all-female running race -- the third annual PartnerRe Women's 5K.

Race director Rosemary Jones says the entry should at least match that of last year in terms of numbers.

The charity event gets underway at 9.00 a.m. from Botanical Gardens with the leading runners competing for a crystal trophy and an American Airlines round trip ticket to New York.

There is also a wealth of age group and draw prizes up for grabs, including a second airline ticket, jewellery, travel, fashion and restaurant vouchers and health and skin care products.

Last year 260 runners competed -- far more than in many of the local races which are open to both men and women -- and a flood of entries are expected before tomorrow's deadline. Proceeds from the race will go towards the Early Breast Cancer Detection Programme run by Bermuda TB Cancer and Health Association.

In 1999 some $7,000 was raised for the Women's Resource Centre while in 1998, 165 participants raised $5,000 for the Women's Imaging Centre at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to help battle breast cancer.

All the Island's top women athletes, including last year's winner Karen Adams, inaugural winner Anna Eatherley, Jane Christie, Julia Hawley, Lynn Patchett, Georgia Belboda and Penelope Butterfield, have indicated they will be on the start line.

"Entries have been coming in great, we have a website and people are entering online,'' said Jones, who will again be race director.

Sponsored by reinsurer PartnerRe, sanctioned by the BTFA and organised by Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club, the event includes a girls under-16 race and a women's 5K walk which begins at 9.00. The junior girls will run over a 3.2K course (from Botanical Gardens, east on South Road to Tee Street, onto Berry Hill, Point Finger Road and back to the finish outside Camden.

The women runners and walkers will go west along South Road to Trimingham Hill, onto Harbour Road, Lovers Lane, Middle Road, South Road, Point Finger and Berry Hill Roads and enter the Botanical Gardens through the north gate and finish outside Camden.

The races allow for two-member family teams, a popular option for mothers and daughters or sisters. The juniors can choose to run either the 5K or 3.2K routes but all adults must run the 5K distance. Team runners will not be eligible for individual prizes and both team members must enter separate forms.

"I'm hoping for at least as big or an even bigger turnout than last year,'' added Jones.

"It is a competitive event but the real emphasis is on general fitness, health, safety and self-esteem. Thanks to our sponsors, 100 percent of the proceeds go to a cause that helps promote those values.'' Jones admitted to be very encouraged by the turn-out during the first two years and sees the race becoming a major event on the local calendar.

"I'm really heartened by how successful it's been,'' she said.

"We conceived of it as a fun event for women to raise money at the same time but it's definitely growing. We expect it to get really big in the next few years. The sponsors are all committed and all the feedback has been really positive.

"Last year it was quite competitive with Karen and Anna running together.'' Again, because of her duties as an official, Jones won't be able to compete herself.

"Everybody tells me it's quite a difficult course with all the hills in it but I've yet to experience it,'' she said.

Adams won last year in a record time of 18 minutes, 30 seconds while Eatherley, who ran with a bandage after suffering a sprained ankle, was second in 19 minutes. Third place went to Norwegian visitor Elizabeth Henie who finished in 19:14.

Eatherley, who will be hot favourite this year after a string of victories on the road including the recent Evian 10 miler, won the inaugural race in 1998 in 20:14, followed closely by Christie in 20:18 and Butterfield in 21.31.

Those still wishing to enter can fill out the form and drop it off at Sportseller, New Winners Edge, Pro Shop or Sports R Us, or enter online at www.bermuda.bm/partnerre/5k. Late entries will be accepted on race day and numbers can be collected after 8.00 a.m.

Jones reminded runners that daylight saving time begins on Sunday morning.

Anna Eatherley: firm favourite to win this Sunday's PartnerRe 5K road race.