Four Olympic spots will be at stake this weekend at two separate ITU continental championships; the African Triathlon Championships in Tunisia and the Oceania Triathlon Championships in New Zealand. The men's and women's winners at each event will earn their country an Olympic spot (provided that athlete hasn't already earned an Olympic spot for their country). In the African Championship all eyes will be on Hendrik DeVilliers who will be looking to defend his title while the women's race will likely be between defending champion Kate Roberts and last year's runner-up Mari Rabie, both of South Africa. The only domestic interest we can find in the start list is Brian Jenkins of Ireland.

In Wellington, a clash between Australia and New Zealand seems likely with Athens Olympic silver medalist Bevan Docherty and three-time world cup winner Kris Gemmell leading the Kiwi charge. Both have already been named to the New Zealand Olympic team for Beijing but will be looking to take the Oceania title in their nation's capital. The large Australian contingent is in need of a win because Australia is in danger of not qualifying three men for Beijing. Triple world champion Peter Robertson, who missed most of 2007 after a nasty food poisoning incident, looks to get back on track in 2008 while on the women's side, last year's world number two Emma Moffatt and 2005 world cup series champion Annabel Luxford are hoping to impress Australian Olympic selectors with solid performances. Victory this weekend along with a medal at the Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup later this month could very well secure a spot on the Olympic team. The New Zealanders counter with a powerful trio that includes Debbie Tanner and Sam Warriner, both already named to the Olympic team, and Andrea Hewitt. Contending for the third and final Olympic spot, Hewitt will find a worthy challenger in Nicky Samuels, who has won a series of races on the New Zealand circuit this year. Searching for domestic interest turned up a single name, Daniel Hawksworth. Who he? He's from Jersey and finished second in the memorable Island Games triathlon in Rhodes last year where Jersey took all three medals.

A real mixed bag of racing this weekend sees a tough start on Saturday with the Merrell Mudman and 10k down at Camberley, allabouttriathlon's G3 10k in Guildford and the Clumber Park Classic and Sprint Duathlons in Nottinghamshire. The Clumber races are the first of the season's qualifiers for the Worlds in Rimini this September and we hear a rumour that Will Clarke may be putting in an appearance.

Sunday sees the second of F3's Dorney Lake Duathlons, Exeter Tri Club's Exmouth Earlybird Aquathlon, the Mad March Triathlon in Wimborne plus DB Max's EAS 10k and Trybike Chilly Duathlon at Castle Combe.