On Saturday December 6, 2014, Richard Morgan won his second BVI Steelman title and Tash Ruscheinski, hot off her recent Semi Steel win, her first, swimming, cycling and running their way around Beef Island. Photo: Provided

Morgan covered the 51.5km race in 2 hours, 42 minutes and 30 seconds, while “Tash” completed the course in 2 hours, 51 minutes and 54 seconds.

Neither of last year’s winners, Chris Ghiorse and Gillian Howe, defended their titles.

Guy Williamson, Morgan’s nearest challenger, exited the swim a mere 15 seconds behind Richard and was well into the nine-lap ride around Beef Island, when he rode into a bike-eating pothole puncturing both tires and forcing him to retire. For the remainder of the race, Richard was able to take his foot off the gas.

Adrian Dale and Simon Cook rounded out the podium places for the Men’s division, while Kay Reddy and Jenny McIvor were second and third in the Ladies division. Richard won his first Steelman in 2012.

Four teams competed – The Three Stooges, Drink Strong, Manuel’s Angels, and Team Carroll – with the Three Stooges (Paul Waldron, Laurent Keeble-Buckle and Dan Mitchell), taking the victory. The BVI Steelman is an Olympic distance race with a 1.5km swim, 40km ride and 10km run, the last and most challenging event of the BVI Triathlon Federation’s annual calendar.

The Men’s and Ladies’ records set in 2007 and 2011 respectively still stand: Men’s: Chris Ghiorse, 2:27:03, 2007; Women’s: Sally Blackmore, 2:49:45, 2011.

ABRIDGED RESULTS

Men’s Individual

Richard Morgan 2:42:30, Adrian Dale 2:51:26, Simon Cook 2:56:06, Guy Williamson DNF

Ladies’ Individual

Tash Ruscheinski 2:51:54, Kay Reddy 2:58:17, Jenny McIvor 3:02:13, Rhiannon Jones N/A

Teams

The Three Stooges (Paul Waldron, Laurent Keeble-Buckle, Dan Mitchell) 2:37:54

Drink Strong (Chris, Jonathan, Ciaran) 2:41:09, Manuel’s Angels (Tia, Aurelie, Manuel) 3:03:05

Team Carroll (Sarah, Simon, Grant) 3:05:42