Shuttle Road Relay today

With the winter schedule now well in advance, the third title to be decided this year is the Shuttle Road Relay today at Qawra.

This popular race, originally termed the Colonel Ferro Challenge Shield, should attract the leading protagonists in this year's San Michel Road Running League.

A far more numerous presence is likely by schools and clubs that traditionally contend this team event.

From the start, in the vicinity of Fra Ben, the first of four runners in each team will head along the promenade towards Bugibba on the equal half of a 1.5 km leg that sees the turn-round near the Oracle Casino.

On the strength of form of the current Libertas squad, the result in the Men's Open should not be hard to predict. This club has won the relay on numerous occasions before.

But then so was the situation last year when they easily won the first and third legs. Yet, with an in-form Alex Busuttil anchoring the team, Mellieha AC carried home the honours with an overall better time of just two seconds, completing the six kilometres in 17.30.

In the Ladies' Open, St Patrick's will be looking towards retaining the Shield, but the traditional challenge from Pembroke and Zurrieq Wolves, whose foursome is probably stronger than the one of the last edition, should make the contest interesting.

In the youth category, Pembroke will be looking for their umpteenth triumph in the girls' section. As for the boys, St Patrick's look to be the team of the moment and should repeat last year's success even though Savio College, St Aloysius, Pembroke or Zurrieq, to name some, are likely to give them a good run for the top honours.

The first event is scheduled for a 2.30 p.m. start.