OVER $50,000 was handed over to young Bermuda athletes yesterday at the annual National Junior Athlete Scholarship Programme awards luncheon.The money, given by Government, will be used to further the sporting careers of the athletes.

And while most of the athletes every year given awards are usually in their teens, yesterday saw the youngest athlete ever given an award — nine-year-old Jyire Mitchell who has been excelling in the sport of motocross.

The Warwick Academy student aspires to be Bermuda’s first ever professional motocross rider and he was given $4,964 to be used to travel to three overseas events as well as to attend the Gary Bailey MX School this month and to also purchase a 65cc KTM Stocked Bike.

Mitchell has come first numerous times in his age group during local competition and has also competed in the USA and Canadian national championships.

This year he plans on competing is the Southeast Area qualifiers, the Southeast Youth Regional qualifiers and the National Motocross Championships.

Mitchell was one of 14 athletes to be given awards which totalled $50,000 at the luncheon staged at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

One athlete who has been in the news over the past week, World Cup cricketer Malachi Jones, was given $4,400 to attend the MCC Indoor School in England.

Jones took the wicket of Indian opener Robin Uthappa with his very first ball of the World Cup on Monday which led to delirious celebrations.

Jones was also voted the Young Player of the Year in 2006 and last summer made his Cup Match debut.

Other awards went to:

[obox] Gymnast Morgan Beckles. The 11-year-old is one of Bermuda’s most talented gymnasts and one of the youngest members of the BGA Gymnastics Senior team. She wants to represent Bermuda at this summer’s Island Games, the 2008 Pan Am Junior Championships and the 2009 Pan American Games. She was awarded $4,000 to compete in international competition with a coach and also to bring in a judge and choreographer to assist her to prepare.

[obox] Squash player Noah Browne. The 13-year-old won the Shell Divisional Handicap Senior title last year in the Fast Forward Freight open as well as the Lucozade Sport Caribbean Junior Championships. He was awarded $3,400 so that he can compete at the Dutch Junior Open and the Junior CASA Championship this year.

[obox]>Swimmer Rebecca Heyliger<$>. The 14-year-old currently holds nine club records with her club Sharks. She is a member of the national team and has represented Bermuda at the Carifta Games, CISA and Alberta Championships. This year she plans to compete at the Carifta Games, the Island Games and the Canadian Age Group Championships. She was awarded $4,200 so she can travel to Calgary, Alberta to train with Dave Johnson and also to compete in the Canadian National Championships.

[obox] Triathlete David Lunn $>. This is the second consecutive year the 12-year-old has been awarded. He attends the Kelly College in Devon, England who is renown for its triathlon training. He is coached by Robin Brew, an Olympic medallist and former world record holder. He also won the Year 8 Boys Individual Biathlon at the South West School’s Biathlon Competition. He was awarded $2,000 to attend a training camp at Club Lasanta in Lanzerote, Spain.

[obox] Hockey player Jasmine Patterson. She is 16 years old and was a member of the 2005 Pan Am Junior Hockey team. Last season she was voted the most improved player at her club, Swifts where she was also the captain in the 2005/06 season despite her young age. She hopes to help the national team qualify for the 2009 Pan Am Junior games and represent Bermuda at the CAC Games in 2010. She was awarded $2685 to attend a training camp at Seaford College Sports Facility and also to purchase new equipment.

[oboGolfer Mark Phillips<$>. He is 17 years old has won a number of titles since he played his first tournament in 1997. Now he plans to play in as many International Junior Golf Tournaments as possible. He was awarded $3,024 to attend the Dave Pelz Short Game School in July.

[obox] Sailor Cameron Pimental. He is 15 years old and plans to compete this year at the Radial Youth World Championships in Holland. He has won numerous national championships in the Optimist class and he hopes one day to qualify for the Olympics in the tough Laser class. He was awarded $4,285 to help with his training and preparation to compete in the South American ILCA and North American ISAF Grade I events.

[ob Runner Matthew Spring. He is 16 years old and has represented Bermuda at the Carifta Games and also last year’s CAC Junior Championships in Trinidad. Specialising in the middle distance events, he also has won the Front Street Mile and last year’s National Cross Country Championships for the Under 17 division as well as setting numerous local records. He is hoping to qualify for this year’s IAAF World Youth Championships and eventually the Commonwealth and Olympic Games by 2012. He was awarded $3,988 to attend this year’s Boston High Performance Meet and also the New England Outdoor track & Field Championships with a coach.

[obox] Football player Travis tt<$>. He is 15 years old and has been a part of the Bermuda Football Association’s Under-15 and Under-16 squad. He has attended the Terry Waterridge Football Academy in England, the Gothia Cup in Sweden and the Manchester United Football Festival. He plans to attend and play for a Division One university in the US and play for Bermuda’s national team. He was awarded $2,904 so he can attend the Connecticut Soccer Academy.

[obox] Tennis player Freddy W Jr<$>. He is 15 years old and has won numerous junior and senior tournaments in Bermuda including the Men’s Fairmont Southampton grand Prix B and C Divisions. He has represented Bermuda in Junior Days Cup (where he is right now) and plans to attend the International tennis Academy in Florida this year. He was awarded $4,220 to attend the ITA High Performance Tennis Academy in Florida.

[obox] Equestrian Stephanie Winson<$>. She is 16 years old and is one of Bermuda’s most promising riders. Last year she was second competing for Bermuda at the Caribbean Equestrian Association Junior Jumping Competition. She also won the Gran Copa International competition (15-18) in Puerto Rico and hopes to represent Bermuda at the Pan Am Games in 2009. She was awarded $2,778 to attend either the Manchester Summer Festival or the Manchester Classic Horse Show in July.

[obox] Basketball player Erica Woods. She is 15 years old and has played since she was 10. She has received numerous awards and last year was voted MVP for both the BSSF and BBA Basketball leagues and she is hoping to compete at the Island Games this year. She was awarded $3,154 to attend the IMG Junior Basketball Camp in July.