year's Tri-Gatorade and Pirate's Port triathlons, is expected to keep his winning streak alive this Sunday when the AON National Sprint Triathlon championship is held at Clearwater Beach.

Junior races for seven to 15 year-olds of all abilities and an adult beginner's race will also take place on Sunday. The events gets underway at 5.30 p.m. with a 750 metre swim at Clearwater Beach, 20-k bike ride within Southside and a 5-k run.

For sprint races, the transition between events becomes much more important, and the new layout of the transition area is `spectator friendly' and provides the best vantage point for spectators. All attention will be focused on Herring who, with his exceptional swimming and strong cycling ability, should have enough to hold off his competitors on the run. Kent Richardson, racing and training overseas throughout the winter, will provide the strongest challenge for Herring and it should be an interesting duel to the finish.

Others expected to do well include teenagers Nick Taylor and Brian Steinhoff, newcomer Andrew Davis in the 20-29 age group and David Ferguson in the 30-39 age group.

Jon Bronson will make his return to triathlon after a two-year absence and fresh off their cross-USA cycling trip, Steven Petty and Jim Butterfield will vy for the Masters age group. On the women's side, former winner Laurie Orchard is likely to exit the water in the lead and maintain this through the cycle leg. However, it will be difficult for Orchard to hold off Karen Smith, the 1999 female triathlete of the year.

Smith is in excellent form and should take the women's honours with a strong finish on the run.

Kim Mason is expected to win the Masters age group. Other strong performances are expected from Lea Butterfield, recent finisher of a half-Ironman race in England and Masters triathlete Carolyn Conway.

The top male and female 13-15 year-olds, will compete over the same course as the adults. Favourites for are Chris Conway and Ashley Robinson Roberts with strong competition expected from Matthew Herring, Adam Petty, Chayce Smith, Coyatito Smith, Geoffrey Smith, Tyler Abbott, Flora Duffy, Melissa DeSilva, Ashley Kirkpatrick and Robyn Dickinson.

A beach barbecue will be held throughout the evening from 5.30 to 9.00 to raise funds to send Bermuda's junior triathletes to Chicago this summer for the world's largest triathlon. Tickets for the barbecue are available at Sportseller.

Entry form for all competitors are also available at Sportseller, Winners Edge or may be downloaded from the Bermuda Triathlon Association website (www.bta.bm). Deadline for entries is today at 5.00 p.m. For further information contact Derek Atkins at 299-1661 or 236-1714 (evenings).