cyclist didn't bother to show up.

Yes, yesterday's Bank of Bermuda Team Triathlon had a little bit of everything.

Sporting a new locale (Hamilton), new distance (22 miles) and record number of entries (103), this year's event even included, for controversy-lovers, an official protest launched by merely the Island's fastest triathlete.

That would be Neil de ste Croix. And not only didn't de Ste Croix win -- he, Nuri Latham and runner Jay Donawa had to settle for second place behind the entry of Ronald Cowen, Dana Henry and Kavin Smith -- he could be bumped out of the winners spot for next week's Bank of Bermuda Individual Triathlon as well.

That's because of one Dominique Arthur, a native of Flagstaff, Arizona, who turned in the performance of the day and liked it so much he says he wants to stick around and compete next week.

The Cowen, Henry and Smith team were clocked in one hour, 35 minutes and 48 seconds, 1:20 ahead of the de Ste Croix group.

A complete unknown before the race, Arthur was invited by his friend, Bermuda triathlete and Arizona State University alumnus Dyrone Minors, to visit the Island and maybe form a triathlon team while he was here. Arthur, who just happens to be a former US amateur champion, took on the swim leg and before anyone could say Mark Spitz had left the rest of the field in his wake.

"I'm just happy to be here,'' said Arthur, who didn't arrive from Arizona until 4.00 p.m. on Saturday after a seven-hour layover in Atlanta. "This is just great: The crowd, the weather, the atmosphere.'' By the first lap (Albouy's Point to White's Island and back), Arthur was leading by more than 30 seconds and extended it to close to a minute before taking a gulp of fresh seawater. It didn't go down too well and he left a souvenir for the bunch following him.

"I had to slow down and try and get my health back,'' said Arthur, who gave team-mate Mel Bennett on the bike a 26-second bulge on Cowen and another nine seconds on Craig Ferguson.

But while Henry, winner of the Heritage Day Classic race in May, was waiting for Cowen there was no one waiting for Ferguson. He searched in vain for his team-mate, MacInnis Looby, before his team was disqualified.

The whereabouts of Looby, one of the Island's fastest cyclists, was unknown and attempts to reach him last night were unsuccessful.

The third member of the team, runner Sheldon Thompson, said he saw Looby in street clothes after the swim but didn't ask him where he had been.

"I'm disappointed (the team didn't finish) but more so for Craig,'' said Thompson. "He's the one that did all the work.'' Swim ace steals show From Page 19 Henry was able to make up the split on Mel Bennett in the cycle but he was actually overshadowed by 57-year-old Jeff Payne, who clocked the fastest 15-miles of anyone, followed closely by de Ste Croix.

De Ste Croix claimed he was told after the cycle that his team were being docked 45 seconds because of his recklessness in the transition area. He denied knocking over any bikes.

"I heard people shouting but there were like 100 people there. I'm in the middle of a race. What was I supposed to do, stop and say `Excuse me were you talking to me?' '' Race official Patrick Hackenberg said the only penalty was 17 seconds -- imposed before De Ste Croix left. De Ste Croix's appeal was rejected on the basis of independent witnesses who saw him knock over bikes, Hackenberg said.

The penalty left De Ste Croix's runner, Donawa, with an even more daunting task -- but none more than that facing Minors.

That's because Cowen and Henry's team-mate was Kavin Smith, who was even with Minors at the start of the run and a minute up on Donawa.

Smith, winner of the past two Bermuda Marathon Derbies, is obviously still in fine form. He blew past Minors coming out of the transition area and produced a time of 32:40 for the 10 kilometre route along Front Street.

Donawa put in an impressive 33:07 and soon passed Minors but realised right away the hopelessness of the situation.

"I was kind of stacked against it,'' he said. "Give a minute lead to Bermuda's premier distance runner, what can I do?'' The top female finishers were the Dream Team of Shona Palmer, Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley -- which also figures to be the order of finish for next Sunday's individual event.

Claude was "the instigator'' in getting the Island's three top females together, said Hawley. A staunch promoter of women's athletics, Hawley said the three weren't trying to prove anything to other teams or each other. "Our goal is always the same: to push ourselves to the limit, no matter if it's in individual or team competition.'' A formidable entry on paper, the team finished 22nd overall in 1:51:24.

The top female actually was Zoe Roberts, who handled the swim leg for the third-place team. Daren Dowling put in the fourth-fastest cycle and Mike Watson put in a credible 34:32 on the run for an overall time of 1:40:06.

Complete results in tomorrow's Royal Gazette Photos by David Skinner KING ARTHUR -- US visitor Dominique Arthur took everyone by surprise in the Bank of Bermuda Triathlon. He was easily the fastest swimmer but his team slumped to eighth in the overall standings.

THREE AMIGOS -- The winning entry in yesterday's Bank of Bermuda Team Triathlon was (from left) Dana Henry, Ronald Cowen and Kavin Smith.

THE MASTER -- Jeff Payne may be 57-years-old but he was the fastest cyclist in yesterday's Bank of Bermuda triathlon. His winning Masters Division team, including Duncan Newby and Harry Patchett, were sixth overall.Winners' circle Open Division: Ronald Cowen (20.59), Dana Henry (42.09), Kavin Smith (32.40) 1:35.48.

Female Division: Shona Palmer (22.59), Melanie Claude (45.13), Julia Hawley (43.12) 1:51.24.

Family Division: Kim Mason (32.41), Richard Mason (44.42), Rod Allen (36.24) 1:55.47.

Company Division: Belco -- Ian Maule (23.04), Marshall Weller (47.34), Jamal Hart (35.52) 1:46.30.

Junior Division: James Pereira (22.47), Jonathan Herring (46.54), Tyler Butterfield (38.00) 1:47.41.

Male Masters: Duncan Newby (23.05), Jeff Payne (40.42), Harry Patchett (37.43) 1:41.30.

Female Masters: Robyn Peck (29.54), Linda Dillon (47.11), Jane Christie (41.27) 1:58.32.