A team of seven officers from the Department of Corrections competed successfully in the Texas Police Games in Brownsville last month.

A contingent of the Department's best athletes took on fellow officers from across the United States, with all but two of the Bermudians bringing home medals.

"I am proud to say that they carried the flag of the Department of Corrections as well as the entire country with great distinction and honour," said Prisons Commissioner Eddie Lamb yesterday.

Lt. Col. Lamb said Bermuda's first entry in to the annual competition had been a complete success.

"It was a venture that we embarked on with a view just to explore our opportunities out there and I was ecstatic with the result," he said, adding that he hoped it would raise the morale of the service.

Bermuda's competitors entered events such as bowling, golf and running.

One officer who carried the flag to Texas was bowler Michael Lambe.

Mr. Lambe said the Games had been a rewarding experience, particularly since it gave the Bermudian officers a chance to meet hundreds of men and women in the same field.

"We saw different things that they do there that we could possibly do here," he said, adding the officers had been impressed with a detention centre they toured during the visit.

Lt. Col. Lamb said physical and mental fitness was a top priority for prison staff.

The officers congratulated by Lt. Col. Lambe were: Reginald Pitcher (bowling), Andre Gordon (running), Kevin Trott (golf), Michael Lambe (bowling), Jayson Dill (running) and Clarence Burch (golf).