More than 60 overseas competitors have signed up for the Bermuda Triple Challenge, the organisers said yesterday.

Jason Correia, the codirector of the event, said more than 100 visitors are expected to participate in the obstacle course race, to be held in March.

Mr Correia said, “We got close to 100 visitors in 2018 and are hopeful we will surpass 100 in 2019.”

He said a partnership with Mud Run Guide, the leading media outlet in the obstacles course racing “is evolving this unique grassroots, local charity event into one of, if not the most, talked-about international race within the obstacle course racing community”.

He added that extra overseas competitors would also mean “more charitable dollars for Bermuda and more heads in our hotels’ beds”.

Individuals and teams of two to five people will navigate obstacles ranging from scaling a bus and race round the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s assault course.

The competitors will also have to negotiate a 300ft water-slide and a zip line in a bid to win cash prizes for their chosen charities.

Organisers said all the obstacles were optional and that participants could opt for burpees as an alternative penalty exercise instead.

A unique scoring system which combines finishing times and charitable funds raised will determine the Bermuda Triple Challenge’s $1,000 top prize winner.

James Holloway, race co-director said: “The unique scoring format allows for anyone to win, not just the fastest teams or individuals.

“The more charitable funds raised the better positioned participants are to win,” Mr Holloway said. “Also, each $500 increment of raised funds earns up to three obstacle wild cards which can be used by participants to skip, without penalty, any non-mandatory obstacle, including its queue, over the weekend, saving valuable time on route.”

Also for the first time, the corporate division’s fight to determine which companies can field the fittest team will see the winning firm choose which charity will get its $1,000 prize.

The Bermuda Triple Challenge kicks off at 7pm on March 15 with the Argus Urban Foot Race through St George, followed by a community block party with DJ Chubb and a bouncy castle.

The Royal Bermuda Regiment will host the Sun Life International Island Challenge on Saturday morning, with a family-style barbecue organised by the regiment and Butterfield & Vallis afterwards.

Sunday’s finale will see participants in an all-out assault on The Royal Naval Dockyard and Casemates Prison in the Chubb Royal Challenge, followed by the Buzz/Butterfield & Vallis appreciation brunch.

All the funds raised will be donated to six Bermudian youth-based charities: WindReach, The Centre Against Abuse, The Reading Clinic, The Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies, Tomorrow’s Voices and Raleigh Bermuda.

A total of $333,000 has been raised for Bermudian charities in the eight years the challenge has been run.

Mr Holloway said this year’s event would not have been possible without its regular sponsors.

He said: “All this would not be possible without our returning sponsors, so thank you very much Argus, Chubb, Sun Life Financial International, Butterfield & Vallis, Buzz, the Royal Bermuda Regiment and the Bermuda Tourism Authority.”

To register for the event, which will run from March 15 to 17, visit www.bdatriplechallenge.com.