The name Geoffrey Smith probably didn't catch too many people's attention when they read about the Bank of Bermuda individual triathlon early this week.

That's not too surprising considering his is not exactly a household name in local multi-sport events. Actually, he's not too well known in any sport on the Island, despite the fact that the quiet 13-year-old is a competitive swimmer, runner, cyclist and, of course, combining the three disciplines, a triathlete.

It would be a safe bet that those at the top of the sport right now, though, are starting to take more notice after his impressive fifth place finish in Sunday's event. And they should sit up and take notice, especially when the modestly spoken youngster admits to just having fun at this stage.

"I swim three times a week, and ride and run probably two," he says.

When pushed for a reason for his success, he gives a simple answer: "I guess I'm just fit, I really do it because I enjoy doing it, it's fun."

Of his performance on Sunday, he's equally low key in his response to the accolades he received this week. "I was pleased. When I got off the bike I could see (winner) Kent (Richardson) running and I just did my best."

On closer inspection of the results sheet, Chris Conway in sixth, Matthew Herring in eight, Adam Petty 14th, Flora Duffy second overall female and 16th overall, Nick Taylor 18th, Dominique Nanette and Khamari Greaves, in 22nd and 23rd respectively, should all be flashing a bright red warning light to the elder statesmen and women of the sport that there is a changing of the guard on the horizon, and it appears in the not too distant future.

With almost 70 finishers in last Sunday's main event, and 50 youngsters in the junior sprint duathlons earlier the same day, triathlon, which has been somewhat in the doldrums in recent years, is now beginning to enjoy a resurgence in interest.

This is in no small part due to the development of the junior programmes that have been taking place and are now clearly reaping benefits.

Ian Fox one of the organisers of the Tri-Heds Junior Triathlon Club, and father of 11-year-old Tim Fox who is already showing tremendous potential himself, says that the club has 60 members and the Saturday training sessions, combined with Thursday evening work-outs for the older members, have helped many of the juniors develop and keep a keen interest in the sport.

"Obviously not all 60 kids come every week but we have a hard core that are always there," said Fox.

"These kids are not training every day but they are still racing very well. Most are involved in the swim programmes on the Island, and many do the cycling events too.

"The main thing at the younger ages is they are enjoying themselves."

What was witnessed in Sunday's triathlon is also evident in cycling , a sport that has grown tremendously over the past five years, with many of the same juniors coming to the fore.

President of the Bicycle Association Martin Bolton says: "The development of our juniors in these sports is a major priority. They are the future of our sports, not just as competitors. Our top cyclist Kris Hedges runs a camp each summer, just as Elliot Hubbard did before him."

"These are guys who came through the same programmes and are now giving back to the sport," he adds "When you look to the future it is very bright, but it has been something that has slowly been developing for a number of years.

"Youngsters like Kris (Hedges) and Tyler (Butterfield) started doing the Ironkids triathlon at seven years old, now look at them. There are many more like them.

"We are now starting to see the results of keeping them interested at an age when there are so many distractions. They develop not just as athletes but as people."

In an attempt to keep the youngsters interested, both Associations hold regular summer camps and periodic clinics such as this November when cycling star Tyler Hamilton, credited with assisting Lance Armstrong to his three consecutive Tour De France wins from 1999-2001, will be on the Island instructing the junior cyclists.

If the juniors results in last Sunday's Bank of Bermuda Triathlon are any indication of their interest, then it won't belong before the well deserved headlines attributed to Kent Richardson and Karen Smith this week will soon be reading names like Geoffrey Smith and Flora Duffy.