Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1102696
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 APRIL 2019 21 SPORTS TRAIL RUNNING THE slight downpour prior to the start of the last race of the Eurosport Trail Running league, organised by Agones SFC, made conditions tougher for the 146 athletes undertaking the 19km trail run across Malta early on Sunday morning. Despite generally good conditions for most of the race, heavy downpours to- wards the end of the race meant that quite a few runners were drenched. Nevertheless, it was all smiles as they crossed the finish line in Fomm ir-Riħ. The Victoria Lines route, which kicked off from Madliena and heading eastward towards Fomm ir-Riħ. The route took the runners alongside the historic fortifications of the Victoria lines, offering stunning views combined with an unbeaten track . The V19, as it is affectionately referred to, celebrated its eighth year and like all the other trail running races has been gathering mo- mentum in the past couple of years with numbers doubling every year. Ryan Farrugia, (Raptorz Running Club) winner of the race and overall league, commented that the early rain- fall made the course extremely slippery, especially in the downhills which meant that keeping one's balance proved to be tricky causing many falls. Farrugia went on to explain that this race is his favour- ite distance and enjoyed a very close battle with second placed Florian Gall for nearly throughout the whole race. Third placed was Ryan Saliba. The winner of the Ladies category was once again Tara Abdilla (La Salle AC) who carved her name on the event history books as having been unbeaten throughout the league, de- spite some good competition from veteran runner Carmen Hili (St. Pat- rick's AC) . Abdilla explained at the end of the race, that whilst winning obviously was something she worked for, her target was to register a sub 1 hour 35 minutes time, which she suc- cessfuly achieved having registered a finish time of 1 hour 33 mins. Third placed was Dzintra Grech As the race progressed, weather condi- tions regressed with a heavy downpour of torrential rain hitting the remaining runners still out on the course. Never- theless it was all smiles for the finishers who were welcomed with an original, hand made and environmentally friend- ly medal and a healthy snack. Prizes to the top three winners of the race were presented by Mr. Johann Mifsud, Sports Executive at Eurosport Malta, main sponsors of the event. 2019 Eurosport Trail Running League comes to an end PHOTOGRAPHY BY AGONES SFC Ryan Farrugia, Tara Abdilla won the fourth race and overall League