Kings of the road

In the end there was no surprise. Going into the final race of the season, nothing had been decided in the 2007/08 Athletics Malta Road Running League. St Patrick's AC had opened a healthy lead in the previous three events but there was still the possibility that Mellieħa AC could overhaul them at Marsascala.

And they very much tried to do so. It was not to be, however, as Haithem Ksheim and Jonathan Balzan led the way for St Patrick's, as they often did this season, for their club to finish on top by more than two minutes and ensure a much-craved success.

"We had a target at the beginning of the season that we wanted the club to achieve: winning the Road Running League," explained club president Antoine Attard.

"One has to work for success and make things happen. I believe that there was commitment from one and all, the committee members, most of them new faces, the coaches, the sponsors, worked as a team. That was the key towards success."

St Patrick's also won the women's category with a healthy margin over Ladies Running Club while Balzan and Ksheim finished first and third respectively in the individual categories with Mellieħa's Charles Cilia in second place.

The only disappointment, if it can be termed as such, came in the individual women's category where, inevitably, Pembroke Athleta's Carol Walsh came out on top although St Patrick's did have Carmen Hili finishing second ahead of Doreen Vella of Żurrieq Wolves.

Results that understandably added to Attard's pride especially as this was his first year at the helm of the club.

"St Patrick's has a long tradition of successes in long distance running," he said.

"Last year, Mellieħa had offered a strong challenge which brought them success. But, this time, we motivated our runners, both men and women. They responded magnificently and the club enjoyed this new lease of life.

"Indeed, these members are a loyal bunch of St Patrick's athletes who have been running for the club for a number of years. Success was of utmost importance. We had to do better as our credibility was at stake."

His thoughts turn to the future - "our concern is now to sustain our success" - but first some - at the clubhouse in Gudja on June 13. However, Attard is not happy with the overall situation of local long distance running.

"I don't feel that the road running is being given its due importance," he opined.

"This year, Athletics Malta did well to bring over Peter Thompson, a top coach, but I can't see any progress yet.

"The elite runners are aging and I can only count a couple of relatively young road runners coming up. Added to all this, one must remember that the Maqluba road race had to be cancelled due to bad weather, and there was no place to re-schedule due to a very tight programme."

His criticism doesn't end there.

"Indeed, it is also difficult to gauge the overall level of the road running league, as our clubs have failed to present any new blood," Attard said.

"And one has to bear in mind that most of the 'big' clubs are road running in their essence."