Mid-Island Striders were last night “shocked” at the written ruling on their arbitration matter saying it differed significantly from what they were told on Saturday.

Taking objection to the fourth and final point of the Alternative Dispute Resolution panel's findings, Mid-Island coach Renalda Swan asserted the ruling now firmly upholds the Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) as the victorious party in the matter when that was not indicated in the verbal decision.

“We are shocked and dismayed at what we see written,” declared Swan, remaining adamant that it conflicted with what the three-man council actually said.

Mid-Island were seeking to have their athletes included in Bermuda's Carifta Games line-up despite not adhering to the BTFA mandate that all athletes warranting selection consideration had to join the national training squad by December 15 last year. The impasse went to arbitration after various meetings failed to yield any agreement.

The fourth point of the ADR's written statement on the matter reads as follows: “The BTFA might still include those participants under exceptional circumstances where it is within their guidelines to do so. The Mid-Island Striders Track Club should make every effort now and in the future to work with the BTFA and their athletes towards this end.”

However, Swan told The Royal Gazette that in explaining their findings, the panel said both sides were to work together in getting Mid-Island athletes on the Carifta team. Mid-Island's representatives even sought clarification on this and were assured they had interpreted what was said correctly.

“The fourth point is what we're having a problem with right now. You're verbally stating one thing and you're writing up something entirely different even after our lawyer (Benjamin Dyer) asked the chairman ‘Is that exactly what you mean? Do you mean that both parties are supposed to co-operate and see about getting the athletes in now?' and he (Rawlins) said yes.”

Given the purpose of their case, Mid-Island left the arbitration with the view that neither side had won the matter and are now puzzled by the written conclusion.

“For us to see this...the BTFA are probably crowing loudly right now because as far as they are concerned they won,” Swan added.

“Looking at it this way they have won. The other way it would have been considered a draw because it said both parties have to co-operate to try and make this (the participation of Mid-Island's athletes) happen.

“If you get something like that, it's like ‘Fine - we didn't win, you didn't win. We'll see what we can do to work together'. To see this here, they did win.”

Swan also took issue with the third point which the panel made - that BTFA extended an opportunity for Mid-Island to participate in Carifta despite their non-affiliation - insisting the club never received any formal invitation to be involved.

BTFA President Judith Simmons was unwilling to comment on the arbitration panel's decision and failed to return calls.