Local athletics received a boost on the weekend when competitors at the national track and field championships got the benefit of a new electronic timing and photo finish system.

"It was a very proud moment for us to have our own equipment for the first time," said Bermuda Track and Field Association president Judith Simmons who helped pave the way for two local officials, Roger Lee and Mike Watson, to become fully qualified to operate the equipment.

The addition means that hand-held times will become a thing of the past, bringing Bermuda up to date with other countries throughout the world.

Looking ahead to hosting next year's CARIFTA Games, the BTFA were able to acquire the equipment with help from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

"It was through the graciousness of the Ministry of Community Affairs and Youth and Sports we were able to buy this equipment early so that we could have the use of it for our biggest local event," said Simmons.

"It is good to have our own equipment, it was purchased to be used for the CARIFTA Games planned for here next year. But we wanted the equipment here early enough to be used for our national championships so that we could work out some of the glitches and kinks that could occur and get people familiar to using it."

According to Simmons, everything went fine, Lee and Watson having no problems operating it for the first time at a meet.

On hand to assist the two was Frank Monsalve of Lynx System Developers Inc. from Boston, manufacturers of the equipment. He was brought in to ensure that everything was installed correctly and assist the locals during its actual operation.

Lee and Watson travelled to an IAAF electronic timing and photo finish course at the Regional Developmental Centre in Puerto Rico in March and became certified in this field. They are now qualified to go anywhere in the world and officiate with the equipment.

"It is a significant step forward for athletics in Bermuda, that's for certain" said Simmons.