NUMBERS might have been down and the quality of performance perhaps not as high as in previous years, but it would be difficult to argue that International Race Weekend wasn't another resounding success.

The weather, rarely in the past as benign as it was over the entire three days of competition, undoubtedly contributed to the enjoyment of both runners and spectators.

And the organising Bermuda Track and Field Association and the Department of Tourism, whose hefty investment last year prevented the event's demise, must be well pleased with the way each race unfolded.

Even the potential for controversy was quickly detonated with a decision which most agreed was eminently fair to all concerned.

When Kenyan marathoner Simon Sawe stumbled as he began his sprint for the line with Moroccan El Afoui Boubker in the closest finish ever seen in the 30-year history of the 26-mile race - his view of a direction sign obscured by technical director Gerry Swan - he tried to blame the official.

Yet all those who compete, particularly frontrunners, must be aware that it's their responsibility to know the course, especially towards the finish line.

Regardless, it was an unfortunate incident for the African who may well have possessed a bigger kick than his rival who ultimately pipped him across the line by the narrowest of margins.

So when, having reviewed footage of the finish, the BTFA decided to declare the race a tie and offer both ‘winners' identical prize money, that represented a gesture that was embraced by all concerned.

More importantly it immediately defused a row which could have soured an otherwise memorable weekend of road racing.

Of course, one of their own almost blotted the BTFA copybook with his absurd accusations on radio and TV a day later that this newspaper had contributed or even caused the controversy.

Association director Mike Watson, showing all the symptoms of foot-in-mouth disease, intimated that The Royal Gazette had tried to foist blame for the incident on national coach Gerry Swan.

Anybody who read our reporter's Monday account would have clearly seen that was anything but the case.

We were simply offering the opinions of the athletes themselves with an understandably upset Sawe quoted directly.

And Swan, who handled the entire incident with impressive diplomacy, even agreed in a later interview with some of the comments made by the Kenyan.

No doubt suggestions for improvements at the finish will be brought up at the event's post-mortem.

And hopefully there will also be some discussion by the BTFA on how the road runners who represented Bermuda so well over the weekend can be suitably rewarded.

Jay Donawa (sixth in the 10K and third in the Half-Marathon), Kavin Smith (fourth in the Marathon) and Ashley Couper (Front Street Mile winner and third female in the 10K) are three who immediately come to mind.

Having kept their end of the bargain, it would be nice if this trio and others with international aspirations could look forward to representing their country again in the near future.

With 2005 being a year void of any of the major Games - Olympic, Pan-Am or Commonwealth - perhaps the BTFA's focus should turn to this summer's Small Island Games in Scotland.

With Donawa, Smith and Couper in a team mixed with the best of our Carifta track and field athletes, Bermuda could send a formidable squad to an event which has proven a lot more competitive than suggested by the BTFA when they declined an invitation last time around.

Certainly for the likes of Donawa, Smith and Couper, all with an eye on next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, it would be a worthwhile venture - and more importantly an assurance that they're not being overlooked by a governing body which, International Race Weekend apart, hasn't always put road runners at the top of their agenda.