Dermot Galea pips brother Keith to win longest race
Zarb extends unbeaten run at M'scala
The Birkirkara St Joseph Open Sea Swimming Series continued on Wednesday with the longest swim in the programme doubling up as a useful test for the forthcoming Gozo-Malta Open Sea Swimming Challenge.
The 4,000-metre swim, the fifth race in this series, was held at Marsascala in rather choppy waters. Dermot Galea overhauled series leader and brother Keith in the final stages of the race.
Isabelle Zarb extended her unbeaten run in the females' race, winning with a wide margin on nearest rival Michelle Wood.
Three seconds separated the top two places. Dermot Galea had Keith Galea on his heels throughout the whole race. The prevailing sea conditions were more favourable to Dermot who kept a solid grip on the race despite his brother's unrelenting challenge.
His winning time was one hour five minutes 49 seconds, a mere three seconds ahead of Keith Galea. Third place went to Keith Bartolo who finished the race in one hour 10 minutes 45 seconds.
With just one race to go before the end of the series, Keith Galea still heads the standings with an overall time of three hours 11 minutes. Bartolo is second on three hours 22 minutes 53 seconds and Luke Bonnici is third on three hours 37 minutes 5 seconds.
The females' race was again a one-sided affair. Zarb, the defending champion, cruised to victory in one hour 19 minutes 58 seconds.
Wood was second in one hour 24 minutes 32 seconds, 18 seconds ahead of third-placed swimmer Susan Farrugia.
In the overall classification Zarb is on top with three hours 43 minutes, ahead of Wood (3:56:37) and Farrugia (4:02:53)
The series now breaks for the Gozo-Malta Open Sea Swimming Challenge, to be held on Saturday, August 25.
The sixth and final race of the series will take place at Birzebbuga on September 5, starting at 6 p.m.