organisers confident of building on last season's success.

The five-race series will start on January 23 with an event starting at the Botanical Gardens and it's anticipated that numbers will exceed the 170 who participated in the first series.

"Hopefully this year we will have around 200,'' said Bob Steinhoff, a managing partner of KPMG, yesterday when the company announced plans for the upcoming series.

"We were overwhelmed by the turnout in the junior series last year when there were 170 of Bermuda's youth from a wide cross-section of the community.'' Again, Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club will organise the series and MAAC official Brett Forgesson also has high expectations for the races which attracted the Island's top juniors earlier this year.

"As Bob stated it was tremendously successful in its first year and hopefully this year we will see an increase of that, perhaps around 200,'' said Forgesson.

Competition will be in three age groups, boys and girls 8-10, 11 and 12 and 13-15, which will be determined as of April 30, 2000. For each race, points will be awarded, with 50 for a first, 40 for second, 35 for third, 30 (fourth) 25 (fifth), 20 (sixth), 15 (seventh) and five for a finish.

There will also be a number of prizes, included a $250 gift voucher from the Pro Shop or a travel voucher for the same amount for first place overall, $150 for second, $100 for third and $75 and $50 for fourth and fifth.

To be eligible for one of the prizes runners must complete a minimum of four of the five races in the series. There will also be draw prizes, but again participants must complete at least four races to be eligible.

Other races in the series will include the Butterfield and Vallis 5K and a junior road race on February 6, the Telford Electric Mile, a new addition, at the National Stadium on February 26, the MRM junior race in Somerset on March 5 and the BTFA/Pacers Junior track meet on April 15 at the National Stadium.

The longest distance for the eight to 10 and the 11-12 age groups will be two miles and for the 13-15 age groups, four miles.

The first series produced some exciting competition as the likes of Mark Morrison, Ashley Robinson Roberts, Henry Talbot and Flora Duffy all excelled in their age groups.

"We are very encouraged,'' said Dave Morrison, the KPMG race series representative, who anticipates another 30 or 40 youngsters taking part.

"What was interesting to me was a lot of kids not necessarily in the winners' circle were very motivated by the series.

"What we saw over the cross-country series is a tremendous growth, certainly there is a lot of enthusiasm. But we would like to see more girls in the 13-15 age group. There always seems to be a huge drop-off in the girls when they reach their teen years.'' Said Roger Lambert, vice president, road running of Bermuda Track and Field Association: "The BTFA wish to thank the sponsors, KPMG, for supporting this junior event.

"We are very pleased to sanction this running series which could help to build character and offer the athletes an avenue to reach higher levels.

"Our thanks also to the Mid Atlantic Athletic Club for taking on this task of organising this event and it is hoped the goals of the athletes and the sponsors are achieved.''