The first Virgin Gorda half-marathon title will remain at home thanks to Maxford Pipe who ran to victory on Saturday morning.
More than 40 competitors took part in the inaugural event, which featured a 13-mile race and a six-mile loop.
There were 44 preregistered, but some had to drop out at the last minute due to “various training injuries.”
The race started at the entrance of Scotiabank in Spanish Town and finished near Little Fort National Park.
“The course wasn’t that easy,” Mr. Pipe said. “But I stuck to the basics to help me along the way.”
He was surprised to pull off the win, because it was his first half marathon. Mr. Pipe trailed the leaders for most of the race, but during the last lap he was able to catch the leaders and pull out the win.
“I surprised myself and I know the people in Virgin Gorda will be happy to hear the news that I won this event,” Mr. Pipe said. “I feel good for myself and I feel proud that I represented good.”
During the last 100 yards, Mr. Pipe ran by himself to the finish line. A group of Virgin Gorda residents, including BVI Tourist Board members, cheered wildly when Mr. Pipe crossed the finish line.
Maria Mays came in second place overall and was the first female finisher. She experienced cramps in both legs and her toes during the second lap. Earlier in the week she worked with her husband, Ben, who suffers from cramps. But she thinks she might have “ignored herself” leading up to the race.
“[The cramps] came on and off and thank God it didn’t last, or I wouldn’t have been able to carry on,” Ms. Mays said. “At about mile 10 I thought I was gonna have to stop, but I didn’t. And at least I beat Zeb and Ben, that is all that matters.”
As soon as Zebalon McLean finished, she congratulated him and handed him a bottle of water.
Mr. Pipe passed Ms. Mays near the college in Spanish Town during the last lap. At that point she said she had “nothing left.”
“He is a great runner,” Ms. Mays said. “I beat him last year during the 10k, maybe I have a new bit of competition for this season.”
Runners and walkers were still crossing the finish line as Ms. McNutt thinking about how the course could be improved for next year.
“Everyone has been really positive about how fun it was — challenging, but fun,” Ms. McNutt said.
She described the race as “really competitive,” with top runners trying to beat each other.
“But we had a lot of people who just wanted to finish,” Ms. McNutt said. “It was really nice to see so many people come out and do it for themselves.”
Some of the runners took advantage of the seashore finish by jumping into the water off the dock at Mermaids restaurant.
“It is so refreshing to jump into that water after you are done,” Ms. McNutt said who competed in the six-mile loop. “It is was a nice way to end it.”
The next event organisers hope to host is an “eco challenge” on VG in December, which would include kayaking and other alternative events.
“We are going to throw all kinds of fun stuff in there,” Ms. McNutt said.
The 2013 event has been set for May 13.
Final results
Half Marathon; Men: 1. Maxford Pipe, 1hour 43 minutes 08 seconds. 2. James Carr, 1:44.41. 3. Zebalon McLean, 1:50.39. 4. Ben Mays, 1:52.55. 5. Curwin Andrews, 1:58.59. 6. Aaron Seddon, 2:03.30. 7. Ross Munro, 2:09.06. 8. Lee Smallman, 2:27.33. 9. Russel Crumpler, 2:30.01. Dnf. Lee Osborne.
Women: 1. Maria Mays, 1:45.00. 2. Katrina Crumpler, 1:55.00. 3. Kim Takeuchi, 2:04.44. 4. Nimande Oniasih, 2:06.01. 5. Anne Monroe, 2:09.06. 6. Deborah Bell 2:15.47. 7. Kay Reddy, 2:17.05. 8. Philomena Robertson, 2:19.15. 9. Annamari Parry, 2:22.44. 10. Rhiannon Jones, 2:24.21. 11. Marianne Cave, 2:28.44. 12. Noni Georges, 2:52.51.
6 -mile Challenge
Men: 1. Keith Williams, 1:01.25. 2. Guy Clothier, 1:01.45. 3. Rodney Modeste, 1:11.23.
Women: 1. Lucy Smith, 57:33. 2.Debbie Ridgeway, 1:05.10. 3. Casey McNutt, 1:07.30. 4. Augusta Van Rensburg, 1:07.30. 5. Vetricia Baptiste, 1:22.33. Lavern Gilcrist, 1:22.33. 6. Laura Fox, 1:23.28. 7. Debbie Bruce, 1:33.17. 8. Lisa Modeste, 1:33.41. 9. Cheryl George, 1:37.28. 10. Jennifer O’Neal, 1:37.28. 11. Margaret Paul, 1:54:50.
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