MARC Smerdon from Postbridge enjoyed success at the Bideford half marathon earlier this month.
The former Tavistock College student and Tavistock Rugby Football Club Colt completed the 13 miles of North Devon terrain in a time of 1minute 29.22 seconds to take first place in the U20 section.
It also earned the 18-year-old a bottle of champagne from race organisers — not bad for the runner, who has recently joined Tavistock Athletic Club, and was competing in only his second half marathon following his 'debut' in the Duchy marathon.