THE cream of Cornwall's road runners produced a series of quality individual performances in last weekend's Peninsula Challenge - Cornwall versus Devon 10 mile road race, incorporated into the Plymouth Hoe 10 - but were no match for their rivals from across the Tamar in the team competitions.

In the men's event Kevin Toher (Newquay and Par Athletic Club) was in contention from the start, gradually losing his nearest challengers one by one until, by the half way point, he had only Devon's top runner, Kairn Stone (Newham and Essex Beagles AC), for company. Stone stuck like glue to Toher, never moving ahead of the Newquay runner for the next five miles, until, with the finishing straight on the Brickfields athletic track, when he unleashed a devastating sprint finish, which took him to a one second victory.

There were fine performances from Cornwall's Noel Kindon, who ran strongly throughout the race, never giving up chasing the third placed finisher, Jim Cole (Tavistock AC) and team mate Matt Pullen, who overcame a bad patch midway through the race to finish strongly, just ten seconds and one place behind Kindon.

Jason Pascoe, who was not enjoying the best of days, stuck gallantly to the task and crossed the line in 28th position, giving Cornwall AC some consolation after Cornwall had lost the county race, by finishing second in the club team competition.

The ladies' race was very much a steep learning curve for the Duchy's leading lady of the road, Jo Friday. Jo started a little too fast, mixing it with the more experienced Devon Ladies and occupying fourth spot until the eight mile mark, when the earlier pace began to tell as she dropped back to sixth place. Jo finished two and a half minutes behind the winner, Jo Kelsey (Tavistock AC), promising to reduce this gap considerably next time they meet.