omission of Craig Morbey and Mike Cash from the Bermuda Olympic squad last night, which robs them of a relay team in Barcelona.

Only four swimmers will now represent Bermuda at the Games, Jenny Smatt (breaststroke), Chris Flook (breaststroke), Geri Mewett (freestyle) and Ian Raynor (freestyle). Mewett and Raynor were the other two members of the relay team, which qualified at the recent national championships but they also qualified in their individual events.

"I'm very disappointed for those two because they worked very hard and fully committed themselves to tapering and reaching qualifying times in June,'' said Davies last night. "We had to expect the worst as only 20 could go.'' Qualifying for the relay so late may have worked against Morbey and Cash but Davies stressed that the plan was not to peak too soon. "We had planned to taper and peak at this time as it was the only chance to get everybody together,'' he explained.

"No lack of selection can change the speed they swam to make the qualifying time and what would be awfully nice is that they could achieve some recognition for qualifying for the Olympics. They would be Olympians had there been room for them.'' The relay team electrified the crowd at the national championships with a time of 3:26.99, which smashed the Bermuda record by five seconds and was three seconds better than the qualifying standard.

"My understanding is the whole team was ratified tonight and that nobody had actually been dropped but that three were not included,'' added Davies. "It's unfortunate and I feel very sad for the guys.'' Just moments after talking to his coach on the phone last night Cash, 24, spoke of his disappointment in not making the team. "You try to stay feeling that you're going to go because once you start feeling you might not make it, it's hard to keep going,'' Cash said.

"The only way the whole situation could have been resolved would be if the Spanish had managed to find two extra spaces. We're (relay team) probably swimming faster than any time turned in by a Bermuda team or individual. At this stage it's hard to know what I'm going to do in the future.'' Morbey could not be contacted for comment last night.

FLASE HOPES -- Mike Cash, left, and Craig Morbey, had their Olympic dreams dashed.