night when Neil de Ste Croix and Shona Palmer were named respective male and female Triathletes-of-the-Year.

Indeed, there would have been great uproar if the pair had not been honoured.

Neither would admit it, but the duo remain in a class of their own when it comes to domestic competition and this is backed up by four consecutive end of year awards for the 31-year-old de Ste Croix and three in a row for Palmer, 28.

"I thought it was a pretty good year, (but) I think the best thing in the year is the fact that the junior programme is growing and the performances in the juniors I feel outshined anything any of us did,'' said de Ste Croix, who swept all three major events -- National Duathlon Championships, National Sprint Triathlon Championships and National Triathlon Championships.

"I'm going to continue to race, but I coach the juniors and really enjoy it and it's very rewarding actually to see them do well.'' De Ste Croix has targeted the 1997 World Championships in Perth as his major goal.

He would also like to take part in a few other overseas events, including the Cayman Islands International Triathlon next week.

Palmer, who once swam for her native Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and has been an equally fine ambassador for her adopted country.

An assortment of leg ailments caused Palmer much suffering early in the season, with the physiotherapist unable to compete at the duathlon championships and limited mostly to bike and swimming work-outs.

Still she came back to win both the Sprint and National Championships, while also producing a creditable showing at the Bermuda ITU World Cup event. In addition, she teamed with Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley to snatch the female top prize at the Bank of Bermuda Team Championships.

"It wasn't a great year, the early season was hindered quite a bit by injury, but about mid-year I went away and got my running technique reviewed and since then I haven't had any major injuries.'' Palmer will also compete in the Cayman Islands. Other awards went to: Steve Baker and Laurie Orchard (best new triathletes); Andrew Doble and Linda Dillon (most improved triathletes); Kris Hedges (special achievement award); Karen Meyer (John Buchannan club person of the year); Doble (Jim Butterfield Long Service Award).