As starts go, the first race on the road organised by Athletics Malta on the Siġġiewi By-Pass on Saturday was full of promise.

The clubs between them registered over 200 athletes to take part in the Road Running League and in Siġġiewi 140 finished the five-kilometre race in sizzling heat.

Last year’s champion and man-of-the-moment, Andrew Grech, took the lead early on and in his relentless pace gradually beat off the competition to clinch top spot in a time of 15 minutes and 22 seconds – nearly half-a-minute away from nearest pursuer Mark Herrera and 41 seconds ahead of Clive Gerada.

Pembroke Athleta made the first strike in the team event, Herrera, Luke Micallef, Richard Chetcuti and Natalino Farrugia, managing the least penalty points total, 34, to second-placed St Patrick’s AC, on 36, followed by Mellieħa AC on 58 points.

Indeed a start that augers well, St Patrick’s AC being last year’s winners in both male and female competitions, with the boys from Mellieħa AC being also dominant in recent editions.

In the individual event for females, it was Carmen Hili, another regular winner these last years in many a competition, that completed the course in the fastest time, stopping the clock on 18 minutes 46 seconds.

However, it was a newcomer to the league scene that provided a welcome challenge.

Tara Abdilla, for La Salle AC, out of nowhere managed 19 minutes 5 seconds, ahead of Pembroke’s Lisa Marie Bezzina in third spot.

Pity that both Abdilla and Bezzina, without enough athletes from their outfits competing, are not forming part of a team to challenge for the honours.

In fact, although Hili was backed by Joelle Cortis and Maria Borg, the St Patrick’s outfit finished adrift, albeit by one point, from a Mellieħa AC side that had Angela Sammut, Marthese Mercieca right behind and Joanna Camilleri completing their run in the first 11 to add up their total to 20 points.

The next race in the MAAA series at Tal-Maqluba is clearly a much-awaited event.