Eurosport Malta International Challenge

About Us

A brief history of the Malta International Challenge Marathon

The brainchild of Barry Whitmore, a marathon runner with several international marathons under his belt, the Malta International Challenge Marathon was incepted back in 1991 when the first ever race took place.

For nearly three decades, the Malta International Challenge Marathon, has been Malta’s only multiday race, a staple event on the Maltese athletic calendar, attracting locals and foreigners alike. Spread over a period of three consecutive days, athletes cover a distance which measures exactly 42.195km.

This race has attracted well known local athletes such as Keith Galea, Jonathan Balzan, Brian Magri, Andrew Grech, Charlton Debono, Joe Pace, Joelle Cortis, Josann Attard Pulis, Carol Walsh and Carmen Hili as well as multiple winner David Mansbridge from England to mention a few.

The introduction of relay teams in 2014 saw a new influx of runners who wanted to be part of the buzz this event generates but who do not necessarily want or have the ‘miles’ in their legs to undertake the whole distance.

Over the years the race has welcomed over 5,000 runners on the starting line, representing over 27 countries from across all continents.

With the every growing participation and demands such a race brings with it, 2015 saw Race Founder Barry Whitmore feel the need to pass on the helm to Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club who have garnered years of experience in race organization and whose experience will be pivotal to making this event becoming even more prominent on the map of world marathon running.

The 2020 Challenge Marathon will kick off on Friday 27th November with a 10 mile (16k) race to be held in Siggiewi, the next stage held on Saturday 28th November in Marsascala consisting of a 5k race and the third and final leg will be a 21km (half marathon) race on Sunday 29th November in Bugibba. Athletes can sign up for the full distance, or any of the three distances individually or as a relay team of three with each member of the team undertaking one day each.

The Malta International Challenge Marathon will be held under the auspices of the Malta Amateur Athletics Association and following IAAF rules.

Athletes' Section

General Information

Rules & Regulations

Race Routes

The Eurosport Malta International Challenge Marathon Organising Team has secured beneficial rates for overseas athletes wishing to book their accommodation and transport.

Please contact the team on bookings@maltachallengemarathon.com to learn more about how you can benefit from special rates.

Stage	Date	Race Start Time	Distance	Time Limit	Min Age	Map
1	Fri 27/11/2020	10:00	10Mi (16.097km)	2hr 30min	17 Years

Starting and finishing in the centre of the quaint village of Siggiewi in the south of the Island. This 10 Mile stage (16.097 km) heads south out of Siggiewi from the church main square with the church at your back, at the bottom take a right turn through Old Parish Street, then into Triq Lapsi until you reach the Siggiewi by pass. At this fourth exit round about, take the third right in the direction of Dar tal-Providenza and Ghar Lapsi.

Passing this residential home on your right, on the 117, downhill towards the coast road, the most Southern Cliffs of Malta. On reaching the cliffs, take the left bend staying on the main road, following the 117 passing Mnadra Temples on your right. Keeping on the 117 passing close by Hagar Qim Temples, Wied Hoxt, Wied Iz-Zurrieq and Blue Grotto on your right. You are now heading in the direction of Zurrieq, passing Demsey Aluminum workshop on your left in the direction of Il-Munqar and the Zurrieq by pass, still on the 117. Following on Triq Wied Iz-Zurrieq into Triq Il-Wied and then into Vjal Il-Blue Grotto (Zurrieq bypass). At the roundabout where the Petrol Station is on your left, the road hanges from the 117 to road 31 heading in the direction of Kirkop and the International Airport.

At the ST Microelectronics factory roundabout you take a left turn on to road 28, direction Mqabba. Onwards into Mqabba main square, sharp right turn into Triq Id-Duluri, a narrow street. From Triq Is-Siggiewi at bottom of this road turn right on to Triq Tas-Sejba, keeping airport perimeter fence on the right and you pass Hal-Farrug and Ta Kandja Headquarters in the direction of Siggiewi and back to the church. Water stations at 5 km, 10 km, and finish.

Stage	Date	Race Start Time	Distance	Time Limit	Min Age	Map
2	Sat 28/11/2020	11:00	5km	1hr	17 Years

Starting and finishing in the centre of the seaside resort of Marsascala near the church in Triq Iz Zonqor, in the very south east of the Island. The start takes you through the very centre of town on Triq Ix-Xatt, with the sea to your left, past Summer Nights Restaurant and then keeping to the left and left again into Triq Is-Salini, with the Bay of Marsaskala still on your left, heading towards the old Jerma Palce Hotel and Mamo Tower on to St. Thomas Bay.

