Simon Lessing, showing signs that he is recovered from an early season injury, won the Vineman Ironman 70.3 Championship yesterday. Simon lead out of the swim, powered the bunch chasing bike leader Chris Lieto, and took the race lead to keep at run mile five.

With a poor swim Chris Legh found himself chasing the entire course. By the finish line he pulled himself up to 4th Place with the day's fastest run split (1:12:46).

Kate Major, showing signs that she is finally fully recovered from an early season illness, recorded one of her best-ever half-Ironman efforts with an impressive 2nd Place finish behind short-distance specialist Becky Lavelle. Kate left the rest of an impressive field behind on the bike and cemented her runner-up position with the day's first (or second) fastest run (1:24:47 - full splits not available).

Heather Fuhr and Lori Bowden finished 7th and 8th.

For additional information visit www.ironman.com and www.vineman.com .

Vineman Ironman 70.3
Sonoma, CA
July 30, 2006

Men
1. Simon Lessing GBR 03:56:58.5
2. Tim DeBoom USA 03:58:17.7
3. Cameron Widoff USA 03:58:46.1
4. Chris Legh AUS 03:58:56.9
5. TJ Tollakson USA 04:01:54.4

Women
1. Becky Lavelle USA 04:29:07.2
2. Kate Major AUS 04:32:32.8
3. Natasha Filliol CAN 04:35:33.7
4. Desiree Ficker USA 04:39:56.2
5. Kelly Couch USA 04:42:40.1
6. Beth Hibbard USA 04:47:12.6
7. Heather Fuhr USA 04:47:20.5
8. Lori Bowden CAN 04:48:08.2
9. Linsey Pickell USA 04:51:46.9
10. Cheryl Murphy CAN 04:55:49.6