Stephen Allen and Laura Wright won the men’s and women’s titles in the Ed Sherlock Five Mile Road Race and recorded impressive times on the hilly race route.

The number of competitors rose to about 100, easily eclipsing last year’s turnout when the race unfortunately clashed with the Running of the Bulls 5K in Hamilton.

An effort was made this year to avoid another clash of dates, with the Bulls race moving to March. The organisers of yesterday’s event were delighted by the bigger race field.

The event, held for the 21st time, honours Ed Sherlock who won the Island’s signature Bermuda Day Half-Marathon Derby six times between 1956 and 1962.

Overall winner in the five-mile race Allen has taken the title on a number of previous occasions. He was untroubled as he added the 2014 title to his collection, chalking up one of his fastest times as he stopped the clock at 26min 41sec.

“It felt comfortable. After the start I took the lead and did the best job I could,” he said. “I love this race. If you can run a good time on this course then you know you’re in good shape.”

Second place went to Omari Hart in 31:02. Third overall was lead woman Wright in 33:58, with teenager Keyshe Robinson next to finish in 34:14

Women’s winner Wright was pleased with her performance. The race started a short distance from the Southampton Rangers clubhouse, heading east on South Road, turning up Camp Hill and then west along Middle Road. Wright steadily worked her way through the field. By the time she reached Barnes Corner and turned on to South Road for the final two miles to the finish at Southampton Rangers, she was chasing down the leading men.

She was a full 30 seconds quicker than her previous lifetime best “I was hoping for a personal best. I was catching people and picking them off,” she said.

Wright has come back strong after the birth to her daughter Eva just under a year ago.

She was first local woman in the Bermuda Marathon Weekend marathon in January, and third in the Bermuda Triangle Full Challenge. In the Philadelphia Half-Marathon last November she ran a commendable 1:34:00.

Second woman to finish was Sharon Craig in 38:17 followed by Mairi Redmond in 38:30.

In a junior race over two miles Adam Larson was first in 13:39, first girl was Aleah Clarke in 19:54. First junior under-10 was Daniel Larson in 14:42, first junior girl under-10 girl was Zylah Bean in 21:45.

Winner of the five-mile walk was Sinclair Smith in 54:20, while the first woman was Sheena Young in 57:28.

Among the race organisers were Vernal and Carlos Durham, relatives of Mr Sherlock, who were delighted that more people took part this year.

However they were nervous the evening before when a thunder and lightning storm knocked out a transformer next to the clubhouse.

Speaking of the significance of the race, Carlos said: “The race has grown again this year and we want to get it back to how it used to be, hopefully attracting a major sponsor,” he said.”

Running hero Sherlock watched the runners set off and later presented the prizes, including medals to super veterans Reggie Young, 80, and George Jones, 76.

Sherlock, 82, said: “I’m very grateful to everyone who showed up to support my race. It is building and the numbers have improved this year.”

He still trains regularly and competed in last year’s May 24 race. He intends to do so again this year.

He said: “I do my training on the beach and I want to do May 24 this year. The Rangers are sponsoring me. I’m not as fast as I was but I can still do my little trot. I’d like to make it in under two hours.”