LUCK deserted Hongkong at the Asian Triathlon Championships in Tianjin, with defending champion Brian Bozarth and his brother Don, both running into trouble, which dashed their title hopes.
The brothers were favourites in the men's junior division on the strength of their one-two finish at last year's race in Japan, but nothing went right for them in Tianjin.
Brian, whose participation was in doubt two weeks ago when he crashed head-on with a car while training on his bicycle, was thrown out of the race in another cycling mishap.
While leading by an incredible six-minute margin shortly after the half-way mark in the cycling routine, Brian hit a brick in the middle of the road which destroyed his front wheel and put an end to his title defence.
Elder brother Don suffered dehydration during the run, but nevertheless completed the race, finishing way down the field with his position unlisted.
Team manager Ian Rayson said: ''It was disaster for our team right from the start. We didn't know the race had begun until some of the competitors had swum more than 200 metres up the lake, because there was no gun signal.
