Bermuda athletes Nicholas Pilgrim and Philip Mace blitzed the field to capture the men’s titles in the MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda sprint and Olympic-distance races respectively in Hamilton on Saturday.

Pilgrim completed the 750-metre swim, 20km bike and 5km run in the sprint event in 1hr 7min 48sec to claim both men’s 17-29 age-group and overall honours, and also improve on a runner-up performance from last year.

“I didn’t really expect anything to happen, I was just trying to go all out from the start,” he said.

“I felt really good and I’m really happy with the result.

“I just paced myself well, making sure I don’t go out too hard and die early on in the run or fatigue.

“It was pretty windy and the swim was really choppy. I felt the wind the most on the bike but it was really good fun.

“I’m really happy with how it went. It felt amazing.”

Bermuda’s Tucker Murphy finished second overall and claimed men’s 30-39 age-group honours in 1:09:49.

Overseas competitor Martin Civera Saez rounded off the men’s podium in third and was first in the 40-49 age group in 1:09:52.

Bermuda’s Neil de St Croix was first in the men’s 50-59 age group and eighth overall in 1:13:08.

Mace’s triumph in the Olympic-distance event was equally as convincing as Pilgrim’s, as he too won by more than a two-minute margin.

The national triathlon champion completed the 1,500-metres swim, 40km bike and 10km run in 2:13:19.

Overseas competitor Mik Onions finished second overall in 2:15:18 and Bermuda’s Alan Potts third in 2:17:52.

Bermuda’s Kent Richardson was the only competitor in the 60-69 age group, finishing 26th overall in 2:32:36.