Pace and Caruana Dingli home first despite swells

The longest event in the Open Sea Swim Series organized by Bir-kirkara St Joseph Sports Club, the 3.5-kilometre San Giljan WPC to Sliema and back race, was won by young Gabriel Pace and Debbie Caruana Dingli.

The race, held recently, was characterized by swells and choppy waters. It was the ideal warm-up for the forthcoming Gozo-Malta Open Sea Swimming Challenge Birkirkara SJ will be holding next Saturday.

The demanding St Julian's-Sliema-St Julian's race, notwithstanding the adverse conditions, produced some remarkable performances from a number of swimmers.

U-14 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 Luke Sammut.

Two female veterans led the women's race. Caruana Dingli swam the distance in one hour, 5 minutes 45 seconds, just seven seconds in front of Suzanne Farrugia.

Donna Calleja, who lost her pace in the final part of the race, finished third in one hour, seven minutes, 22 seconds.

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.

Gozo race briefing

On Saturday, the Gozo-Malta Open Sea Swimming Challenge starts at 7 a.m. from Hondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo.

The race will finish in Cirkewwa.

A race briefing session for the participating swimmers will be held on Thursday at the Birkirkara Local Council offices at 7.30 p.m.