Education in Bermuda was yesterday given a massive boost thanks to a record fundraising year by the Ross "Blackie" Talbot Memorial Charity Golf Tournament.

More than $175,000 was raised during the star-studded two day event in April and yesterday the benefiting charities and sponsors gathered to celebrate.

The Adult Education School, which helps people 16 and over who need to improve their education, received $55,000. It will be used to help continue to fund its adult literacy programme.

School mentoring programme YouthNet received $35,000 while The Bermuda Dance Company was awarded $25,000.

And the Ross "Blackie" Talbot Foundation, which was set up in 1999 to offer financial assistance to young talented musicians, was handed a $60,000 boost.

At the presentation yesterday at the Bank of Bermuda, which was the competition's main sponsor, the son of the late Mr. Talbot, Clement Talbot, said he was thrilled with the growing success of the golf contest.

He said it was the first time the event had attracted so many players, including Bermuda resident and film star Michael Douglas and tennis ace Pat Rafter, which led it to be held over two days.

He said he hoped that in future years, more sports and film stars would come to Bermuda to take part.

Mr. Talbot Jr., who started the competition ten years ago with his father, said: "None of this would be possible without the help of our sponsors, volunteers and support from the community.

"As a result of this support, over the last ten years we've raised over $750,000 for Bermudian charities.

"This year's event exceeded our expectations by $25,000. I'm indebted to the community at large. It has fully embraced and supported this event, and with 58 corporate sponsors, we are grateful.

"We had 400 people who took part over the two days. I know Michael Douglas thoroughly enjoyed it, too.

"He was so impressed with the willingness, camaraderie, good will and commitment, he said that this was what Bermuda was all about.

"And he also indicated that next year, some of his movie stars may come to Bermuda for the event, schedules permitting."

Mr. Talbot Jr. said last year's competition raised $150,000, and he hoped that each year it would continue to gain in support so the fundraising would grow.

Julie Beach, director of The Adult Education School, said she was thrilled and grateful to receive $55,000.

She said: "This takes away a lot of stress for me for the next few years because I'm always looking for good staff, but we can't really afford to pay staff.

"We need enough qualified people to enable us to keep our teaching groups small. So, this takes a lot of the worry away for me. And it means we can still offer our free literacy programme, which helps an awful lot of people."

And Clare Mello, executive director of YouthNet, said the donation it received will be used to fund new programmes, as well as old.

She said YouthNet was this year starting a new E-programme, which involved mentors forming relationships with M3 students at Sandys Secondary Middle School using e-mail, with the aim of easing the transition to senior school.

She said the mentors would be able to provide information to the children about their senior school and answer questions. And once they made the move to either CedarBridge or Berkeley later this year, the e-mail relationship will turn into a personal, one-on-one.

Ms Mello thanked the tournament organisers and said: "The tournament cuts across barriers of race, gender and age, bringing a true mix of people together, sometimes for the first time, but all to support a good cause."

Wayne Jackson, chairman of the Ross "Blackie" Talbot Foundation charities liaison subcommittee, said the $60,000 given to the foundation will ultimately assist young people with musical talents to reach their full potential, through scholarships, lessons, financial assistance, instruments and education.

And he said the foundation would embody what Mr. Talbot had stood for during his life.

He said: "Besides being a dedicated ambassador for Bermuda, besides being a consummate musician, he also believed the future of Bermuda belonged to the young people.

"We assist his vision for Bermuda by helping to provide education for our young people."

"The foundation's mission is aimed at advancing Bermudian youth's musical education. "The foundation also seeks to promote public awareness of the value of musical education to Bermudian youth."

For more information about the tournament or foundation, write to Ross "Blackie" Talbot Memorial Charity Golf Tournament, Suite 733, 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM11.