honours at yesterday's inaugural Bermuda National Triathlon Championships at the United States Naval Annex.

Each earned the right to raise the winners' trophies after enduring tough weather conditions, with the temperature upward of 80 degrees and the high humidity only adding to the grind of swimming one-and-a-half kilometres followed by a 40-kilometre cycle and 10-kilometre run.

The road to victory for Hopkins was made easier when chief challenger Steven Doyling suffered a puncture to his front wheel when leading in the sixth lap of the cycling phase.

Doyling had looked like making a run at Hopkins, the four-time Bermuda Triathlon champion, having built a lead of almost 40 seconds in his favourite discipline before his chances were deflated.

"I felt really comfortable up to that point...it was probably the best race I ever had,'' said Doyling, who was second to Neil de Ste. Croix in the Bank of Butterfield Duathlon. "I was really trying to hammer in on the cycle.

"When I got the flat I was nervous with it being my first time in that situation and thought about stopping because the wheel was wobbling.'' This turn of events eliminated much of the drama surrounding the finish, but could not remove Hopkins' joy at adding yet another prize to his collection.

The four-minute advantage allowed the 39-year-old the luxury of cruising around on the two-lap course for the run. Still he managed to record the third best time (40:36) of the day behind Steve Donnelly (40:28) and Doyling, who timed 39:58.

Overall, Hopkins was timed in two hours, eight minutes and 53 seconds compared to 2:12:10 for Doyling and 2:13:48 for De Ste. Croix.

"I'm getting to the age where everything I win is a bonus,'' joked Hopkins afterwards. "This one is special with this being the national championships.'' Michel Bouchard set the early pace as he was first out of the water in 20:24, only to be quickly overhauled by both Hopkins and Doyling, third and fourth respectively following the swim.

Meanwhile, among the women, Hawley redeemed herself after a disappointing showing in the duathlon where she could only watch in disgust as Lynn Kynoch romped to victory when mechanical problems foiled her bid.

The new mother exhibited peak form in rolling through an easy winner when the expected challenge of Kynoch failed to materialise.

Kynoch endured a painful experience, grimacing and clutching her mid-section for much of the run, severely hindering her speed.

She would eventually place third behind Hawley (2:24:29) and Debbie Butterfield (2:29:45).

ALMOST THERE -- Greg Hopkins is moments away from becoming the first national triathlon champion.