Bermuda's triathletes - both junior and senior - turned in some excellent performances over the weekend while competing at Magog, Quebec in Canada.

On Saturday evening Geoffrey Smith and Flora Duffy led home the Island competitors in the 16-19 age group of the Canadian Triathlon Championships in what was reportedly a very strong field.

Smith, one of the youngest competitors in the field, finished a respectable 20th out of 58 triathletes over the 750 metre swim, 20 kilometre bike and five kilometre run in a time of one hour, eight minutes and 55 seconds.

In the cool conditions, Duffy, also one of the youngest in the girls' field, placed 15th out of 46 in 1:17.20 following a strong swim.

Then on the following day, in wet and windy conditions, Lynn Patchett, Ricky Sousa, Karen Smith, Michael Coles and David Lunn all took first place in their age groups although in very different events.

Patchett followed up her first overall placing at the Canadian National Duathlon Championships the previous weekend by finishing comfortably ahead of the female field in a 5K run-40K bike-5K run duathlon, placing 12th overall in 1.52.09.

Sousa, competing in the same event, was the third male overall and first in the 40-44 age group in 1.43.40.

Meanwhile, Smith took on her first half Ironman race over a tough, hilly course and placed second among the women and 12th overall in five hours, 15 minutes and 35 seconds.

Former local champion Greg Hopkins, who has a holiday home in Magog, took time out to race in the sprint event over a 750 metre swim, 20 kilometre bike and five kilometre run, finishing 11th overall in 1.11.27 and taking first place in the men's 50-54 age group.

Neil de ste Croix placed eighth in the sprint and third in his age group in 1:09.45. Nigel Godfrey was third in the men's 40-44 division while Mark Morrison was first in the 16-19 age group.

Not to be outdone by the seniors, Bermuda's younger juniors produced some good performances in the Canadian Eastern Championships.

Michael Coles enjoyed a great race to easily win the boys' 10-11 age group after a blistering bike ride saw him open up an insurmountable lead going into the run. Coles finished a good way ahead of the field over the 150metre swim, 10 kilometre bike and two kilometre run in 33.43 in a field of 40.

Alex Godfrey placed fifth in 36.04 with Tyree Armstrong 11th in 37.22.

Martina Edney was the first Bermudian among the girls in 42.45 for 32nd place out of 56 competitors.

David Lunn was equally impressive in the boys' 8-9 group as he went out onto the bike first and recorded the fastest bike and run splits to win comfortably in 18.52.

Nathan Amaral held on well to finish just out of the medals in fourth place in 21.46.

In the competitive boys' 14-15 age group, Matthew Godfrey was impressive, holding on for eighth over the 400 metre swim, 15K bike and four kilometre run course. Caitlin Conyers was the top girl in that age group, finishing 13th out of 33 among the girls.

As expected the boys' 12-13 age group was one of the toughest. But Bermuda placed six athletes in the top 20.

Dorian Armstrong had the third fastest run split of the day to take seventh in 52.00, just holding off Tim Fox who was fourth going into the run and finished eighth in 52.02.

Ricky Sousa jr. (12th), Thomas Godfrey (13th), Marc Smith (16th) and Geoffrey Burns (18th) also impressed in a field of 56 athletes, most of whom are in training with provincial triathlon clubs in Canada. Theresia Hinton, 23rd out of 39 was the first Bermuda girls in the 12-13 division.