Supermarket Labour Day Race as Kavin Smith grabbed Mark Perry's vacated crown and Anna Eatherley retained the women's title yesterday.

Smith, who missed last year's race, returned to take the overall title he last won in 1990 as he led home the field in 25:57, which was 55 seconds faster than Perry's winning time last year. Smith's time was 16 seconds slower than his previous winning time of 25:41 and off the record time of 25:35 set by Tony Ryan in 1986.

"I can't be too pleased with my time,'' admitted Smith afterwards, even though he says the heat took its toll. "I had a bad attitude, I went to bed not knowing if I was going to run today.

"My coach (Duncan Newby) had it worked out where I would do 4:50 for the first mile then come back to 5:10, then 4:50...fast, then easy. That would have put me around 25:00 even and I'm so capable of that it's not funny.

"I've got to be doing five-minute miles at least for that distance. It was really hot, one of the hottest races I've been in.'' Smith, with his ultimate goal being the 1996 Olympics, said these races are training orientated with his sights set on the 1994 Commonwealth Games in British Columbia.

Second, more than a minute and a half behind Smith was Tyler Hall in 27:35 while Brett Forgesson was third in 27:43 and Kevin Tucker fourth in 28:06.

Like Maria Conroy-Haydon in 1990 and '91, Eatherley picked up her second female division title with a run of 29:56, which placed her 11th overall.

Eatherley was nine seconds faster than her time last year when she placed 17th overall.

Jennifer Fisher provided Eatherley with her main competition in the women's division, running 31:04 in finishing 14th overall while Annette Booth was third female, 22nd overall, in 31:47.

Jeremy Ball, seventh overall in 28:55, won the 40-49 category while Quincy Robinson was the first male junior, 12th overall, in 30:02. Barbara Clemens was the female winner in the 40-49 category, completing the course in 39:36.

CHAMPIONS -- Kavin Smith and Anna Eatherley.