for Saturday's event in Muskoka, Canada, holding no false hopes about their chances.

"We don't expect to fare to well coming from a small country, not when many of the bigger countries will be represented by professional athletes,'' said team manager Patty Petty.

She added: "United States, Australia, New Zealand and other big countries will be sending professionals, many who have athletes who make regular appearances in triathlons throughout the world. Bermuda will do well by remaining competitive among the smaller countries.'' Her remarks were endorsed by top local runner Brett Forgesson, a member of the six-man Bermuda national team.

"I agree that the smaller countries like Bermuda will do well to remain competitive. Many of us haven't been that active in triathlons and I would think that Bermuda is only sending a men's and women's team because Canada is relatively close,'' said Forgesson.

Bermuda's team will consist of 33 athletes, one less than the total which went to Orlando, Florida, in 1990 when the last team participated.

In addition to the six-member male and female teams, Bermuda has members entered in the men's 25-29, 30-34 and 35-39 age groups and women's 25-29 and 30-34 age groups.

The main incentive for the Bermuda team is to achieve personal bests while competing against what is certain to be a formidable field of triathletes.

They will face a challenging course that has them taking on a 1.5-kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre cycling route and a 10-kilometre run.

Bermuda's best hope in the men's team event is Neil de St. Croix whose main strength is in the cycling event. But he is also a solid swimmer and respectable runner and these qualities favour him to cross the finish line well ahead of anyone else.

"Judging the performances of the athletes this year Neil will probably be home first,'' said Forgesson.

Of the remaining five members, Kevin Tucker would probably turn out to be the stronger challenger to de St. Croix as Tucker did well during the local trials. The other members are expected to finish close together.

Better known for his long-distance running, Forgesson has never completed an international triathlon and therefore is not aiming his sights too high. "Any time will be a personal best for me,'' he joked.

The Bermuda team would have been considerably stronger had Greg Hopkins and Steve Doyling been available. Both have recently returned from good performances at the Montreal International Triathlon in Canada where Hopkins had a time of one hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds compared to Doyling's time of 2:02:04.

One who could finish high in his age group is veteran Jim Butterfield, former winner of the Bermuda Triathlon. Both he and Steven Petty will compete in the 40-44 division.

NEIL DE ST. CROIX -- Top individual hope.