INSPIRED by the fastest run of the day by Great Britain track international Nick McCormick, Morpeth Harriers took silver in the National Six-Stage Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield, writes Frank Johnson.

The 24-year-old Tynesider, who competed over 1500m at the World Championships in Helsinki this summer, ran the fourth leg, taking over in 28th place to hoist the Northumbrians up to tenth by clocking 16 mins 41 secs for the 6km circuit - 20 seconds faster than Kenyan Wilfred Taragon, who helped Birchfield take fifth place.

McCormick, who also ran the fastest time at Blackpool earlier this month when Morpeth won the Northern title for the third year in succession, handed over to double North-East cross country champion Neil Wilkinson.

He overtook six rivals to send away anchorman Ian Hudspith, who clocked Morpeth's second fastest time of 17 mins 40 secs to secure second place.

Morpeth, however, were unable to mount a serious challenge to defending champions Belgrave, who won the trophy for a fifth successive year with 78 seconds to spare in 1 hour 46 mins 30 secs.

Morpeth's B team were the second North-East finishers in 27th place, while Gateshead were 39th and Chester-le-Street 50th.

Redcar-based Stephen Hepples, second in the recent Middlesbrough Tees Pride 10K, clocked 17 mins 26 secs, moving from 33rd place to 12th and helping Newham and Essex Beagles take fourth place.

Chester-le-Street, without two of their top runners, finished a creditable eighth in the Four-Stage Championship over two minutes behind winners Bristol.

National Six-Stage Road Relay Championships (Sutton Coldfield). Men (6x5.5K): 1 Belgrave 1 hour 46 mins 30 secs; 2 Morpeth 1:47:48 (T Ranger 18.11, C Sampson 19.02, M Morris 18.12, N McCormick 16.41, N Wilkinson 17.53, I Hudspith 17.40); 3 Notts AC 1:47:54; 27 Morpeth B 1:53:54; 39 Gateshead 1:55:48; 50 Chester-le-Street 1:57:56. Fastest times: 1 N McCormick 16.41; 2 W Taragon (Birchfield) 17.01; 3 C Davies (Telford) 17.06.

Women (4x4K): 1 Bristol & West 59.16; 2 Shaftsbury Barnet 59.25; 3 Bedford & County 59.29; 8 Chester-le-Street 61.36 (A Dixon 14.43, S Robson 15.30, S Wilkinson 15.38, K Waugh (15.45). 36 Chester-le-Street B 1:06:17; 57 Gateshead 1:11:37. Fstest times: 1 K Reed (Bristol) 13.56; H Clitheroe (Preston) 14.07; 3 L Yelling (Bedford) 14.09.