top United States clubs on Saturday.

And as a result of their performance at the Bermuda Triangle Challenge at the Southampton Princess, 15 Island girls qualified for the May US Regional Championships in North Carolina.

But the first US-sanctioned meet to be held in Bermuda was more than jumps and somersaults, tournament officials said afterwards.

Calling his girls "great ambassadors,'' Bermuda coach Walid Mustafa pointed to the cultural enjoyment provided to the 65 overseas competitors and their families. "It wasn't just an everyday meet,'' he said.

Twenty-two Bermuda girls took part and for many it was their first competition. "There were a bit of jitters,'' said Mustafa.

Sixteen of them were in the competitive Level Eight and Level Nine divisions.

The others participated in the Recreational Optional class, led by Christine Mayor's overall victory.

In Level Eight, Bermuda's Maria Darby captured the vault, balance beam and floor exercise en route to total score of 34.925 and first place in the under-10 division.

Emily Wilson (International Gold of Florida) and Sara Hirsh (Virginia Classics) were the 11-12 and over-13 winners, respectively.

In Level Nine, Anya Engel of Florida's American Twisters club took the under-13 class with a score of 36.555. Christina White was the top Bermudian, finishing fifth all-around with 35.15, including a 9.1 in winning the balance beam.

Virginia Classics' Sarah Reynolds won the 14 and over division (35.875), while Katy Wright of Bermuda was fifth all-around on 34.55. She also won the balance beam with a score of 9.05.

Engel was named the meet's top overseas gymnast; White the top Bermudian.

Bermuda gymnasts were also exposed to the elite Level Ten category and while they didn't compete -- Annie Jenkins from Gymstrada of Virginia Beach was the winner -- Mustafa called it a learning experience for his girls.

BERMUDA'S BEST -- Island gymnasts (from left to right) Sasha Christensen, Christina White, Leila Wadson (hidden), Nikia Manders, Katy Wright and Laura Murphy parade during the opening ceremony of Saturday's Bermuda Triangle Challenge. Above right, Wright performs a back handspring during the meet warm-up.