NORTH-EAST professional triathletes Bella Bayliss and her husband Stephen will defend their titles in tomorrow’s Ironman South Africa triathlon at Port Elizabeth.
Bella, from Tarland, won an exciting women's race last year, sprinting clear of Italy's Edith Niederfriniger at the end of a contest which embraced a 2.4-mile open water swim, 112 miles cycling and a 26.2-mile marathon run.
Stephen was also in great form, setting a course record time of 8hr 18min 23sec to win the men's contest.
Bella was fourth in the Ironman New Zealand race at Taupo in early March while Stephen took sixth position in the men's event.
The north-east's other top professional triathlete, Aberdeen's Scott Neyedli, competes in tomorrow’s MPH duathlon at Knockburn, near Banchory.
He returned earlier this week from a three-month training camp at Noosa on Australia's Sunshine coast.
He's gearing up for next month's Lanzarote ironman race.
Scottish junior international Robbie Simpson (Deeside Runners) opens his bid for success in the British fell running championships when he competes in the first round at Slieve Bearnagh in the Mourne mountains today.
He travels to Northern Ireland with confidence after a series of excellent performances on home ground over the past three months.
The hill running season continues with the Knock-farrel race (five miles, 1,200ft) at Strathpeffer today.
Jethro Lennox (Shettleston) and Dawn Scott (Lochaber AC) are the defending champions. Entries will be taken on the day with registration at the Old Victorian Station prior to the 2pm start.
Aberdeen AAC's track campaign opens at the Chris Anderson Stadium tomorrow (1pm) when the club holds its team trials for the early season fixtures.