HALF the world away in Osaka yesterday, the great Kenenisa Bekele was winning the world 10k track title in a fraction over 27 minutes. Back in Guernsey, Steve Dawes was running his own 10k – on the roads – and clocking 34min. 30sec. in winning the Project 10k road race.

His winning margin over Dave Holmes was a comfortable 95sec. but by his own admission, Dawes is not in the best of shape and like many local athletes is currently suffering from post Island Games syndrome.

‘I pushed the last 5k but I’m not very fit so it was not very quick,’ said the winner in Saumarez Park which was the start and finish point for the new course.

‘It’s a nice course but not a fast one, not with the wind in this direction anyway,’ said the winner.

Holmes had led very early on but Dawes soon took control and by halfway at Portinfer, his advantage had stretched to 100m.

Behind Holmes, Dave Dyke was a comfortable third and he was to hold it, finishing just over a minute ahead of the fastest woman, Louise Perrio who clocked 38-34.

Ronan Shally, more at home over 800m, was seventh at 5k and came through strongly to take fifth.