Pembroke Races 2009 on Sunday

Carol Walsh and Haithem Keishem will be defending their titles on Sunday when the athletic section at Pembroke Athleta Sports Club will be holding their annual 10km race, now in its 15th edition.

Details of Pembroke Races 2009 were given this week by organisation president Victor Camilleri.

He confirmed that last year's winners will be on the starting line this weekend along with other leading runners in the country, including Jonathan Balzan, Brian Magri, Jason Martin, Drew Lang, Angela Sammut and Joelle Cortis.

Veteran Charles Micallef, a septuagenarian who took part in each Pembroke 10k race since its inception in 1995, has also put his name down with the full intention of retaining his category trophy won last year.

Apart from the 10k race, the athletic section at Pembroke Athleta also holds a series of fun runs and other activities. The response has always been great and the organisers this year are hoping to match the 2008 entry of around 1,100.

"The races are a special occasion for the athletic section," Camilleri said.

"Our activities always attract great numbers and from the safety and organisation aspects we never had problems. This, also thanks to the contribution and assistance of our sponsors and all those involved in the staging of this popular annual event."

Also present for the launching of Pembroke Races 2009 were club stalwart Carol Walsh and Pembroke Mayor Joseph Zammit along with Alfred Mazzitelli, the councillor responsible for youth and sport.