BLENHEIM Palace is to be transformed into an athlete's heaven once again this year for the Blenheim Triathlon.

The event, which involves swimming, cycling and running, is due to take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, at the stately home in Woodstock. It is the fourth the palace has hosted.

So far, a record 4,000 entries have been received, and anyone interested in taking part is urged to sign up soon as the closing date for entries is the end of the month.

About 5,000 athletes are expected to take part, swimming across the palace lake before cycling and running around the grounds.

The race - the second largest event of its kind in the UK - draws huge numbers of first-time triathletes eager to have a go at what is now one of the fastest growing sports in the country.

For the second year running, the event will be sponsored by car manufacturers Mazda and Channel 4 will be televising highlights.

Race director Nick Rusling said: "We're delighted and honoured to be coming back to Blenheim Palace again for the 2008 Mazda Blenheim Triathlon.

"The setting of the event is stunning and it has fast become an established event in the triathlon calendar, both for regular age-group triathletes and first-timers taking the plunge.

"After a hugely popular event in 2007, we will be having a kids' village, where children can take part in a kids' triathlon, as well as enjoy lots of other fun activities.

"We will again be hosting a varsity triathlon for athletes from Oxford and Cambridge universities, and alongside our male and female elite races, the event will also host the British Triathlon youth and junior elite races, which should provide some exciting insight into future 2012 Olympic hope- fuls."

Leukaemia Research is the race's official charity and many participants fundraise for it.

Competitors will be able to race over a variety of distances including the sprint - 750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run - and supersprint - 400m swim, 13km cycle, 2.5km run - as well as a team relay event.

For more information, visit the race's website at www.theblenheimtriathlon.com