Marathon Derby non-competitors, as a hamstring pull has ruled out the New Zealander.

This means that the top three finishers from 1991 have been rendered spectators with defending champion Mike Watson bypassing the event and runner-up Terrance Armstrong committed to studies abroad.

Forgesson -- third last year -- sustained his injury earlier in the year during a training session and further aggravated it while running in the SunLife 10-K two weeks ago.

"I got the (hamstring) strain 10 weeks ago and it's taking a long time to come right,'' said Forgesson when contacted at his office. "I'm probably another couple of months away from regaining full fitness.'' Forgesson had been running sporadically thus far this year with a few spirited performances early in the national cross-country championships, and the St.

Pauli Girl Round-the-Town race. But things have gone downhill since then and he hobbled home third in the SunLife race.

He said that he had been looking forward to running the Derby: "It is definitely a disappointment to miss the Derby.

"This is my favourite race in Bermuda with everybody out there enjoying the festive occasion.'' As the casualty list grows, and with Kavin Smith still a question mark, more and more fingers are starting to point in the direction of 1990 champion Tracy Wright, one of the few who have been able to avoid the injury bug.

Wright has impressed as of late and must be salivating as he rates his chances for this the highlight of the racing season.