Jay Donawa announced his retirement from competitive running yesterday, insisting he was at peace with never winning the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby.

Donawa, who was runner-up more than a half dozen times without a victory in the race, finished sixth in 1hr 17min 57sec in his final outing.

He has run about 15 Derby races since his debut in 1989.

“I still have an immense love for the sport but I don’t have the competitive drive any more to continue to race hard and train hard,” the 42-year-old said.

“Today I just ran off my training but I haven’t trained like I would normally do for these races. This is the time to walk away and I just feel content, I really do. I finished sixth today and I’m relieved that it’s over.

“I finished in the top two eight times and this is the one title that always eluded me and at one time it consumed me, how my legacy was going to be, but I’m at peace.

“I’m probably the most successful cross-country runner this Island has produced, so that was definitely my area of expertise.”

Donawa enjoyed coming out of the East End for the first time, and running along Front Street, where people were calling his name, was emotional for him.

“The crowd today was phenomenal, when I got on to Front Street I was thinking about this being my last,” he said.

“I’ve enjoyed Front Street and enjoyed Cedar Avenue and gave them a wave goodbye.

“I might do a marathon in the fall overseas, but I’m just going to run for fitness.”

Donawa added: “The competitive edge has been gone for the better part of two years. Even today, I came sixth just off talent. My youngest son is into running and I’m just going to immerse myself into some other things like coaching.

“As long as you can see youth coming through, that’s always good. At one point I was the young one, running against the Mike Watsons and the Tracey Wrights.”

Spencer Butterfield placed a creditable seventh behind Donawa in 1:19:10 in the absence of his younger brother Tyler, last year’s winner.

“It was really nice, the bottom of each hill seemed to be a great crowd to motivate us,” Butterfield said. “There were almost too many people in Flatts. I think I got ‘over-motivated’ and sprinted at the bottom. It was a great course, I was aiming for sub 1:20 and got 1:19, so I’m pleased with the time. I also wanted a top-ten and I achieved both targets.”

Four-times winner Watson made a return to the race as he ran out of his hometown for the first time.

There was also a surprise for him with his son Domico, 22, flying back from college to make his debut. Father and son finished together 52nd and 53rd in an identical time of 1:35:19.

“[Domico] should be an inspiration to any overweight person, but look at him now, he’s skinnier than me,” Watson said.

“He’s been out there knocking the miles and slimmed down ... and he did it fast, in six months. I didn’t recognise him.”

Domico had it in his mind since last year to compete and decided not to tell his father.

“Last year I was saying if I feel good I’d go for it, then when it got close I asked my mother [BNAA president Donna Watson] to sign me up.

“I said don’t tell him because I wanted to surprise him on the day. He found out and called me up when I was at the airport. I felt really good for the first half and on the second half I saw him and tried to go for it.

“When I caught up to him was when my legs started to feel really bad and he told me to keep going at the same pace. We came in together.”

For his father it was his first Derby in 19 years. Maybe it will be his last.

“I’d like to think it is his first and my last,” Watson said.

“Don’t worry, he’ll run a lot faster in the future. I was also happy to see my athlete, Ashley Berry, place second in the women’s race.

“I was really inspired to hear everybody calling my name the whole way. It really kept me going.”