Government announces its Athletes of the Year

Basketball star Jenaya Wade-Fray was no slam dunk for the Female Athlete of the Year Award, but bested triathlete and cyclist Flora Duffy and swimmer Kiera Aitken.

Smith had tough competition as well, but his new Bermuda long jump record of 8.22 metres, plus being chosen to represent the Americas in the Continental Cup, was enough to help him take the top honour for the first time.

Smith and Wade-Fray were given $3,000 each for their achievements in scooping the top awards.

Swimmer Emma Franklin and sprinter Jeneko Place were the Junior Female and Male Athletes of the Year. Franklin and Place were awarded $2,000 each.

It was the first time Government has honoured young athletes with its own Athlete of the Year Award.

The Minister’s Award for Cricket went to O.J. Pitcher and Racjel Smith, while the Minister’s Award for Football was picked up by Shauntae Todd and Nahki Wells.

Smith, Wade-Frey, triathlete Tyler Butterfield, world racquets champion James Stout, middle-distance runner Aaron Evans, sprinter Tre Houston and Duffy won achievement awards.

Noticeably missing from that list was long jumper Arantxa King, who was second in the NCAAs in 2010, and Patrick Nisbett, who became the island’s first show jumper to compete in the World Equestrian Games.

Glenn Blakeney, Minister of Sports, said: “In 2010 we have seen some notable achievements in sports. Bermuda’s top athletes experienced one of their most successful seasons in recent times.

“Among these highlights were a gold medal in the long jump at the CAC Games, 11 medals won at CARIFTA, four medals gained at the CAC Juniors, and the silver and bronze won at the NCAA Championships.

“These magnificent performances illustrate that diligent hard work of athletes, exceptional training programmes and outstanding coaching can be the lynchpin of success rather than funding alone.”