Lions to win Sunday's hastily-organised End to End Road Relay.

Hart took the baton from team-mate Kent Dill at the Botanical Gardens with his side trailing Back to Basics' Loren Belboda by nearly two minutes. But by the time he reached the final change-over point near Sonesta Beach, Hart had turned that deficit into a minute lead.

From there Tracy Wright had to maintain the advantage. But he went even better, recording the fastest fifth leg of the day -- 29 minutes, 31 seconds over 5.25 miles -- to easily hold off Basics' Kavin Smith.

Lions, who also included Michael Donawa and Leroy Wilson, finished with an overall time of 2:04.20 over the 21.85-mile course which ended at Daniel's Head.

Meanwhile, Basics, with Steve Burgess, Wayne Mouchette, Neil Halliday, Belboda and Smith clocked 2:07.09. Swan Runners finished third on 2:13.13.

There was near disaster leaving St. George's as race official Beldwin Smith was forced to scramble to have Longbird Bridge closed in time for the runners to pass unimpeded.

The bridge operator had swung open the structure in order to allow a passenger boat to pass just as the lead runners were completing the first leg. And for a moment it was feared the entire race would be ruined. But Smith's protestations saved the day.

Earlier Donawa had given Lions the perfect start as he scorched through the first two-and-a-half miles in 13:45 ahead of Mouchette (14:30) and Frankie Rodrigues (14:39).

Second runner Wilson was unable to hold onto the lead as Burgess, better known for his exploits on the track, showed himself to be no slouch on the road as he led at the change-over at Shelly Bay Market Place.

Halliday and Dill took over and the scene was soon set for Hart and Wright to complete a well-earned victory.

Meanwhile, Sticks Away (Linda Mahaffy, Georgi Barbosa, Sam Miller, Caron Fletcher and Jacqui White) grabbed the female prize with a time off 2:49.03, while MAAC Maestros (Will Collieson, Rod Allen, Harry Patchett, Jeremy Ball, Tony Prentice) won the Masters title (2:14.34). Police Mixed Hockey (Joy Kelly, Lisa Ray, Paul Watson, Duncan Scott, Steven Cosham) took the Mixed division (2:35.27) and Back to Basics I (Nakia Pearson, Stephen Hall, Collin Anderson, Sharif Taylor, Quennel Robinson) were tops among the juniors (2:23.08).

Nineteen teams competed in the event, the last tune-up before next Tuesday's highlight of the road racing season, the May 24 Marathon Derby.