from almost start to finish to win yesterday's annual Elbow Beach half marathon.

And while the Belmont chef's time of one hour, 16 minutes, 49 seconds wasn't his best over the 13.1 mile distance -- and a whopping seven minutes slower than the 1.09.21 record set by Kavin Smith a year ago -- it was an indication that the former May 24 Marathon Derby and Bermuda International Marathon winner is again a force to be reckoned with among local road runners.

"It felt good,'' said Cormack, after crossing the finish line some 50 seconds ahead of his only serious rival, Rod Allen. "I'm not in top shape yet but I'm getting there. I felt strong on the hills today.'' Cormack's immediate goal is January's international marathon, a race he won back in 1988 -- the only Bermuda-based runner ever to achieve that feat. And with seven weeks' preparation still left, he's confident he can put up another good showing.

"If I can stay healthy, I'll be ok'', he smiled, noting how various injuries, in particular a nasty leg wound which required surgery had kept him out of contention for close on two years.

With last year's winner Smith, Commonwealth Games marathoner Brett Forgesson and this season's most successful cross-country runner Tracy Wright all absent from yesterday's field, Cormack's competition was diluted.

It was left to masters division (over 40) runner Allen, one of the Island's few sub 2:30 marathoners but an infrequent road race competitor, to challenge Cormack.

The pair ran side by side for nine miles before Cormack pulled away on McGall's Hill and gradually stretched his lead over the final four miles, although never to a point where he was out of sight. Another master Harry Patchett grabbed third place in 1:18.33 ahead of Jamal Hart (1:21.00) and Colin Swan (1:21.25).

Karen Adams, meanwhile, clocked her best-ever half-marathon time (1:23.39) to run away with the women's title, and finish seventh overall in the 82-runner field.

Adams won by more than three minutes over second-placed Maria Conroy Haydon, but admitted she still preferred the shorter distances.

"I'll run the (International) 10K in January, I think,'' said Adams. "This was a good run today, but I still prefer something a bit shorter.'' Third female was Julia Hawley in 1:29.11.

With Allen and Patchett taking awards for finishing among the top three, Mike Whalley (1:24.

25) claimed first masters prize ahead of Peter Lever (1:25.54).

Jane Christie, fifth among the women, was first female master in 1:32.09 ahead of Barbara Clemens (1.48.13).

Georgio Zanol led home the senior masters in 1:33.55 and Christine DeSilva took females honours in that category in 2:11.32.

Errol Cormack