James Thie's Front Street Mile three-in-a-row just wasn't to be last night, with Kenyan Elkanah Angwenyi taking line honours and the Welshman languishing in fourth.

Despite the usual pre-race chatter about four-minute miles, the climax to last night's harbourfront festivities was a tactical race which saw the African athlete snatch victory with his final strides in four minutes 13.69 seconds after a see-saw battle for the lead.

A Front Street Mile without the perennial wind and rain boosted the crowd significantly with around 4,000 lining the streets and pub balconies to witness the 30th anniversary Mile race and the athletes responded in style with excitement aplenty in each of the three premier races.

Ashley Couper (5:00.46) romped home with more than 40 seconds to spare to once again capture the women's title while Evan Naude (4:25.53) narrowly eclipsed his brother Riaan (4:26.14) ? and the eight-year-old record ? to clinch his second victory and the family's third in the local male event.

But it was the final race that provided the most excitement with Angwenyi overtaking Juan Luis Barrios Nieves (4:13.81), a Mexican who won the CAC cross-country championships here in 2001 as a junior, in a battle royale for the line.

The pace was slow even at the Longtails turn, with practically the entire field playing a waiting game, no one willing to make a break.

But when the Mexican broke away, the field was split and despite leading as he passed the podium, last year's runner-up Angwenyi stepped up with his final three strides to break the tape first.

"Winning was a priority," said Angwenyi, whose English is as slow as his finish was fast.

"I enjoy Bermuda, I enjoy the race. I very happy. If manager lets me, I come back to win next year."

American Christian Hesch (4:14.29) repeated his third place from last year, but was left more frustrated this time around.

"When they made the break, I should have gone with them," said Hesch, who flies out to California at 8 a.m. this morning.

"Maybe I made a mistake not to. It's frustrating because I am in the best shape I ever been in here and maybe should have done better. I'll come back next year and give it another go."

Thie (4:14.62) , whose fiancee Alexandra was shaking with nerves watching her beau race for the first time here, was disappointed not to complete his hat-trick of Bermuda victories, admitting the heavily-tactical race wasn't ideal for his style.

"It was a strange race and it just didn't work out for me," said Thie, who will run the 10K today while Alexandra competes in Sunday's marathon.

"My legs buckled with about 100 metres to go. I didn't quite have enough to finish it off. But I love this place and I will definitely be back next year. I would also like to thank David Barber for putting the money in to save this event ? I think everyone appreciates the gesture he has made."

The previous race had set the stage nicely for the grandstand finish, with the Naude brothers battling it out to the line in another race to fascinate the noisy crowd ? and in a time which destroyed Mike Watson's 1997 record of 4:29.5.

Youngster Mark Morrison set off at a lightning pace but ran out of gas by the second turn to allow the South African twins to fight it out on the home straight. Lamont Marshall finished third in 4:35.98 with Sheldon Thompson fourth (4:37.05) and Morrison only managing tenth (5:17.57).

"We have always been competitive since High School, particularly in the 800 and 1500 metres," said Evan, winner in 2003.

"I have never raced against my brother in this race before. I think he is the better runner so it was nice to get one over on him in this event.

"I think I went ahead with about 500 metres to go although my brother just got ahead of me at one point.

"But I went for it and just managed to stay ahead although I could see him on my shoulder. It was so noisy out there, it was unbelievable. You couldn't hear the footsteps of the other runners and I wasn't sure where Lamont Marshall was. I expected him to be somewhere close because he ran such a good time in the trials but thankfully I held on for the win."

Couper's win ? and 43-second margin of victory ? came as a surprise to no-one, but didn't make it any less enjoyable for the overseas-based athlete.

She led from the gun, leaving Victoria Fiddick (5:43.30) and Julie Farah (5:53.59) to only admire from a distance as the 27-year-old romped home to victory roars from friends and family.

"It was awesome," said Couper, whose enthusiasm for the Island's athletics showpiece is as impressive as her running style.

"Maybe I wasn't listening out for it as much in other years, but the crowd was amazing out there, they were so loud it was great.

"It is always a great feeling to come back here and have so many people screaming my name and pushing me along.

"It is nice to see so many young girls who I have trained or babysat out here, cheering me on and I hope that they go into athletics and maybe can be inspired by what I am doing.

"It was special for me tonight because my grandmother, who is 90, came out to watch. She loves watching me run and my aunt, Martha Butterfield, was here from Toronto too.

"It was also important that my brother-in-law, who was in a bad car crash recently, was also out there watching. It meant a lot to me."

Couper added that she hoped the victory would inspire a great season for her, after last year's campaign was punctuated by injury and illness.

"I peaked too early last year, but hopefully this time I can peak in May or June and stay injury free all year."

After all the shenanigans in September over whether Race Weekend would be run this year or not, last night's final three races and the massive crowds were proof, if proof were needed, that saving the event was the right decision.

It is not just Thie who should be thanking philanthropist Barber for his $50,000 contribution.