happy with the fact that he was even able to complete his first Marathon Derby in five years.

Except for cramping in his leg, requiring a rubdown afterwards, Perry was pleased with the way he was feeling after his first race in more than a year.

Perry has been missing from the road running scene for much of the last five years because of patella tendinitis in his knees, which first threatened his career in the summer of 1993.

Monday's Derby, with its hills, heat and humidity provided a stiff test for any runner but Perry seems to have passed with flying colours.

His time of 1:26.06 was well off the 1:12.50 he ran in 1993 when he finished second to Kavin Smith. But that is to be expected.

"I feel pretty good, I'm just pleased to finish the race,'' Perry said after the race.

"I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee three times. it's not 100 per cent now but I feel a lot better that I can do something without the pain. I haven't even run any of the regular races in about a year.'' It is too early to tell whether Perry, now 37, can return to his glory days, but he is optimistic.

"I ran a 1:26 which is not bad for my first time back,'' said Perry who only decided a momth ago to enter the race.

"I would like to get back into the regular circuit and do some races next season. If all goes well and my knee holds up and I can train like I normally do, then I'll be back racing.'' Also coming off a recent was Jamal Hart so he was pleased to finish in the top 10. Hart was seventh in 1:19.06, four minutes slower than his goal.

"Unfortunately I didn't reach my target time, which would have won the race,'' said Hart.

"I picked up a stitch coming off Burnt House Hill and onto Harbour Road, at which time I lost pace with Brett Forgesson and Kevin Tucker.'' Hart was pipped at the finish by Ronue Cann who grabbed the Masters crown with his sixth place finish.

"I was really struggling coming along East Broadway and Front Street at which time Ronue caught me up and passed me. It as a sprint finish and I had to dig pretty deep in terms of pulling him back, but I'm pleased with my finish.

"I have always had it pretty rough in the Harbour Road area and today was no exception.'' The oldest runner in the race was Archibald Tucker, who came in 395th in 2:28.04.

Tucker ran up until 1942 and later coached former winner Ed Sherlock, Mac Smith and Clifford Williams before returning to running himself in 1982. He has now run in 11 Marathon Derby races with a best time of 1:47. He dedicated his run to the senior citizens of Bermuda.