Stevenson sees off Farah's challenge

Not only did the 21-year-old run a confident and well-judged race, but he took the scalp of British No 1 Mo Farah. A fast start saw Farah open up what looked like a winning lead but he paid the price for going off too quickly when Stevenson and Steve Vernon (Stockport) caught him.

Farah could not respond leaving Stevenson and Vernon to fight out the finish. Stevenson, Britain's most recent sub four- minute miler, outpaced his rival to win by three seconds.

On a weekend when most county championships were cancelled because of the weather, the Lancashire Championships went ahead at Witton Park, Blackburn. Leeds City's Simon Deakin ran well to take second place behind the in-form Ben Fish (Blackburn). Rob Hope (Pudsey and Bramley) was fourth.

The Yorkshire Championship, due to take place at Wakefield, has been rearranged for February 20 at the same venue.

In the English Indoor Combined Events Championship at Sheffield at the weekend, Kevin Sempers (5621) was beaten by Bournemouth's Richard Reeks (5621) in the senior heptathlon after a seesaw battle. Sempers, who comes from Scunthorpe but competes for Trafford, won the Northern title.

In the women's pentathlon, Lydia Chamberlin (Lincoln Wellington) scored 3659 to finish fourth overall and take the Northern title. In the Under-20 women's event, Leeds City's Katy Marchant finished fourth and took the Northern title.