The Princess to Princess Race, the traditional curtain-raiser to International Race Weekend, celebrates its 25th anniversary on Sunday week but jubilation will be restricted to locally-based runners.

Grete Waitz, the former race queen from Norway, was a fixture in this event throughout the 1980s while, on the men's side, entries ranged from the United States to Germany. But in recent years, as Newton Adcock, the race director, is at pains to admit, overseas runners have travelled solely for Race Weekend.

"They've been making their trips shorter and shorter," Adcock said. "We used to get a Grete Waitz come in and stay with somebody but we don't get those runners coming year after year. So in the last few years we haven't had any international runners."

That leaves honours up to the usual suspects with the men's race expected to be a two-horse race between Kavin Smith and Jay Donawa, who will be attempting to win this race for the third year in a row. Brett Forgesson, who is built more for endurance than speed, is the other notable among the early entrants.

It does not matter how Anna Eatherley, Forgesson's wife, is deemed to be "built" — all she does is win on local roads. Eatherley won the 2001 women's race by a ridiculous five minutes and is an overwhelming favourite to repeat. Her most significant challenger to date is Karen Smith, the Island's leading female triathlete.

The junior race is in its second year and hosts three categories — eight to 10 years, 11 to 12 and 13 to 15. The youngsters will compete over a two-mile course, starting from Heron Bay School at 9.30 a.m.

Organisers plan to commemorate the 25th running of the 7.2 mile senior race, which will start at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess at 9.30 a.m. and finish at the sister hotel in Southampton, by presenting participants with special mugs.

Entry fees are $5 for juniors, $10 for Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club members and $15 for all others. The deadline is January 4, with late entries accepted at a charge of $20. Forms can be obtained from Sportseller, Winner's Edge and Pro Shop.