Isherwood returns to ironman

HONG Kong's top long-distance triathlete Kim Isherwood will be put to the test when she takes part in the New Zealand Ironman next Sunday - her first major race since the disastrous Hawaii event in which she was hospitalised.

Isherwood, who has consistently been ranked in the world's top 10 for the last five years, fainted with dehydration halfway through the run in the Hawaii Ironman last October.

She said: ''I started feeling unwell during the bike but continued with the race until I collapsed about 15 miles into the run.

''I still really don't know what went wrong. It was such an awful experience from an emotional point of view and after that race, I felt I left my soul in Hawaii.

''It took me a long time to get over it physically and I'm really excited about the New Zealand race. My target is to get into the top 10 so as to qualify for this year's Hawaii Ironman.'' Another Hong Kong competitor in the event is police inspector John Taylor, who will be taking part in his first New Zealand Ironman race.