winning the Tri-Gatorade individual event on Saturday and then partnered fellow Saltus students Jonathan Herring and new resident Tim Dewailly to win yesterday's team event at Clearwater Beach.

Just like last year, teenagers dominated the team competition as 16-year-olds Butterfield and Herring and Dewailly, 18, led from start to finish to win by more than eight minutes over the second placed team of Michael O'Connor, Richard Mason and Chris Conway.

The winning time was 1:59.07 while O'Connor, Mason and Conway completed the race in 2:07.17.

The women's race also had comfortable winners as Karen Hackenberg, Heather Brand and Georgia Belboda cruised to victory in 2:21.43.

However, the field wasn't as competitive as last year with 1998 team winners, swimmer Ronald Cowen, cyclist Nuri Latham and runner Jamal Hart not together this time. Cowen joined another team while Latham and Hart were missing altogether. In fact, most of the top runners and cyclists were absent, many of them competing in either yesterday's cycle race or the revived End-to-End road relay.

That left the Saltus trio as firm favourites and they were well on their way to victory once Dewailly -- a recently arrived Canadian -- gave them a good start by emerging first from the 1500 metre swim.

Herring, now one of the top local cyclists, extended that lead in the 40K ride before Butterfield brought the team home with a comfortable 10K run in and around the nature reserve.

"This is only the second time in open water swimming, I'm more used to the pool, which is very different,'' explained Dewailly who held onto the lead despite swimming slightly off-course.

Dewailly is already a member of Sharks Swim Club and is looking forward to competition this summer in the pool, his favourite events being the 400 freestyle and 200 butterfly.

Herring didn't have it so easy on the bike as he battled with the conditions and a challenging course. "It was a technical course with two major hills per lap and the majority of the course was affected by the wind, either a headwind or sidewind,'' said the youngster.

"It was about getting the momentum up and keeping it for as long as you could. I tried to take advantage of the downhills and tailwinds as much as possible.'' Butterfield refused to coast after the big lead his team-mates had given him for the final event.

"It could have been easy because they gave me such a lead, but just because you're in the lead doesn't mean you should slack off,'' he said after the win.

New champions were also crowned in the women's category where Hackenberg, Brand and Belboda triumphed. Last year's winning team of Melanie Claude, Claire Mancell and Alison Cameron did not compete.

"It was rough going out to the buoy but coming back was fine,'' said Hackenberg.

"I knew we would do well. It was a great swim, I performed well so I'm happy with that and they (Brand and Belboda) did their jobs.'' Said Brand: "I had a good ride, there were some strong competitors out there and I was able to pace myself. The wind kept moving around so you never knew which way it was coming from.'' Like Butterfield, Belboda chose not to relax on the run despite her team's lead.

"The wind was constantly changing directions but conditions were cool and it was a bit hilly but I'm pleased with my time,'' said Belboda who is one of the fast improving women on the local running scene.

"I'm gearing for May 24 but I keep getting injuries so hopefully I'll be able to complete that. My times are getting better.'' Brian Peck, who won a lottery to compete in this year's Hawaii Ironman, suffered a big setback in his preparation for that event when he was involved in a crash which put him in hospital with a suspected broken collar bone.

Photos by Ras Mykkal Three's company: Saltus students (from left to right) Tim Dewailly, Jonathan Herring and Tyler Butterfield took team honours in yesterday's Tri-Gatorade event at Clearwater Beach.

Winning smiles: Heather Brand (top), Georgia Belboda (centre) and Karen Hackenberg won the women's triathlon title yesterday.