British Athletics League.
Division 1 at Gateshead International Stadium.  Sat. 7th June.

Report by Les Venmore

Gateshead Harriers gained a surprise victory at the first British League Division 1 fixture at the International Stadium on Saturday.
In the bright but breezy conditions, the Tynesiders, newly promoted from Division 2, came with a late surge of excellent results, to overhaul long-time leaders Trafford.
When it looked like Gateshead were heading for no individual victories, Ross Murray, the 2007 English Schools' Intermediate champion, came with a late burst to pass Kent's Ben Wiffen to gain victory in the 1500m.
In the process Murray improved his previous best time by over half-a-second.
Minutes later Richard Kilty last year's English Schools Senior 100m champion, won the 200m. In doing so Kilty reversed places with 100m winner, Jeffrey Lawal-Baloc of Kent. Kilty also set a personal best time, with a legal wind reading. Kilty finished a close second in the 100m clocking another personal best in legal conditions, though this performance was hand-timed.
The next Track event, the final individual race, saw Ryan McLeod lead all the way to easily win the 5000m. McLeod was having his first Track race of the season, having been sidelined with injury since March.
Meanwhile in the final Field event, Craig Sturrock maintained his excellent League record, with victory in the Shot.
Chris Sampson (3000m Steeplechase), John Stacey (Long Jump), Ade Babatunde (Triple Jump) and Ian Burns (Javelin) all gained respectable second places in their events.
Carlisle-based Border Harriers finished in 4th place, though they gained no individual victories.