Guy Williamson held off the challenge from Maxford Pipe to secure a hat trick of wins in the Blenheim Trust 5K series. Photo: Dean Greenaway

Ravindra Sukhu, fresh off claiming the Virgin Gorda 5K Championship had to settle for third place. Photo: Provided

Kay Reddy, newly crowned BVI Tri National Record holder, finished 5th on Sunday in a time of 24.44. Photo: Provided

Williamson sprinted away from Pipe in the last 250m to win in 18 minutes 22 seconds as Pipe followed in 18:38.

“He earned my respect. I did 18 minutes, my quickest time and getting under 19 feels good,” Pipe said. “We ran together for most of the race until the last bend when he pulled away. I tried to keep up but he looked back and saw me couple yards behind and he just stepped it up again. I started off fast and tried to get him tired but he’s an experienced runner.”

Williamson said it was a great race and it was hard not getting distracted by the beauty along the route.

“Pipe ran a great race and pushed me all the way,” he noted. “It’s great to mix up the tactics as well with a nice sprint start to mix up the pack. But it was a really great race, well organized.”

Virgin Gorda’s Kim Takeuchi won the women’s division in 22:01.

“I was a surprise,” she said after wining on Beef Island in her last outing. “There’s good competition on Tortola. The Tortola runners always show up and you never know what to expect. There are some really good runners here.”

Takeuchi is preparing for the May 17, 2014 Virgin Gorda Half Marathon with the aim of improving last year’s performance.  

Final Results; Men: 1. Guy Williamson, 18 minutes, 24.22 seconds. 2. Maxford Pipe, 18:38.  3. Ravindra Sukhu, 19:12.  4. Julius Farley, 19:45.  5. Curwin Andrews, 19:57.  6. Vaughan Vanoudtshoorn, 20:15.  7. Antony Spencer, 20:23.  8. Jonathan Barnard, 20:51.  9. Paul Hubbard, 21:09.  10. Patrick Ormond, 21:29.  11. Charles Kerins, 22:04.  12. Stefano Tasking, 22:31.  13. Andries Dippenaar, 22:54.  14. Shane Donovan, 22:59.  15. Chris Randall, 23:34.  16. Ruairi Burke, 23:41.  17. Sam Potgieter, 24:42.  18. Laurent Keeble-Buckle, 25:27.  19. Chris Potgieter, 25:33.  20. Adam De Monte & Buggy, 25:34.  21. Willem Kerkvliet, 26:34.  22. TJ Torres, 27:56. 23. Stephen Bridson, 29:24.  24. Howard Moore, 29:45.  25. Stephen Beard, 29:49.  26. Andre Kartick, 30:05.

Women: 1. Kim Takeuchi, 22:01.03.  2. NiMade Oniasih, 22:36.   3. Clare-Louise Whiley, 23:20.  4. Rosmond Johnson, 23:29.  5. Kay Reddy, 24:44.  6. Li-Ann Yap, 25:26.

7. Samantha Sukhu, 25:37.  8. Casey McNutt, 25:59.  9. Ixora Williams, 26:46.  10. Maureen Peters, 26:55. 11. Emily Abrehart, 27:21.  12. Pippa Dabbs, 27:21.  13. Ghislaine Hoogendijk, 27:30. 14. Barbara O'Neal, 28:00.  15. Claudia Diaz, 28:41.  16.  Jenny Dobie and Juliane Potgieter, 30:38. 18. Carly Borne, 30:42.  19. Brenda Pickering, 30:44.  20. Amity Hill, 30:45.  21. Anya Rhoden, 32:03.  22. JoJo Kerins, 32:11.  23. Sophie Dabbs, 39:49.

Race Walking; Women: 1. Sophie Bennett, 39:17.  2. Juliana Diaz, 47:48.  3. Dawn Nagar & Buggy, 53:52. Men: 1. Gerald Rose, 35:49.  2. Jon Wall & Buggy, 40:00.