ABERDEEN'S Scott Neyedli is favourite to retain the men's title in the Scottish Olympic distance triathlon championship at Gullane today.
The Dresdner Kleinwort racing team member is building up towards the defence of his UK Ironman title at Sherborne, Dorset.
Neyedli won the Knockburn triathlon, near Banchory, at the end of June and last weekend he took top spot in the Stonehaven half marathon.
He also intends tackling the Dyce half marathon at the beginning of August.
Neyedli said: “I sandwiched the Stonehaven run with a 22km warm-up bike session and afterwards an 80km paced cycle effort, followed by a 3km swim.
“It was a good workout. Now I'm looking forward to Gullane, although I hope I won't have the same problem as last year when I won despite going off course."
The Gullane race starts with a 1,500m sea swim, continues with a 42k bike stage and ends with a 10k run.
Fellow north-east professional triathlete Bella Comerford will be in overseas action this weekend.
The Tarland competitor, who is based in Switzerland, is competing in the Ironman Austria race.
Comerford, who revels in these long distance events – which comprise a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycling and 26.2-mile marathon – has already this year won the Ironman South Africa and Ironman Lanzarote titles.
She said: “My training has been going really well in Switzerland. My fiance Stephen Bayliss is also competing in the Austrian race and we are both ready for it.
“There are strong fields in both the women's and men's races, but that does not scare either of us."