For the past four years, Dermot Galea and David Galea have won the National Triathlon Championships twice each, with the latter claiming the title these last couple of years.

Another thing in common is that they have both made successful forays into cycling, with Dermot claiming the 2004 Cycling Road Race Championships and David dominating the Time Trial Championships for the same year. This coming Sunday is likely to decide who of these two friends and rivals is going to have his name engraved one more time than the other on the Championship Trophy.

The odds must be in favour of the younger man - Dermot - who has already beaten David into second place in the last of the B’Kara Triathlon Series held earlier this month.

However, nobody should underestimate the tried-and-tested strategy of the current champion to come back from behind to retain the title.

Again, it would be foolish to keep Michael Gellel out of the equation. Michael has been the most consistent athlete this season, placing in the top three positions in all the events he took part in this year.

It would be an unlikely scenario if he were to cause such an upset as to deny the title to his two rivals but finishing second is not - thanks to his unmatcheable run - beyond his ability.

In the absence of Mark Zammit, who has this year won four races and who is currently training in Canada, Keith Galea should have no difficulties in claiming the Juniors’ title The Seniors Category is likely to be won by William Brydon who has shown marked improvement in the last few races.

The Women’s Race is going to be an uneventful one. With so many female athletes out of competition mainly because of studies, the outcome of Sunday’s Race is a foregone conclusion.

Marylynn Bezzina should face little challenge to claim the title for the first time in her life, while Debbie Caruana Dingli should retain the Senior title she won last year.

It will be interesting to see how newcommer Michelle Wood will overcome the ordeal of an Olympic Triathlon.

Sunday’s Race consists of a1500m swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run. It will be held at the Salina Coast Road at 7am.

The race is sponsored by Powerade and Kristal Water and by J.Spiteri & Sons, local agents for Kee Klamps. The Police and St James Hospital staff will be taking care of the safety aspect of the Race.