suffering from hypothermia, Bermuda's seven-strong contingent all completed yesterday's gruelling course at the world triathlon championships in Wellington, New Zealand.

Melanie Claude proved the pick of the bunch as she clocked two hours, 37 minutes and seven seconds for the 1500 metre swim, 40K cycle and 10K run. That placed her 838th overall in a field of more than 1200, and 48th in the 30-34 female age group.

Simon Farmer was next best in the Bermuda team, just a minute and a half behind Claude in 2:38.37, placing 856th overall and 61st in the male 35-39 age group.

Next, in order, were Mark Edmunds (2:40.58, 876th overall, 62nd 35-39 age group); Karen Meyer (2:42.05, 888th, 54th 25-29); Alex Tully (2:42.55, 894th, 64th 35-39); Trevor Todd (2:50.37, 959th, 72nd 25-29); and Dawn Robinson (2:57.36, 1,002nd, 50th 35-39).

The race was won for the second successive year by Spencer Smith of Britain who took the lead in the cycling competition and held off fast-finishing Australian Brad Beven. Germany's Ralph Eggert was third.

Emma Carney of Australia won the women's title ahead of Anette Pedersen of Denmark and New Zealand's Sarah Harrow.