Over 110 swimmers are expected to take to the water today to compete in the annual Malta-Gozo-Malta and Gozo-Malta swims.
Organised by Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club, under the auspices of the Aquatic Sports Association (ASA), the competition will see 97 swimmers tackle the 5.5km Gozo-Malta route while another 14 will swim the 11km Malta-Gozo-Malta route.
Both categories have seen a substantial increase in participation figures.
With Luke Camilleri Cuschieri, last year’s winner, ruled out with injury and runner-up Andrew Sultana opting for the Malta-Gozo-Malta route, 2016 Open Water Swimming Series champion Dylan Cachia is regarded as favourite to clinch this year’s honour in the Gozo-Malta swim.
The likes of Bernard Sant, Jean Claude Randon and Ramon Calleja are expected to offer a stern challenge to Cachia.
Sarah Demicoli, who has enjoyed a streak of successive wins, is not taking part in this race as she has moved up to the longer 11km route.
Barring any major surprises, the leading title contender in this race is Maya Schembri Rogers who has performed consistently well throughout the summer.
Malta-Gozo-Malta
Fourteen swimmers, up by four from last year, will undertake the gruelling 11km route.
To qualify for this race, swimmers must complete three of the two-kilometre races of the Birkirkara SJ Open Water Swimming Series as well as finishing the four-kilometre event within the cut-off time of 1 hour 20 minutes.
Similar to the Gozo-Malta race, last year’s winner Neil Agius is out of the frame, leaving the way open for Sultana and Richard Zerafa to vie for the title.
One must not overlook the seasoned swimmers, namely Keith Bartolo, Roberto Demicoli and Robert Vella, who are not new to such distances and whose experience will definitely come in handy.
A podium placing is nearly guaranteed for the three female competitors in this race – Sarah Demicoli, Sandra Schembri and Isabelle Zarb.
The 11-kilometre Malta-Gozo-Malta swim sets off from Marfa at 6.30am, while the Gozo-Malta starts from Ras il-Qala at 8.15am.
The first swimmers are expected to reach Malta around 9.30am, finishing at the Ramla Bay Resort Beach.
The race route will be closed for maritime traffic throughout the event. An AFM Patrol Boat and police sea crafts will be in attendance to ensure the safety of the swimmers who will all be accompanied by an escort boat. Land and sea ambulances will also be present.
The prize-giving ceremony, presided by Joe Caruana Curran and Rita Azzopardi, the president and secretary of the ASA respectively, will take place immediately after the races.