with the very real spectre of the Bank of Bermuda Triathlon providing much in the form of activity.

And while it was the men's record-setting team of Neil de Ste. Croix, Kevin Insley and Manuel Lopes grabbing most of the spotlight it could be said that the women provided most of the drama and excitement.

The top two teams engaged in a fierce battle that saw no less than three lead changes during the course of the one-mile swim, 15-mile cycle and six-mile run.

In the end it was the trio of youngster Elisha Miller (swimmer), Lynne Devine (cyclist) and Sandra Mewett (runner) raising their arms in triumph over the team containing Shona Cowie, Julia Hawley and Annette Booth.

Ultimately, it was Mewett's strong run that catapulted her side to victory as she overtook Booth on the first lap of the run and surged home giving them an overall time of 1:38:42 compared to 1:39:46 for the second-place team.

"I think it's wonderful (to have won),'' said Mewett. "And I feel very fortunate to have had such wonderful company on the team.

"We had a great start and that really makes the rest of the team want to go for it.'' Earlier it was Miller producing a scintillating 22:36 swim leg and handing over to cyclist Devine.

The latter was saddled with the task of holding off the talented Julia Hawley and the pair raced neck-and-neck about the three-mile loop course, with Hawley twice overtaking Devine, the last time during the fifth lap.

Said Devine: "I knew she (Hawley) was strong and I said to myself, `If only I could just hang on'.

"We were really playing cat and mouse but she eventually pulled away.'' For the second-place finishers Booth, who is set to depart the Island to resume residence in England shortly, said that it was great to be on such a competitive team even though they did not win.

A distant third among the women was the threesome of Mary Hopkins, Melanie Claude and Jane Christie who managed 1:45:00. PHOTO MILLER MAGIC -- Eighteen-year-old Elisha Miller produced a splendid swim leg, helping her team to first place in the female category of the triathlon.