Five local charities benefited yesterday following the continued growth of Bermuda?s biggest and arguably most popular amateur golf tournament.

This year?s Ross (Blackie) Talbot Charity Classic, which celebrated its 14th anniversary at Riddell?s Bay last month, raised a record-breaking $250,000 ? money which was yesterday handed over to De Boys Day Out Club, the National Dance Foundation, the Packwood Home, the Family Centre and the Ross (Blackie) Talbot Foundation during a presentation at the Bank of Bermuda.

Tournament founder Clem Talbot, who instigated the event in 1993 when he rounded up 28 friends at Castle Harbour to help celebrate his late father?s 75th birthday, marvelled at the way the Classic had grown, this year attracting almost 600 players over three days of competition.

?Fourteen years ago . . . not one of us could have visualised that this event would grow into one of Bermuda?s premier, calendar charity events,? said Talbot. ?It?s been an astonishing success.?

Noting that local charities had now benefited to the tune of almost two million dollars, Talbot said there were even more ambitious plans in the pipeline for next year?s 15th anniversary ? the possibility of bringing in a celebrity team as well as a top PGA Tour professional.

And consideration was also being given to staging a black tie gala banquet featuring a showpiece band of Bermuda entertainers.

Talbot said he was gratified to witness the ?community spirit, fellowship and goodwill that permeated across all social, racial, cultural and religious barriers? during the tournament.

This year?s event hosted a record number 588 players with 98 sponsors on board. Raffle ticket sales set another record with every ticket being sold before the draw.

Yesterday cheques were presented to the selected charities by Wayne Jackson, deputy chairman of the Classic and chairman of the charities liaison committee, who emphasised that the event ? just did not just happen. A whole array of people made it happen.?

Martha Dismont received a cheque of $20,000 on behalf of the Family Centre, which provides services for families in crisis.

Randy Scott received $45,000 for the Packwood Home, a nursing home for individuals aged 65 and over.

Mary Faulkenberry was handed a cheque for $60,000 for the National Dance Foundation, an organisation ?dedicated to raising the standards of dance excellence in Bermuda? while Milton Richardson was on hand to receive $65,000 on behalf of De Boys Day Out Club.

?The club aims to help Bermuda?s young men to become respectable and responsible, and to practice selfless, consistent service to the community,? explained Richardson.

The Ross (Blackie) Talbot Foundation, which promotes ?public awareness of the value of musical education to Bermuda?s youth and supports music and the arts in the form of scholarships and funding for lessons and instruments as well as financing productions? received $60,000.

Philip Butterfield, CEO of lead sponsors Bank of Bermuda, said he was ?immensely proud to have once again sponsored the Classic.?

?Over the years this event has grown beyond everyone?s expectations, becoming more than just an event to recognise the tremendous and generous contribution of the Talbot family,? he said.

?It has also become a fixture on Bermuda?s social calendar and most importantly continues to contribute significantly towards local charities.?

Since the tournament started more than $1,700,000 has been given to 50 Bermuda charities.