Championships yesterday after falling off his bike in the cycling stage of the competition.

Herring, who recovered to finish a creditable fifth, toppled as he entered a corner, suffering road rash and losing valuable time on the other medal contenders.

Yet his finish in one hour and 26 seconds was only 50 seconds outside of third place.

Britain's top young triathlete, 16-year-old Danny Hayes, who finished third behind Bermuda's Tyler Butterfield last year, was the boys' winner in 58:39.

Had Butterfield been fit to travel to Manchester, he would have stood a good chance of taking the overall title on a flat, fast course.

Meanwhile, in the girls' competition Ashley Robinson Roberts produced an outstanding performance to complete the 750 metre swim, 20K bike and 5K run in 1:15.42 -- easily a personal best -- to also take fifth place.

Robinson Roberts, just 15 and in her second season in triathlon, faced stiff competition from Britain's leading 16-year-olds and did well to place so high in the field.

Bermuda's other juniors, many of them younger than the Britons taking part, also produced a number of personal bests.

Brian Steinhoff finished in 1:04.17 for 13th place overall, with Chris Conway's 1:04.39 and Nick Taylor's 1:04.41 giving them 14th and 15th places respectively.

And the youngest member of the Island squad, 13-year-old Matthew Herring, also impressed, finishing 17th in 1:06.17 -- well inside his previous best.

Robyn Dickinson was the second Bermuda girl home in 1:17.59 for seventh overall, with Ashley Kirkpatrick (1:21.24) in eighth and Melissa De Silva (1:25.27) ninth.

The latter pair, both only 13 and slightly built, suffered in the 62 degree water of Salford Quays, despite wearing wetsuits but showed determination to keep in touch in the bike and run.

The Bermuda squad leave Manchester on Thursday for Chicago, where they will meet up with other members of the Tri Hedz Club before competing in events next weekend.

Carolyn Conway, a member of Bermuda's national squad, grabbed a silver medal in the women's 40-44 age group.

Jonathan Herring: finished fifth despite cycle crash.