It was a mutually satisfying morning for Tyler Butterfield and his fans as he swam, cycled, ran and predictably conquered all in yesterday's second annual Shell Gold Cup Senior Triathlon at Clearwater Beach.

In a purposeful showing, the Bermuda's professional triathlete delighted spectators as he completed the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5 km run in 59 minutes, 17 seconds - only the second occasion on which he has gone under one hour at home.

To a loud fanfare of cheering and clapping, the Australia-based competitor crossed the finish more than six minutes ahead of Jamie Pedro who was second in 1:06.21 hours. Matthew Herring, a 15-year-old Saltus Grammar schoolboy, gave a high-class performance to be third in 1:07.08 hours. He also took the 13-15 Men's title while Butterfield was tops among the 16-29 Men.

Deanna McMullen overtook Cora Lee Starzomski on the run's final lap to take the women's title in 1:12.27 hours. The 29-year-old winner finished 11th overall and was also the Women's 16-29 champion. Starzomski was the women's runner-up in 1:13.38 hours (15th overall) and Lea Butterfield rounded out the top three in 1:19.23 hours (20th) while capturing the Women's 40-49 crown.

"It was fun; nice to be back racing. It was a good course and it was great to see everyone and have the support. I had a good race and I'm happy. Thanks to everyone for coming down and watching," said 19-year-old Butterfield of the tremendous reception he received.

A bubbly McMullen was truly elated with victory in her first sprint triathlon.

"I knew I would be behind (coming) out of the water and I usually have a really strong bike - that's where I make up time - but I didn't feel very good on the bike today but my legs came through on the run," she said, saying she "knew it would be close" between her and Starzomski.

The latter, also 29, was satisfied she did her best despite tiring towards the end.

"I was pretty sure Deanna was going to catch me. She is a real strong runner. It was tough," said Starzomski, who is in her first year as a triathlete.

Pedro, 29, said he "wouldn't complain" about his performance though he did not get into a rhythm on his swim. The race was part of the 29-year-old's preparation for the Olympic distance triathlon in Memphis, USA, next week. He is building up to the World Championships in November.

Herring, too, has the Worlds in sight and noted that he should have qualified for that international meet on the basis of yesterday.

The event's other highly-anticipated showdown was in the Male Team segment which featured the trio of Trevor Johnstone, Steve Millington and Barrie King against Steve Castree, Greg Hopkins and world-rated triathlete, Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia.

This was a truly absorbing duel with Johnstone - first out the water overall - and Millington, who finished the bike in second place - a mere.03 seconds behind Butterfield - giving King a lead of 2.39 minutes over Kahlefeldt as he started the three-lap run.

By the end of the first lap, the lead was down to 1.48 minutes and after two laps, the 22-year-old international guest had chopped it to 58 seconds. As he disappeared behind the shrubs in pursuit of King, the question on everyone's lips was which team would prevail.

Finally, a figure - cap turned backwards - loomed in the distance, out towards the nature preserve. It was King making his way over the course's final undulating metres - but Kahlefeldt was coming! Did he have enough time? Did he have enough strength?

Alas, it was 34-year-old King, with a final burst of speed, who sealed the team title for his side. Their overall time was 1:00.19 hours to the Castree-Hopkins-Kahlefeldt effort of 1:00.30 hours. Interestingly, King's run was timed at 18.33 minutes while Kahlefeldt's was a superb 16.05 minutes - 2.28 minutes faster than King's.

"I felt a tonne of pressure. I haven't been competitive for a while and I knew I would have to run my heart out today to beat him (Kahlefeldt). I just managed to do the time I wanted - around six minutes per mile and I managed to hold him off. Maybe another quarter mile he might have had me but I was lucky.

"I needed that lead time to be able to handle this top triathlete," said a relieved King, a former national athlete.

Kahlefeldt, Butterfield's training partner, enjoyed his first Bermuda outing and vowed to return.

"I didn't think I would catch him (King) but I gave it everything I had and I got pretty close. I didn't think I was that close but seeing him up at the final turn, I think if I had another kilometre I would've got him but that team was too good today," he said of the race.

The combination of Belinda Castree, Melanie Claude and Victoria Fiddick won the Women's Team title in 1:04.35 hours. Stephen James won the Men's 40-49 title in 1:12.50 hours while Mark Peters was the Men's 30-39 winner in 1:14.48 hours. Caroline Mitchell topped the 30-39 Women in 1:19.58 hours and Ian Fox won the 50-plus Men's in 1:19.26 hours.