Andrew Doble clawed back close to a four minute deficit to overhaul Tab Froud on the final leg of the Olympic-distance Bermuda National Triathlon championships and claim his first title at a humid Clearwater Beach yesterday.

And there was celebration too for Melanie Claude, who took advantage of the absence of Julia Hawley to record a convincing victory in the women's race -- her nearest challenger, Kim Mason, coming in almost 15 minutes behind.

Froud had gone off at an express pace, being the first individual competitor out of the water after a powerful 1500 metre swim in 23 minutes 42 secondd, a time bettered only by the appropriately nicknamed Robert (the Fish) Cohen and Stephen Troake -- both swimming specialists in the team event.

He displayed consistent form throughout the 40 kilometre cycle, retaining his advantage over the individual field of 26 as the bright early morning sunshine gave way to brief showers, and went into the transition well ahead of rivals Doble, Neil De Ste Croix, Steve Petty and Kent Richardson.

But Froud visibly tired in the 10K run and it was little surprise when the 40-year-old Doble, seemingly growing stronger the longer the race went on, overtook him just beyond the five kilometre mark.

Doble, in fact, was lying fifth at the start of the run, but he sped past Richardson, De Ste Croix and Petty before getting Froud in his sights.

He completed the 10K in 38:32, having opened a gap of two minutes and 11 seconds over Froud, 39, for an overall time of 2:16:52.

The only disappointment was the pitifully small crowd present to appreciate it.

De Ste Croix, who had been hampered all week by a flu virus, still managed a creditable third place, finishing little more than two-and-a-half minutes behind Froud in 2:21:44, while Richardson, second going into the final leg, came in fourth.

Doble was naturally delighted to get his first victory under his belt -- "I've had a lot of seconds and thirds,'' he joked afterwards -- but he modestly suggested his task was made easier by the absence of Dave Cash, Bermuda's only entrant among the professionals in last Sunday's ITU World Cup, and the under-par De Ste Croix.

He also paid tribute to Froud's performance saying: "We always forget how strong Tab is in the swim and on the bike.'' And he admitted the heavy conditions had suited him. "I like the humidity,'' he said. "It hurts the others more than me.'' Doble, who runs his own investment management company, will not be going to Perth for the World Championships in November due to work commitments. But women's winner Claude, 36, who had already qualified to be on the plane to Australia, will head out in confident mood.

"This was just for acclimatisation,'' she said, after the fifth quickest bike ride of the day set her up for an overall time of 2:28.49. "It was me against the clock. When I'm cycling I go out as hard as I can.'' First home overall was Calvert Lee, whose running built on the good work of swimmer Troake and cyclist Trevor Hedges for the three of them to claim the team title in 2:04:49, while the oldest competitor, 59-year-old Peter Grayston, came in 20th in the individual race with a time of 2:48.59.