West End Athletic Club vice-president Lee Tucker has lambasted the Running of the Bulls 5K organisers for allowing their event to clash with last month’s Ed Sherlock 5 Mile Road Race.Running of the Bulls race director Candace Roach in particular has come under heavy criticism after it was alleged that she ignored Bermuda National Athletics Association (BNAA) requests to reschedule her event to avoid the scheduling conflict that might have been responsible for the low turnout and loss of revenue at this year’s Ed Sherlock Race.BNAA president Donna Watson claimed that Roach had threatened to “cancel” the race if her organisation “did not get that specific date” they sought after deciding to reschedule their event from its original February 24 date to avoid clashing with the Argus Walk the Walk.“We were left with few options in this regard and she stated that she will have the race either way,” Watson said.Roach has referred all questions concerning the controversy to Running of the Bulls sponsors Validus Re who have declined to comment on the situation.Nevertheless, Tucker believes Roach and her organisation could have been more “sensitive” towards the legacy of Hall of Fame runner Ed Sherlock who was understandably “disappointed” to see the 20th anniversary of his event overshadowed.“I don’t see why they should disrespect a man that’s contributed much. We all need to work together but I think that lady (Roach) is being a little difficult to deal with.“Ed Sherlock has made a tremendous contribution because he was out there running when running wasn’t even that popular and there was certain obstacles that almost forbid him to run on the street.He kept running going at a time when the authorities and Police frowned upon it because it was disrupting the limited amount of traffic at that time. He and others continued to run despite the fact there were threats against them they would be prosecuted if they continued to run.“I think Validus should’ve recognised Ed Sherlock as an icon and his contributions and tried to work together and support his event which is not just for him. It’s not his race, it’s for the development of the youngsters in Southampton so it’s a charity event.”Tucker is adamant that the conflict could have been “easily resolved”.“I think the one that was first offered that day (February 17) should have had a little more clout than the other who should’ve complied with it,” he said.According to Swan’s Running Club stalwart Cal Steede, the BNAA set aside February 17 as the date for his club to stage the Ed Sherlock Race as far back as last summer.“Every year around July/August we put in for the events each club is going to have so we were granted that day for the race,” he said. “Then come earlier this year we got a phone call (from BNAA) asking if we can change our date to another and we told them ‘no’. We were guaranteed that date and we stuck by it because we have another race a couple of weeks behind that and it was too much for us to handle.”In a previous interview with this newspaper Running of the Bulls race director Roach said the decision was made to reschedule her event due to “safety reasons, to avoid overlapping race paths and for charity reasons”.