Minors skipped the recent Iron Man race in Hawaii and will miss the World Championships in Australia this weekend in order to pursue a career as a graphic designer in Boulder, Colorado.

And after 16 years in the sport, 37-year-old Minors says he will consider retirement if he can't lower his swim times this winter.

"I have made a sacrifice because in past years I have missed what's going on in the graphic business, and now I want to concentrate on my profession,'' said Minors.

He has been working over the past couple of months as an intern graphic designer for triathlon magazines, Velonews and Inside Triathlon, both published by Inside Communications.

"I can always race next year if I want to but this is more important,'' he added.

Minors, who has competed extensively overseas, including in Hawaii five times, the South of France (International Nice Triathlon) in 1988 and '90 and all over the United States, says he was forced to head abroad in search of a job after trying for two years to land one in Bermuda.

"I applied to 21 companies in 23 months and made follow-up calls but they told me I lacked experience,'' said Minors. "After a while I just packed up and left.

"I met the standard to go to the World Championships on November 16 but right now I'm in the door as far as working for this publication.'' Minors pointed out that top Bermuda cyclist Elliot Hubbard was featured in an article in Velonews last December.

Minors left Bermuda in May to train in Scottsdale, Arizona. He competed four times on the west coast of the US during which time he qualified for Hawaii and then the World Championships, finishing fifth in Glendale, Arizona.

"What I'm going to do is swim over the winter and if my time improves then I'll return, if not I'll retire,'' said Minors.

HARNESS RACING RAH Plenty of thrills and just one spill highlighted the holiday racing programme which attracted a large crowd to Vesey Street on Tuesday.

Eddie Roque and Tuxedo's Bowtie were the casualties in the day's only tumble, but neither were seriously injured and got back up to win the restart over Grand Willy, Jennifer Time and Speedway Junior.

Karen Compagnon made her racing debut with Maple Hill T Byrd while 14-year-old Heather Adams, driving Trott Acre Abby Lass, won her second race in as many weeks.

Custom Eyes'd, being driven this year by Zeno Cooper, won both her races and now has seven straight wins under her belt. The day's only other double winner was Mark Lindo's Dreamway in the 1:18/2 and slower time bar.

Fastest time of the day was turned in by Murray Terceira's big grey gelding, Carolina Jubilee. They won the second heat of the Free-for-All in a crisp 1:06/1, just 1.1 seconds off the track record.

DYRONE MINORS Triathlete puts job first