not putting too much into her half-marathon triumph over Maria Conroy Haydon and Anna Eatherley.

The veteran Butterfield, 24th overall in 1:26:40, was quick to play down her victory amongst the local women, after finishing more than three minutes ahead of Conroy Haydon and Eatherley who were 36th and 37th respectively in 1:29:57.

"I don't think they took it seriously,'' said Butterfield. "Anna has been taking a break and Maria is coming off an injury. If they were serious I wouldn't have beaten them.'' Still, Butterfield must have been pleased with her performance under some very trying conditions. "I'm very pleased with the time,'' she said.

"I went through five miles in 33:00 and thought if I could just get through the rest of the course in an hour...

"It was tough on North Shore but the Bermuda support was really wonderful and helped you through. I'm glad I'm not doing another loop. I just felt so comfortable.

"I don't consider myself to be very competitive anymore. I run to enjoy it.'' Eatherley, soon to compete in a cross-country championship in the Bahamas, was three seconds inside the time she wanted to run, having run in both the mile and 10-K earlier in the weekend. In hindsight, she has no regrets about subjecting herself to such a gruelling weekend.

"The only regret was on North Shore where it was raining and cold,'' Eatherley said. "I was looking for one hour, 30.'' Conroy Haydon is only just building back up the miles after coming off an ankle injury.

"I've been injured since I did a marathon in December,'' she explained. "It was a test to see how the ankle would hold up. I haven't been able to do much running, maybe two or three miles.'' DEBBIE BUTTERFIELD -- First local woman in half-marathon and 24th overall.