CON O'Kelly led all the way in winning the Festival of Sport duathlon at Plover Cove yesterday as arch-rival Ian Rayson battled with an upset stomach and finished well down the field.
Hong Kong number one Rayson picked up a virus when in Calcutta for the India triathlon two months ago and is struggling to find form.
The Hong Kong Sports Institute scholarship sportsman was never in the race although he showed great fighting spirit to overcome fatigue and complete the five-kilometre run, 30-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run course.
O'Kelly, however, was in a class of his own, cruising to victory in one hour, 27 minutes and 21 seconds with Kevin Rydeard finishing second over three minutes later and Tony Chui Kam-tong third in 1:32:44.
Rayson won the Indian race and another triumph in next month's Hong Kong triathlon would put him in a solid position to become the overall champion of the Asian circuit.
Schoolboy James Endicott won the 15-17 years age group in a respectable time of 1:36:00, beating second-placed Ronan Fowley by more than five minutes with Ben Hartwright a distant third.
