The longest race in the Open Sea Swimming Series organized by Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club, the 3.5 kilometres from San Giljan W.P.C. to Sliema’s Chalet and back, was won by 14 year old Gabriel Pace. Debbie Caruana Dingli was the first female to hit the finish. This race, characterized by swells and choppy waters, was the ideal warm up for the forthcoming Gozo-Malta Open Sea Swimming Challenge the Birkirkara Club will be organizing on the 23rd of this month.

The gruelling St. Julian’s-Sliema-St Julian’s race, notwithstanding the adverse condition, produced some good performances from a number of swimmers. Race winner Gabriel Pace was making his debut in the Series. He covered the distance in 54 minutes, 44 seconds. Veteran Simon Zammit was second in 56 minutes 6 seconds, 24 seconds ahead of Under 17 swimmer Luke Sammut.

Two female veterans managed to take the top two places. First placed Debbie Caruana Dingli finished the race in one hour, 5 minutes 45 seconds, just seven seconds in front of Suzanne Farrugia. Donna Calleja, who lost her bearings in the final part of the race, finished third in one hour, seven minutes, 22 seconds.

Simon Zammit and Angele Cremona are the Series overall leaders with an accumulated time of one hour, 57 minutes, 18 seconds and 2 hours, 15 minutes 33 seconds respectively.

The Gozo-Malta Open Sea Swimming Challenge will start at 7am from Hondoq ir-Rummien in Gozo on Saturday, 23rd July, 2005.

The race will finish at Cirkewwa’s sandy beach. A race briefing session for the participating swimmers will be held on Thursday, 21st July at the Birkirkara Local Council at 7.30pm. (www.bkarastjoseph. com)