Bermudian triathletes will be trying to "tie the kangaroo down" this weekend in the Shell Gold Cup Triathlon.

That's because Australian junior, Trent Muffett, is slated to compete on Sunday and will be among the frontrunners for top honours at the Southside event.

The visitor, who is a guest of top local triathlete Tyler Butterfield, will start as favourite in the 750-metre swim, 20 kilometer bike and five kilometre run but he faces considerable competition from the local men.

Junior Geoffrey Smith, who won the AON National Sprint Triathlon Championships in May, will be hoping to continue his winning ways. There will also be a stiff challenge from Riian Naude, the 2003 winner of the National Duathlon Championships and Pirates Port Triathlon, and from Jamie Pedro, who led the AON event before fading on the run.

Others expected to be in contention for a top-three finish will be Norbert Meyer and juniors Coyatito Smith, Khamari Greaves and Dominique Nanette.

The women's race will be without the three main contenders, Karen Smith, defending champion Dee McMullen and Cora Lee Starzomski. Smith, who has dominated women's triathlon in recent years, is away in Canada, while McMullen is at the Island Games. Starzomski, after a promising season in 2002, has been plagued by injuries that have curtailed her competing this year.

In their absence, junior Flora Duffy should defend her title but could face a challenge from the improving Kim McMullen. However, the latter will have a lot to do on the bike and run as she is likely to trail Duffy by a few minutes out of the water. Lea Butterfield, who performed well in the Island Games, will also be hoping for a top-three placing.

In addition to overall honours, participants will be competing for age-group supremacy from ages 13-15 to 60-plus. Three individuals can also combine for the team competition. Beginners can compete in a Tri a Triathlon event over 200m swim, 10K bike and 2K run. An added incentive to enter the adult events is a $275 travel voucher draw prize.

The adult event will be preceded by junior events for ages six to 15. The most competitive category is again likely to be the boys 12 to 13 age group over a 400m swim, 15K bike and 3K run. The winner is likely to come from among Geoffrey Burns, Thomas Godfrey, Tim Fox, Justin Collis and Dorian Armstrong.

Burns starts as a slight favourite having won his age group in the AON and Pirates' Port triathlons earlier in the season. David Lunn ( boys 8 to 9) and Erek Fox (boys 14 to 15) will start as strong favourites.

In the girls' age groups, Kaitlin Miller and Ashley and Amy Fox are expected to do well while Claire Hawley, Chelsea Lines and Alyssa Rose should battle it out for the junior honours.

There will also be junior teams and mountain bike categories to encourage greater participation in triathlon.

Entry forms are available at Sportseller and Winners Edge or on the BTA website at www.bta.bm. All participants will receive a race T-shirt and water bottle. Entry deadline is 5 p.m. today but late entries can be submitted at Sportseller tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.