and there is every likelihood that it will be an improvement over Saturday's event which was held in Nassau, Bahamas.

Beldwin Smith, manager of the successful Bermuda national men's and women's team last week, said that there was a lot to be learned from the arrangements in Nassau and felt that Bermuda were capable of building on the experiences.

"The championships in Nassau gave us great insight for holding the event next year. The organisation in Nassau was reasonable, but there were indeed certain elements that we feel we can improve on,'' said Smith.

Two local runners who Smith felt for were Jane Christie and Penelope Butterfield, who were caught up in transportation difficulties. In fact, the Bermuda squad was affected because of various airline cancellations and Christie and Butterfield missed the start of the People's Race in Nassau. As a result, their work-out in the Bahamas was limited to a long private run of their own on city streets.

The popular Five Miles Flat Road Race, which is part of the KPMG adult and junior race series, will take place at the Somerset Police Recreation Club on Sunday, March 6. This year will see an added feature with the event being expanded to include walkers and children aged seven to 11 years old.

According to Jim Kelly, vice president of sponsors Mutual Risk Management, the hope is that the few changes will help to increase participants in order to "maximise proceeds'' from the race to assist the international children's charity, World Vision.

"Our key purpose in sponsoring the race is to give something back to the community,'' said Kelly. "We felt there are people in Bermuda who would like to participate and think this is a worthy cause, but who also do not necessarily feel up to running a five-mile course.'' Race Director Simon Groves of the host Bermuda Police said that this year's race will follow the same course as in previous ones. The children's race will be shortened and cover just under two miles.

Entry forms will soon be available at the Sportseller, New Winners Edge and all Police stations.