NORTH-EAST Champion Rosie Smith continued her unbeaten start to the cross country season by winning the senior women's race in the Davison Shield meeting at Temple Park, South Shields.

The 27-year-old Durham City Harrier, who won last month's Sunderland Open Cross Country meeting at Farringdon for a fourth year in succession, became a Great Britain international last season when she was chosen to run in the big Edinburgh meeting and her target is to win further representative honours over the coming winter.

Morpeth Harriers underlined their great strength in depth by winning the Sherman Cup, for the most cumulative points in the five men's age groups, and the women's Davison Shield, which also included five categories.

Elswick Harriers' 21-year-old Phil Hurst won the senior men's event, beating Tyne Bridge Harrier Tony Carter by 34 seconds at the head of a 240-strong field.

Results - Senior Men: 1 P Hurst (Elswick) 30 mins 51 secs; 2 T Carter (Tyne Bridge) 31.25;3 L Hogg (Gateshead) 31.29; 4 D Jenkin (Durham City) 31.46; 5 H Coates (Wallsend) 31.49.

Senior Women: 1 R Smith (Durham City) 21.58; 2 L Young (Heaton) 23.12; 3 S Wilkinson (Morpeth W35) 23.18; 4 A Dargie (Elswick W35) 24.05; 5 L Jardine (Heaton) 24.24.