The 21st 10k organised by the Ladies Running Club (LRC) was held recently at Ta’ Qali with Mdina Glass again being the main sponsors of the race.

The LRC 10k is welcomed not merely for the route, since it is generally flat, but also for the atmosphere it generates. It has now become a favourite among local runners as 106 participants tackled the circuit at Ta’ Qali and Attard before finishing near Mdina Glass.

Most runners consider this race as an ideal start to the season with the MAAA league getting under way in October.

Some of the most talented runners around, the likes of Jonathan Balzan, Jason Martin, Brian Magri, Carmen Hili and Angela Sammut, were all present.

Magri, Balzan and Martin were again engaged in a tight race. The honours eventually went to Balzan who reached home in 33.05 minutes. Martin followed in 33.27 and Magri had to settle for third in 33.58.

Hili was in great form, finishing the women’s race in 39.33.

She had good reason to be happy at the finish line, both with her first win in the Mdina Glass 10k, but, more importantly, with her time.

Sammut was second in 40.30, a marked improvement from the previous year’s race.

Francesca Arrigo was the first LRC member in for the sixth consecutive time and Marthese Lia (over 40) and Cecilia Degaetano (over 70) topped their respective categories.

This year, the race organisers donated part of the proceeds to Dar Merħba Bik.