Teddy Shum made a triumphant debut in yesterday’s Swan’s Running Club Labour Day 5K Road Race.

The Englishman led the field across the finish at Dutton Avenue in 16 min 25 sec to claim victory in his first attempt at the event.

“It’s great to be first across the line and nice to be out racing,” Shum, who hails from Tamworth, told The Royal Gazette. “There has not been many races because of the pandemic, so it’s great to have a race and good fun.

“It’s not a personal best but I’m happy with my time in these conditions.

“I am running the New York Marathon in a couple of months and so that is what I am training for now.”

The 36-year-old was generally pleased with the way things panned out for him throughout the race.

“I feel like it went all right,” he added. “I was trying to go out a little conservative, save something for the hill and then anything you’ve got left after the hill [Palmetto Hill] put it down.”

Race organisers opted for a change of course this year after being asked to pay $3,000 by the City of Hamilton to hold the race in the city.

However, the Corporation of Hamilton has not ruled out the possibility of the race returning to the City next year.

Asked how did he find the course, Shum added:

“It’s the first time I‘ve done this race and other than that one crazy hill halfway around, which is a bit of a killer, it’s all right. It’s all right up until that one nasty hill and then it was nice coming in.”

Sean Trott finished second and was the first Bermudian across the line in 16:49.

Domico Watson, the son of Donna Raynor, the Bermuda National Athletic Association president, finished third in 17:11 to complete the podium.

Nicholas Pilgrim (17:32) and top cyclist Dominique Mayho (17:35) rounded off the top five respectively.

Chayce Smith, the 2019 men’s champion, opted not to defend his title.

Meanwhile, Gayle Lindsay comfortably retained her women’s title in a time of 19:03.

“I am very happy and came into it not really with any expectations,” said Lindsay, who was ninth overall. “I just kind of used it as a baseline to see where my fitness is at.

“It’s 30 seconds off my personal best, so I still got a bit of work to do. But for the first one I can’t really complain.

“It was hot but that’s just part of running in Bermuda.”

Lindsay found the new course much to her liking.

“A new course and I actually really enjoyed it,” she added.

“It was a good race and felt good and hopefully it can continue.

“Running in Bermuda for seven or eight years doing all of the year you kind of get familiar with all the courses. So it’s actually nice to try a different one for a bit of variety and it could be a very fast course if it wasn’t for Palmetto Hill.”

Catherine Mello was runner up and the first Bermudian in the women’s field and 19th overall in 21:41.

Liana Medeiros rounded off the women’s podium in third in 21:52.

Sarah Thompson (21:53) and Rebecca Shepherd (22:21) rounded off the top five women finishers in the field.

Tajahri Rogers (7:20) and J. Grant (7:52) claimed the boys and girls titles in the 2.2-kilometre Junior race respectively.

Shinah Simons (35:03) won the five-kilometre walk with Gilda Cann (38:56) claiming the women’s title.