Aussie Phillip Sly's penultimate training run put an end to his involvement in International Race Weekend.

Due to fly out today to try and improve on his third place finishes in last year's Half Marathon and 10K, Sly was training on Tuesday around his Richmond home in South London when he felt a pain in his foot. The result? A fractured second toe on his left foot.

"I felt no warning, no build up, nothing," said Sly, who was determined to go all out for victory in Sunday's Half Marathon.

"I'm really gutted about it. I have been working hard building up to this race and I was really looking forward to coming back to Bermuda.

"I felt a pain and when I got home it was beginning to swell up. I went for an x-ray the next day and it was confirmed as a fracture.

"That's me done running for a few weeks now.

"I am going to be in the pool today, that's about the only thing I can do now.

"I spoke to my agent and hopefully he will be getting in touch with the Bermuda people to let them know ? it's such a shame 'cos I really couldn't wait to get back out there to see a few familiar races, enjoy the hospitality and hopefully get that win I wanted."

Sly was among those left disappointed that Race Weekend was being cancelled for 2005.

But once avuncular philanthropist David Barber threw his money into the Bermuda Track and Field Association hat to help resurrect the event, he joined the ranks of the delighted.

"I'm so glad it's back on," said Sly, who as well as competing in top class athletics, runs a software company with offices in both London and his native Melbourne.

"Bermuda is a great place to visit and it is one of the places on the circuit that everyone loves to visit. Everyone is so friendly, from the organisers to the other athletes to the people cheering you in the streets.

"It would have been a shame to lose it from the racing calendar."

Sly still hopes to compete in the London Marathon in April, an event for which Race Weekend was going to play an important role in his build-up.