FOR two of the ten athletes who received money to further their sporting careers yesterday at the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme it was double the delight as they had in the past received scholarship awards.

Top Bermuda tennis player Ashley Brooks and equestrian Kelby Lusher have both been recipients of the programme in the past and they will be using the money awarded to them yesterday to boost their careers this summer. Lusher was awarded $6,850 to attend the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament in July and also to pay for the June lease fees for her horse. Lusher, 16, is one of Bermuda's most accomplished young show jumpers and this past season she finished in first place at the FEI World Jumping Challenge for Category A riders. Her main goal is to represent Bermuda at the prestigious North American Young Rider Championships in 2007.

Brooks was awarded $5,600 to attend the ITF/USE tournament as well as the Van Der Meer Elite Tennis camp this summer. Brooks, 17, has over the past year won both the Argus Open and Island Construction A singles and doubles titles and at the Wilde Wood Junior Championships in South Carolina she was crowned the Under 18 girls champion.

A total of $46,040 was handed over to the 10 athletes at the presentation yesterday staged at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. On hand were Director of the Sports Brenton Roberts as well as Walter Listen, acting Sports Minister as Dale Butler is currently in Australia attending the Commonwealth Games.

The other athletes who received sponsorships grants were:

Swimmer Rebecca Sharpe who received $5,050 to attend the Alberta Championships, the Nick Baker Swimming Camp and also to get video lessons and to purchase a high tech Fastskin racing suit and Monofin. Sharpe, 14, is the holder of 24 national records in three different age groups and has represented Bermuda in nine international competitions. Among her plans this year is to also represent Bermuda at the FINA Youth Worlds in Brazil.

Female footballer Shuntae Todd, 17, received $2,300 to attend the John Daly Soccer Camp as well as to purchase equipment. Todd has been voted the Young Female Player of the Year by the BFA and was also the MVP at the David Bascome Soccer Camp.

Top young golfer Nick Jones received $4,520 to help attend a number of tournaments affiliated with the X Factor Golf Academy. Jones won the X Factor Junior tournament in the 14-15 age group last year in Gainesville, Florida and was so impressive last year that he was invited by the US coach of the X Factor team to play in the Golfing Magazine Junior Championships in Naples, Florida.

Gymnast Riann Ming was one of the youngest winners at age 12. Ming was awarded $4,500 to bring in an international coach to Bermuda and to compete at an international event with that coach as well as bring in a choreographer to assist in her preparation. She has been a part of the junior team since 2002.

Squash player Kristian Muldoon was awarded $5,450 to attend a summer training camp and to have specialised coaching lessons and to purchase equipment. Last year Muldoon, 13, played in the US Junior Open Championships and finished off the year winning the Allegro Insurance National Junior Championships.

Field hockey player Jessica Hollis was awarded $3,360 to attend a two week training camp at the Seaford College Sports Facility in August. Despite being only 13, Hollis has been selected to train with Bermuda's senior national team in preparation for the CAC Games later this year. She was also voted the Most Improved Junior Player.

Triathlete David Lunn, 12, was awarded $4,810 so that he can attend the Canadian Western Regional Championships and also buy a new bike and other equipment.

Among many accomplishments, Lunn won the 11-13 CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix Championships in 2005 and he hopes to represent Bermuda at the World Junior Triathlon Championships.

Sailor Katrina Williams received $3,600 to assist with her training and to also send her to the Youth Worlds. Williams, 17, was the top junior in Bermuda in the Laser Radial Nationals and she was the top junior sailor last year at the Island Games. She has sailed in a number of top international championships and hopes to represent Bermuda at future Pan Am and Olympic Games.