotte Jarps 15 mins and Jessica Scholey an excellent 16 mins.

In the U-15 girls race Kirsty Coates continued her very good progress to finish in 16 mins over the demanding course. The U-15 boys race saw the magnificent debut of Jimmy Pike finishing only three seconds behind the vastly more experienced Adam Gibson in 15th place.

The Ladies race also set a new turnout record with Aycliffe finishing in seventh place overall, led home by the outstanding Carol Moss in tenth place, Sue Milburn 21st, Cyd Upton who missed the start in 48th, Karen Newbould in 53rd and another debutante Melanie Varley in a brilliant 65th.

The Great North Run saw a very good turnout for the club with the improving Paul Guy in pole position in 78mins, Steve Wright was next in 85, John Burnside 89, Peter Towler 90, Cyd Upton 91, Dave Askew 93, Mike O'Sullivan 96, Rob Nicholson and Dave Middleton 98, Karen Newbould and Mick Beadle 1 hour 51 mins, Anne McLoughlin 1 hour 59, Jane Shepherd 2 hours 19 and Rachel Scholey 2 hours 29 mins.

The indoor winter training has started at the Oakleaf Complex (6pm) and the outdoor track sessions are at Shildon track on Thursdays.

Anybody welcome to come and try, no obligation, suitable for beginners.

Crook & District

The Vets. team produced an excellent team result at the final event of the Durham Fell Challenge series which was a 14 mile race in Hamsterley Forest, to win the series overall. Mike Mallen was second Vet. on the day and second overall in the series in a time of 1hr. 49mins, followed by Graham Bradshaw in 1hr. 53mins, Stuart Ferguson 2.05, Martin Harbisher also 2.05 and Gerry Hehir 2.10.

The club's track 5000m was won by Malcolm Ingram in 17mins 23sec and first under junior was Robin Everson in 20.27.

Elvet Striders

Experienced fell runners, Andy Scaife and Paul O'Hara competed in the Kimm, finishing 52nd team in A class in 16hours 40mins. B class runners Donna James and partner were 40th team in 13hours 38min while in the C class Geoff Watson and partner ran 12hours 45mins.The two day event involved cross country navigation to checkpoints over the South Lakeland area.

Despite slippery underfoot conditions, Paul Dunn was highly placed in the Green Tree 10k across the Eston Hills, finishing second in 46.11. Rebecca Adams was third female. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council planted a tree for every runner taking part.

Further Great North Run times - J Nicholson 1.58. K Larkin-Bramley2.07, Sally Pearson 2.09 and Kate Macpherson.

Richmondshire

The presentation evening was held at the cricket club on Saturday, and the awards were: First team batting: Andy Mollitt (av 30.57); second team batting, Andy Dade (av 54.22); third team batting, John Flemming (av 23.00); U-15 batting, Chris Layfield; U16 batting, Ben Waite.

First team bowling, Clive Layfield (av 18.92); second team bowling, Martin Shutt (av 16.76); third team bowling, Andy Flemming (av 8.78); U-15 bowling, Andy Flemming; U-16 bowling, Neil McGregor.

Most six hit in season, Andy Dade (13); best wicket keeping, Kevin Forbes (29 victims); most catches in the outfield, Clive Layfield; highest individual score, Jonathan Simpson (103).

Most improved player, Martin Shutt; best performance by junior, Mick Flemming; most promising under 13, Jamie Stead.

First team player of the year, Kevin Forbes; second team player of the year, Steven Orchard; third team player of the year, Andy Flemming; U-16 player of the year, Danny Dale; U-15 player of the year, Mick Flemming; Player with most commitment, Mick Flemming; clubman of the year, Derek Layfield; Special award for work done at the club in the year, Geoff Hartley.

Seaham Park

Boddington's Durham Coast League club Seaham Park junior award winners: Under-18 batting, Shaun Donnelly; bowling, Michael McGhinn; Under-15 batting, Andrew Docherty; bowling, Haminder Singh; Under-13 batting, Anthony Anderson; bowling, Anthony Ord. Manager's player of the season, Asim Akhtar.