HE has been king of beach training for a long time but Stephen DeSilva can now officially call himself “King of the Dunes” after a storming performance in Bermuda’s most off-beat running challenge.A five-and-a-bit mile race across the beaches of Warwick Long Bay and Horseshoe Bay and the interlinked sand dunes was always going to favour a beach-running expert.

So it proved as DeSilva was fourth away from the starting blocks in the time-handicapped field of 11 competitors.

Most of the others were beach-running die-hards, although a few were not so much die-hards as last-minute chancers looking to score a bit of silverware for their mantelpiece.

DeSilva was there to make sure no one walked away with the oddest of running trophies, a pair of old sneakers glued to a wooden plinth, without earning it.

The feminising touches to the trophy — including pink love hearts and a lilac-coloured feather boa — was an inspired ploy by reigning “Queen of the Dunes” April Vesey to dissuade the men from trying too hard to win.

But DeSilva was undeterred and used the excuse of country music pumping through his personal headphones to explain away his two-second jump start ahead of race official Simon Turner’s “ready, steady go.” Not that two seconds had any bearing on the final outcome. In some tough beach conditions with a high-tide forcing runners to plough through ankle deep sand on both Warwick Long Bay and Horseshoe Bay, DeSilva somehow managed to levitate himself across the sand and flashed through the first lap in 21 minutes flat, which brought him comfortably within striking range of the three runners who’d started ahead of him, including champion Vesey.

His first lap time was also the fourth best of the day, keeping him clear of his chasing rivals. “I ran very hard. It’s a real test of a runner. If you consider yourself a runner you need to get yourself on the beach, because the beach doesn’t care if you are wearing the latest Asics or not,” said DeSilva.

“I didn’t see anyone on the first lap but I kept the faith and the work-rate up and when I got to Warwick Long Bay on the second lap all the runners ahead of me were lined up and I could see exactly what I had to do.” DeSilva’s second lap was slower at 22:26 but as he ascended the steep hill from Horseshoe Bay for the second time he could see he was clear for the final half-mile run to the finish.

Only three runners ran faster than their predicted handicap time, DeSilva taking a full one minute and seven seconds from his. While “first loser” Geoff Blee set a personal best of 38:53. Third home was Ian Gilberson, five seconds better than predicted. Fastest was Brett Forgesson in 38:07.

Vesey, the first woman to hold the title, relinquished her crown finishing ninth in the handicap stakes, but remained the most popular past winner when she invited all participants to breakfast at her place.

As newly-crowned DeSilva took charge of the trophy he vowed to do away with the lilac boa and pink love hearts and deck it out in Portuguese colours.

Reflecting on his win he said: “This is an event that’s more in tune with running in Bermuda.”

[obox] Results: 1. Stephen DeSilva (43:26), 2. Geoff Blee (38:53), 3. Ian Gilbertson (50:25), 4. Brett Forgesson (38:07), 5. Miguel Butterfield (41:35), 6. Chris Page (43:44), 7. Bob Oliver (54:49), 8. Rene Lamer (44:28), 9. April Vesey (53:26), 10. Scott Neil (44:51), 11. Gavaskar Lodge (55:35).