*A moment with the legendary Black Stallion of Bermuda road racing*
“I don’t run to add days to my life; I run to add life to my days.”
Ed Sherlock may have never enunciated the above quotation, however he certainly epitomised it.
Similarly, it is no mere coincidence that the Ed Sherlock 8K Road Race is held in February, which is labelled as Black History Month.
Indeed, the event, which is part of Swan’s Running Club’s Legend’s Series, deserves its place of prominence within the month designated for the celebration of the Black race, just as the apply nicknamed ‘Black Stallion’ rightfully occupies a premier place among Bermuda’s cadre of distance running legends and is a member of the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame.
A six-time winner of the Bermuda Day Half Marathon also referred to as the May 24 Marathon Derby Sherlock has long been a staple on the Island’s roadways and running patches, running and competing for the better part of eight decades.
The ‘Sherlock Legend’ stands well among those of other local racing phenoms, including Stanley Burgess, Kavin Smith, Mike Watson, Calvin [Baldy] Hansey, Cal Bean and several others, who each made their names known by winning multiple May 24 races, with some also competing well overseas.
Now in his 90s Sherlock found time to chat with his Grandson, TNN’s Trevor Lindsay at the start/finish line of this year’s edition of the race at Southampton Rangers Sports Club, with Sherlock noting his pleasure at how the event named in his honour had progressed over the past three decades.
“I’m glad I was around to see this today,” said Sherlock, still appearing as fit as ever. “It made me feel so happy to see this large crowd of runners.
“It’s been a good day for it and I’m very pleased to see this.
“The race started when I was in the club over there. I told those guys, ‘Look, are you going to wait until I’m dead? Give me my roses now.
“So they did not say anything at the time, but they formed a committee and put this race on. It was John Tucker, Alan Vickers and myself who got together and organized it.
“It has become part of the running circuit and a Bermuda tradition. I’m very proud of it and thankful to you and everyone who contributes and takes part.”
When asked if he could offer a prediction as to who he believed would win this year’s Bermuda Day race Sherlock visibly perked up, his interest piqued by his having been informed that this year might see the race finishing on Court Street, it’s ending point in the 1950s when he commenced taking part.
“You know something?” he asked while not seeking an answer from his interviewer. “If I’m around I’m going to be there at the finish line to see who’s coming in.
“Because 1955 is when I started to run, from St George’s to Court Street. And they said that they were going to have that route again this year and I hope I’ll be around to see this.
“It’ll be a good thing to see them have the race finish where it started from.”
Meanwhile this year’s race was won by Sean Trott in 27 minutes 45 seconds, with Chayce Smith (28:00) second and Thomas Mills (28:22) third.
The leading female was Gayle Lindsay, who broke the tape in 31:31, more than three minutes ahead of second place woman, Stepanka Sprincova (34:29), with Megan Berry (34:49) third.
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