SCOTTISH women filled three of the first four places in yesterday's

Morpeth-Newcastle road race, but Lynn Harding, the Sunderland-based

marathon internationalist, was thwarted in her bid for a record

fourth-successive win.

Catherine Mijovic, from Birchfield, finished thirty-fifth overall in

the 14[1/2]-mile event, with 1hr 18min 30sec. Harding was second, in

1-21-23, the same time as Allison Rose (Edinburgh WM) who made her UK

marathon debut at the in Helsinki last year. City of Glasgow veteran

Sandra Branney was fourth in 1-21-35.

Brothers Ian and Mark Hudspith, trained by former five-time winner Jim

Alder, finished together, in 1-8-07, at the head of the men's race.

Commonwealth marathon medallist Mark, a former winner, eased up on the

line to give his brother the verdict. Ken Chapman, of Leslie Deans

Racing Club, took third, in 1-10-31, 19 seconds ahead of Gary Nagle.

Other Scots:

13, M Ferguson (EAC) 1-14-09; 15, J Cooper (Springburn) 1-14-41; 22, C

Youngson (Metro, veteran) 1-16-50; 32, A Jenkins 1-18-21; 40, R Thomas

(both HBT) 1-18-58.