TYNE Bridge Harriers moved closer to a first-ever Start Fitness North-East Harrier League senior men’s Division One title with a clear-cut victory in the fourth fixture at Jarrow’s Bedewell Park.

The Newcastle-based club, founded in 2011, were runners-up last year after storming through the two lower divisions, packed their six counters into the first 21 to beat Morpeth Harriers by an emphatic 34 points.

Morpeth provided the first three finishers – all from the slow-pack, receiving five minutes start in the handicap event – led home by Robert Balmbra, while the Northumbrian’s back-marker, Carl Avery, finished sixth overall to record the fastest time.

Defending champions Durham City, who slipped off the top of the table finishing eighth in the previous meeting at Wallington Hall, again struggled home in fifth but held on to their third place in the table, with Morpeth moving up into second, seven points behind the leaders.

Former North-East Cross Country Championships double silver-medallist Charlotte Wickham returned to competition after a five year absence to win the women’s race by 35 seconds, receiving four minutes’ start from the slow pack.

Tyne Bridge, who had won the opening three fixtures, finished sixth but still top the Division One table, six points clear of Gateshead.

Results – Senior Men: 1 R Balmbra (Morpeth, Slow Pack +5 mins) 35.05; 2 K Taylor (Morp, SP) 35.11; 3 J Scott (Morp, SP) 35.21. Fastest times: 1 C Avery (Morp, Fast Pack, scr) 31.34; 2 C Isherwood (Sunderland, FP) 34.28; 3 C Franks (Gateshead, FP) 34.37.

Teams – Div 1: 1 Tyne Bridge 79; 2 Morpeth 113; 3 Wallsend 118; 4 Sunderland 191; 5 Durham City 221. Div 2: 1 Jarrow & Hebburn 110; 2 Crook 123; 3 Tynedale 142. Div 3: 1 Blyth 151; 2 Jesmond Joggers 177; 3 Ponteland 182.

Senior Women: 1 C Wickham (Gateshead, SP +4 mins) 28.07; 2 M Ford (South Shields W45, SP) 28.42; 3 E Holt (Morp, FP scr) 29.05. Fastest times: 1 E Holt 25.05; 2 A Dargie (Tyne Bridge W35 FP) 26.04; 3 J Gascoigne-Owens (Alnwick W35, FP) 26.32.

Teams – Div 1: 1 Gateshead 20; 2 Sunderland Strrollers 57; 3 Elvet Striders 77. Div 2: 1 South Shields 29; 2 Jarrow & Hebburn 68; 3 Alnwick 93.ENDS>