Yesterday?s rescheduled Shell Gold Cup Triathlon at Southside produced no surprises as Riaan Naude and Karen Smith took top male and female honours respectively.

Before the event, Riaan had predicted he would need a 30-second lead over twin brother Evan if he was to hold him off on the run.

And that prediction was spot-on as he quickly reeled in his brother on the 20 kilometre bike after emerging from the 750 metre swim slightly behind. It was only on the last of the four-lap five kilometre run that Evan could make any meaningful inroads into Riann?s lead and by then it was a case of too little, too late.

Riaan hit the finish line first in one hour, two minutes and 47 seconds with Evan close behind in 1:02.55.

Norbert Meyer caught 16-year-old Matthew Godfrey, the early leader after the swim, to finish third overall and first in the 30-39 age group in 1:08.58 with Godfrey, the 16-19 age group winner, in fourth overall in 1:11.20

Although still working back to full fitness Smith, who has dominated the local triathlon scene in recent years, emerged from the swim with a three and a half minute minute lead over her most likely challenger, Kim McMullen, and then produced a solid bike and run to easily take the overall women?s title and the 30-39 age group crown in 1:10.44 ? good enough for fourth overall.

McMullen trailed Caroline Mitchell out of the water but soon caught her on the bike as she produced the fastest female bike split of the day to take second in 1:14.37.

Joanna Shillington, a newcomer to the sport, showed her potential with a solid all round performance capped by a fast five kilometre run to finish third overall (first in the 20-29 age group) in 1:17.45.

Karen Adams trailed badly in the swim but the former Front Street Mile and May 24 Derby winner used a strong bike ride and solid run to move her up to fourth and first in the 40-49 age group.

Steve Petty also enjoyed an excellent race to finish as the fifth male overall and comfortably in first place in the 50-plus age group in 1:13.26. Duncan Scott was first in the 40-40 age group in 1:16.51.

In the male 13-39 team event, Ian Maule, Garth Thompson and Neil de ste Croix won comfortably in 1:01.00 with Ashley Moloney, Deborah Moran and Samantha De Putran taking women?s honours. Jo Fowler, Craig Eckman and Shauna Burns won the mixed team title.

The senior event was preceded by the Shell Gold Cup Junior Triathlon which attracted a large field of youngsters in both the racing and mountain bike categories.

The 12 to 15 year-olds raced over a 400 metre swim, 15K bike and 3K run and Dorian Armstrong, who enjoyed an outstanding race in the Bank of Bermuda Triathlon competing against the adults, was the first boy to finish in 50.23 to win the 12-13 age group. Thomas Godfrey placed second overall and first in the 14-15 age group. Chelsea Lines took the 12-13 girls? title.

The six to seven year-olds raced over a 50 metre swim, 2.5K bike and 500 metre run with Tadhg O?Shaughnessy and Gabriella Arnold taking top honours. Nathan Amaral and Jazmine Outerbridge were comfortable winners in the eight to nine age group while David Lunn and Rebecca Heileger took first place in the boys? 10-11 and girls? 10-11 respectively. Olivia Lunn and Theo Peters won the eight to nine mountain bike category.

Morgan Hopkins, Emily Nagel and Rachel Fox (girls? 7-10), Philip Hagen, Daniel Oatley and Jaylen Martin (boys? 7-10), Stephanie Robinson, Hayley Evans and Carys Pinches (girls? 11-15), Nicholas Thompson, John Adcock and Justin Burke (boys? 11-15) were the team winners. John Ringold and Jennifer Bailey won the adult tri-a-triathlon.

On hand to present prizes were Sports Minister Dale Butler and Phil Burton, chairman of the Shell Companies of Bermuda.

Juniors who finished in the top five in their age groups and all seniors who finished in the top three in their age group who were not on hand for the prizegiving can collect their prizes by calling Dave Morrison on 297-5143 between 6 and 9 p.m.