Young athletes prove there is no lack of talent

It was another great year of achievements for our young athletes. They have made a name for themselves around the globe from being Caribbean champs to an English pro.

There’s much to be proud of with this group of rising stars.

Don Burgess profiles the candidates for the Bermuda Sun Young Sports Person of the Year.

There are three ways to vote: 1) an online poll in the Home Page of the Bermuda Sun website (www.bermudasun.bm); 2) e-mail Don Burgess at [email protected]; 3) or post on the Bermuda Sun’s Facebook Fans page. You are allowed to cast your ballot once in each of the three ways of voting.

The winners will be announced in the new year.

You are also still allowed to vote for our Female and Male Sports Personality of the Year. On the Bermuda Sun website the men’s voting is on the Sports pages and the women’s voting is on the News pages.

Emma Franklin

Swimming

Franklin impressed so much that national swimming coach Ben Smith had to give her two spots out of the top five swimming performances for 2010. She was the youngest member of the Bermuda team at CISC and won bronze in the 200m backstroke and also finished fourth in the 50 and 100 metres backstroke.

Micah Franklin

Squash

Franklin, Bermuda’s top junior player, made it to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Open. Franklin’s talent saw him elevated to Bermuda’s men team and helped them win the Men’s Caribbean Championships.

Franklin also made the Consolation finals of the Canadian Junior Open.

He won the 2010 RUBiS championships with a three set victory over Tommy Sherratt.

Franklin’s exploits saw him earn a three month training period with the Dutch national team.

Joshua Gilbert

Cricket

Played for and has been successful as a 16-year-old. He played a number of games for the senior national team this year. Gilbert made his debut in the Americas series and he also played in the UAE series.

Coach David Moore said: “The two things Joshua has going for him is his commitment and his skill. He’s an intelligent player who is very passionate about the game.”

Reggie Lambe

Football 

The up-and-coming footballer was promoted to Ipswich Town’s first team and has made five appearances for the squad — two in league and three in the Carling Cup. He made his league debut in Ipswich Town’s victory over Middlesbrough on August 7.

Lambe also captained Bermuda’s Under-20s in an undefeated run in the Caribbean Football Union’s youth competition.

Dominique Mayho

Cycling

The youngster’s second year on the bike was a successful one as he won both Bermuda including the Junior and national road race and criterium titles.

He also won the Junior Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race title and competed successfully on the men’s circuit.

He finished fourth in the Junior Caribbean Road Race Championship.

Bermuda Bicycle Association president Peter Dunne said: “He is able to combinegood fitness with smarts to race successfully. He’s an intelligent racer so he’s always thinking about the race as it develops. That’s critical.”

Won several local series races Junior Sinclair Packwood.

Jeneko Place

Athletics

Place was a double medalist at Carifta taking silver in the 100m and 200m; He competed at the world junior championships; and was fifth in the World Youth Olympics 200m. Place won silver in the 200m and bronze in 100m at CAC Juniors. He also qualified for the 2011 World Youth Championships.

Donna Watson, Bermuda Track and Field president, said: “He’s very, very disciplined for an athlete his age. His build is perfect for a sprinter. He has the mental attitude and determination, which helps make him a winner. He is very strong mentally. He goes into a competition with the attitude ‘I’m going in to win it’.”

Christopher Rego

Tennis

Captained the Bermuda team for the ITF Caribbean 13 and under Development Championships and helped them defend the title. Rego won the Boys 13 and Under champion.

Rego, with doubles partner James Finnegan, also finished runner-up in doubles play in the tournament.

Because of those accomplishments, Rego was also selected by the ITF to compete in the Central American and Caribbean Tennis Federation’s Under-14 events next February and March.

He attends the Chris Evert Tennis Academy.

Sam Stan 

Sailing

Stan, 14, won the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association’s Fall Series by a wide margin. He is one of Bermuda’s most promsing young sailors.The two-time national champion was third in the RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup. He also finished in the top half of the fleet in both the North American  and South American Championships.