School principal Dr. Gina Tucker heads a new Bermuda Marathon Derby committee and already some new innovative ideas are coming to the fore, aimed at making the nearly-100-year-old road race even bigger and more popular. In fact she wants to transform the Island’s top road race into the most memorable sporting event of the year, surpassing even Cup Match.

In the post since January, in a transition which saw former committee members Richard Tucker and Berwyn Cann hand the running of the annual race over to their children, Dr. Tucker, Kim Tucker and Trevor Cann, the new committee has a clear vision of where they want the event to go leading up to its 100th race in 2010.

They hit the ground running and have implemented some new ideas for this year’s 97th race, including raising and donating funds for charitable causes. This year’s beneficiaries are Focus Counselling Services and little Kandice Young who faces spiralling medical expenses overseas for a heart condition called Heterotaxy Syndrome. It is hoped to have her ride in one of the lead cars during Thursday’s race so that the public can honour her.

“She is the first ‘President’s Pick so she is going to be forever special,” said Dr. Tucker.

“As you know, this is one of the new initiatives, that we selected Focus Counselling Services and Kandice Young and will be donating money to them. Each participant will pay $10 extra (entry fee), six of which will go to Focus and four to Kandice. In addition people are raising money in their name by picking up pledge forms.

“Our slogan is ‘Giving you a reason to run” so our entire focus moving forward is that we give the community reasons and more reasons to run. And that is one reason... to run for charity. We also have the grand prize this year donated by Island Construction and they are giving two $5,000 prizes to be in a draw so that everyone who participates will have the chance to win one of those two prizes, along with numerous other prize draws so that we can share the rewards to more than those who are in winner categories, although they, too, will be receiving awards.”

Dr. Tucker is the first woman to take charge of the Marathon Derby, a race that, until 1976, did not have women competitors.

The committee also consists of Cann as vice president, Kim Tucker as secretary and event co-ordinator, Renee Lawrence (treasurer), Simone Gibbons (marketing) and Roger Lee (technical officer).

“We also have representative from Swan’s Running Club and next year hope to have representatives from other running clubs on the committee,” said Dr. Tucker who is looking for more volunteers to help run the race.

“The race is getting bigger and better as a result of the tremendous support of our title sponsors Appleby and additional sponsors Barritt’s, CellularOne and BGA,” said Dr. Tucker. “We look forward to additional sponsors in the future.” Dr. Tucker anticipates a field of about 650 runners on Thursday with last minute entries still coming in.

Taking over the helm of the Derby was a smooth and expected transition for the daughter of one of the organisers. Like most Bermudians, 24th of May is in her blood, probably even more so as she grew up hearing her father talk Marathon Derby business.

“I always drove in one of the cars, from a baby. I can still see them (organisers) in their pale blue safari shirts on that day, which was so cool,” she recalled.

“I guess it was just assumed that eventually the children would assume the role of the parents and carry the torch and continue the legacy. I had always said in my mind that I would put my energies into the Bermuda Half Marathon Derby and was really looking forward to the passing of the torch from the parents on to the children.”

Some of those who brought the race to the Bermuda public over the years include Cecil Minors, Richard Tucker, Edward Callabras, Cecil VanPutten, Philip Jones and Berwin Cann, who recently passed away.

Cecil Minors became the official Marathon Derby organiser in 1947 and, according to Dale Butler’s book ‘Marathon’which is a beautiful documentation of the race’s history, Mr. Minors turned to businessmen Stanley Hodgson, Vorhees Place and Harold Masters to form a Marathon Derby committee. In later years the committee consisted of Richard Tucker, Berwyn Cann, Phillip Jones, Van Putten, Callabras and Eldon ‘Toby’ Binns in 1997.

Tucker assumed the role of secretary upon the death of his uncle, Cecil Minors and now the baton has been passed to his daughter.

“It’s been three or four years since we realised that their time had come and that they deserved to sit back, relax and watch the young folk do the work,” said the president as she paid a tribute to those who brought the race into the modern era.

“It’s a nice opportunity to provide some leadership in the community, because that is what I do. I can use what I have to bring the Marathon Derby back to the community and develop it further.

“While it’s hectic I’m really enjoying it.”

The race has known many routes over the past 97 years, including starting and finishing at both St. George’s and St. David’s Cricket Clubs, Somerset Cricket Club, Court Street, Devonshire Rec., National Stadium and the former Berkeley Institute Field (the Box), the venue for the 1947 race.

It has been about 30 years since the race was run to or from the east end and it is an idea that is being considered again, Dr. Tucker revealed.

“...Something to do with the bridges,” was how she explained the reason to move the race from St. George’s in the first place.

“We will make a concerted effort to see that happen again... perhaps do the Cup Match thing, St. George’s one year and Somerset the next.”

That will no doubt be welcomed news for east enders who have waited since the 1970s for the race to start or finish in the east. One St. George’s man took his wish to Dr. Tucker directly when he contacted her recently.

“He said ‘doesn’t the race belong to the entire community?’” Dr. Tucker said of the conversation.

“I said yes it does,” and he said ‘then why is it that the whole Island doesn’t get a chance to see it? My mother is 80-years-old and I cannot get her up to the west end to watch this race, but she would love to sit out on her porch and watch the race’.

“Of course that touched my heart because I instantly felt for the east enders who probably don’t get out, for the most part, to see the race. I promised him I would work with the committee to make a concerted effort to make that happen...sooner rather than later.

“Of course one of our primary goals is to return the race to the community and that will involve looking at our past.

“In the past this race had many routes and was shared around the Island.”

The course will be adjusted slightly to make it a certified half-marathon course of 13.1 miles, which means ‘official’ half marathon record times will be establish when the race finishes on Dutton Avenue adjacent to Bernard Park rather than on the field on Thursday.