Sponsors of the Validus Re Running of the Bulls have extended the olive branch to Swan’s Running Club.The event’s sponsors have apologised for staging their race on the same day as the Ed Sherlock 5 Mile Road Race hosted by Swan’s Running Club, a decision that ruffled feathers in the local road running community.“We recognise the contribution to running in Bermuda made by this gentleman (Ed Sherlock) and the last thing we want to do is to in any way, shape or form detract from the very good reputation that he has,” said Validus Re executive vice-president Jerome Dill. “In addition, we don’t want to detract from an event which the running club (Swan’s) is sponsoring.”Now that we recognise that we will try and set a date for next year which does not conflict with this particular event and we are also prepared to work with the executive of this group to ensure that we don’t in any way, shape or form conflict and we would be honoured if Mr Sherlock would agree to actually assist us in presenting prizes at our event.”Hall of Fame runner and multiple May 24th Half Marathon winner Sherlock accepted Dill’s apology with open arms.“I’m very satisfied that Mr Dill came forward as a man and apologised to me and I accept his apology,” he said. “Case closed.”As well as apologising, Dill presented Swan’s Running Club with a $500 cheque to help compensate for their loss of revenue that may have stemmed from the scheduling conflict.“We made a donation of $500 dollars to the running club in the name of Mr Sherlock and we did that on the basis that when you take into consideration there were a number of people who would’ve competed in this race who didn’t and we hope that we’ve actually made that good,” he said.Past Swan’s Running Club President and veteran runner Cal Steede, who publicly voiced his concern over the scheduling conflict, added: “I would like to thank Validus for their donation to the club. Hopefully this brings an end to this (fallout from the scheduling conflict) and hopefully in the future other organisations will consider other events being held and try and not let them clash because Bermuda is a small Island.”Running of the Bulls officials drew heavy fire for rescheduling their event from its original February 24 date to the same date (February 17) as the Ed Sherlock 5 Mile Road Race.Bermuda National Athletics Association (BNAA) claimed that Running of the Bulls race officials ignored their requests to reschedule their event to avoid clashing with a race honouring Sherlock’s legacy.BNAA President Donna Watson alleged that Running of the Bulls race director Candace Roach threatened to “cancel” her event if her organisation “did not get that specific date” they sought after rescheduling their event to avoid clashing with the Argus Walk the Walk.Swan’s Running Club president Mayberline Black said her efforts to persuade Roach to alter the date of her event also went in vain.“I tried to reason with the race director,” she said. “But she said that this is the date her company wanted.“They were given different dates but didn’t want to use the dates they were given. They wanted to use our date and we change but we were like ‘no, that’s not how it goes’. We’ve been having this race for the past 20 years and celebrated the 20th year this year but she refused to change.”When asked to comment on the claims against Roach, Dill replied: “I don’t propose to comment on any of that because my focus now is I understand that we are in the situation that we are in and we are apologising.“We are trying to make it right because we don’t want to in any way, shape or form to conflict with the fantastic reputation which Mr Sherlock has or with the race.”