Briton Paul Freary hit back in the best possible way at those who decided not to extend him an official invite to this year's Race Weekend.

The England international, a six-time winner at the event prior to 2001, blew away the competition in yesterday's half-marathon, finishing well ahead of second-placed Stephan Betman of the USA and third placed local, Jay Donawa.

Freary, who runs for the Belgrave Harriers, broke the tape on Front Street in a time of 1:09.36.

A regular face among the leading pack in both the Front Street Mile and the International Half-Marathon since 1994, the Bolton-born athlete was reportedly told by Bermuda Track and Field Association he wouldn't be included among the elite athletes who receive funds for airfares and accommodation as he only finished second in last year's 13.1 mile race.

However, thanks to sponsorship from an Island-based company he was able to take part and may have left more than one member of the organising committee a little red-faced with his finish.

"I came down with the help of XL Capital so I'm very grateful to them. That's really why I wanted to do well. It's always good to win something and all the times I have been down here I've always wanted to do well,'' he said.

"It was a new thing to come down separately and with the help of an individual sponsor, so hopefully they will be pleased with the effort.'' Freary let Islander Tracy Wright make the initial break as the race got underway but soon after decided it was time to make his mark.

"I was actually going to wait until Devil's Hole -- that was my original plan -- but early on I could tell there was only going to be two or three of us and when we hit McGall's Hill I felt strong so I had a go there,'' he said.

"I then did a real quick mile. I think I ran 5:25 for the third mile and 5:22 going up the hill so I knew that would be it and if I could just maintain it and hold it together I'd be going away.'' Freary spent much of the race out on his own with only the spectators dotted along the course for company.

"I was just counting down the miles. Every cheer helps you along the way a little bit,'' he said.

Unlike last year's event, run in the wind and the cold, conditions this year were pretty favourable.

"It was OK today because the wind was more or less behind us, not exactly pushing us along but it feels a lot better than having it in your face,'' said Freary.

Although his run was clear there was one minor hiccough along the way.

When he approached the junction of Palmetto Road and North Shore there was no official on hand to point him in the right direction.

Instead of keeping to the left, Freary, in his confusion, opted to cut across the island.

"There were just no marshalls there. I figured because the TV guys (in their van) went to the right hand side of the roundabout then I didn't want to make a decision so I ran across the middle and then you can't argue with that,'' he said.

Asked whether he would be back next year to defend his title, Freary said with a wry smile: "Hopefully...if I get invited.

"I always enjoy it, it's a fantastic place to come and run and it's become a really important part of the year for me.

"I always look forward to coming down here in winter. It kind of picks you up, gets you training through the snow and rain back home and hopefully I can go onto good things afterwards.'' Runner-up Betman, whose time was 1:10.46, said once Freary made the break, there was little point trying to catch him.

"The first three or four miles there was a pack of us. The gentleman who won pulled away very smoothly and he looked very strong and led the race from almost three miles out,'' said the New Jersey runner.

It was then a case of trying to finish as far up the field as possible.

"I was trying to run with the number one runner in the marathon. I tried to stay in physical contact but it ended up just being a visual contact. "They were out of sight and out of mind by the time we got to the other side of the Island.

Freary's runaway win From Page 25 "At one point I heard a split of maybe 35 seconds behind first place and I was feeling great, but he was just so strong he pulled away. Considering he was running alone it was a fantastic effort by him.'' Island ace Donawa was happy with his finish of 1:12.24 considering his lack of recent experience at the distance.

"I was basically using today as a training run. I haven't run a half-marathon for quite a time. I just wanted to go out there and establish a nice pace,'' he said.

"After about six miles I could feel the effects of the (10K) race yesterday -- my legs were feeling a little heavy. But fortunately I had a marathon runner to work with and he kept the pace going.

"It wasn't like I was over-exerting myself, I wasn't totally out there racing hard so with that in mind running 1:12 off the effort I put in I feel pretty good right now.'' The first woman home was Dorian Meyer from Rumson, New Jersey in 1:22.22 -- although she was the last person at the finish to realise it.

Meyer crossed the line behind two competitors she mistook for being the leaders of her race when in fact they were running the marathon. "There were two women ahead of me and I never really looked at the colours of the numbers so I'm actually amazed that I came in first,'' she said.

"I came in second last year but my time was slower and I really have been training better than this time.

"I'm from New Jersey and we have had a lot of snow and temperatures in the 20s. To come here I was having a very difficult time breathing.

"I was just trying to maintain my pace but right from mile four I was labouring in my breathing -- it's much more humid here. I was just trying to get in a comfortable pace and stay with it.

"I was a little concerned about the heat and when I wasn't hitting my times that was bothering me because like I said I've been training very arduously and I was expecting to run a lot faster than this, so I was disappointed that my times were not coming as easily as I felt they should have been.

"When I saw the two women ahead of me I thought I'll hang the best I can and hope for the best and then I find I won. At first I couldn't work out why people wanted to take my picture and talk to me!'' Bermuda's Anna Eatherley (1:24.13) was the second woman home with Canadian Tania Jones (1:25.41) third.

On your marks! Runners in the marathon and half-marathon check their watches as the gun sounds to start yesterday's races. At centre is perennial early frontrunner Cal Steede (75).

Water break: Jay Donawa takes some liquid relief on the way to finishing third overall and first among locals in the half-marathon.

Huffin' and puffin': England's Paul Freary steams towards his fifth victory in nine years in the half-marathon.

First among locals: Brett Forgesson chalks up his sixth successive win among Bermuda runners in the gruelling 26.2 mile race.

Happy days: Annette Hallett is all smiles as she reflects on a second successive local women's victory in the marathon.

Heading for home: Ladies' half-marathon champion Dorian Meyer picks up the pace on North Shore Road.