The Ladies Running Club a few days ago held its annual race, the Mdina Glass LRC6 for the 15th consecutive year.
The race whose main sponsor is Mdina Glass, started as usual from in front of the Mdina Glass factory in ta’ Qali, following the route established last year, proceeding down the Rabat road, turning left into Attard, limits of Mosta, past St. Catherine’s Hospital and on to ta’ Qali to finish back at Mdina Glass factory. The route is a 10km.
In the men’s race, the three main contenders were Jonathan Balzan, Brian Magri and Drew Lang. All three settled in an initial group of five, and passed the one mile mark in a conservative 5min 16sec.
Balzan increased the pace thereafter, and Brian Magri broke from the chasing pack in an attempt to keep contact. After three miles, covered in 15min 55sec, Balzan built up a 50-metre lead over Magri who held a similar lead over Lang.
Balzan maintained his great form till the end extending his lead and winning by 51 sec.in 32:55. Meanwhile, the battle for second place was won by the resilieint Lang, who swept past a tiring Magri over the last kilometre. Lang and Magri finished in 33:36 and 33:50 respectively.
In the women’s race, Carol Galea was never pressed and won comfortably in 36:54. Lisa Bezzina placed second in a very respectable 37:27, and Angela Sammut placed third in 39:03.
In the veteran categories the results were as follows:
Men over 40:Peter Azzopardi, over 45: Martin Agius, over 50: Stephen Mifsud, over 55: Alfred Camilleri, over 60: George Goodall, over 65: Victor Spiteri, over 70: Teddi Skolbol.
Women over 35: Nadia Portelli, over 40: Cecilia Fenech, over 45: Mary Rose Herd, over 50: Lydia Barbara, over 55: Liz Said, over 60: Doris Scicluna.
The Ladies’ Running Club thanked the main sponsors, Mdina Glass, who designed and manufactured the prizes, and the other sponsors namely: San Michel, Sedqa, Scotts Supermarket, Ancams Ltd., H. and H. Ltd., Paolo Bonnici Ltd., Team Sport, JB Stores, Foster Clarks, Pasta al Uovo, Yada Fitness Factory, Felce Azzurra, Starfruit Ltd.,C. Camilleri and Sons, and Twistees. They also thanked the Police, the St. John Ambulance, the Scouts of St. Aloysius College and those of Attard for their invaluable help. Besides the race, a four mile walk was held and this was reasonably well attended. Part of the proceeds of the race and walk are to go to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.