The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LEVITICUS ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley, one of the most influential Bahamian sporting personalities, will be remembered by the St Augustine’s College Alumni Association with the staging of another fun run/walk road race.

Now into its 11th year, the popular Uncle Lou 10K Fun Run/Walk is all set for 6am Saturday, starting from Rawson Square and ending up on the campus of St Augustine’s College where Adderley served as the first Bahamian principal.

Runners will leave Rawson Square and travel south on Parliament Street, right on Shirley Street, around Princess Street in front of Government House, right on Cumberland Street and onto Bay Street to the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge to Paradise Island. Once on Paradise Island, the runners will turn right and head over the old bridge and left onto Bay Street, turn right on Village Road and then left on Bernard Road and right to the finish line at St Augustine’s College.

For the walkers, they will travel from Rawson Square and travel east all the way to Village Road and turn onto Bernard Road where they will also complete the course on SAC’s campus.

Godfrey, or Stephen Robinson, the president of the Alumni Association, noted that registration, which is priced at $15 for children under 15 and $25 for adults, is going rather slow, but he advised that they can still pre-register at the Sports Center in the Harbour Bay, Sandy Port or Mall at Marathon locations, or prior to the starting time on race day.

“This is the 11th annual running of the event and of course Uncle Lou would have celebrated his birthday on Sunday past, so we always try to have the event in the week of his birthday,” said Robinson of Adderley, who passed away in 2003.

Adderley, who was a serving deacon at St Anselm’s Roman Catholic Church at the age of 69 at the time of his death, was a former Greco-Roman wrestling champion while attending St John’s University in Minnesota.

He was also an outstanding lawn tennis player as well as a baseball, basketball and volleyball player and executive.

He also served as the athletics director and coach at St Augustine’s College where he helped to groom the Big Red Machine into a powerhouse in sports.

Adderley eventually founded the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials in 1976 and was also a founding member of the Bahamas Association of Basketball Officials.

Robinson, a member of the 2015 graduating class of St Augustine’s College, said he’s hoping that more persons, especially those who attended SAC and competed for the Big Red Machine, will come out and support the event. “I think three years ago we had our biggest turnout ever with some 300 participants, but it dwindled the following year and last year it was down to about 100 competitors,” he recalled.

“But we would hope that with the amount of SACers who would have passed through the institution would not have a problem coming out and supporting an event that is honouring a great man like Uncle Lou.

“For some reason, the interest is just not there from those persons who have red running through their veins, except when it comes to the BAISS.”

Proceeds from the race will assist St Augustine’s College, so Robinson feels this is a way for persons to come back and make a contribution to their alma mater. “There is a bit of disappointment, but we will continue pushing and doing what we have to do to keep his memory alive,” Robinson stated. “We want to try and assist the school in whatever way possible.

“So we are looking forward to trying to reach more of the alumni body as we will also be undertaking a new initiative in the next few weeks. I can’t say anything about it just yet because we are still waiting for the final approval to go forth. But once the announcement is made, we hope that can come forth and assist in this major project.”

As for the road race, Robinson said the alumni association will be in front of the Sports Center in the Harbor Bay Shopping Center from 10 am until 6 pm for pre registration. The last registration will take place from 5 am on race day.

For those who will be seeking transportation, Robinson said they will transport competitors from SAC on race day for those who wish to park there and for those who park downtown, they will be transported back after the race is completed.

Aliv is one of the major sponsors this year and they will be providing four cell phones to the two overall winners in the run, who will receive an Iphone and two Samsung to the two overall winners in the walk.

“We do our normal breakfast, which is chicken souse at the end,” Robinson said. “We will also have three or four raffles, so even it you don’t win in your division, there is still something for everyone to win with the raffle.

“We will be during something different this year as we provide some prizes from our other sponsors. So we are not just urging SACers to come out, but we want to continue to welcome the running and walking community to come out and support us.”

All participants will also receive a commemorative t-shirt as well as a medal for their participation. Trophies will be presented to the first three finishers in each category in both the run and walk.