Young Members Round the Town Race with a large number of prominent athletes expected to participate.

The race will start at 2.30 p.m. with a field of close to 100 running five laps of a one-mile loop course taking in Front Street, Reid Street, Seon Lane and Queen Street.

Kavin Smith and Karen Adams are the defending champions and while it remains to be seen whether Smith participates -- he did not take part in last Sunday's Yamaha 5-K -- Adams is not expected to defend her title. Smith won last year in a record time of 26:55 while Adams was victorious in 29:34 to come within a minute of the record held by Sandra Mewett who has entered this year after missing last year.

Mark Perry, winner of last week's Yamaha 5-K, is entering despite having a slight cold and is among the favourites along with Smith if he enters, Brett Forgesson and Tracy Wright.

Perry finished second to Smith last year in 27:22 while Forgesson was third in 27:29. Wright did not compete.

Perry does not expect to be hampered as a result of the cold and reckons that the winner should turn in a time of close to 26:25.

"If Kevin, Tracy and Brett compete it will be a very good race with the winner recording a fast time,'' predicted Perry.

While the men's field appears to be as competitive as ever, the women's also looks formidable with Mewett expected to offer a spirited challenge along with Jennifer Fisher, Anna Eatherley and Maria Conroy Haydon also capable of winning it. Conroy Haydon was second a year ago while Eatherley was third.

New sponsors Kitson and Company and The Bermuda Insurance Institute have taken steps to add more entertainment to the afternoon by introducing a Fun Relay that will precede the big race and start at 1 p.m. As many as 60 teams were expected to enter the relay.

KAVIN SMITH -- Defending champion.