triathlon glory yesterday.

The Englishman was forced into a quick change part way through the Bank of Bermuda event and although he lost the lead, he found enough energy reserves to regain it and take the title in a time of one hour and two minutes -- just ahead of Kent Richardson (1:06:00), Kavin Smith (1:06:40), Karen Smith (1:07:54) and Jonathan Herring (1:08:56).

Herring had led the race, held in hot and humid conditions, only to be overhauled towards the end.

Celebrating his win, Younghusband, from Southampton, Hampshire, said: "My objective was to stay in touch during the swim and I was just off the first two leaders as they came out.

"I got through the transition onto the bike and took the lead early on within about half a lap. But then at the end of that lap I had a front puncture and so I had to swap over a wheel.

"It appeared to be about 20 seconds I lost to Jonathan. I set about chasing him down and regained the lead on lap three, pulled away and built up a bit of a lead so I could take the run quite comfortably,'' he said.

With just a few laps of the capital's streets remaining Younghusband said he knew the race was his.

"I'm quite confident in the run, I can run 33 minutes for 10K so I've got it to rely on. With the hot conditions I didn't want to get dehydrated so I held back and kept a little bit in reserve,'' he said.

Richardson's second place owed much to pre-planning for the cycling stage.

"I looked at the course and realised how technical it was so I put a set of wheels on that I thought could accelerate faster out of the turns and not take time to wind up. I think the right choice of equipment helped today,'' he said.

His finish meant he led the charge for the veterans.

"Not bad for the old boy at 41. I figured let's just see what I can do, give myself four or five years, lay it on the line, think out of the box and just push myself -- it's like no limits,'' he said.

Kavin Smith, more accustomed to marathon running, took third place overall and said time picked up between stages had helped his cause.

"My transitions this year were a lot quicker than last year so that saved me about four minutes -- last year I lost about six minutes,'' he said.

Top woman, Karen Smith, though streets ahead of her female competitors, said she ran her own race rather than focusing on catching the men.

"I try to go as hard as I can and feel the best I can when I'm racing as opposed to trying to beat Jonathan or Kent or visitors,'' she said.

Though putting in a stirring effort, Smith said she had felt the effects of the heat and humidity.

"It's hard to gauge how much that takes off -- probably a minute off the run and maybe a minute or so off the bike, the only thing probably not effect is the swim,'' she said.

Fifth-placed Herring was hugely disappointed with his efforts.

"I'm very disappointed -- it's probably the worst race I've had in a few years and I think it's a race to forget,'' he said.

Karen Smith: first woman to complete the Bank of Bermuda triathlon and fourth overall.