test of the year this weekend when they take on the world's best age-group competitors at the ITU World Championships in Montreal, Canada.

Bermuda's squad all earned the right to compete by meeting their age-group qualifying times earlier this year. And most of them will be aiming for personal bests rather than challenging for overall victory.

Youngest member of the team, 16-year-old Jonathan Herring faces a particularly stiff test as he goes in the elite 16-19 age group and will therefore be one of the youngest entrants.

He will, however, be buoyed by encouraging performances earlier this year at the British Junior Championships in Manchester where he finished fifth and Mr.

T's triathlon in Chicago where he placed third.

But against the world's top juniors, who regularly compete alongside the pros, he can't expect such a high finish and will be using the event as a learning experience.

Bermuda had hoped to have two triathletes in the elite 16-19 division, but the Island's number one, Tyler Butterfield, is still recovering from a bout of mononucleosis.

And with veterans Jim Butterfield and Steve Petty having to withdraw from the team at the last minute, Bermuda will be represented by just three other men.

Bermuda Triathlon Association president Neil de Ste Croix, who finished second overall in the Chicago Sprint Triathlon, will be hoping to continue that form, although he'll be facing much tougher opposition.

Kent Richardson, who spent the winter training in Florida with professionals, has emerged as one of Bermuda's best in the sport, and could lead home the Island team with possibly a top 50 percent finish in his age group.

Oliver Martin is the least experienced of the squad although he has improved in leaps and bounds this year and will be hoping for a PB.

On the women's side, Bermuda are represented by Julia Hawley, Karen Smith and Laurie Orchard, the Island's top three, as well as Carolyn Conway and Lea Butterfield.

Hawley appears to have recovered from the injuries and illnesses that have dogged her in recent years and showed in the National Sprint Championships she has lost none of her determination with a close second place finish to one of Europe's best juniors, Joanna Hind.

Orchard, the current national champion, has continued to make steady progress, although any success in Canada may depend on how she handles the run, by far her weakest discipline. Smith is another triathlete who has shown much improvement this year and recently won her age group at the Orillia and Barrie triathlons in Canada.

The Bermuda team, accompanied by manager Patty Petty, flew out on Wednesday and will race today and tomorrow over the standard Olympic distances -- 1500 metre swim, 40K bike and 10K run.