Athlete-of-the-Year for the third year in a row during a gala ceremony at The Princess Hotel.

Wellman, who enjoyed his best season on the track and field circuit, became the first `three-peat' winner of the award, duplicating victories in '92 and '93.

Last year saw Wellman establish a new Bermuda record while placing first at the El Paso Relays in Texas. He also secured the top spot at the BNP Athletisme Meet in Lillehammer, Norway, the BAD Cansatt International in Stuttgart, Germany, and the Hercules Vittel '94 International in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Added to this were several second place finishes and a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia last summer.

The year ended with Wellman being ranked third in the world, the highest ranking of any Bermudian in the discipline.

"...Bermuda's Athlete-of-the-Year for 1994 continues to exemplify the very best in conduct, commitment, dedication, perseverance and consistency in his chosen discipline,'' said host Brenton Roberts. "What is even more significant is the fact that this athlete performs in an event that does not carry the glitz, glamour and spotlight of other events.'' However, Wellman's star shone brightest of all last night and shows no sign of dimming, as he has started off 1995 ablaze, winning a string of events in Europe as he builds toward next month's Pan American Games in Argentina where he will enter as one of the favourites for the gold medal.

Asked if he would give someone else a chance to win the award he has monopolised over the past three years, Wellman flashed his trademark wide smile, saying: "Well, it won't be next year. I'm working on setting the whole planet on fire and being the number one track and field athlete in the world.

"It feels great to have achieved a standard which nobody else has achieved to this point and I feel really proud to win this award three years and I'm working on making it four.

"...I'm 5-0 this year. I'm undefeated and I'm trying to be the number one triple jumper in the world, not just in Bermuda.'' What stood out most in 1994 for Wellman was his consistency throughout the year and upward progression. He started off slowly with the indoor season, hit full stride as the outdoor meets took precedence and crowned his year at the Commonwealth Games.

Recently Wellman threatened to pull out of Bermuda's Pan-Am squad because of financial problems regarding the elite athlete fund.

However, he recanted that stance last night, intimating that all problems with the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation, which dispenses money from the fund, had been sorted out.

"As of right now everything is a go,'' said Wellman. "It was more of a thing of miscommunication because it's not a direct thing from the Olympic Association and you have to go through the Bermuda Track and Field Association, so there are more people involved in trying to get it sorted out and finding out what the deal was.'' Although Wellman was the undenied star of last night's ceremony, he was by no means the lone spark as 21 others were honoured in various categories -- recognition, appreciation, sports (general), achievement and special achievement.

Awardees included soccer coach Jon Beard, Bermuda Special Olympics Association, Swan's Running Club, Clarence Butterfield, Troy Darrell, James Flood, Shawn Goater, Brenda (Pat) Lake, Marilyn Parfitt, Clayton Richardson, Anthony (Sonny) Roberts, McDonald Simmons, Mansfield Smith, Peter Bromby, Lee White, Elliott Hubbard, Malcolm Smith, Peter Truran, Valerie Young and Jennifer Fisher.

There was a touch of irony surrounding Fisher's achievement award, as in her absence, BTFA president Stan Douglas accepted -- this after his association had come under intense fire for leaving Fisher off Bermuda's CAC Cross Country Championship team which competed at Belmont last weekend.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR -- Triple jumper Brian Wellman shows off his trophies with Premier Sir John Swan and Sports Minister Pam Gordon.