The Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) are still sweating on whether they have fallen foul of the significant grant cuts by the Department of Youth and Sport.Last week saw the $1million Government grant the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) previously received cut by $800,000 to just $200,000.Football's money was also trimmed, although by far less, with a drop of $250,000 leaving them with $750,000 for the year.Unlike the Island's two national sports, the BTFA are familiar with having to operate on a shoe-string budget.And Donna Watson, the BTFA president, is merely hoping their grant will be close to the $150,000 they received last year.“I've not had any confirmation on what the BTFA will be receiving. We are accustomed to working with what we receive and making the best out of it. Our main responsibility with the funds is to get our athletes to the International events,” said Watson.“Fortunately some of the events are not funded by us. My hope is that we get close to the same amount we have been receiving over the last few years and we will make it work.“In spite of the BTFA's modest budget, Bermuda's top athletes enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in recent times last year.Among those highlights were Tyrone Smith's gold medal in the long jump at the CAC Games, the 11 medals won at Carifta, the four medals scooped at the CAC Juniors and the silver and bronze claimed at the NCAA Championships.For Watson, those impressive performances prove that the primary currency of the BTFA is the hard work of their athletes rather than funding alone.“As can be seen from our results over the last several years we are not solely dependent on funding but more on development of our programmes, coaches and athletes to produce world class athletes,” she said. “I think every sport can work with more funds but in this economy you have to work with what you have.”In the wake of the Budget cutbacks, Watson's major concern is that the BTFA receive Government funding towards next year's Carifta Games which will be the first the Island has hosted since 2004.“We're seeking sponsorship from corporations but will also need some funding from Government (for the Carifta Games). That's my major concern,” she said.“I spoke to the Minister (Glenn Blakeney, Minister for Youth and Sport) prior to the Budget and I'm hopeful that what we discussed will come to fruition. We have already begun preparation for Carifta and hope to be able to put on a successful event.”Bermuda's elite athletes, of which 19 are track and field, will likewise feel the pinch of last week's grant cuts. The assistance programme, which provides support for many athletes was chopped in half, with the total amount available falling to $100,000.The fallout from such a sizeable reduction could be hugely detrimental for the Island's elite athletes, said Watson, especially for those looking to make their mark at this year's Pan Am Games and the 2012 Olympic Games.“The elite athlete funding of course will affect our athletes,” she said.“We may have to seek other sponsorship to assist our elite athletes especially with the Olympics being held next year. Some of the funding that the athletes are receiving is not specifically out of the elite fund but funding that has been allocated for specific International events like the Pan Am funding and Olympic funding.”Yesterday Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) president Judy Simons described the loss of the $100,000 from the elite athlete fund as a “bitter pill to swallow” and said the effect could be “overwhelming”.The BOA's executive committee were due to meet last night to discuss the cutbacks.