championships -- for many competitors the last oppportunity to clock up times which would qualify them for funding to take part in the World Championships in Perth, Australia, in November.

Those completing the course in times calculated by Bermuda Triathlon Association based on five-year age bands from 16-69, will qualify for correspondingly higher or lower levels of money from the organisation.

The event, the last of three qualifying races this year, will be contested over the Olympic distance of 1500 metre swim, 40 kilometre cycle and 10 kilometre run in the form of individual men's and women's races and a team competition.

With 14-year-old Tyler Butterfield, winner of the Bank of Bermuda event last month, ineligible because of his age, and Kris Hedges training in the US for the world junior cycling championships, the men's event is expected to be dominated by Andrew Doble, last year's winner Neil de St Croix and Dave Cash, the only Bermudian in last Sunday's ITU World Cup.

Cash, whose strength lies in the swimming element, was pulled out of last week's race as he struggled against the world's top pros on the cycling leg.

But he could take advantage this weekend with both of his main rivals recovering from bouts of flu.

Doble has been unable to train this week but doesn't expect that to affect his chances in what he considers the major race of the season, although commitments will ultimately prevent him from travelling to Perth.

"Sometimes rest is the best form of training,'', he said, "so I don't think that will affect me. And in any case, training in the last week before a race doesn't really help.'' Julia Hawley is favourite to take the women's crown, with last year's winner Shona Palmer still suffering from the back injury which has plagued her most of the season.

Action gets underway at Clearwater Beach in St. David's at 8.00 a.m. on Sunday with the closing time for entries 4.30 p.m. today.

ANDREW DOBLE -- among the favourites in this Sunday's National Triathlon Championships.