Fifteen young athletes were yesterday awarded financial backing from the Sports Ministry to help develop in their respective sports.

Around $50,000 was handed out by Acting Sports Minister Dennis Lister at the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme ceremony yesterday.

all grants will be given to governing bodies of the relevant sports to help support the selected promising young athletes.

Gymnast Morgan Beckles, 11, will receive $4,000 to help her compete in international competition. She hopes to represent Bermuda in the Island Games this year, as well as the 2008 Pan American Junior Championships.

Squash player Noah Browne, 13, will receive $3,400 in backing to compete in the Dutch Junior Open and the Junior CASA Championship. The Somersfield Academy student won the Shell Divisional Handicap Senior title in the Fast Forward Freight Junior Open in 2006.

Swimmer>Rebecca Heyliger<$>, 14, received an award of $4,200 to enable her to travel to Calgary, Canada, to train with coach Dave Johnson and to compete in the National Championships in Canada.

Track and field athlete Matthew Spri$>, 16, an age group winner in the KPMG Front Street Mile, and a Bermuda team member in the Carifta Games and the CAC Junior Championships last year, will receive $3,988 to attend the 2007 Boston High Performance Meet and the 2007 New England Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a coach.

Cricketer Malachi Jones, 17, who this week took a wicket with his first ball playing for Bermuda against India in the World Cup, will receive $4,400 to attend MCC Indoor School in England.

Junior triathleDavid Lunn Jr., 12, was awarded $2,000 to attend a training camp at Club Lasanta in Lanzerote on the Canary Islands. He finished 20th in a field of 39 in the Senior Gold Cup event in 2006, clocking an impressive time of 1:16:30.

Motocross rider Jyire Mitcl<$>, nine, will receive $4,964 to travel to three overseas events, to attend the Gary Bailey MX School and to purchase a 2007 65cc KTM stock bike.

Hockey player Jasmine Patterson, 16, received a grant of $2,685 to attend a training camp at Seaford College Sports Facility and to purchase new equipment. The captain of the Swifts club, her ambitions are to help the national team qualify for the 2009 Pan American Junior Games and play for the Island at the 2010 CAC Games.

Gor Mark Phillips, 17, will receive $3,024 to attend the Dave Pelz Short Game Golf School in July. In 2004, he missed out on qualifying for the Junior World Overseas Tournament by two shots.

Sailor Cameron Pital<$>, 15, received $4,285 to assist with travel to the South American ILCA and North American ISAF Grade 1 events. His goal is to qualify for the Olympics one day in the Laser class.

Footballer Travirott<$>, 15, a member of the Bermuda Athletic Club under-15 team with an ambition to play for the senior national team, will receive $2,904 to attend the Connecticut Soccer Academy.

Tennis player Leonard Freder Wade<$>, 15, will receive $4,220 to attend the ITA High Performance Tennis Academy in Delray Beach, Florida to improve his game. He has represented the Island in the Junior Davis Cup and at the World Athlete Games.

Equestrian Stephanie Wilkinson, 16, was awarded $2,778 to help her attend either the Manchester Summer Festival or the Manchester Classic Horse Show in July. Also an outstanding student academically at Warwick Academy, she intends to represent Bermuda at the 2009 Pan Am Games.

Basketballayer Erica Woods, 15, was awarded $3,154 to attend the IMG Junior Basketball Camp in July. In 2006 she was the MVP for both the BSSF and BBA Basketball All-Stars.

Cash boost for young athletes