Several of Bermuda’s top past and present runners have voiced their disappointment with organisers’ decision to allow overseas athletes to take part in the May 24 Half-Marathon Derby, regarded as one the Island’s biggest sporting spectacles.Gina Tucker, head of the Derby committee, has argued that the move would benefit the tourism industry.Previously the rules had stated that only Bermudians and residents who have lived on the Island for at least three months would be allowed to compete.But the new rule doesn’t sit well with many leading local runners, including former champions Kavin Smith and Mike Watson, as well as Peter Lever and Ricky Sousa, although Smith has accepted the decision because it is already in place for this year.“It has been talked about for the past three years but I have refused to comment on it because it wasn’t official or anything like that,” said Smith. “But I can tell you that once the finishing line tape is broken, it just takes the steam out of the race. That is my opinion.“If the first local comes third or whatever, the race is over so you can’t call him the champion but if the locals beat up on the tourists racing it makes us look good, so that’s the split.“The race became synonymous with the holiday, and that is how it has gone on throughout the years, so I’m for leaving it how it is. This is the one thing Bermuda has that no one else has.”Smith believes that including overseas athletes in the Derby takes away from the 100-plus year tradition, which has seen as many as 800 runners leave Somerset and finish at Bernard Park.In years past, local runners knew who they would be competing against and who would be the main challengers to the title, something that Smith, a nine-time champion, reckons gave the race its personality.“We have International Race Weekend where tourists can run, this has always been a family rivalry because we all know each other, we know who we are competing against and who you want to beat for whatever reason, maybe so and so beat me last year so I have to get him back this year.“In the past, Tony Ryan, John Beeden, and Chris Estwanik have fallen under the regulations to run, having been on the Island for the required period of time and they have been embraced by Bermuda as apart of our family.“The race is about the heritage and culture of Bermuda, from myself back in the day trying to chase down Mike Watson to know having Lamont Marshall, Jay Donawa and the rest trying to get their first title.“I would tell Mike that my time would come and we both knew what needed to be done to win the race, along with Peter Lever who was also very good when it first started.“These guys were my goal, my goal to get to be the champion and I knew what needed to be done.“I’m in favour of it being for Bermuda but I also realise that everything changes, so I accept this but I only accept this because that is how it is.”Four-time champion Watson questioned the validity of the committee’s decision, saying it not only took away from the Derby but also the Race Weekend in January.“Why make this race just another road race?,” said Watson. “Why steal Race Weekend’s thunder where foreign participation is already encouraged during our slow season?“The Derby won’t bring more tourists at a time when they are starting vacations traditionally, it’s obvious money is the issue.”Peter Lever, who challenged for the title on many occasions, echoed Smith’s sentiments, adding that the prestige and tradition of competing and winning a Derby will not be what it once was.“I’m completely against the change, it destroys history, tradition and not only affects the competitors and the event but also the spectators, who I feel sorry for,” said Lever.“It is ridiculous, I don’t know what they are thinking about.“This is the one race in Bermuda that you can compete against who you know and will be at the front of the race, it is a completely different race because of this.“The race has over 100 years of tradition and you are breaking this. When you go the start line it won’t just be you and the guys you are looking to beat, there are other unknown factors that come in now.”Regular competitor, Ricky Sousa, went as far as questioning the motives of the committee and throw a cloud over his participation.Adamant that the older generation wouldn’t have allowed such a decision to be made, Sousa believes that the event will no longer be seen as the number one race in Bermuda.“I’m extremely disappointed in this. This is the one race that the top 20 or so guys really look forward to because you know each other very well and anything can happen on the road.“It is a sign of the times changing with the younger generation because I can assure you that the older generation would never have even entertained the thought of allowing non-Bermudians to compete.“It makes you think if these guys are lining their pockets.“If they would have put it to the top runners and showed what they are thinking of in terms of changes there wouldn’t be a problem.“I would go as far as not even running this year.”Former Mid Atlantic Athletic Club Bermuda Track and Field Association representative George Sutherland commented: “To open the race up to tourists takes away that fundamental element in the history of the race and the place it holds in the hearts of all Bermudians.“The speculation and discussions by the press and public in the lead-up to the event would be forever altered as the inclusion of visitors would inevitably attract an anonymous overseas runner who could potentially win the race.“Some of your readers may remember one of the most highly anticipated local derbies, featuring all of the top local contestants in the 1980s being ruined by a visiting runner, who had somehow appropriated a number, leading out the race at such a pace that he destroyed the front of the field before abruptly pulling up at Five Star Island.”