people in the vicinity will be concerned with swimming.

Instead they will be focussed on running and biking as the National Duathlon Championships take centre stage at the St. David's venue.

A new course will greet participants for the event, which involves two five-kilometre runs sandwiched around a 30-kilometre cycle.

Yesterday, the defending champion and the man who has dominated the duathlon and triathlon scene over the past two years, Neil de Ste. Croix, expressed concern over his prospects.

Instead, he pointed to Greg Hopkins, the former Bermuda triathlon king, who was co-winner of the team event last year when he partnered runner Kavin Smith.

De Ste. Croix says Hopkins as having been "training like a demon'' in recent months and highlighted the Hamilton bicyle shop owner as a definite threat -- despite Hopkins' attempts at keeping a low profile.

"I think Greg's likely to come through flying, he's really strong on the bike and not a bad runner,'' said de Ste. Croix, coming off a credible performance during last week's ITU Bermuda World Cup Triathlon.

Neither Hopkins nor de Ste. Croix had filled out an entry form as of yesterday's deadline, but were expected to file entries today.

Last year, de Ste. Croix wrestled with allergy problems however his performance was nothing to sneeze at as he completed the course in one hour, 18 minutes and 46 seconds.

Other possible challengers could come in the forms of Steven Doyling, the winner of the amateur section of the World Cup, Kevin Tucker, and Brett Forgesson, who would be expected to make up any ground he might lose on the bike through his strong running.

Like de Ste. Croix, Melanie Claude owned the women's section in the absence of many other top females, clocking 1:31:37 a year ago. But with Shona Palmer, Hulia Hawley and Lynn Kynoch expected at the start line, her reign appears tenuous. The race committee has made it be known that, as a non Bermuda resident, Kynoch is not eligible for the top prize.

The team category figures to be led by the tandem of runner David Dunwoody and cyclist Richard Mason, or Adam Smith and MacInnis Looby.