PRESS RELEASE

 

FRIDAY 24 OCTOBER 2008

 

18^th Malta International Challenge Marathon 28^th 29^th 30^th November 2008

 

The “Challenge” Marathon recently held its annual Press Launch and “Team” get-together at the refurbished “Palio’s” restaurant in St. Julian’s. The guests enjoyed the “Spiagga” meal from the chef’s new menu choice.

 

Barry M. Whitmore, the President, Founder and Race Director welcomed his guests which included Isabelle, his wife, his team of staff, members of the press and the head of the Malta St. John Ambulance.

 

He highlighted that again the number of runners was a comfortable 100 for this “complicated” three day event.  The runners are more or less shared between Maltese and Overseas, with last year’s Maltese male winner, Brian Magri and previous Maltese female winner, Carmen Hili already signed up to compete.

 

He also remarked that he expects some more Maltese top runners to enter after the up-coming ½ Marathon next weekend (2^nd November) as the entry list is still open until 110 applications are received. There are a good number of overseas club runners, which means we are bound to find a few that will give our own top Maltese runners a “run” for their money.

 

During the three course meal, the Race Director paid tribute to his wife, staff and the St. John Ambulance for their loyalty and long service. Some of the team has been together from the start in 1991 and many have completed 10 and 15 years service.

 

Barry announced the introduction of a NEW “Pairs / Couples” competition, the first on the Islands of Malta and Gozo. He emphasized that we always have a large number of couples, male and female, that run. These couples are either married or they are partners living together at the same address. The winning “pair” will simply be the couple with the fastest combined time for the entire Challenge. This new competition is aimed at encouraging more couples to share the same hobby and pastime. There will be five positions with a Trophy and sportswear per couple with a total of € 400 invested in Trophies and sponsored sportswear and presented at the “Grand Prize Giving” on Monday evening, the 1^st of December 2008 at the Dolmen Resort Hotel.

 

Barry thanked all his sponsors and contributors namely, Hilly Clothing Company UK, The Dolmen Resort Hotel, General Soft Drinks for Kristal Water and Powerade, The Malta Tourist Authority, Kompakt Trading Ltd, Bacchus Restaurant, La Sibylle Restaurant in the Dolmen Resort Hotel, Allfreight Ltd., Winning Ways, Wedding Bells in Malta, Custom Lab Ltd., Devon Biscuits and Topsey with Twistees.

 

Recognition for the services and support given must also go to the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Sport, Malta Traffic Police, Malta Divisional Police, Local Councils of Rabat, Birzebbuga, St. Paul’s Bay and Valletta, the Scouts groups of Hamrun Lyceum, Msida, Pembroke and Zebbug and all the friends and family of Barry and Isabelle Whitmore.

 

The Race Director finished the evening by wishing the whole team and the media a very successful 18^th campaign and extended an invitation to a post event dinner at the Dolmen Resort Hotel after the prize giving on Monday 1^st December 2008.

 

Next year’s date is: 27, 28 29 November 2008

 

Barry M. Whitmore, the President, Founder and Race Director