Latest Issue of Shamrock Magazine
Sunday, November 30, 2008
St. Patrick's AC have just published the December issue of the Shamrock magazine of which I am the editor. For those who want to take a peak, here it is:
Shamrock December 2008
Become a Fan
What Makes a Good PRO
The Kunsill Malti ghal ll-isport yesterday organised a very interesting seminar about the role of the Public Relations Officer within sports and I'm not saying that purely becausw I was one of the speakers!
Given that athletics suffers from a severe lack of publicity in the media, I was expecting to see a whole number of people from within the sport eager to learn what they should be doing. Instead there was only one which says it all really.
Anyway, for those interested, here's my presentation:
KMS Presentation Final
Malta Challenge Marathon Preview
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Running a marathon is always a challenge: even thinking about the forty two kilometers is enough to test one’s resilience unless they are truly determined and prepared.
Yet it is exactly because it is such a challenge that running a marathon remains high on the to do list of anyone into the sport of running.
For many, the Malta Challenge Marathon is the ideal gateway to achieving this dream. With the marathon distance broken up over three days, it seems much more attainable. Such impressions, however, are deceptive as anyone who has ever competed in this marathon in the past will confirm that it is in no way easy, particularly having to run a half-marathon on the final day having endured two long runs in the previous days. That there are two steep climbs in that final day – the one leading from Sa Maison to Floriana and that in Valletta – increases the difficulty level.
In other words, there is the need for considerable preparation and anyone who manages to finish this marathon has, as always, to be considered a winner.
Some, however, truly aim at being among the winners. With this year’s edition probably being shorn of any top level foreign runners, the possibility of having a Maltese winner undeniably increases. Above all, the name of Jonathan Balzan stands out.
At the beginning of this month, the St. Patrick’s AC man won the Zurrieq Half Marathon where he was among the few athletes who, on the day, managed to improve on last year’s results. That is a sign of a man on form yet Balzan is determined to dampen expectations especially as injury has limited his preparations.
“My aim is to finish among the top three as I’ve done in the previous editions that I’ve taken part in. However, before saying anything I have to see the level of foreign athletes who come over because much depends on this.”
Whilst the success in Zurrieq was planned, interest in the Challenge only started to surface recently. “I wasn’t really planning to take part because my aim was to win the Zurrieq Half Marathon because that was the only Maltese race that I’d never one.”
“However, during training I started noticing that matters were progressing well so I decided to go for the title that I won back in 2005, even if I have to admit that not even my coach was that happy to see that I was going to run this race.”
Balzan’s main challenge is likely to come from Athleta Pembroke’s Brian Magri who, like Balzan has a history in this event.
“In the Zurrieq Half marathon I didn’t do well. For some reason I didn’t manage to run as fast as I wanted. I started pushing to run faster but my legs didn’t respond. I now have quite a bit of experience but instances like this help you develop. I’m looking at what happened so that I do better at the Challenge Marathon.”
Among the women, it is difficult to see past Carol Walsh. As with wine, Walsh seems to get better the more she ages or, if you want to look at it in another way, Maltese athletics hasn’t found anyone to come through to challenge her dominance.”
This was confirmed in Zurrieq where, despite a long period of inactivity, Walsh still managed to win. It was on that day that she confirmed that “I’m going to run the Challenge” Since then this has become her main aim.
Contrarty to Walsh, the presence of Carmen Hili in the Challenge is a regular one and she isn’t likely to disappoint this year. “Training is going very well and at the moment it is aimed at the longer distances such as the Zurrieq Half-Marathon and the Challenge. My aim is always to improve on the previous year although, come what may, I always thank God for finishing the marathon.”
And so it should be for anyone finishing this grueling race.
The Malta Challenge Marathon kicks off on Friday 27th November.
Vella Fifth in Valencia
Friday, November 21, 2008
Among the four thousand or so athletes who took part in the 18th edition of the Valencia Half-Marathon, there were five Maltese runners hailing from Zurrieq Wolves.
These athletes were Melvin Mifsud who finished the race ina time of 1:17:24, Marioa Grech (1:22:08), Pawlu Camilleri (1:27:49), Felix Vella (1:39:55) and Doreen Vella (1:27:49).
Of these, perhaps the most notable result was that of Doreen Vella hwo finished fifth in the women's category.
