Galea and Wood secure overall honours

The last time Birkirkara St Joseph athletes won the male and female categories in a major local competition was way back in 2002 with victories in that year's national championships.

With the same championships just a few days away, Dermot Galea and Michelle Wood inscribed their names on the Birkirkara St Joseph Triathlon Series 2009 trophies.

The third and final race in the series set a new benchmark with 39 individuals and four relay teams taking part. The adverse weather conditions did nothing to spoil the vibrant atmosphere during the race.

With Keith Galea giving the race a miss, Dermot's challenge was practically against the clock at Salina Bay.

In his 750-metre swim, he clocked 12 minutes 11 seconds, finishing ahead of club-mate Luke Bonnici who was out of transition in 12 minutes 37 seconds.

Fellow Saints veteran William Brydon was third in 13 minutes 56 seconds. On a flooded and slippery Coast Road, Galea managed to cycle the 20km course in 30 minutes 49 seconds, and it was game over.

Only Fabio Spiteri, returning from a nasty injury he suffered early in the season, came anywhere near the champion. In this segment of the race, Brian Magri worked his way menacingly towards second-placed Bonnici.

Well ahead in the final five-kilometre run Galea finished comfortably in first place, running the distance in 18 minutes 21 seconds, for an overall time of one hour, one minute and 21 seconds.

Magri overtook Bonnici to claim second place in one hour, five minutes and 46 seconds. Bonnici was third in one hour, seven minutes and 31 seconds.

The women's race was again a hotly-contested affair between Wood and Danica Spiteri, resulting in a tight victory for the former. Spiteri led her rival in the swim in 14 minutes, one second.

Wood reacted by beating her opponent in the 20-kilometre cycle in a time of 35 minutes, 43 seconds, with nothing to separate the two contestants in the final five-kilometre run.

Wood's tempo kept the champion under continuous pressure. Her pace finally caught up with Spiteri who, although fighting to the bitter end, could not keep up with Wood's surge. The Birkirkara girl crossed the finish line in one hour, 10 minutes, 46 seconds, a mere 16 seconds ahead of the champion.

Donatelle Callus was third in one hour, 20 minutes, 13 seconds.

In the final classification after three races, the top three positions in the men's field went to Dermot Galea, Magri and Bonnici, while in the female category the leading triathletes were Wood, Spiteri and Callus.

With a successful season behind them, Dermot Galea and Wood have now set their sights on the ultimate honour in Maltese triathlon, and for different reasons.

A win for Galea on Sunday would take his tally to eight national championships while Wood is chasing her first success in the national event.

However, both triathletes can expect to face stiff opposition.

Galea has his brother and team-mate Keith to reckon with. Keith Galea has been training hard, both in Malta and abroad, to stake a claim for what would be his first championship, while Wood has to contend with Spiteri, the undisputed queen of the sport.