This is Devon --FORMER winner Peter Ellis set the hottest time in sweltering heat to take first place in this year's Magnificent 7 road race.
Just under 350 athletes from around the region completed the seven-mile event that was made all the tougher because of the heat wave that has been sweeping the South West and the rest of the country.
Hayle's Ellis, who won the Mag7 in 2009, came steaming home in a time of 40 minutes 33 seconds, just under half-a-minute ahead of second-placed Cornwall Athletics Club's Justin Thomas.
Thomas' time of 41:01 was too good for club-mate Colin Snook's 41:39 who had to settle for third place this time around in the event which was organised by Tamar Trotters and started and finished at Saltash Rugby Club.
Snook's and Thomas's positions were a reverse of 2012 when the duo had finished second and third respectively.
And there was a new female course record set by the amazing Emma Stepto, who won the women's race for a fifth consecutive year.
The Cornwall AC runner came fourth overall up from 2012's seventh-placed finish in a time of 41:55, which was particularly amazing given the tough conditions on the day.
Cornwall AC's Heidi Tregenza (47:29) was the second lady finisher with Jessica Buscombe (49:25), of St Austell RC, third female home.
Tamar Trotter Stephen Wilsmore – twin brother of international middle-distance athlete, Mike – claimed the host club's highest-placed finish, coming sixth in a time of 42:30.
The race, which is part of the Cornish Grand Prix series, is despite the hilly and challenging route, one of the most popular on the local athletics calendar.
Trotters' club captain Alan Williams was fulsome in his praise of all the competitors – from the fastest to the slowest – for completing the course which he said was hard to better even in normal English summer conditions.
Williams said: "It was an amazing event in incredibly hot and tough conditions.
"Everyone who made it to the finish line deserved their medal.
"It is always a tough course, but the weather made it even harder than normal, yet the majority of runners in the main race and fun run all reached the end with a smile on their face.
"It was a great event for us as a club, with dozens of helpers making the event run smoothly, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back again next year."
Results
Men: 1 Peter Ellis (Hayle Runners) 40.33, 2 Justin Thomas (Cornwall AC) 41.01, 3 Colin Snook (Cornwall AC) 41.39, 4 Ken Walker (Newquay) 42.26, 5 Stephen Wilsmore (Tamar Trotters) 42.30, 6 Matthew Bisco (unattached) 42.52, 7 Nick Loewendahl (St Austell) 43.31, 8 Paul Whear (Carn Runners, Vet 45-49), 43.32, 9 Jordan Morant (Hayle) 43.39, 10 Jes Mancer (St Austell, Vet 40-44)
Women: 1 Emma Stepto (Cornwall AC, Vet 40-44) 41.55, 2 Heidi Tregenza (Cornwall AC) 47.29, 3 Jessica Buscombe (St Austell) 49.25, 4 Kathryn Burgess (Cornwall AC, Vet 35-39), 5 Revis Crowle (East Cornwall Harriers, Vet 50-54) 50.54 Reported by This is 3 hours ago.