title.

The Englishman's race plan worked to perfection as he sped past American Patrick Joyce on the approach to the Police Field to win in a time of 31 minutes and one second, four seconds ahead of his rival.

The pair had pulled away from the pack at around the eight-kilometre mark and Lewis sat a stride behind Joyce until making his late, decisive winning surge.

Tall Canadian Christian Weber came in third (31:36), just as he did in 1998, ahead of Kenyan Julius Rotich (31:42). England's Paul Freary, going for his fifth successive Race Weekend title, placed fifth in 32:16, just ahead of the first local to finish, Kavin Smith (32:22).

Smith's late entry set the scene for a fascinating duel for the local men's title with in-form Jay Donawa.

But there was heartache for Donawa, who was forced to withdraw after a fall just one minute into the race which left him in hospital with a fractured collar bone.

The jubilant Lewis, who finished second in the event in 1994, said: "It's great to come back here and win.

"I was disappointed with the time, but the time was irrelevant. We were racing against the humid conditions and it was tough.

"I am normally a front-runner, but this time the plan was to hang just off the leader. It's good to have different race weapons in your armoury.'' The race had been a test of mind as well as body, he added.

"There were five of us together at about the four-mile mark and you had to concentrate hard and look to see what your opponents were going to do. It was a mental race rather than a physical one.'' There were contrasting emotions for Smith, whose delight at finishing sixth overall was tarnished by disappointment for his training partner and friendly rival Donawa.

Smith described how he saw Donawa fall, on Montpelier Road, and tried to help him.

"Someone in front was talking and suddenly Jay was on top of him and he went down,'' said Smith.

"I stopped and got him back up and ran with him, but I could see that the bruising on his arm was bad.

"I know how much he wanted to do well and I know he was back on form and really pumped up. I just feel real bad for him.'' "I'm pleased I did well and I hope Jay can take comfort from my great run. I wanted to do it for him.'' Smith who trailed the leading pack of five by around 200 metres for much of the race, made up ground with a gutsy run and almost caught Freary on the Police Field track.

Freary's challenge had started to fade when he slipped back from the leading four just outside Flatts village. On North Shore Road he summoned up the strength to rejoin the pack, only to fall away again at around seven kilometres.

"I was just trying to hang on as long as I possibly could. At about three miles, the pace started picking up a little,'' said Freary.

"I made a big effort to get back with them, but as soon as I did, the pace picked up a bit more.'' As in last year's 10K, 15-year-old Tyler Butterfield, who smashed the under-18 boys' mile time on Friday night, was the second Islander over the finishing line, and he had the added satisfaction of shaving more than half a minute off his 1998 time, clocking 34:23.

Third-placed local was Sylvester Jean-Pierre (35:45) who was not only first local Master (over 40) but first Master overall. Bermuda's Harry Patchett won the over-50s age group with an impressive time of 37:18.

And another superb showing came from fast improving local youngster Mark Morrison, who like Butterfield ran Friday's mile. He finished second to Butterfield in the junior boys category and 19th overall in 37:09.

FRONT-RUNNERS -- Eventual winner Dave Lewis (second from right) tucks in with the lead pack mid-way through Saturday's 10K. Also pictured (from left) are England's Paul Freary, Kenya's Julius Rotich, Canadian Chris Weber and American Patrick Joyce.

STILL GOING STRONG -- Former Premier David Saul, a fixture on the local running scene for some 40 years, was again in Saturday's field, finishing in a respectable 45:35.