Kristyn Robinson battled strong winds to beat off competition from Karen Bordage and Karen Smith in yesterday’s SheRox women-only triathlon on the South Shore.Due to unsafe water conditions, the swim portion of the race was cancelled with Robinson finishing 40 seconds ahead of Bordage in a time of 54.05 over the cycle-run course.To get the race underway, organisers of the US-based SheRox Series, a shorter ‘sprint’ version of full triathlon distance, adopted a time-trial method with competitors starting at ten-second intervals.So tough were the conditions, Robinson, runner-up in last year’s race, said they were akin to facing another competitor.“A few gusts almost took me off my bike,” said the Bermuda resident, who hails from Bolder, Colorado ‘the Mecca’ of triathlon.“It was all about technique and being smart on the bike; you had to stay low to the handle bars. It was very tough out there today and it was almost like competing against another competitor.”The 29-year-old admitted she was disappointed the windy weather meant the race had to be reduced to a double-discipline endurance event.“Safety comes first and so it was the correct decision, but of course you’re disappointed; you want (the race) to be three stages as everyone has their different strengths.“Still, I’m absolutely thrilled to have won the race and hopefully I’ll be back to defend it next year.”Bordage, who won the recent Bank of Bermuda Triathlon, set the early pace on the bike but couldn’t fend off Robinson in the run,“I was pleased with my finish, it was a fun race, the conditions were pretty tough but it was the same for all of the competitors,” said Bordage.“I was first off the bike but Kristyn had a very strong run; it was her race today.“There was a great spirit to the race and it’s great to see so many women competing together and supporting each other.”Smith, who competed in last month’s Hawaii Ironman, the world’s greatest triathlon,, crossed the finish line at Fairmont Southampton in 57.54.Philadelphia resident, Carol Kolimago, was the first finisher in the non-elite field, posting a time of 1:00.23.The 42-year-old was marginally quicker than Bermuda’s Joanna Shillington (1:00.52) who was competing with an injured wristHad it not been for her transition time, which was 50 seconds slower than Kolimago’s, then Shillington would have finished ahead of her rival.Kolimago, who came fourth in the elite field when the SheRox Series rolled into her home city in August, believed her strong bike ride had been the key to her victory.“It was my first time-trial so that was a little different. There were very strong head winds but I managed to have a good bike ride,” said Kolimago, who also finished one place ahead of Shillington in last year’s event.“It was a big disappointment not to be able to do the swim, though. When you come to Bermuda you look forward to swimming in the warm water and the blue sea.”Laurie Orchard finished behind Shillington in a time of 1:01.45.More than 200 competitors took part in yesterday’s race.