Decisive races on Sunday at Salina

The 2008 ChooseMalta.com National Triathlon Championship is due to be held on Sunday at the Salina Coast Road at 8 a.m.

The championship, organised by the Malta Triathlon Association (MTA), will bring to an end a busy season which saw the MTA and its main club, Birkirkara St Joseph, holding no fewer than eight races.

Topping the ranking points at the moment are Danica Spiteri and Keith Galea. While the former should make short shrift of the other female competitors to retain the title she has now won five times, Galea is likely to encounter stiff competition from several athletes, not least his elder brother, Dermot.

Other contenders for the crown are Fabio Spiteri, whose cycle and run prowess should make up for his tardiness in the swim section, Brian Magri, whose blistering running has won him several recent road running races, and Luke Bonnici, whose improvement has given him the confidence he needs to face the challenge ahead.

Nicola Juniper, a top UK triathlete, will participate in this year's race together with some other UK athletes.

The race will be covered by an international journalist, Georgie Rutherford, who has been invited by the Malta Tourism Authority and will be writing for the UK's 220 Magazine.

ChooseMalta.com and Plum Tree Restaurant are the main sponsors. Kristal Water will be providing drinks throughout the race, while the safety aspect will be in the hands of St James Hospital.