A bumper crop of participants is expected for this year's Bank of Bermuda Triathlons, with organisers yesterday unveiling an exciting package, containing several new features.

The most striking change revealed was the moving of events -- both individual and team -- from the former baselands area in St. David's to the more appealing central area of the City of Hamilton, the scene most recently of the ITU World Cup Bermuda Triathlon.

Its spectator friendliness and accessibility were highlighted as obvious attributes, while the location also impinges less upon churchgoers and could serve to enhance business for area shops.

"The beach, since the United States Armed Services moved off, made it difficult to have races down there (St. David's),'' explained Patrick Hackenberg, vice president of the Bermuda Triathlon Association during a noon press conference.

"First we were using Clearwater Beach for a couple of years and before that it was the Annex, so we've been moving around a bit. It seemed like another good time to find the best location and why not in the backyard of the Bank of Bermuda.

"The Corporation of Hamilton, Roger Sherratt, was very receptive to that. We laid out a plan which we believe, and the Corporation believes, has a minimal impact on the church and the traffic which would go through on those Sunday mornings.'' In support, Elizabeth Ward, special events officer of the Bank of Bermuda, said: "Changing the venue to Hamilton will definitely make the event more fun for spectators.'' Still, there is no guarantee of this ending a nomadic existence for the races, with further talks set for after the events, between organisers and the Corporation of Hamilton, regarding any continuance.

In a further effort to enhance numbers, the swim distance for the individual event has been sliced in half, from one mile to a half mile, which will make the competition more attractive to those not so adept at the discipline, but reasonable on the cycle and run.

Swimmers will start and finish at Albuoy's Point after taking a triangular route. Cyclists then take over, travelling seven laps (15 miles) of a semi-loop course east along Reid Street, Court Street on to Front Street to Crow Lane before returning.

Runners will encompass six miles, with all their time spent on Front Street.

The only difference for the team race is that it retains the one mile distance for swimmers.

Coinciding with the start of the triathlon, in another effort to increase attendance and interest, as well as promoting fitness, will be a five kilometre `Fun Walk', for which organisers hope to attract numerous prominent local figures.

"We're looking forward to that being a fun aspect of the triathlon. We're looking forward to having everyone come out and join us and we hope that the new venue of Hamilton will provide a lot of excitement,'' said Ward, flanked by Hackenberg, Bank senior vice-president, Ed Gomez, race directors Nikki Masters, Ernest Dunphy and Suzanne DeCouto.

While last year witnessed both the individual and team races being combined into a single outing, this year will see staggered dates, with the team event slated for September 29 while the individual competition follows on October 6.

Neil de Ste Croix and Shona Palmer won the respective male and female individual categories in 1995, while Annette Budge, MacInnis Looby and Kavin Smith dominated the team section.