Six of the Island’s elite junior athletes have received Denton Hurdle Memorial Awards for sporting excellence at the Berkeley Institute.

The awards are held annually in honour of late local rugby star and schoolteacher Denton Hurdle. They were presented last night by his nephews Derek, who has represented the island in rugby and basketball, and World Cup cricketer Kevin.

Those selected from a list of 52 nominees were Kyla Bolden, Warwick Academy, Justin Donawa, from West End Primary School, Taylor-Ashley Bean, Warwick Academy, Greg Maybury, Warwick Academy, Erica Woods, Warwick Academy, and Berkeley Institute’s own Malachi Jones.

Bermuda Schools Sports Federation (BSSF) Linda Hines opened the ceremony and praised all athletes who received nominations from their respective schools.

“Denton Hurdle was an esteemed schoolteacher and sportsman renowned for his sense of fair-play, self-discipline and commitment to training,” she said. “All these young athletes embody the traits he stood for.”

Kyla Bolden, who scooped the girl’s primary school award triumphed in the 2007 Front Street Mile. Boy’s primary school winner Justin Domawa received the BSSF All Star Finals MVP and was the track and field national champion for his age group.

Taylor-Ashley Bean, who won the girl’s middle school award represented Bermuda at the Carifta Games in 2006 and 2007, while boy’s middle school champion Greg Maybury is a member of the U15 Bermuda cricket team and was invited for Cup Match trials.

Ericia Woods, who won the girls senior prize will represent the Bermuda basketball team at the Island Games, while boy’s winner Malachi Jones travelled with the Bermuda cricket team to Kenya and Trinidad recently.