James Carr, having already won the overall Male Ceres 10k Championship, held of a charge from Ravi Sukhu to win the race finale as well on November 3, 2012. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Despite suffering from dehydration, Female Champion Maria Mays came third overall and first amongst the women. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

With all but the overall third place position decided, the real race was between Sukhu and Zebalon McLean with the former sitting in 4^th as the race began. Sukhu though also had a point to prove an,d although Carr led from start to finish, the result was far from a formality.

Carr set the pace and led the race from Road Town to Sea Cows Bay and return, creating over a minute lead on his rivals. However, on the return leg, Sukhu who was ahead of Maria Mays, pulled away from her and began cutting into Carr’s deficit.

Someone alerted Carr that Sukhu was coming and he had just enough to step on the gas and win in 40 minutes and 23 seconds to Sukhu’s 40:25.

“Going in, I decided to go out a little faster because I really wanted to beat 40 minutes today. I was looking at my watch and then went into my usual pace as it was going fine,” Carr explained. “And we got to the end here and Ravi was neck and neck with me, and I thought, he’s definitely got me and I had to dig really deep down to get it and I got a personal best, which is my fastest race yet.”

Carr said he would have liked to beaten 40 minutes but that will become next year’s challenge. “I’m really happy that I’ve won the series and it has been an awesome series, really good races, they are all fun and well organized and I urge everyone to come out and do them.”

Sukhu said he too was looking for a sub 40-minute time. “I thought I’d use James to get there as close as possible and see how it gets to the last of the race,” Sukhu explained. “James managed to hold his own, I pushed but I couldn’t pass him. I thought I would have had him but somebody shouted out my name and then he got a hint I was right behind him.”

Mays was the top woman in 42:11, and was followed by Katrina Crumpler in 43:19 and NiMade Oniasih, 47:40.

In all, there were 65 different participants in the series that began in July with 33 men and 32 women competing.

Final results; Men: 1. James Carr, 40:23. 2. Ravindra Sukhu, 40:25.  3. Zebalon McLean, 42:54.  4. Adrian Dale, 42:58.  5. Angelito Agno, 44:10. 7. Ben Mays, 45:12. 8. John Argyros, 45:14.  9. Jonathan McCartney, 47:40. 10. Charles Kerins, 48:45. 11. Ross Munro, 53:04. 12. Howard Moore, 54:06.  13. Russell Crumpler, 55:40. 14. Jeffrey George, 61:32. 15.Stephen Beard, 63.43.

Women: 1. Maria Mays, 42:11.  2. Katrina Crumpler, 43:19. 3. NiMade Oniasih, 47:40. 4. Sarah Hayes, 49:18.  5. Philomena Robertson, 50:09.  6. Kay Reddy, 50:38. 7. Joanne Dunne, 53:14. 8. Samantha Sukhu, 58:10. 9. Marlo Marias, 58:26. 10. Liezl Van der Schyf, 58:29. 11. Barbara O'Neal, 60:15. 12. Harriet Robertson, 61:51. 13. Gillian Howe, 62:25. 14. Tia Beckmann, 64:41. 15. Kate Jackson, 63:11. 16. Aislinn Amory, 65.13. Power Walkers:  Linda Li, 86:

Overall standings: Men 1. James Carr. 2. Stephen Asson. 3.Ravindra Sukhu. 4. Zebalon McLean. 5.  Adrian Dale. 6. Angelito Agno. 7. Ben Mays. 8. Howard Moore. 9. Stephen Beard. 10. Jeffrey George 11. Gerald Rose.

Women: 1. Maria Mays. 2.   Katrina Crumpler. 3.   NiMade Oniasih / Sarah Hayes. 5. Clare-Louise Whiley. 6.  Kay Reddy. 7. Philomena Robertson. 8.  Samantha Sukhu. 9. Deborah Bell. 10. Joanne Dunne. 11. Barbara O'Neal Rhoden. 12. Kate Jackson. 13. Linda Li.