Bermuda's limited space proved to be the toughest opposition for a pair of Olympic boomerang hopefuls visiting the Island this week.

Fosters Boomerang 2000 team members John Gorski and John Koehler found it difficult to demonstrate their throwing skills because of exacting conditions on the Island.

With some of their boomerangs able to fly 60 metres and back, the two had to leave their best equipment to one side and show off some of their smaller models to golfers at the Fairmont Southampton Princess hotel.

"The biggest problem here is space,'' said Mr. Gorski.

"We have some that go 60 metres or more.

"If we threw them here they would disappear and you can't run after them.

"People think they should come back and land within one metre of you but they don't always and sometimes you have to run like hell, especially when it is windy.'' On the Island to co-promote Fosters' support of the Bermuda Olympic team in conjunction with local distributors Gosling Brothers, the pair showed their skills with a number of smaller boomerangs.

They revealed the promotion tour was also part of a bid to have "boomeranging'' accepted as an Olympic sport. "It is a long process,'' said Mr. Koehler.

"You need to have so many countries engaged in the sport and there are a lot of other rules for qualifying. You also have to go through eight to 12 years where it is an exhibition sport.'' Patience should not be a problem for the duo. Mr. Gorski already holds the record for the length of time a boomerang is airborne, 17 minutes.