The 12th edition of the Pembroke Athleta road races will this year be held on 9 April. The committee set up to organize these events is once again optimistic that the turn-out will be as plentiful as in recent years.

The club prides itself in offering the first encounter for children of a tender age with the sport of athletics. Most of the local heroes churned out by the club, Darren Francis Gilford, Charlene Attard and Mark Herrera to name but a few, have in fact, some time or another, participated in these races where the proud club trademark and motto for this year is Fun and Safety for All.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and no less the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, as always, are giving their whole-hearted support as will be the two Local Councils of Pembroke and Swieqi who have been instrumental, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Police and his officers, to keep good control of these morning events.

With the presence of the Traffic Wardens, medical staff, the St John’s Ambulance Brigade and the invaluable assistance given by parents and other helpers, most of whom provide service as race marshals, the careful planning of these events is considered complete.

The 10km open challenge, the principal race that starts at 8.30am, will be sponsored this year by Kyocera Mita. The leading runners from the best athletic clubs on the Island will once again test their capacity on the varied course, where athletes like John Buhagiar, Drew Lang and Brian Magri are expected to be among the protagonists.

Flying the flag for the club will be Mark Herrera, seeking to add the Open race to his vast collection of trophies. The leading protagonists in the race for women will be the club’s own Carol Walsh, fresh from winning a highly contested 10km run in the United States and Lisa Marie Bezzina, who triumphed in the Malta Half Marathon. Sprightly Joelle Cortis will be going for the Junior 5km record.

All major roads along the route have been resurfaced and this will give extra heart to the participants, who will be going over exactly the same route as last year. Each kilometre will be very clearly marked and water and sponge stations will be available on the 4th and 7th mark. Other refreshments and isotonic drinks at the finish will supplement the water refreshment.

Fexco Western Union is to sponsor the 5km race open to all categories except cadets (all those born 1993 and 1994) and youth (born 1991 and 1992) where once again the sponsors for these 3km events will be Sedqa and Nike respectively.

For the more numerous event, the 1.3 km Fun Run, by far the most popular and greatly enjoyed by children aged six to 66 and in which older siblings and a good number of parents accompany the little ones, the sponsor will be, appropriately, Safari Fruit Juices. This event will start at 10am after much fun and games to be enjoyed by all children present, where animators shall provide entertainment for more than an hour prior to the race. Face paintings, lively music and games will liven up the festive atmosphere for all children and young at heart.

As is now the custom, all finishers will be presented with a medal, a bag full of delights donated by various sponsors, a colourful wall poster and a tee shirt. A certificate of participation will be sent by post at a later date.

With the exception of the Fun Run there will be trophies for the first three finishers in the 5km race, the first four in the 3kms and the first five in the 10km race. All prizes will be repeated for the female entries.

Cash vouchers will be awarded to the first three males and the first three winners of the main race. The first male and first female in the 10km will also receive a 6-month membership at the Westin Dragonara Hotel Gym; the first residents from Pembroke and Swieqi in the 10km event as well as in the fun run, shall receive a special trophy.

In all the other competitive races each age category winner will also receive a trophy. The Pembroke Local Council will be presenting the shield for the highest entry from any one school, to be kept until next year, while the Swieqi Local Council will be rewarding the first male and the first female from the locality with a shield each.

A truly magnificent bonanza of prizes awaits everyone, where all it takes is to Come, Run and have Fun!

Entry forms are available from all athletic clubs, the Pembroke and Swieqi Local Councils, the main club premises and most schools. Everyone is invited to join the record number of participants for this popular occasion, designed to make everyone, healthier, wealthier and wiser.

Westin Dragonara Resort are the main sponsors of the event which is sanctioned by the Malta Amateur Athletic Association.