Teenager Juma Mouchette won the ‘Sir’ Stanley Burgess 5K road race after breaking away from his closest rival in the final mile. Mouchette, a previous winner of the event, secured victory in a time of 16 minutes 32 seconds.In the women’s race Krista Dyer took the honours as she placed seventh overall in 20.45.Further down the field a two-seater couch crossed the finish line in just under 54 minutes, arguably making it the fastest piece of upholstered household furniture in the land, however the true accolades went to the 46 ‘Beat the Couch’ training programme entrants who successfully left the couch in their wake.The road race and walk attracted 94 finishers. At the sharp end Mouchette and eventual runner-up Chris Harris were keenly matched and were inseparable for much of the race, however on an incline in the final mile Mouchette opened some daylight between himself and Harris and maintained his slender advantage all the way to the finish at Devonshire Rec field. Harris was four seconds in arrears, clocking 16.36.Afterwards Mouchette said: “It was hotter than I wanted it to be. It was training for May 24 [half-marathon] where I’m hoping to improve on my time from last year. Today I didn’t run too hard as I went out training on Friday.”Third to finish was Chefton Hall in 18.45.In the women’s race Krista Dyer, a newcomer to the sport, gave a good account of herself and was more than two minutes clear of the next two women to finish, senior athletes Zina Jones (23.02) and Carol Griffith (23.29).Dyer has made impressive progress since she started running in January and was pleased with her win, although she already has her sights on future goals.“I want to go under 20 minutes,” she said, “and I want to do another 10K as I know I can do better than I did in the Lindo’s race [where she ran 47.05],” she said.The race was boosted by 46 competitors who had completed a 10-week training programme, dubbed ‘Beat the Couch’, in the lead up to Sunday’s race. The group, aged from 30 to 60, was almost exclusively made up of women, although there were four men. Many of the women were mothers looking to get back into shape after having children.The 5K was the culmination of their efforts. The ‘Beat the Couch’ metaphor was turned into a reality as two of the Island’s top runners, Chris and Ashley Estwanik, pushed a two-seater couch around the course as an added incentive for the training group to literally stay ahead of them and beat the couch. All those in the group beat the couch and celebrated afterwards with trainers Sergio White, Chuck Morgan and nutritionist Catherine Burns.An impressive 47 of the original training group of 51 completed the programme and all but one raced in the 5K (the missing member of the team was ill, but cheered from the sidelines).Burns was thrilled to see so many of the group finish and being visibly excited at their achievement, which some referred to as “life-changing”.“The greatest thing about something like this is setting a goal and getting to the end. It is such an empowering feeling,” she said, adding the achievement gave participants increased confidence, self assurance and improved their health. Burns thanked the coaches, the Estwaniks who pushed the couch, and race organisers Swan’s Running Club for allowing the group to race against the couch. There will be five ‘Beat the Couch’ relay teams in this month’s Appleby Bermuda Day Half-Marathon on May 24, and it is hoped a new training group will commence in the autumn. Further details are available at www.natural.bm.A 5K walk held in conjunction with the road race saw Gilda Cann first back in 37.45, followed by Eugene Mills (39.30) and Sherline Senior-Lowe (42.18).Today’s event honoured ‘Sir’ Stanley Burgess, the Island’s most celebrated May 24 Half-Marathon Derby champion who racked 11 wins on May 24 between 1926 and 1951. His victorious were split between the traditional May 24 Derby race and an alternative ‘breakaway’ race held on the same day between 1926 and 1943. Burgess was never knighted, but became popularly known as ‘Sir’ Stanley in honour of his racing achievements and longevity as a competitor. He died in 1984.Women age group winners: (Open) Krista Dyer 20.45; (Masters) Michelle Cardwell 26.19; (Seniors) Zina Jones 23.08; (Veterans) Carol Philip 36.18.Men age group winners: (Juniors) Juma Mouchette 16.32; (Open) Chefton Hall 18.45; (Masters) Chris Harris 16.36; (Seniors) Cal Steede 21.48; (Veterans) Chris Jones 20.59; (Senior Veterans) Reggie Young 32.29.Full results:1. Juma Mouchette 16.322 Chris Harris 16.363 Chefton Hall 18.454 Stuart Palmer 18.505 Andy Starr 19.036 Scott Neil 20.287 Krista Dyer 20.458 Chris Jones 20.599 Calvin Steede 21.4810 Martin Jones 21.5511 Shane McIlwain 22.1812 Mark Albouy 22.2613 Derek Ming 22.5414 Zina Jones 23.0215 Carol Griffith 23.2916 Michael Whalley 24.1417 Sarah Morgan 24.4918 Terrance Taylor 25.1619 Andrew Humpman 25.5120 Michelle Cardwell 26.1921 Robin Bond 27.0222 Claudia Phillipsz-Jones 27.0723 Peter Lao 27.3024 John Ringold 27.5125 Nik Smale 28.0426 Jenny Palmer 28.1227 Suzana Ming 28.1628 Edwina Arorash 29.4529 Shanelle Reece 29.5030 Louise White 29.5531 Gretchen Pedro 29.5832 Nicole Miller 29.5933 Suzanne Ringold 30.0134 Caroline Trimby 30.1335 Kelly Ferris 30.1536 Leanne Graham 30.5337 Joshua Ball 31.1738 Donnamae Arorash 31.2539 Liz Twite 31.4340 Narelle Hendricks 31.4941 Wanda Armstrong 31.5042 Laura Jackson 32.0143 Reggie Young 32.2944 Shanna Tyrell 32.3145 Angeine Mahwendepi 32.5046 Christian Ince 33.0047 Julie Butler 33.2848 Sarah Young 34.0749 Chantelle Berkeley 34.1150 Korinna Murphy 34.2151 Kieth Nicklson 34.4852 Theresa Ince 34.5253 Emma Williamson 34.5354 Nafeesah Nosakhere 35.0055 Sacha Pedro 35.2256 Larissa Burgess 35.4257 Lisa Summers 35.5458 Carol Philip 36.1859 Kelly Francis 36.4060 Janine Clements 36.5061 Cathy Aicardi 36.5262 Nicola Terceira 37.0163 Maureen Murray 37.0564 Kimesha Butterfield 37.3265 Fiona Murdoch 37.4966 Rhonda Casling 38.0767 Jamie Smith 38.4768 Diane Sexsmith-Brosseau 39.0769 Dy-Juan De Rosa 39.2870 Nicole Valadao 39.3571 Ann Paynter 39.5472 Amanda Scaife 42.4273 Pahn-ya Ratteray 43.0874 Jacqui Frith 43.3375 Liz Dowell 43.3476 Alison Morrison 43.4077 Rochea Darrell 43.5278 Carla Smith 44.1979 Lori Rockhead 47.4980 George Jones 47.5581 Patty Lea 47.5582 Carol Faries 52.4683 Caitlyn Christie 52.4684 Daeshun Robinson 53.32WALKERS1 Gilda Cann 37.452 Eugene Mills 39.303 Sherline Senior-Lowe 42.184 Patricia Daniels 42.555 Otis Nolan 45.236 Renee Burchall 45.307 Liz Starr 45.518 Keishae Robinson 46.249 Damika Swan 46.2610 Jean Edwards 46.43