Tyler Butterfield will be favourite to win his fourth Tokio Millennium Re Triathlon in five years when he competes in next weekend’s sprint event in Hamilton.

The Bermuda triathlete is hoping to repay some of the support he has received from Tokio over the years by competing against the best of the rest Bermuda has to offer.

Butterfield last competed in the event in 2014, when he and wife Nikki won their respective divisions. Victory was Butterfield’s third consecutive Tokio win.

As well as the main event, various races for athletes of all ages and abilities will take place in an effort to attract as many people as possible to the sport.

“Tokio Millennium Re has very graciously supported me for many years and I am extremely grateful for their sponsorship,” Butterfield said. “I really enjoy taking part in this event and it’s not often that I am able to compete on home soil.

“I really like the way that Tokio makes this event available to so many age groups, schools and individuals.

“It gives a lot of people a great opportunity to take part. It is also great for the spectators with the event taking place along Front Street and in Hamilton Harbour.”

Tyler Smith won last year’s event, underlining his potential as one of the island’s most promising young athletes.

Smith completed the course in 1hr 1min 36sec, finishing three minutes ahead of Jonathan Herring, with Matthew Oliveira third in 10:04:49.

Oliveira has dominated the local cycling scene domestically this year, winning a host of races, including the prestigious Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race on May 24.

Smith, meanwhile, finished fifth in the Appleby Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby the same day.

Martina Olcheski-Bell is the defending women’s champion, after her time of 1:11:25 saw her finish comfortably ahead of Erica Hawley, who was second in 1:13:28 and Amber Mehta third in 1:14:17.

Other races next weekend will include a duathlon for children aged seven to 15 competing over varying distances on the bike and on foot, while the Try-a-Tri race will see newcomers to the sport swim 200 metres, cycle 10 kilometres, and run 2km.

The main race will consist of a 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run.

“This will be our tenth year running the Tokio Triathlon and during these ten years, we have seen the sport grow in popularity, the event grow in size and we have enjoyed making it better each year,” Kathleen Faries, Head of Bermuda at Tokio Millennium Re, said.

“We take our community involvement very seriously at Tokio Millennium Re and we are delighted that the triathlon has become an established and popular event on the Bermuda Triathlon Association’s calendar.”

Overall times for the top two teams from each school will determine the winners of the cash prizes for the triathlon and duathlon, which will be donated to the respective school sports programmes.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to come out and, if nothing else, at least try the Try-a-Tri,” Faries said. “You never know, you may get hooked.”