No surprises in Birkirkara Road Running Series

The first Birkirkara 5K Road Running Series came to an end on December 13 with the final race held in the home town of joint organisers - Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club and the Local Council.

Unbeaten in all road races they contested this year, John Buhagiar and Carol Galea kept up their momentum with emphatic victories in this race thus keeping a 100 per cent record in the final classification.

Gerald Grech, of AS Libertas, was the only athlete anywhere near giving Bir-kirkara SJ's Buhagiar a good run for his money. Early in the second kilometre Buhagiar started opening a gap which was unsurpassed till the finish. On a very undulating course on the Birkirkara by-pass, he clocked 15.47, his best time over the three races. Grech was second in 16.16, leading his brother Robert by six seconds.

In the ladies' race, Galea was unchallenged throughout, setting a relentless pace from the start. As with Buhagiar, Galea registered her best time in this race, crossing the finish line in 17.28. Second place went to AS Libertas' Lisa Marie Camilleri in 19.03. Veteran Cecilia Fenech was third in 19.06.

In the overall classification Buhagiar was declared champion with 369 points, ahead of St Patrick's AC duo Drew Lang (360) and Michael Gellel (345).

In the age group categories, the winners were John Saliba (O/40), Mario Saliba (O/45), Philip Camilleri (O/50), Denis Briffa (O/55) and David Payne (O/60).

Galea carried the honours with 90 points in front of Camilleri (78) and Fenech (75). The age groups were won by Joelle Cortis (intermediate), Kathleen Vella (O/35) and Maria Victoria Attard (O/50).

The clubs Challenge Shield was won by St Patrick's AC with 981 points. Mellieha AC (957) and Birkirkara SJ (894) were second and third respectively. A prize fund of Lm250 was distributed among the top 12 athletes.

Present for the December 13 race were the Chairman of the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport Franco Azzopardi, Birkirkara Mayor Doris Borg, Birkirkara St Joseph SC president Ray Grech and the Birkirkara Vice-Mayor Sergio Carbonaro.

Extran Energy Drink and Krystal Water supported this event.