Here you enter Triq Ir-Ridott where the road bends to the left and then right. At the “T” junction you take a left into Triq Il-Qaliet towards St. Thomas Bay. On reaching St. Thomas Bay, take a right into Triq Tal-Gardiel, continue into the “one way” system for about 1 km, passing the Duck lakes on your left until you reach the Bay again at Il-Maghluq, returning back to Marsascala.

When reaching the busy Grabiel Restaurant junction again, keep to the left for 100mts and then a right across the busy road of Triq San Antnin, opposite the HSBC bank into Triq Sant Anna. Here you have about 1km to go, when you reach the small roundabout at Agius (close to the start), left and left again into the short road of Triq Knisia. A quick right into Triq La Sengle and another quick right into Triq Bur.

At the “T” junction of Triq San Gwakkin you turn right with just about 200 mts to the finish at the Marsaskala church. This is a single out & back “clockwise” loop with the start and finish in the same place. Water station at the finish only.

Stage	Date	Race Start Time	Distance	Time Limit	Min Age	Map
3	Sun 29/11/2020	08:00	‘1/2’ Marathon (21.098 km)	3hr 30min	17 Years

Starting in the seaside resorts of St.Paul's Bay and finishing in Qawra, on the north – east side of Malta. Starting close to the Bugibba Salt Pans & Marina Jetty in Triq Bugibba, about 600mts north of Qawra Square, into Dawret Il-Gzejjer, passing the Qawra Square into Islet Promenade. The race passes the Dolmen Resort and San Antoine hotels on your right, towards the point, continuing into Triq It-Trunciera where you will pass the finish line at the new Bugibba Aquarium and the Qawra point.

Following the coast line in Dawret Il-Qawra, passing the Qawra Palace and Suncrest Hotels on your right eventually passing the Bellavista Hotel on your right where you take a left on to Triq J. F. Kennedy on to national road 1.

On reaching the coast road of Kennedy Drive and passing Kennedy Grove on your left, you reach the new roundabout on Triq Is-Salini at the start of the Salt Pans where the race turns sharp right off the coast road on to road 120 towards Naxxar. Continuing towards Naxxar, passing left hand turnings to Il-Bajjad, Ta’Lucija and Maghtab, you eventually reach a small roundabout just before Ta’Alla W Ommu. A few metres after this small roundabout you cross the main road into road 118 which will take you pass Santa Katarina, pass the two commercial and industrial estates continuing pass L-Ghadira on your way to Burmarrad. Once at the main national road 16 you turn left into the one-way system until you pass the church on your right and then right around the church, following the flow of the one-way system. Arriving at Scotts Supermarket there is a small country road 118, Triq Il-Wardija, direction Wardija and the Victoria lines. You will pass Maria Regina College on your right and Busewdien, Il-Qolla and Bidnija on your left as the road changes to Triq Busewdien. On reaching the “T” junction at Ras Il-Wied, take the right turn for Dar Ta’L’ Argentier and San Martin. On this road 118 as you start to go uphill again you will pass Ta’ Garrum, Ghar Ta’ San Martin and Hotba Ta’ San Martin as the road starts to descend passing Il-Palma on your left into Triq San Martin to eventually reach the main road between Gnejna Tuffieha Bay and Xemxija called Triq Ghajn Tuffieha.

Here you take a right turn (against the traffic) direction Xemxija, once at the first roundabout cross over to the second roundabout, again cross over into Triq San Pawl, with Saint Paul’s Bay to your left. Here you follow the “old” road through St. Paul’s Bay passing Ghajn Rasul, Tal-Veccja, Tax Xama and Ta’ L-Ghazzenin to your left.

Following the old main road through St. Pauls Bay, just before you reach Azzopardi Fisheries, here we take a left into Triq Sant Aristarku and a quick left into Toni Bajjada down to the coast and fishing bay at Gillieru Restaurant. At this point you are on Triq Bugibba & back to the Marina where you started from with just under 1.6km to go to the finish.

From here you enter into Dawret Il-Gzejjer and follow the coast road with the sea to your left passing on the same route as you passed at the start. Finally reaching Trqi It-Trunciera where you take a left over the pavement to enter the “traffic free” inner area and finish line at the new Qawra Aquarium. This is a single “out and back” “clockwise” loop with the start and finish approx. 1.6km from each other. Water stations at 5km, 10km, 15km and at the finish line.

Total: Three days	42.195 km	7 Hours

**NB: Under IAAF and AIMS course measurement rules and regulation, a tolerance of 0.1% of the total Marathon distance is allowed, in this case it is +/- 42.195 metre . This tolerance can be over all three races, just two races or even just one race.**