Gregory Pigeon rounding the Maho roundabout during the cycling segments. (Milton Pieters photo)
MAHO--Choppy sea conditions and a strong wind for the cycling segments proved to be challenging for the seventy eight registered athletes, particularly the beginners, at the Sunset Beach Bar Mini Triple Triathlon organised by Friendly Island Triathlon Association (FITA) on Sunday.
SXM Tri Academie’s Gregory Pigeon continued his dominance of this event by winning overall in 1:19:06 and taking first place in the 40-59 Male category. However he was not able to break his 25 minute record he holds for one of the races due to the strong wind during the bike segments.
Hopes of an exciting competition between evenly-matched Pigeon and Gabriel Pertusot did not materialise as the latter was unable to attend.
Xavier Dias was second overall in 1:24:55, also from Tri Academie, and third overall went to Julien Chabeuf from SXtreme Runners in 1:27:11, who was first in the Men’s 19-39 category.
Richard Paver (21st overall) won the 40-59 category and Roman Raudonikis the 60 plus category.
The women’s event was an open field this year as last year’s winner Amy Cox was unable to participate. Winning overall instead went to first time participant Clementine Guinet (19) from St. Barth Triathlon who finished ninth overall in 1:39:25. She was also first in the 19 to 39 female category which had 13 participants.
Melina Bruneau from SXM Tri Academie came in 13th overall in 1:42:18 and second in the women’s 19-30 category and ahead of Anna Gerard, 19th overall and third in category.
Jessica Outil from St. Barth Triathlon topped the 40-59 women’s category in 1:50:06, followed by a very close race between Susy Piscione (Tri Sport Tigers) second in 1:51:54, and Debbie Reltien third in 1:51:55, just one second separating the two. Mary Wrigley was the only athlete in the 60 plus category. A record number of female athletes took part this year.
The Boys pre-junior category was won by Victor Bermudes (Tous a l’ eau club) and Junior Boys by Felix van de Velde. Junior Girls was won by Cleo Thomas (Tous a L’eau club).
The top raffle prize, a weekend stay for two at the Morgan Resort was won by François and Patricia Huc. Sponsors of the event were Sunset Beach Bar, Morgan Resort, and Sand Bar.
