A new chapter unfolded in Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby history yesterday as Larry Marshall emerged from behind his younger brother's shadow to land a maiden triumph in the Island's premier road race.

With thousands lining the streets to witness perhaps the dawning of a new era, Marshall picked the right moment to make his move on Harbour Road and never took his foot off the gas as he gloriously broke the tape at the Dutton Avenue finish line in a winning time of one hour, 12 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of perennial bridesmaid Jay Donawa and brother Lamont.

After running side-by-side and engaging in cat and mouse warfare among a lead bunch that included pre-race favourites Kavin Smith, three-time defending champion Terrance Armstrong, Donawa and brother Lamont over the first half of the remeasured 13.1 mile course, the 24-year-old Marshall took matters into his own hands and grabbed the lead for good just past the eight-mile mark near Keith Hall Road as his pursuers gradually fell off the pace.

Marshall's winning time is now the official record on the new course while his maiden Bermuda Half-Marathon victory might have come as a surprise to many, given his troubles with injury in the lead up to yesterday's exciting race.

Second-placed Donawa covered the course in a time of one hour, 13 minutes and 18 seconds, third-placed Lamont Marshall finished in one hour, 13 minutes and 31 seconds, three-time defending champion Armstrong in fourth in one hour, 14 minutes and 34 seconds while Smith was the first Master to cross the line in a time of one hour, 15 minutes and 29 seconds.

Marshall brothers Larry and Lamont — who were mobbed by ecstatic family members at Bernard Park after completing the gruelling trek from Somerset — might not have rewritten history by becoming the first siblings to place first and second since Virgil twins Neville and Neil achieved that remarkable feat in 1964.

But that did very little to dampen family celebrations yesterday after Larry had achieved what no other runner had managed to do in the past three years — topple Armstrong from his throne.

"I just wanted to cover the gaps and stay in control. I was feeling good and I wanted to stay in close with the lead," an emotional Marshall explained afterwards.

Having quickly positioned himself in the lead pack just after the start in Somerset, Marshall gave very little away to the early pacesetters as they made their way towards Hamilton on Middle Road, moving along at just over five minutes per mile.

"There were certain spots where I was just trying to push and stay focused and count down the miles," the new champion added.

Veteran Smith fell out of contention on Burnt House Hill to reduce the lead pack to four before Marshall made the decisive break on a slight incline with strong wind gusts in his face.

"I just pushed the pace a little bit and when I looked behind I realised that I had a gap. And once I realised that I continued to push it," Marshall added.

"I didn't plan on that particular move at the time, it just worked out that way for me and I had to go with it."

As he rounded Crow Lane and made his way into Hamilton, Marshall was greeted by a warm reception from those lining both sides of the street.

"The fans were great coming into town — people were pushing me on," he added. "But it feels great to win and it's also a great relief for me and the family."

After sitting out last year's race through injury, Donawa celebrated his return by placing second for an unprecedented eighth time in his career.

The cross-country specialist managed to stay in the hunt for most of the race, but just couldn't muster the resolve to reel in Marshall over the closing miles.

"I felt good coming through town but I just wasn't able to make a dent in the lead. He (Marshall) ran really well," Donawa said.

"Larry made a gut-wrenching move and just broke everybody. It was a surprise and that's how you do it. You go out hard and that's exactly what he did — and so all of the kudos go to him. He ran an excellent race and deserved to win based on how he took it to us towards the end."

Lamont Marshall finished closely behind Donawa in third to ensure that for the second straight year two siblings occupied two of the top three spots, while defending champion Armstrong had to settle for fourth this time around.

Yet even in defeat, Armstrong proved to be a class act.

"You have to take every race as it is. You sit and reflect for 30 minutes after a race and then you move forward. You more or less have to take it for what it is worth and I'll probably have my moment to myself afterwards," he said.

"You have to show good sportsmanship and support these younger athletes who are doing really well for the sport — those guys ran strong up front and I congratulate them. The guy (Marshall) made a great move today and I couldn't respond. I just didn't have it today.

"He found the right spot and made his move. I was very confident in myself that I could pull him back in, but it just wasn't there."

Veteran campaigner Smith stayed among the leaders over the first seven miles and provided a flash from the past when he momentarily led the field heading towards Barnes Corner in Southampton before youth eventually prevailed over experience on Harbour Road.

Yet Smith reckons he still played a significant part in the race by dangling the proverbial carrot after joining the fray near Whale Bay in Southampton.

"Those guys were running too slow and so I figured I would go out front and pick the pace up a bit knowing that Lamont, Larry and Terrance have more of a sprint background," the nine-time champion said.

"You just don't let guys like that take it easy and the race turned out perfect for those guys. I just did my thing today and I'm pleased to have been the first master and fifth again."

Teenager Chayce Smith finished sixth overall in a time of one hour, 20 minutes and 28 seconds, to give an indication of perhaps even bigger and better things to come from the 19-year-old runner in years to come.