Tyler Butterfield hopes his triathlon and cycling exploits can inspire young Bermudian athletes as Elliot Hubbard and Kris Hedges inspired him.

Speaking after predictably winning yesterday?s Bank of Bermuda Individual Triathlon at Albuoy?s Point in record-breaking time, he said it was his pleasure to be a role model for the Island?s youth and he would be thrilled to see more of them using sports as an avenue for life success.

?I just hope some of the kids see me and see that it?s possible. In cycling, Elliot (Hubbard) set the trend as far as being the first one (Bermudian) to go over to Europe and then the USA and we saw Kris (Hedges) follow and now I?ve been able to follow,? noted the Olympic triathlete who last week signed with French cycling outfit Vendee U.

?Now kids can say ?Hey if Tyler has done it then I can do it?. Once someone sees somebody else do something they realise it?s possible.

?It?s kept me out of trouble and let me travel the world and hopefully someone else will say ?That?s not a bad idea, let me give it a shot?.?

Butterfield, who romped to victory in the tri-discipline event in 57.03 minutes, acknowledged he felt happy and a bit nostalgic competing before his home crowd for what may be the last time in a while.

?It was great with everyone cheering and the good weather. They got more numbers than last year and hopefully it continues to grow. All the guys at the top are improving but it?s also great to see people doing it just for fun,? he said.

As for his future, however, he vowed that triathlon will not be on the backburner forever.

?I?m young so I know I?ll do a lot of triathlons later in life. I don?t feel like this is my last one but for the next little bit I?ll go and concentrate on cycling and I?m excited. It?s something new and different.

?I?ve been training for triathlons for the last four years so it will be a nice change but it?s a great sport and I?ll always do triathlons.?

Behind Butterfield, a brotherly rivalry played out as twins Riaan and Evan Naude claimed second and third respectively in one hour, 01.26 minutes and one hour, 02.38 minutes. The latter overcame Coyatito Smith and Jamie Brown during the run to join Riaan on the podium.

?When I started to run I thought it was ?Race over?. I was racing for fifth place but each lap I could see where the guys ahead of me were and I could see I was slowly catching up,? recalled 28-year-old Evan.

?On the last lap I just pushed hard and luckily I caught them. This is my first individual Bank of Bermuda triathlon and, especially with Tyler in the race, I knew we were running for second and third so I?m very happy to be in the top three.?

Riaan, too, was exceedingly pleased with his performance, particularly the swim.

?I was very happy with my swim. Normally, that?s my weakest discipline but over the last three months I?ve worked very hard on my swim and it paid. My swim time was a lot better this year than previously years so I?m glad.?

Always trailing Butterfield by at least two or three minutes, Riaan tried not to lose too much time on the bike and, realising that his brother and others were in hot pursuit on the run, he pressed on to secure the runner-up position.

?It was getting tough towards the end but I managed second place and I?m very happy,? he said.

Regarding the rivalry between him and Evan, he smiled and disclosed their friendly bets motivates them.

?Evan is normally better on the swim and the run and I?m a bit stronger on the bike. So it?s always me trying to catch up on the bike and then trying to stay ahead on the run and today I succeeded,? he said, adding that his cause was helped by Evan?s trouble with his bike chain.

Smith, 17, was thrilled to pip Brown for forth place, terming it a good sign of his triathlon progress. He crossed the line in one hour, 03.12 minutes while 13-year-old Dorian Armstrong was 12th in one hour, 10.10 minutes.

Meanwhile, Karen Smith stunned spectators and participants alike with a gutsy effort to win the women?s crown just two months after giving birth.

The seasoned triathlete overhauled Shona Palmer and then Julia Hawley on the run to claim top honours in one hour, 10.01 minutes.

?The event went really well. I?ve done it for the past five or six years but I missed last year due to an injury. It was probably a bit early to try and come back but I had a pretty good race though I really struggled on the bike because I haven?t put in the training this course deserves,? said the 36-year-old who was tenth overall.

?I?m pleased with how it went. I raced on experience and it was a mental challenge but I went for it and it worked out for me.?

Reflecting on her sterling three-lap run, Smith said she didn?t know what Palmer would produce on that last stage but knew Hawley, who was some distance ahead, was a good runner.

?I put my eyes on Shona first and set out to get her and, after I got her, people kept telling me ?Jules is just in front. Dig deep? and I thought ?Yeah, let?s dig deep and try for this?.?

Though unsure if Hawley was playing possum, the eventual women?s champion overtook and surged home ahead of her fading rival in the final half mile.

Hawley saw her result as a good launching pad for the 2005 season in cycling and triathlon, having rebounded from illness.

The 41-year-old expected the battle among the females to be as tough as it was, adding ?it could have gone either way?.