The fourth and final race of this year’s edition of the Birkirkara 5K Road Running Series organised by Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club in collaboration with the Birkirkara Local Council under the auspices of the Malta Amateur Athletic Association will be held on 13 December in the Club’s home town.

Thirty-two seconds separate the top four athletes with Mark Herrera (Athleta Pembroke) leading by eleven seconds a group made up of Drew Lang (St. Patrick’s), Brian Magri (Athleta Pembroke) and James Douglas (Birkirkara St. Joseph). Carol Walsh (Athleta Pembroke) has a 56 second lead on team-mate Lisa Bezzina in the ladies category and should find no real threat to retain the honour she had won last year.

Missing – through injury – the opportunity to defend the crown he has won last year, Gerald Grech (AS Libertas) will be making a comeback in the Series and will be one of the favourites to with the 13 December race.

Last year Grech won this undulating race in 15 minutes 47 seconds. Mark Herrera clocked 15 minutes 43 seconds in the first race of the Series on the Ta’ Qali route which is less daunting than that at Birkirkara. James Douglas, Drew Lang and Brian Magri all managed to go under 16 minutes in the previous races.

The race on 13 December will start at 9am in front of the Birkirkara Local Council. Race registrations will be accepted on race day up to half an hour before the start.

The Birkirkara-by-pass will be closed for traffic by the district police between 8.45am and 9.45am Further information and registration forms are available on www.bkarastjoseph.com.