weekend.

The Bermuda Triathlon Association's junior tour continues when 19 athletes, accompanied by coaches Dave Morrison and Neil de Ste Croix and a host of parents, leave for Atlanta on Thursday and the US National Ironkids Championship.

The six girls and 13 boys have been training since March. Most of them have already raced in the Tri Gatorade and Bermuda Ironkids Championship while others took part in the mammoth Chicago triathlon last month.

But nothing compares to this event, which, for the Americans, is the culmination of a six-race series across the US. Last year, it attracted 450 triathlates and was the focus of an ESPN TV feature.

Competitors in the 7-10 age group -- including Bermuda's Flora Duffy, Simon Morrison, Sebastian Ball and Rhys Pearce -- swim 100 metres, bike five kilometres and run one kilometre. The 11-14 group -- Courtney Cotterill, Ashley Kirkpatrick, Robyn Dickinson, Jennifer Baikie, Emma Rego. Roy Allan Burch, Robery Pantry, Chris Conway, Mark Morrison, Brian Steinhoff, Chris Bennett, Andrew Kirkpatrick, Tyler Butterfield, Spencer Conway and Nuri Latham -- endure a 200 metre swim, 10 kilometre bike and two kilometre run.

"If one of our juniors wins or places well then that's a bonus and a great achievent,'' said de ste Croix.

Morrison and de ste Croix stress that the primary purpose of the trip is to expose the youngsters to the sport in a team enviroment and to build team spirit.

"It's amazing how quickly our juniors have progressed,'' said Morrison.

"Most of them have now acquired racing bikes and joined swim clubs ...

Regular training races and specific training for each of the three events have really sharpened their skills.'' The race starts at 8 a.m. -- to avoid Atlanta's vaunted heat -- and takes place on a closed course at the Atlanta Naval Air Station. The swimming discipline is held within a 25-metre pool.

Latham, a member of the national swim team, and Duffy, a Bermuda age-group swim champion and top runner, will lead the Bermuda hopes.

Butterfield, Dickinson and Kirkpatrick are among others expected to contend.

NEIL DE STE CROIX -- will accompany 19 of Bermuda's Ironkids to Atlanta this week.