Hawkins, the European cross country bronze medallist attempting to build on a superb 2016 season topped by a ninth place finish in the Olympic marathon, set a relentless pace almost from the first stride of the hilly eight kilometres course.

Only Korir and US defending champion Garrett Heath stuck with him as a largely Scottish crowd roared in approval.

Three soon became two as Hawkins repeatedly attempted to break clear on the hills and mud.

It seemed he had achieved just that in the closing stages as a gap opened, only for Korir to come charging back in the home straight.

The Kenyan-born runner crossed the line a single second ahead in 24min 03sec

Another Kenyan-born athlete came third in Turkey's Aras Caya, a member of the European team today.

He beat Hawkins to gold at last month's European Championships, but finished 17 seconds behind today.

Heath faded to sixth, one place ahead of Sir Mo, who never went with the early pace and instead eased through the field in his first race of the year.

"It was a hard day of the office," the London 2012 and Rio 2016 5,000 and 10,000 metres Olympic champion told the BBC after what he claimed would be his last ever cross country race. 

"I'm a little bit behind where I would usually be at this stage of the season.

"But I'm not panicking this early on in the year - I've got to get ready for London 2017."

A Kenyan-born runner representing Turkey also won the women's 6km event as Yasemin Can dominated.

She crossed the line in 20:36 to win by 21 seconds over Ireland's Fionnula McCormack.

Turkey's Meryem Akdag completed the European 1-2-3 a further five seconds back in third.