Juliane Potgeiter took the win in the Women's Division in a time of 1hr, 41 minutes and 13 seconds. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Ian Walker enjoyed his first time in the event, but found being in a competitive environment much different to just training. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Spencer rounds the final bend, passing two of the "Island Girls" team en route to his victory. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Anthony Spencer won the BVI Triathlon Federation's Semi Steel Event, holding off the challenge from Russel Crumpler and Adrian Dale. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Nearly a dozen athletes competed in the event, either as individuals or in teams of 3, which included  a 700 metre swim held in Well Bay, a 12.5-mile bike leg, lapping the road from the airport to the ramparts of Beef Island Bridge and a three-mile run along the roads and trails of Beef Island.

Spencer, whose winning time was 1 hour 4 minutes and 37 seconds, was in fact the fastest man over all three legs and was followed home by Russel Krumpler in 1hr: 7m.11s.

“There was a lot of competition out there today, but I got out ahead in the swim and was able to hold on,” stated Spencer, “it's also great to see some new faces amongst the more experienced ones”.

Adrian Dale crossed the line in 3^rd (1:8.59) and Dave Kinkead was 4^th despite taking a nasty fall in the bike leg. He recovered to finish in 1:12.48s ahead of a slew of debutants in the event, including Ian Walker (1:21 flat) and Mariano Lopez (1:23.50s).

“I’m very exhausted,” commented Mariano, “It's my first time and I’m happy I finished. The cycling leg was my favourite and the swimming the worse."

“I felt a lot better finishing than I did after the swim,” noted Walker, who will celebrate his wedding anniversary on the day of the BVI Steelman. “It’s totally different being in a competitive environment as opposed to training. I forgot everything during the swim, the breathing, all the practice, everything and really struggled."

In the Solo women’s division, Juliana Potgeiter added to her Ceres 10K success with a victory in 1:41.13s, but almost forgot to cross the line as she welcomed the shade from the trees at the end of her grueling and strength sapping performance.

“The swimming was really hard, I loved the cycling part and the run was ok. I’m happy that I did it,” said a relieved and tired Potgeiter, who is considering running the BVI Half Marathon next

In the team event, “Worth a Tri” came home first in a time of 1:8.26, with “Government House” second in 1:16.19s and “Island Girls” third in 1:23.43s.

The next event on the calender is the BVI SteelMan, which could well see Spencer reclaiming his title so despairingly lost to Richard Morgan over the last few yards in 2012.