Anyone eager to join Zurrieq Wolves can contact the club's secretary Tony Barbara on 79730971 or send an e-mail to wolves@maltanet.net.
Annual Calendar Conference
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Malta Amateur Athletic Association will be holding its Annual Calendar Conference this Monday the 24th November 2008 at its Headquarters at 7 Racecourse Street MARSA, in accordance with MAAA Circular despatched by the General Secretary dated 3 November 2008.
All Athletic Clubs, Schools, Non-Governmental Organisations, Enterprises and other interested parties intending to organise any athletic event, be it on Track and Field, Road or at any other public place and who desire that their event be organised under the auspices of the Association are cordially invited to attend this important occasion.
During this important meeting, the Association will finalise its own athletics-sporting program for the year 2009 as well as agree on a provisional programme for 2010. The meeting will commence at 18.30 hours sharp.
Balzan at His Best
Monday, November 03, 2008
It was a repeat of what has become a pretty familiar story in local long distance running. Jonathan Balzan and Haithem Kisheim matched each other for most of the Maxim Sports Nutrition Zurrieq Half Marathon and up till the final kilometers it was impossible to predict a winner.
For five years Christian Nemeth this race, winning each edition and setting records. Not this year, however, as the absence of the Belgian athlete guaranteed that there would be a new name on the roll of winners and perhaps breathed fresh life into the event.
It certainly caused a fair deal of anticipation at the finishing line such was the uncertainty about the potential victor. When Jonathan Balzan appeared well ahead of anyone else for the final strait, it was clear who that would be.
“It was a fantastic run,” said the elated winner. “It was a bit too windy for me and early on that cost me some seconds. I had to make up for that later on because I knew that I had to run at my best in order to win.” Indeed, Balzan’s win was coupled with a personal best for him on this route. “Winning with a personal best: what more could I want?” he asked. What more indeed.
“Haithem was with me for much of the way. It was only in Kirkop that I started to open a bit of a gap. I increased my step a bit and was encouraged when I saw that he wasn’t coming with me so I pushed on even harder.”
That Balzan came in almost a full minute ahead of Kisheim confirms the extent of his win. Not that the Libyan athlete was too downcast. “I’m not used to training for such distances,” the ten kilometer specialist said. “ For the first sixteen kilometers I was doing well but after that I didn’t have the strength.”
“I tried hard to keep up with Jonatham but in the end I didn’t have it in my legs. For me to finish second, however, is still a very good result.”
As with last year, Brian Magri came in after the St. Patrick’s duo. Contrary to last year, however, his time was almost two minutes worse off. “I think that this is my worst result here,” he replied. “It feels good to finish third but I was expecting a better time”
“Yesterday I ate a little bit too late and I think that played a part. My stomach evidently didn’t appreciate it too much,” he said, trying to find an explanation for his result.
Not that he should punish himself too much because the general rule among athletes is that they did worse than last year. That was certainly the case for Carol Walsh who would have struggled to finish second last year had she repeated yesterday’s run.
“I think it was the humidity,” was her point of view. “I can’t really pinpoint another reason. I’ve been coming along well in training and even though I spent some time away from athletics I’ve been preparing very well and it certainly isn’t the reason for today’s result.”
“Still, I’m nearly forty six now so to be running and winning at my age is a huge bonus.”
Similar views were shared by Carmen Hili who, as with last year, finished second even though her time was also significantly worse off. “I can’t say that I didn’t try hard enough. I was pushing but it seemed to be all in vain.”
“My target was to do this in around 1:27 so I kept on pushing till the end because I wanted to do well. Yet, although I wanted to run faster, I simply couldn’t”
There was another creditable finish for Josann Attard, with the upcoming Starmax AC athlete finishing third in what has to be her best career result.
Results
Men
Jonathan Balzan (St. Patrick’s AC) 1:12:28
Haithem Kisheim (
Brian Magri (Pembroke Athleta) 1:15:25
Women
Carol Walsh (Pembroke Athleta) 1:27:36
Carmen Hili (
Josann Attard (Starmax) 1:35:58
Read more...Zurrieq Half Marathon Live: Balzan Wins
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Jonathan Balzan won the Zurrieq Half Marathon in a personal best time of 1:12:28. Carol Walsh won the women's category with a time of 1:27:36.
Read more...
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