The Pembroke road race events are in their 17th year. These events are this year being held next Sunday morning.

“Little did we realise, as organizers of this morning of sport in Pembroke, so many years ago, to what dimension this event would grow,” said club president Victor Camilleri, in launching this year’s road races, during a press conference. “Basically, it originated as the dream that every athletics club in Malta holds - that of having an event that is truly one’s own. In reality the Pembroke 10km challenge race has retained its character but when it comes down to sheer numbers however, this annual event has grown to proportions way beyond any expectations, especially in the Fun Run, sponsored by Safari Fruit Juices, intended to introduce the sport to young children”, he continued.

The main event, reserved as expected for the serious athletes that are intent on good timings and that personal satisfaction of getting the best out of their bodies, starts at 8.30am at the same time as the race that covers half the classical distance.

Camilleri said this 5km race is also proving to be popular, especially with athletes recently converted to the joy of running a competitive event and for young people intent on making athletics their sport for life.

He added: “The fact that last year the longer race topped 170 entries and the shorter distance attracted another 50 fills us with courage.”

Camilleri explained that the organisers place priority on health and safety, insomuch that for practically one hour, the two roads that take in the distance covered in the Fun Run, roughly 2,000 metres, are kept traffic free with the help of the Police Department, the Traffic Wardens and the many volunteers and helpers acting as road marshals.

In this respect the organisers feel indebted towards the Commissioner of Police, the Local Councils of Pembroke and Swieqi, the Transport Authority, the Red Cross Ambulance Service and other civic departments who, year after year, provide the necessary manpower and backing to make these races successful. As well over a thousand children and some parents and guardians now take part in the Fun Run, the participants, each sporting colourful numbers according to their age and wearing tee-shirts kindly donated by the many sponsors, are segregated by these colours, finishing with the other participants in the longer races through an equally colourful gantry, where each is presented with a medal and a certificate to mark the occasion.

The last races for the day, over a distance measuring 3,000metres, will be reserved for older children whose ages range from 12 to 15 years. These competitive races, sponsored by Urban Jungle Street Stores, start at 11am and shortly afterwards, at around noon, the organisers will start with the presentation of the many prizes and handsome trophies, equally for males and females, by year of birth for the shorter races and also according to five year age categories in the 10km race.

A commemorative shield and cups will be awarded to the school providing the largest group in the Fun Run, in which trophies for the first Pembroke and Swieqi residents will be awarded by the respective mayors expected to be present.

The Minister of Education, the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport and the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, along with the other main sponsors Kyocera Mita, will be among the distinguished guests at the event and also presenting the prizes.