the road running calendar.

Popular -- because it offers an unusual opportunity for the middle-of-the-pack athletes to get among the prizes; Controversial -- because of the difference of opinion on which runners should and should not be seeded.

The annual Fidelity Couples Road Race is set for this Sunday, with a field of as many as 200 runners expected on the starting line.

But again with the publication of the seedings -- 36 men and 21 women who are barred from teaming up -- there has been much debate about who is on the list, and who is not.

Athletes such as Mike Watson, Kavin Smith, Mark Perry and Errol Cormack are obviously seeded. But there also some notable omissions, such as Ben Dyer, sixth in this year's Marathon Derby, and Jay Donawa, winner of the recent Olympic Club 5K.

However, race director Joe Pagnam reserves the right to alter the list of seeds, and should either of this pair attempt to team up with a leading woman, Pagnam is likely to step in.

Victory is determined by the fastest combined time, with the men running five miles, and the women approximately three and a half, both routes starting and finishing at Fidelity headquarters on East Broadway.

Historically, the top women have always played a key role in deciding the outcome, although by yesterday premier athlete Sandra Mewett, a repeat winner, had not entered and the race this year still appeared a wide-open affair.

Would-be favourites Brett Forgesson and Anna Eatherley will be confined to the married couple category as will another strong team, Debbie and Jim Butterfield.

In the Open division, the speedy Karen Adams has found a useful non-seed in policeman Simon Groves, while Lynn Kynoch, another of the top women, has reportedly also teamed up with a fast partner who managed to elude the seedings.

Other Open teams to watch could include Jan Benbow and Chris Sommerville, and Jane Christie and Adrian Robson, former runners-up in this event.

The race starts at 9 a.m. and entries close on Friday.

Runners still looking for partners are invited to peruse a list of "availables'' at Sportseller in Hamilton.