been temporarily put on hold -- at least for this year.

Richard Tucker, secretary of the Marathon Derby Sports Enterprise who are the organisers of the May 24th race, confirmed yesterday that this year's event will start at Somerset as usual at 9.30a.m.

However, Tucker revealed that there have been several meetings about having the start shifted to the east end but that the matter has been "put on hold'' because a number of problems will have to be sorted out.

St. George's MP Phillip Smith is one individual who has been pursuing a bid to have the start moved to the east end so that residents in that area will have the opportunity of seeing Bermuda's most prestigious running event, but organisers feel that time does not allow the change to take place this year.

While Tucker did not reveal that he was optimistic of having the start held in St. George's anytime in the future, he did say that the talks surround a suggested switch of starting venues will be held in the future.

Also involved in the recent talks were Cleveland Foggo, president of St.

George's CC who signed the application, and the Police Inspector in charge of the east end Winston Esdaille.

"We have met with people who made an application for the race to be started in St. George's and the Police were also involved in these talks. But it is not as easily done as it is said, there are so many things involved,'' said Tucker.

"During the talks certain points were discussed that have to be sorted out first, so we have come to a decision that the race will be started at Somerset as usual and the application that has been handed in will be put on hold for reuse in the future.'' Tucker would not be specific about the "certain points'' that seemingly troubled everybody, but he did hint that one was about the two bridges that runners would have to pass over on the route to Hamilton.

There has been a lot of trouble with them over the years and even after a considerable amount of work has been done on the one west of the airport, there has been occasions when it has broken down.

Tucker said that they were aware that the bridge has broken down without notice and there was concern of the impact that a failure would have on the day of the race if something of this magnitude was to occur.

"And this is just one of the concerns, there are more points that concern us and the police,'' said Tucker.

Foggo, meanwhile, said that after listening to the race organisers it was obvious that a simple `shift' could not be made and it was best that any plans to stage the race at the east end be put on hold.

"We just thought that a change was as good as a rest,'' said Foggo. "But after talking to Mr. Tucker it wouldn't be feasible right now with all the preparation required to stage the event.

"It's not just a simple switch as I thought and the organisers were quite correct in what they said.'' Foggo pointed to when the race used to alternate between Somerset and St.

George's, sometimes even finishing at either end after starting at a central location.

"It would bring people to St. George's and allow them to enjoy the race there. Hopefully in the near future that could be done.'' The last time the annual derby commenced from anywhere other than Somerset was back in 1975 when the race started at the National Stadium and finished in Somerset. Cal Bean won that race.