Comprised of Leon Matthews, Eddie Benjamin, Kent Dill and Tracy Wright, Panthers romped home in record time, clocking one hour, 18 minutes and 57 seconds to defeat second-placed Team Backdraft by over two minutes. Backdraft reached home in 1:20:59 followed by The Educators (1:21:44).

Leon Matthews provided the spark for his team with a splendid third leg -- four-and-a-half miles -- where he made up over a minute on then leaders Backdraft's third man Colin Swan before handing the baton over to Tracy Wright who had little difficulty holding on for the win.

Backdraft had looked to be on the way to seizing overall honours after leading throughout the first two legs -- two and three miles respectively -- spurred by the brilliant efforts of Steven Caines and Roger Dill.

Caines (10:39) ran the fastest opening two-mile leg, while Dill (16:07) was similarly unparalleled for the second (three miles).

However, all of the duo's fine work was undone by Matthews and, once Wright was handed a lead, the race was effectively over as Backdraft's final competitor, Manuel Lopes, simply could not match Wright's speed.

"We figured that if Tracy left in first place that no one would catch him,'' said Benjamin, who was second in 11:15 over the first leg. "We felt that putting our strongest runners third and fourth would really help the team.

"It feels fantastic to win and I would have to say it was the third leg that did it for us.'' Matthews, though, revealed afterward that he had not figured on catching Swan and just "went for broke'', while Wright concentrated on "maintaining an even pace and keeping the distance'' on Lopes.

"I think we should have done a Tonya Harding on Tracy,'' quipped Caines.

A bit more philosophical, though, was Lopes, who for the second time in three years was left to agonise over what might have been.

"We're a little disappointed,'' he said. "It's the second time it's happened to us.

"Two years ago we thought we had a cracker jack team and the Educators beat us and here we are the bridesmaids again.'' There was some solace in placing first in the Public Service category ahead of The Educators' foursome containing George Sutherland, Gary Kelson, Jeremy Ball and Harry Patchett.

But despite falling two places, Patchett and his team-mates remained upbeat regarding their showing.

"We did well, we're all getting a bit long in the tooth and spending long hours in the classroom,'' said Patchett. "We're satisfied with third.'' In other categories, AIG Bandits (Romell Brewster, Richard Moses, Randy Kowch and Stewart Osborne) claimed the Exempt Company title, Valuable Assets (Ed Gomez, Roddy Bassett, Neil Halliday and Neil de Ste. Croix) walked away as the leading local company, Warwick Academy Young Guns (Michael Roache, Ralph Bean, Scott Constable and Jahmal Scott) won the battle of the secondary schools, while Non Comp (Matthew Trim, Will Collieson, Dennis Emery and Rory Gorman) took honours in the Non-Competitive division.

The first all-female team was KEMH (Kathryn Chapman, Midge Oliver, Kari Dwyer and Jane Christie) while Runners Not Softball Players (Michelle DeSilva, Samantha Miller, Patrick O'Brien and Tony Smith) topped the mixed entrants.

PRETTY IN PINK -- The winners of the Corporate Community Relay, Pink Panthers, from left, Kent Dill, Eddie Benjamin, Tracy Wright and Leon Matthews.

BEGINNING OF THE END -- Team Backdraft's Roger Dill hands over the baton to team-mate Colin Swan. Swan started with a lead, but would eventually be overtaken by Leon Matthews of Pink Panthers.