Moses Mufandaedza and international triathlete Erica Hawley battled blustery conditions to come out on top of more than 200 runners in the Hamilton Princess and Gosling’s Rum to the Beach race on Sunday.

Mufandaedza continued his return towards full fitness with victory on a punishing 7.13-mile course, which started at Gosling’s in Hamilton and ended at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, with the 42-year-old first across the line in a winning time of 42min 43sec, nearly a minute clear of Nick Pilgrim (43:28), with Spencer Butterfield completing the top three (44:46).

While acknowledging he is not yet at peak form after a long-term injury, Mufandaedza was left content with his performance after battling with inclement conditions.

“I’m happy to take the win, although it could have been a faster time,” said Mufandaedza, who is preparing to compete in the PwC Marathon as part of the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge next weekend.

“Running into the wind was just brutal and the course was really hilly, which was tricky.

“I managed to catch Nick [Pilgrim] around the four-mile mark. He’s a young lad compared to me, but I thought he had gone off a little too hard from the start. After that I tried to put some distance between me and him and I managed to lose him.

“I’m happy with the win, but for me it’s more of a case of building my miles up after being injured all summer. I’m planning on doing the marathon next week, but I know I’m not where I normally would be.”

Pilgrim echoed the winner’s sentiments about the difficulties of tussling with the conditions as he continues preparations for the new triathlon season.

“It was incredibly windy and the course was really hilly, but I still enjoyed it,” said the 20-year-old.

“Along Harbour Road it was really exposed and the last hill by the lighthouse was pretty tough.

“It’s nice to be competing back home and doing some winter training here. I’m hoping to do some series racing in England and the United States and continue building experience at a higher level.”

There was also a strong showing from another of the island’s triathletes with Erica Hawley crossing the line as the first female finisher in a time of 45:28, which was good enough for fourth overall.

Megan Berry was the second female finisher in 50:51, twelfth overall, with Stepanka Sprincova (51:53), seventeenth overall, completing the top three.

Much like Pilgrim, professional athlete Hawley is taking the opportunity of being back on island over the winter to get some early miles under her belt ahead of attempting to hit the ground running in the new season.

“I just really wanted to do some local races, be part of the community and get some good training in while I’m back home,” said Hawley, who enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2023 with her best finishes including a third in a World Triathlon Cup race in Korea and fourth place in the Pan American Games in Chile.

“The wind was tough out there and a little humid which was challenging.

“For me it’s all about building my fitness up ahead of next season. I have some big training loads over the next couple of weeks. It’s always tough getting in heavy training blocks over the Christmas period, but I’ve managed to do a decent amount.

“I didn’t really start last season as strongly as I would have hoped and so I’ve looked at how I could change that and decided it was about getting more miles in earlier, so it’s great to be able to get out and race.”

The event also included a competitive walk category with Junior Watts triumphing in a winning time of 1hr 26min 42sec, nearly five minutes ahead of Nancy Andrews-Sousa, the first female across the line in 1:31:34, with Vanessa Conway completing the podium places in 1:33:37.