A PERSONAL best time was not enough to give Torbay AC runner Adam Carlson a top three finish in the Ironbridge Runner First Chance 10k at Exeter.

Carlson completed the New Year race in 32mins 23secs but had to settle for fourth thanks to a trio of fantastic performances.

Kevin Heywood's was best by far, with the Bideford AC man hacking more than a minute off Kairn Stone's five-year-old course record to win in 30:44.

His Bristol & West clubmate Tom Merson was only 11 seconds behind, while former Torbay AC man Stone also beat his 2005 best with a time of 31:26.

Bideford's Mark Jenkin was fifth in 32:27, while Torbay's Lee Turner rounded off the top six in 32:46.

Helen Dyke, meanwhile, surrendered her ladies' title to Tavistock's Jo Meek.

Torbay runner Dyke won last year in a time of 37:25, but this time was more than a minute behind Meek's 2010 effort of 36:47.

Consolation came in the form of an FV35 category win for Dyke, though, while Exeter's Lucy Commander — a last-minute replacement entry — struggled with illness and only managed third.

Newton Abbot AC youngster Adam Caunter had a good run and clocked a finishing time of 36:45 to come fifth in the competitive U20s class, and 26th overall out of more than 450 finishers.

Eight Dawlish Coasters took on the banks of the River Exe, and they were led home by Pete Hayward in 48:12.

Other Dawlish finishers were Eric Foster (51:29), Gary Herridge (53:31), Jan Foster (58:03), Elle Anderson (57:41), Zoe Anderson (58:05), Pat Clatworthy (59:46) and David Moreland (1:00:23).

First Brixham Harrier home was Victor Williscroft in 45:07, followed by club mates Viv Mifsud (53:59) and Kylie Mudge (61:41).

FIRST CHANCE 10K RESULTS

Top 20: 1 Kevin Heywood (Bideford AC) 30:44; 2 Tom Merson (Bristol & West) 30:55; 3 Kairn Stone (New Essex Beagles) 31:26; 4 Adam Carlson (Torbay AC) 32:23; 5 Mark Jenkin (Bideford AC) 32:27; 6 Lee Turner (Torbay AC) 32:46; 7 Mike Wilsmore (Tamar Trotters) 32:54; 8 Peter Freedman (Tavistock AC) 32:59; 9 Ashley Humphreys (Exeter RC) 33:11; 10 Pete Waumsley (Tamar Trotters) 33:30; 11 Andrew Medland (unatt) 33:57; 12 Neil Mytton (Plymouth Harriers) 33:58; 13 Andrew Reed (U20) 34:51; 14 Richard Drage (Tavistock AC, MV50) 35:11; 15 Jake Waldron (SWRR, U20) 35:27; 16 Tony Symons (MV45) 35:28; 17 Jon Parkinson (Bideford AC, MV40) 35:37; 18 Kerry Roberts (Tiverton Harriers, M45) 35:38; 19 Lee Salter (Exeter RC) 35:45; 20 Neil Barkell (unatt) 36:12;

Women: 1 Jo Meek (Tavistock AC) 36:47; 2 Helen Dyke (Torbay AC, FV35) 38:00; 3 Lucy Commander (SWRR) 38:32; 4 Anna Rust (Exeter RC, U20) 39:54; 5 Jessica Watkins (SRC) 40:54; 6 Karen Cook (SWRR, W50) 41:45; 7 Amelia Hall (FV40) 43;36; 8 Kathryn Hough (SWRR, FV45) 43:42; 9 Vicky Murphy (unatt) 44:58; 10 Karen Baddeley (FV45) 45:18.

ENTRIES for the 2010 Oh My Obelisk run will be accepted on the day of the race by organisers Dawlish Coasters.

The muddy 11-mile multi-terrain challenge gets underway at Dawlish Leisure Centre at 10.30am on Sunday morning, and entries can be made until 10 minutes before the start time.

The race to the top of Haldon Forest and back offers some spectacular views combined with a few hills, and is the first South Devon event of the New Year.

Last year's Oh My Obelisk was won by Torbay AC's Pete Monaghan, who clocked a time of 1hr 11mins 55secs.

Entry fee is £13, or £11 for EA competition licence holders. Entry forms can also be downloaded from www.dawlishcoasters.co.uk.