In yesterday's sport section it was incorrectly stated that the money presented to cricketers Dean Minors and Clay Smith came out of the elite athletes programme run by the Bermuda Olympic Association to which Government donates $150,000 yearly. The $10,000 in total presented to the pair is separate from the programme which gives support to athletes in sports that fall under the Olympic umbrella.

St. George's and Bermuda cricketers Dean Minors and Clay Smith each received cheques in the amount of $5,000 from Government yesterday to assist with their travel and living expenses while they are with clubs on amateur contracts in the Northumberland County Cricket League this summer.

The pair will depart for England tonight -- Minors to join Tynedale Cricket Club and Smith to Benwell Cricket Club. Yesterday the pair met with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Pamela Gordon, the department's Director, Brenton Roberts, and Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president Ed Bailey and were wished every success in England.

"This is the first venture outside of the elite athletes assistance programme and I can't think of two persons more worthy of this recognition and support than Dean Minors and Clay Smith,'' said Roberts.

"They said they hope to be good ambassadors for Bermuda as the forerunners for any persons going abroad on this type of development scheme.'' The money will come out of the elite athletes programme, run by the Bermuda Olympic Association, which Government donates $150,000 yearly to assist with the training of athletes in sports that fall under the Olympic umbrella.

Cricket, as a non-Olympic sport, is not one of the dozen or so sports that fall into that category, but Government sees the money as a good investment as the pair are two of the island's top young cricketers. They are also excellent role models for young cricketers and it is hoped that their experiences will be passed on to local youth.

The opportunity for both to play in England came through former Bermuda cricket coach Doug Ferguson. Northumberland League rules state that if a club has one overseas professional registered then only one overseas amateur is also allowed to be registered.

Both players were regulars on the Bermuda team during the recent ICC Trophy tournament. Smith finishing third in the Bermuda batting averages and eighth overall while Minors, a wicket-keeper and batsman, was fourth in the Bermuda batting averages. Minors had 14 catches during the tournament.