establish himself as one of the Island's best triathletes.

And now, like Kris Hedges before him, another graduate from the junior ranks may be ready to break through in Sunday's Bank of Bermuda Triathlon.

Tyler Butterfield, after winning two big US competitions over the past two weeks, will go head-to-head with some of the Island's top veterans over the sprint-distance course in Hamilton.

Close to 90 competitors are entered in the event, which begins at Albuoy's Point at 8.00 a.m.

And while Hedges, currently at a cycling camp in the US, won't be among them, the likes of national champion Neil de Ste Croix, Kevin Tucker, David Cash, Julia Hawley and Laurie Orchard will. Several overseas entries are also expected.

At 14, Butterfield may be too young to challenge for the title but the short distance of the triathlon -- half-mile swim, 12-mile cycle and three-mile run -- could be custom-made for him.

A short-course triathlon, designed to attract more entries, also brings into play the experience of quick transitions, particularly mounting and dismounting bicycles.

"In the shorter distances, that's probably the key factor,'' said Patrick Hackenberg, a veteran triathlete and the Bermuda Triathlon Association's technical director. De ste Croix is particularly adept in transition, he said.

But the shorter distance also takes away Mother Nature's impact. Bermuda's vaunted August heat "should not be a factor at all,'' said Hackenberg.

The race opens with a swim over a triangular course in Hamilton Harbour, followed by a cycle featuring several loops of a course that extends along Front Street to Crow Lane, back along Reid Street to Queen, up to Church and down Par La Ville.

It's here that bike handling experience will come into play: Riders barrelling downhill on Par La Ville will reach probably their highest speed of the race before braking for a difficult left turn on to Front.

The run also takes place on Front Street, with the turnaround area at King Street.

In addition to Hedges, other notables such as Shona Palmer and Greg Hopkins are giving the event a miss. Race director is Doug Ellis.