IT MAY have been nearly three months since his last competitive outing, but Kairn Stone proved he's as sharp as ever with a blistering Torbay 10k win on Sunday evening.

Former Torbay runner Stone, who now represents Newham & Essex Beagles, cruised to victory by more than a minute from North Devon Road Runner Shaun Antell.

Torrential rain in the build-up to the 7pm start in Torquay left huge puddles on many parts of the circuit, which took runners out for two laps of Paignton Green before returning.

Stone — racing for the first time since the Plymouth Half Marathon in May — decided to set a furious early pace and was soon out on his own at the front, reaching the halfway point in 15mins 26secs.

His pace eased a little during the return to Torquay, and he crossed the line in 31:24 — the first time in seven years he has broken the 32-minute barrier at the race.

Antell was second in 32:42, and Tavistock AC's Jim Cole completed the top three in 33:12, while Cole's clubmate Jo Meek (36:56) won the women's race by 40 seconds from South West Road Runner Lucy Commander (37:36).

Lee Turner of the host club Torbay AC narrowly missed out on the podium last year, and the same happened this time — he again had to settle for fourth overall in 33:38.

Club mate Peter Monaghan was 12th runner home in 35:26, followed 33 seconds later by Torbay's Andrew Longthorpe in 15th.

Teignbridge Trotters duo David Tomlin (36:15) and Daryl Milford (36:41) both made the top 20, finishing 16th and 19th respectively.

Jeremy Hocking and Robert Leeke led the charge to be first South Devon AC runner home.

The honour eventually befell Hocking, who was 32nd in 38:14. Leeke was two places, and 11 seconds, behind.

Newton Abbot AC's best finisher was Sam Fice (40:28) in 60th overall, two places ahead of Brixham Harriers' top man Paul Nicoll (40:34).

Pete Hayward (46:06) led the Dawlish Coasters contingent home in 154th, while Stephen Wallace (48:57) was 233rd for Dartmouth AC.

None of the local clubs managed to pick up any category wins, although there were several top-three finishes.

Torbay AC youngster Nayim Abusag was third in the M15-19 class in 37:54 (27th overall), and club mate Kevin Fine was third M20-24 runner home in 38:14 (31st).

Turner's time was good enough for second in the M30-34 class, behind overall winner Stone, while Longthorpe and Tomlin were second and third respectively in the M35-39 category.

Teignbridge Trotters' Wavell Vigers was 21st overall in 37:03, which was also the third best MV40-44 time.

Monaghan was second in the MV45-49 class, while Nicoll was third MV50-54 man home.

TORBAY REGATTA 10K RESULTS / CLUB TIMES

Top ten: 1 Kairn Stone (Newham & Essex Beagles)) 31:24, 2 Shaun Antell (North Devon Road Runners) 32:42, 3 Jim Cole (Tavistock AC) 33:12, 4 Lee Turner (Torbay AC) 33:38, 5 Matthew Clark (South West Road Runners) 34:12, 6 Steve Goss (Exeter Harriers) 34:15, 7 Mark Cowen (Exmouth Harriers) 34:38, 8 Sam Hopton (South West Road Runners) 34:43, 9 David Wilkinson (Exeter Harriers) 34:46, 10 John Wisely (Epsom & Ewell) 35:07.

Torbay AC: Lee Turner 33:38, Peter Monaghan 35:26, Andrew Longthorpe 35:59, Nayim Abusag 37:54, Russell Hart 37:54, Jon Marsden 38:04, Kevin Fine 38:14, Russell Cleave 40:04, Cathy Fewings 41:30, Hadleigh Davies 41:46, Ray Brown 44:40, Laura Brown 48:29, William Valentine 52:18, Emma Butt 55:40, Sally Carter 56:18, Alexandra Pickford 56:59, David Coombe 1:05:06.

Teignbridge Trotters: David Tomlin 36:15, Daryl Milford 36:41, Wavell Vigers 37:03, Bruce Campbell 41:32, Mark Wotton 45:01, Tracey Elphick 45:48, Emma Sidebotham 45:49, Craig Churchill 45:58, Sarah Schutte 49:00, Sharon Bowman 49:18, Stephen Wallace 50:46, Sally Ingledew 51:32, Philip Perry 51:47, Mary Goulden 53:00, Kevin Besford 53:04, Julie Crocker 55:13, Rebecca Weare 56:24, Derek Blackford 57:24.

South Devon AC: Jeremy Hocking 38:14, Robert Leeke 38:25, Robert Ledger 39:33, Vince Langdon 39:59, Neil Downer 40:49, Simon Johnson 41:47, Robert Forbes 42:44, Rick Martin 44:23, Paul Chesterman 46:01, Keith Belt 46:23, Jeremy Ackers 47:13, Mark Stockman 48:06, John Drennan 48:16, Roger Webb 48:22, Naomi Flanagan 49:12, Stacey Toppin 50:38, Rachel Williams 51:37, Sue Hayes 52:22, Steve Waddington 53:16, Eileen Severn 54:47, Ken House 1:00:15, Kenneth Denton 1:02:35, Bernard Page 1:04:56.

Newton Abbot AC: Sam Fice 40:28, Paula Soby 59:07.

Brixham Harriers: Paul Nicoll 40:34, Victor Williscroft 47:16, Nicky Johnson 56:06, Karen Williams 59:23, Kylie Mudge 1:00:43, Michael Parton 1:03:24, Abigail McRae 1:03:49, Lysbeth James 1:04:24.

Dawlish Coasters: Pete Hayward 46:06, Eric Foster 48:33, Duncan Crake 49:00, Janet Foster 52:46.

Haldon Trail Runners: Steve O'Donoghue 47:20.

Dartmouth AC: Stephen Wallace 48:57, Marie Jones 55:08, Kari-Ann Webb 56:08.