Reigning Bermuda Marathon Derby champion Kavin Smith looks like he will again be the man to beat when the big race rolls around next month.

The eight-time May 24 winner ended a seven-month self-imposed exile yesterday to compete in the inaugural RMS Construction 20K road race and, as might have been expected, he romped to victory.

Anna Eatherley warmed up for next month's premier road race in equally good fashion by capturing the women's title.

Honouring a friend's request to run in yesterday's race, Smith broke the tape in one hours, 12 minutes and eight seconds, while Eatherley, who placed eighth overall, successfully held off last year's women's Marathon Derby champion Lynn Patchett to cross the finish line in 1.20.40.

Masters runner Sylvester Jean Pierre placed second behind Smith in 1.13.39 while Brian Eschelman finished third in 1.14.32.

Patchett completed the course in 11th position overall while Joanna Shillington placed third among the women and 23rd overall in a time of 1.33.51.

For their winning achievements, Smith and Eatherley both received free entry and an all-expenses paid trip to October's Grete Waitz Norwegian Festival half-marathon in New York City.

Smith, however, downplayed his latest triumph. "Ricky Sousa (race sponsor) is a good friend of mine and he said that he was having a race and he really wanted me to run," said Smith. "It was more or less a matter of me honouring his request because I am still semi-retired."

However, the Derby champion warned that he's nowhere near ready to be put out to pasture.

"Obviously I'm not just going to slow right down or lose it all overnight," he said. "I am still in good shape and I will not stop altogether. It's just that I have been doing it (running) all my life - almost 28 years. Before I had to deal with all the added mental pressure of trying to maintain the title of `king of the road' and make a lot of other sacrifices. But now I can get up and if I don't feel like running I simply don't run."

Smith was last seen in action competing in last September's Labour Day Five-Miler in which he placed second behind Jay Donawa - a noticeable absentee from yesterday's race.

The veteran distance runner said the 20K (12.4 mile) race was his longest run in some time.

"It was OK," he replied when asked if he encountered any effects following his lengthy lay-off. "But I did get a little sick."

Smith said he had managed to keep himself in "fairly" good shape by jogging a "few miles" through the week.

"I still get out there and have a bit of fun," he said. "Jogging along and helping other people with their training has also helped me a lot."

Smith confirmed that he would be back to defend his Derby crown next month.

"I am going to run May 24th," he declared. "You don't miss May 24th."

The 36-year-old veteran runner also reckoned he would be up for the challenge.

"It comes with the territory," he said. "People are always expecting great things from you when you are considered the top runner. Of course I am going to try to win it.

"But unfortunately, the prize for this race (RMS) was a free ticket, accommodation and entry to the Grete Waitz's half-marathon in New York City in October. So now that kind of puts me in jam, because I was telling Ricky (Sousa) that I was hoping Jay (Donawa) would have run the race and won. He's the one who's dedicated himself to putting in a lot of training."