Bermuda Triathlon Association launch their new season tomorrow with the staging of the Pirates Port Sprint and Junior Triathlons at Clearwater Beach.

And Evan Naude, who missed out on the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne following a change in eligibility rules, will start as the hot favourite.

Naude should set the pace in a men?s event which starts with a 750 metre swim, followed by 20K on the bike and a 5K run, as last year?s winner Kris Hedges is off the Island and the talented Jamie Brown has chosen not to race,

Evan?s twin brother, Riaan, second last year, will also be absent due to other commitments.

However, Naude could be challenged by Norbert Meyer, a consistent top five finisher in local triathlons who has been covering some serious mileage in preparation for the upcoming German Ironman Triathlon. And this fitness should work in his favour although he will find it tough to stay with Naude.

Former Bermuda Triathlon champion Neil de ste Croix has been hampered by a neck injury and although he will be on the start line his lack of training means that he is unlikely to be taking the race too seriously. But youngsters Thomas Godfrey and Marc Smith will be hoping to continue their progress with possible top five finishes.

On the women?s side, the absence of Flora Duffy, who is back at school in the UK following her outstanding eighth place finish at the Commonwealth Games, will leave the door open for a strong women?s field.

Defending champion Karen Smith, who was also in Melbourne and just a few weeks age won her fifth straight Bermuda Triathlete of the Year award, is uncertain whether she will be on the start line as she?s still nursing the injuries that hampered her performance Down Under.

Should she start, she will still be tough to beat but will face stiff competition from the likes of sisters Dee and Kim McMullen and, if she enters, Karen Bordage.

Dee McMullen was second last year and has been training for a Half Ironman in June. Kim McMullen, who received a Special Achievement Award at the 2005 Bermuda Triathlon Association?s awards dinner for her performances in the Hawaii and Canadian Ironman events last year, is also training well and will be looking for at least a podium finish.

Bordage, who posted a sub-three hour marathon last year, may be a late entry and will also be one to watch, especially if she is close to the leaders going into the run. Also expected to do well is the 2005 Best Newcomer Triathlete Joanna Shillington and a dark horse could be newcomer to the Island Ellen Charnley.

The senior event will be preceded by junior triathlons for seven to 15 year-olds over various distances.

David Lunn, who at just 12 years-old received a Bermuda Government Sports Grant and was awarded the 2005 Junior Triathlete of the Year Award, is showing the kind of talent and commitment that propelled Duffy and Tyler Butterfield to great achievements.

He will be moving up an age group to the 13-15 advanced distance of 300m swim, 15K bike and 3K run where he will start as one of the favourites.

Another firm favourite will be Rebecca Heyliger who has combined her talents as one of Bermuda?s leading swimmers and runners to great effect and should win comfortably in the girls? 11-12 age group. Others to watch are Alex Godfrey, Nathan Amaral and Brighton Swan in the older boys age groups.

Some of the closest competition should be in the boys nine to 10 age group with Justin Ferreira, another outstanding talent, Mark Godfrey, Tadhg O?Shaughnessy, Kai Peters and Lorenzo Sequeiros likely to be battling out for a top three place.

The girls? nine-10 age group will also be closely contested with Molly Pilgrim, Gabriella Arnold, Elizabeth Jordan, Annabella Doyle and Olivia Lunn all in contention for top honours.