athletes. He is also an unselfish one, too, as he showed at the Hamilton Princess Hotel yesterday when he declined funding from Bermuda Government to go to the World Triathlon Championships next month because he didn't feel he could perform at his usually high standard. Butterfield, who was present at the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme luncheon at the Hamilton Princess yesterday, was acknowledged by Youth and Sports Director Antony Roberts, nonetheless. Certainly the Saltus student left an impression on the attending guests for his decision to decline the award which would have allowed him to compete at the Worlds in Australia in late April. It was one of his main goals for the year but he insisted some other youngster was more deserving of the award. Butterfield had been sidelined for several months last year by Mono which left him fatigued and unable to train. He sometimes still feels the effects of the illness and hasn't been able to prepare properly for the event. "I'm astounded by the maturity of the young man,'' said Youth and Sports Director Anthony Roberts yesterday. "He was looking to go to the World Triathlon which is coming up in April and he wasn't satisfied that he was fit enough to make that. But as I told him he could have used those funds for a meet later in the year when he is fitter. "But he said `no, I think there might be an athlete more worthy than me at this time, who is closer to achieving their goals and I would like for that athlete to receive the funds'.'' Roberts admits Butterfield's move was a first at the Government sports awards. "This is the first time in any sports awards programme that an athlete has ever come forward in honesty and indicated that he or she felt their fitness level was not up to that which they knew they could compete with honour internationally,'' said the Director. "He was quite honest about it, he assessed the situation and felt he wasn't there.'' Butterfield said yesterday he thinks he made the right decision, though he is disappointed to give up on a trip to the Worlds. "I thought about it for a week and a half because I wanted to go so badly but I realised I wasn't going to be fit enough,'' said the 17-year-old. "Some days are good and some days are bad so it's hard to do steady training. I knew it was going to be a rush anyway, but it's too rushed.'' Added Butterfield: "He (Roberts) said to me that later in the summer I could do a race or something, but I don't have anything planned.

"If there are other young athletes who have their summer planned out -- and I might not even do any races this summer -- then some other kid might lose out because I'm holding onto it just in case.'' TRIATHLON TRIATHLETE TRI