the CAC championships in the Bahamas next week, has led to George Sutherland quitting his post as chairman of the BTFA road running committee.

Sutherland is incensed that BTFA president Phil Guishard selected a former president, Beldwin Smith, to head the team which will travel south on February 11.

He claims Smith had no involvement with the local cross-country programme in the just-completed season, and believes he should have been consulted over who should lead the team.

Sutherland has run the Bermuda Track and Field Association road running programme for the past two years, and was a vice president of the BTFA.

The offical Bermuda team competing in the Bahamas will consist of five men and three women, but also travelling will be a second local team that will participate in a "People's'' cross-country race preceding the main event.

Sutherland is understood to be annoyed for two reasons -- firstly, because Smith had not been involved in the cross-country series; and secondly, because the same individual had openly opposed sending a second team to the Bahamas even though its members met the necessary qualifying standards through their consistent high placing in the local series.

"I have no personal axe to grind with any other members of the BTFA, in fact I've always got along well with them. I am just disappointed to see they didn't see fit to take the recommendation of the road-running committee into consideration,'' said Sutherland last night.

In notifying his own club, Mid Atlantic Athletic Club (MAAC), of his resignation from the BTFA, Sutherland said his feelings on the issue were "strong enough for me to indicate to the president that I would resign should the appointment be confirmed, which is what has ultimately happened.'' A former MAAC president, Sutherland added in his letter to the club: "This situation indicates to me a total lack of respect for the road running committee and by inference for all the hard work being done by myself and others who are committed to the sport and to the development and advancement of all those who participate.'' While Guishard yesterday refused to discuss the controversy, he did commend Sutherland for his services.

"George put in a trojan effort during the time he was with us, particularly for the road running and cross-country section. There is no question that his leadership will be missed,'' said Guishard.

Sutherland, who has earned a reputation as one of the hardest and most dedicated workers in the BTFA, now intends to channel his energies towards the continued development of road running through his own club, MAAC.

Meanwhile, BTFA vice president of track and field, Stanley Douglas, was this week upbeat about the initiation of the CARIFTA Games programme which officially gets underway on Sunday with the first set of trials at National Stadium, beginning at 1.30 p.m.

Athletes are urged to report by 12.30 p.m. for registration which will cost $3.

"We are very excited about getting the trials underway early,'' said Douglas.

"We would like to see a large turnout and we are asking all youngsters interested in track and field to get involved and challenge the standards that have been set for CARIFTA which are basically similar to those of a year ago.'' Douglas would particularly like to see a number of secondary school students who competed in the recent Bank of Bermuda Front Street Mile now turn their attention to track and field. He pointed out that because some performed "exceedingly well'' in that event they should test their capabilities on the track and with the BTFA's programme.

In addition to the start of the CARIFTA trials, Douglas is also enthusiastic about the association's plans to assemble a CARIFTA squad to train on a regular basis.

"We hope to start it on February 14, and we feel that the idea behind it is good. It will enable the group to train regularly as a unit and have their progress closely monitored by our national coach,'' said Douglas.

"We are confident that these steps will help to better prepare our athletes for CARIFTA,'' he added.

The CARIFTA Games this year will be held in Barbados on April 1 to 3.

GEORGE SUTHERLAND -- "The situation indicates to me a total lack of respect for the road running committee.''