It was not for the want of trying that Tom Merson narrowly failed to reclaim his senior men's title in the South West Cross-Country Championships at Bicton College.
When the Exmouth-based runner hit the front on the second of the three big laps with just two other runners for company, the large contingent of spectators would have been expecting a repeat of 2013 when Merson pulled clear for victory.
That conviction was strengthened when Cornwall's Dan Nash dropped off Merson's relentless pace, but that still left one other – who was looking alarmingly easy.
"I had no idea who the other guy was," said Merson. "I did my best to shake him off but he was really strong and when he kicked up the hill on the final lap I couldn't do anything."
The mystery man was another Devon runner, Jamie Parkinson of Dartmoor Runners, and it is not surprising that Merson was in the dark over his identity.
Parkinson admitted he flew way "under the radar" at this event last year when finishing 21st, but was third in the Oxford v Cambridge University varsity match last month to show a significant improvement after a couple of years of just dabbling in the sport.
Apparently that followed a period of intense training as Parkinson was persuaded to devote more time to his running after a broken hand forced him to abandon his main sport of hockey.
"Fair play to him, but I am pretty happy with my run as since the Devon Championships (which Merson won last month) I have had a calf injury and then was ill all over Christmas," added Merson. "I was not as sharp as I would like but I haven't lost too much fitness."
Exeter-based runner Steve Goss ran well to win the male over-45 prize from Exmouth Harriers' Mike Musgrove, while Exmouth's Terence Oldham won bronze in the over-55 age group.
Exeter Harriers' athletes were out in force in the children's races, and will be delighted to have won three team golds in the under-17 and under-13 girls' age groups plus the under-11 boys' race.
Katie Olding led the challenge in the under-17s, finishing 12th, and she had excellent support from Zoe Kuyken (14th), Madeline Roche (17th) and Florence Livingstone (20th).
In the under-13 girls' race, which was won by Teignmouth-based Molly Canham, Jasmine Wellman finished fourth and was supported by Runa Manby, Isabelle Beech and Brooke Coldwell.
In the under-11 boys' race the Harriers had their top three runners – Josh Cann, Samuel Mills and Cameron Bryson – in the top 10, and with Oliver Beech 11th they easily finished as the top team.
The Harriers also struck team silver in the under-15 boy's age group with the quartet of Patrick Livingstone, Matthew Penny, Joe Chamberlain and Alfie Devine-Wright finishing just one point behind Wells City Harriers.
Elsewhere, there was a fine performance by Molly Smith of Axe Valley Runners as the 13-year-old finished fourth in the under-15 girls' race and Exeter's Sam Pyne was fourth in the under-13 boys.
