Philip Woollins and Teresa Ruiz have been crowned the 2026 Goslings and Hamilton Princess "Rum to the Beach" champions after a grueling 7.13-mile trek from the capital to the South Shore.
The race was defined by a moment of high drama as Dennis Mbelenzi saw a commanding lead evaporate due to a costly navigational error. Mbelenzi, who has been in scintillating form this season, had looked set to reclaim the title he last won in 2018, opening up a significant gap on the field as the race wound through the technical coastal roads of Harbour Road.
However, the 7.13-mile contest took an unexpected turn in the closing stages. As the leaders approached the final series of climbs in Southampton, Mbelenzi mistakenly veered off-course on the middle road, surging up the punishing incline of Southampton Princess Hill instead of the scheduled left turn onto Lighthouse Hill. By the time the mistake was realised, the chasing pack—led by defending champion Woollins had already capitalised on the slip-up, leaving a frustrated Mbelenzi to reflect on what might have been.
Confusion mounted at the front of the pack as it was revealed that the motorist being followed by the leaders was not an official race marshal. IslandStats.com spoke with the individual involved, who clarified that he was a member of the public simply tracking Mbelenzi’s progress and found it "strange" that no official lead bike was present. Despite several spectators lining the route at the junction, no one intervened as Mbelenzi mistakenly followed the motorist toward the Southampton Princess, instead of going straight up Lighthouse Hill.
Woollins capitalized on the error, covering the distance from Dundonald Street in Hamilton to the finish line at the Hamilton Princess Beach Club in Southampton in a winning time of 42:54.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Woollins, who successfully defended his title from 2025 and established himself as the man to beat ahead of next week's Bermuda Triangle Challenge. He was pushed for much of the course by Jonathan Ball, who claimed the runner-up spot in 43:37, while Will Ellison rounded out the men’s podium, crossing the line in 45:28.
In the women's field, Ruiz delivered a tactical masterclass on the challenging climbs of Burnt House Hill and Lighthouse Hill. Ruiz was the eighth runner to cross the finish line overall, clocking an impressive 47:05 to secure the women's title.
She was followed closely by Stepanka Sprincova, who finished just 14 seconds later in 47:19 to take second place among the women and ninth overall. The veteran presence of Rose-Anna Hoey ensured a high-calibre podium; the multi-time marathon champion finished seventeenth overall with a time of 49:16 to take third place.
The 7.13-mile course is widely regarded as one of the most technical on the local calendar, starting at the Gosling’s warehouse before winding through Harbour Road and tackling the significant elevation changes of the Southampton hills.
For many in the field of over 100 participants, the event serves as the final "sharpening" session before the three-day Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge begins this Friday. With the elite fields for the Front Street Mile already confirmed, the form shown today by the likes of Woollins and Ruiz suggests the local contingent is more than ready for the international challenge awaiting them in Hamilton.
