FORMER Torbay AC runner Kairn Stone produced an early contender for 'performance of the year' to dominate the Plymouth Hoe 10 on Sunday.

Stone, who now represents Newham & Essex Beagles, also helped Devon retain their men's Peninsula Challenge title after blitzing the near-600 field to clock a winning time of 51mins 58secs.

It was the first time Stone had broken the 52-minute mark at the Hoe, and it wasn't surprising given the early pace he set.

Opening up a lead after barely 1,000m, Stone was out on his own by the five-mile mark and clocked 25:22 going through the halfway point.

He went on to win by more than two minutes from Cornwall AC's Matt Pullen (54:05) and Newquay Road Runners' Oliver Gibson (54:23).

Despite Duchy runners occupying two of the three podium places, it was Devon who reigned supreme in the county team competition — thanks in no small part to Torbay AC duo Adam Carlson and Lee Turner.

Carlson was fourth in 54:29 while Turner came home seventh in 55:26.

Fellow Torbay runner Helen Dyke wasn't able to help the ladies make it a Devon clean sweep.

Dyke was second in the ladies and 37th overall with a time of 1:02:41, but Cornwall AC's Emma Stallard clocked 1:01:58 to help the Cornish side retain their Peninsula Challenge crown.

Three Teignbridge Trotters also claimed top 50 finishes in Plymouth. David Tomlin was 28th (1:00:45), Thomas Burman 45th (1:04:22) and Ian Langler 49th (1:04:45).

Torbay AC's Wendy Urban just missed out on breaking the top 50. She finished 53rd, but her time of 1:05:37 was easily good enough to win her the FV45-49 category win.

Brixham Harriers pair Victor Williscroft (1:15:38) and Kim Harris (1:20:30) used the run as part of their preparation for the London Marathon, while club mate David Rogers clocked 1:25:17.

Meanwhile, Jean Mills had an excellent result as the sole Brixham Harriers representative in the Hestercombe Humdinger.

Mills won her F60 age group category with a time of 1:29:43 at the 9.5-mile off-road race.

South Devon AC runner Jon Pressling was the region's best finisher at the race near Taunton — he finished 14th in 1:03:05, while Teignbridge Trotters' Wavell Vigers was 17th in 1:04:06.

PLYMOUTH HOE 10 RESULTS AND CLUB TIMES

Top ten: 1 Kairn Stone (Newham & Essex Beagles) 51:28, 2 Matt Pullen (Cornwall AC) 54:05, 3 Oliver Gibson (Newquay Road Runners) 54:23, 4 Adam Carlson (Torbay AC) 54:29, 5 Peter Ellis (Hayle Road Runners) 54:59, 6 John McFarlane (Thames Hare & Hounds) 55:07, 7 Lee Turner (Torbay AC) 55:26, 8 Peter Waumsley (Tamar Trotters) 55:38, 9 Sam Hill (Mounts Bay Harriers) 55:50, 10 Pete Freeman (Tavistock AC) 55:57.

Torbay AC: Adam Carlson 54:29, Lee Turner 55:26, Helen Dyke 1:02:41, Wendy Urban 1:05:37, Stephen Wilbraham 1:06:15, Hadleigh Davies 1:08:29, Raymond Wilson 1:13:50, Gerald Barlow 1:18:29, Nick Dance 1:19:14, Deborah Drake 1:22:37, Tessa Hearfield 1:22:38, Irene Hewings 1:24:10, Linda Philippou 1:29:22.

Teignbridge Trotters: David Tomlin 1:00:45, Thomas Burman 1:04:22, Ian Langler 1:04:45, Daryl Milford 1:06:44, Eyvoll Aston 1:11:17, Wilfred Taylor 1:11:23, Mark Hamling 1:12:10, Gary Watson 1:13:27, Ewan Walton 1:13:56, James Henderson 1:14:20, Mark Wotton 1:14:32, Tracy Elphick 1:18:18, Nigel Penwarden 1:19:34, Gia D'Aprano 1:20:02, Sharon Bowman 1:20:56, Graeme Baker 1:24:28, Stephen Wallace 1:25:24, Michelle Willcocks-Watts 1:29:00, Eleanor Taylor 1:30:26, Sally Ingledew 1:30:38, Kevin Besford 1:36:23, Amanda Milverton 1:39:27.

Brixham Harriers: Victor Williscroft 1:15:38, Kim Harris 1:20:30, David Rogers 1:25:17.

Dawlish Coasters: Simon Bunday 1:19:09, Gail Crocker 1:43:37.

Newton Abbot AC: Ken Tinkler 1:19:21, Sue Hewings 1:23:23, Deborah Fallshaw 1:34:37.

Teign Valley RC: Craig Churchill 1:22:14.

Dartmouth AC: Marie Jones 1:31:32.

HESTERCOMBE HUMDINGER RESULTS AND CLUB TIMES

Top ten: 1 Oliver Berry (Taunton AC) 55:41, 2 Luke Scott (Taunton AC) 56:23, 3 Gerry Hogg (Trull Troggers) 57:03, 4 Simon Roost (London) 57:22, 5 Stuart McLay (Bath) 57:45, 6 Tom Mellor (Taunton AC) 58:47, 7 Richard Caburn (Taunton AC) 59:25, 8 Jason Kilduff (Berrow) 59:40, 9 Chris Bacon (Stratford-upon-Avon) 1:00:04, 10 Dylan Whittingham 1:01:01.

South Devon AC: Jon Pressling 1:03:05, Robert Leeke 1:04:35, Jeremy Hocking 1:06:15, Ian McClean 1:07:08, Rick Martin 1:07:09, Vince Langdon 1:09:21, Neil Downer 1:17:13, Gary Brooking 1:19:24, Jean Grierson-Jackson 1:19:44, Steve Waddington 1:22:18, John Drennan 1:22:38, Roger Webb 1:23:07, Sue Hayes 1:26:15, Liz Lee 1:32:21, Guy Henderson 1:33:41, Eileen Severn 1:34:47, Ken House 1:35:47.

Teignbridge Trotters: Wavell Vigers 1:04:06, Steve Rawlinson 1:30:50, Stella Imong 1:33:27.

Dawlish Coasters: Jim Patterson 1:21:13, Kevin Thompson 1:21:59, Stephen Jones 1:23:17, Shelagh Parker 1:23:18, Pat Clatworthy 1:43:28.

Brixham Harriers: Jean Mills 1:29:43.

Unattached: Michael Prior (Torquay) 1:15:53, Andrew Martin (Newton Abbot) 1:19:44, Allen Taylor (Newton Abbot) 1:19:48, Isobelle Belcher (Torquay) 1:28:24, Angela Murray (Newton Abbot) 1:40:35, Sophie Collier (Teignmouth) 1:48:30, Amanda Johnson (Teignmouth) 1:52:44, Marcia Doherty (Teignmouth) 1:52:44, Deborah Alford (Dawlish) 1:53:15, Donna Robbins (Shaldon) 1:56:44.