Matthew Herring has enjoyed this past year as the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Triathlon Champion.

So much so that his main aim this season was to repeat the feat and have that trophy stand on his shelf at home for another 12 months.

But that will not be the case and no-one is more frustrated than the enthusiastic teenager.

Herring has been forced to pull out of the series, which begins on Sunday, September 28 with the individual event and climaxes on October 5 with the team race, following a double dose of bad luck.

As if spraining one of his ankles earlier this year was not bad enough, Herring went on and sprained the other just as the first one was about healed.

He is still coming back from the injury and as a result he will be a frustrated spectator while everyone else is giving it their all.

"One of the sprains came while I was playing in a rugby game in March. That was pretty bad and took me out for the whole season. Then during the summer I sprained the other one while I was on Outward Bound," he said yesterday.

Herring said he was gutted to be missing out on an event he classes as the biggest on the Island.

"It's definitely the most prestigious event. If you are going to win one here I would rather win this than the Nationals. This is the biggest race for me," he said. "I was hoping to try and break the hour, but it won't be this year, so maybe next."

After coming to terms with not being able to compete, the hardest thing for Herring now is giving the trophy back.

"I was hoping to have it in my room for another year. It's definitely a talking piece when all my friends come over," he said.

Herring believes there are several competitors capable of grabbing the glory. Last year he edged out Kent Richardson in a time of 1:02.28. The veteran came second in 1:03.17, while Andrew Davis came in third in 1:04.01.

"I heard Kris Hedges is coming down and he will have a good chance. But I don't know how much swimming and running he has been doing," he said. "Geoffrey Smith is also looking good and the Naude brothers (Riaan and Evan) who have just come back from the Duathlon Worlds are also doing really well."

However, one person Herring will be keeping his fingers crossed for is friend Jamie Pedro.

"I want my mate to win," he said. "He's always second."

As for what the future holds for himself, Herring said hopefully an injury free season in 2004.

"Right now I am looking to start training for next year and hopefully come out with a bang," he said.

Meanwhile, Bank of Bermuda Foundation Triathlon Series organisers announced yesterday that they had added a new category for 2003 - a mountain bike and BMX division in the Junior Ultra Sprint Duathlon individual and team event for boys and girls.

Event spokesman David Lang added that he felt it was important that the event go ahead in the wake of Hurricane Fabian and felt the new category would boost the popular series still further.

"We are pleased to announce that the triathlon races will go ahead as planned," he said. "Bank of Bermuda Foundation and the Bermuda Triathlon Association are anxious to bring some normality back to our community by hosting these sporting events for adult and junior competitors."

The Junior Ultra Sprint Duathlon races will be split into four age categories compared with just two in 2002. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third in seven to eight, nine to ten, 11 to 12 and 13-14-year-old divisions for both the mountain bike and BMX and racing bike categories.

"Last year we had close to 150 juniors participate in the Junior Ultra Sprint Duathlon races and we are hoping to increase that number this year by introducing the mountain bike/BMX category," Lang said.

"We want to encourage all young athletes to come out and participate and by introducing this new category we are opening the races up to all levels of competition.

"This is the biggest event on the Bermuda triathlon race calendar and we want to include as many young people as possible."

Triathlon Association president Charlie Duffy backed Lang's stance.

"We are pleased that we are still able to have these races considering the impact Hurricane Fabian had on the Island," he said. "We have spoken to the Corporation of Hamilton and they have assured us that the streets in Hamilton are fine for racing."

Last year Karen Smith topped the women's field in the individual event coming home in 1:06.46. She was followed by middle distance runner Ashley Couper in 1:11.28. Flora Duffy (14) was third in 1:12.12.

In the team event, more than 50 took part with the Parks Department proving a cut above, the aforementioned Pedro and Davis and runner Tracy Wright taking top spot.