take part in Bermuda's first -- and largest -- triathlon of the year.

The Tri Gatorade individual and team events will be staged this coming weekend over two days at Clearwater Beach, St David's, for the first time. In the event's previous three years they have been held simultaneously.

The individual triathlon, on Saturday, will comprise a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike ride and 5K run. The following day, the team event will include a 1.5K swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run. It will be preceded by a junior competition for 7-14 year-olds.

The three teams coming to Bermuda are the New York University TriClub, the NY Flyers and the New Paltz Tri Club, also from New York.

Scott Willet, coach of the University TriClub, said: "I'm very excited to be coming to Bermuda. Many of the team members are accomplished age-group triathletes. The team should do well, providing some excellent competition in the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups.'' Willet is an accomplished triathlete himself, having finishing 103rd out of 1,400 competitors in last year's Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon. His time of nine hours and 46 minutes is nearly half-an-hour faster than the best Bermuda resident's time for the same distance.

Bermuda Triathlon Association are encouraging members of swimming, running and cycling clubs to form teams to fend off the invasion of overseas competitors.

Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female performers overall and in age group categories. There will also be a special trophy this year to the Bermuda athlete who performs best against the international participants.