The pair, along with Benita Johnson and Aniko Kalovics, were always expected to be the main contenders.

Johnson, however, was never in the hunt for a win and faded to seventh position, a place ahead of her fellow Australian and defending champion Victoria Mitchell.

Kalovics, just three weeks after placing third in the Rome Marathon, lasted a little longer before falling off the pace, although she still produced a good time of 32mins 45secs for third.in the unhelpful conditions.

Changeywo made it a double family success with her partner Moses Masai winning the Parelloop 10km road race in Brunsuum, Holland earlier in the day, and always looked the likeliest winner.

The 23-year-old Kenyan, displaying the strength which earned her fourth place at last weekend’s World Cross-Country Championships, gradually ground down her major rivals until with three kilometres remaining the duel was between herself and Pavey.

The British athlete, running only her second race for over six months, managed to maintain her momentum and a place alongside the Kenyan until Changeywo released a searing turn of speed on the course’s biggest hill with just under two kilometres to run.

“Doris was obviously in good shape given her position at the World Cross Country and it showed when she just pulled away from me on the steepest part of the course,” said Pavey.

“I’ve never been a great hill-runner but once we got back on to the flat, I felt I was making ground upon her.

“I was concentrating on catching her but really given her strength, there was no way it was going to happen.

“But it’s nice to be back racing at this level and the result shows I’m travelling in the right direction going into the summer season.”

Pavey, who is returning to her altitude training base in South Africa on Tuesday, added: “I’ll be staying in Dullstroom for three weeks or even a month, before returning for another 10km road race.

“These type of events suit me and of course it is the same distance as I will race over in Beijing.

“I’m feeling good and am very happy with how I performed.”

Abraham Chebii defended his men’s title when holding off former Kenyan team-mate Abdullah Ahmad Hassan by just three seconds in a time of 28mins 48secs.

“He made me fight all of the way before I put in a sprint in the last 300 metres,” said Chebii of his rival, formerly known as Albert Chepkurui but who has represented Qatar for the last five years.

The pair of Africans fought their own battle, although seven-times European Cross-Country champion Sergiy Lebid put up a strong performance when finishing just eight seconds behind Hassan.

Nick McCormick was the first Briton home behind the Ukrainian, in a respectable time of 29mins 18secs.