manhandling a formidable field in the 5.1-mile event sponsored for the first time by the Bermuda Insurance Institute Young Members.

Continuing in a similar vein as last week, which saw the 29-year-old record a win in the Yamaha 5-K, Perry grabbed the lead in the third lap -- competitors ran over a loop course of just over one mile -- and from there was never challenged.

Brett Forgesson, who looked out of contention when he dropped back midway through the race, recovered well to place second in 26:56.

Even the presence of Kavin Smith failed to impair Perry's charge. His winning time of 26 minutes, 43 seconds beat the 26:55 Smith turned in last year in winning.

Smith seemed to use the race more as a training run, as did Tracy Wright, and was never in contention after the second mile, finishing a disappointing third in 27:15.

Tyler Hall led everyone through the opening lap in 5:14 closely followed by Perry and Brett Forgesson.

At the end of the second lap Smith had moved to the front and it appeared to be the beginning of the end for all those concerned.

But this was not to be as Perry started his break, surging up Front Street towards the end of the third lap and continually pulled away.

Even still Perry said that he was no yet at full strength although he was satisfied with the time.

"I'm pleased with my performance today and relatively pleased with the big improvement over last year,'' said Perry, who increased his leading points total to 44 in the KPMG Peat Marwick National Road Running Series. "I still felt a bit weakened by a cold I'm just getting over and can go faster than that.'' Similarly content with his performance was Forgesson as he bettered his time from last year by nearly half a minute.

"I think the pace was fast at the start with four of them really pushing it,'' said Forgesson, who had been doing more distance work than speed. "I had to ease off a bit but figured I'd be able to come back.

"Mark was running well and I didn't think I had a chance to stay with him. He really wanted to win today and after last week's Yamaha 5-K had a fast time in mind.'' Meanwhile, one having no such notions of setting a blistering pace was Sandra Mewett, but she nevertheless wound up on top in the women's category. She finished in 30:08, over a minute off her own course record set in 1987 but comfortably ahead of past winner Maria Conroy Haydon who clocked 30:34.

"That (setting the record) was when I was young, now I'm old and don't worry about times anymore,'' Mewett said later.

Mewett also gained a bit of revenge on Anna Eatherley -- third in this event in 31:17 -- as it was she who broke the her two-year unbeaten streak back in 1991 during this race.

MARK PERRY -- Convincing victory.