Jay Donawa celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Princess to Princess Road Race with his second successive victory yesterday.

But as was the case a year ago, there was no-one in the field to offer a serious challenge, arch rival Kavin Smith again noticeable by his absence.

Donawa had scored a rare win over Smith during the CAC Cross-Country Championships in November and would have been looking to repeat over the tough 7.1 mile course from the Princess Hotel in Hamilton to Whaler Inn in Southampton.

Instead, in a warm-up for the International 10K in two weeks' time, he was forced to set his own pace, finishing in 38 minutes and 41 seconds - three quarters of a minute slower than his winning time last year (37.56).

Again, Donawa was chased home by CAC team-mate Tracy Wright who carved some 53 seconds off his 2001 performance. But his time of 40.00 still left him in second place, more than a minute behind the winner.

Brett Forgesson placed third in 40.50, Sylvester Jean-Pierre, the first Master, fourth in 41.06 and Devoe Whaley fifth in 42.40.

As expected, Anna Eatherley, unbeaten on the roads by another local female for some three years, repeated her victory of a year ago, although her time of 45.05 was more than a minute slower than in 2001.

Lynn Patchett claimed second in in 46.08 and Victoria Fiddick third in 47.53.

More than 170 runners completed the course, while another 50 juniors ran a 3K race from Heron Bay to Whaler Inn.

Coyatito Smith took boys' honours in eight minutes, 57 seconds while top girl was Whitmae Duerr in 10.57.