Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/219723
57 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2013 MOTORSPORTS Mellieha showdown marks end of 2013 hill climb season THE eighth and final round of the 2013 Grimaldi Lines Hill-Cimb championship was held recently at the Ta' Penellu by-pass, Mellieha. Those present were gratified with several excellent performances by local drivers, who thundered up the Ta' Pennellu Hill in a quest for elusive end-of-season points, in an equivocal display of screeching tyres and high octane fuel. Seventy cars entered the race, proof of the level of commitment local competitors have for motorsports. Hubert Camilleri, in his familiar red Mclaren-Garage Chevron B43 topped the timesheets (53.250sec) at the end of the day to outsmart his direct rivals. This was probably one of the most tightly-fought hill climb competitions of the year since multi-time champion Hubert Camilleri, in his McLaren Garage Chevron B43, was very much in contention with this year's newly crowned champion Mark Micallef who won 6 of this season's races and at all costs was challenging for precedence in the field. Camilleri nosed ahead at the end of the third run with a blistering time of 54.616sec, and never relinquished that position. Micallef with his Auto-Trader-Malta & MBL-Malta Radical ProSport had to settle for second place with a time of 54.804sec. Competition for the other spot on the rostrum was equally tight with Zach Zammit (Urban Jungle Ralt) grabbing third place overall with a time of 55.181sec. It was an excellent performance from the reigning champion who edged Jason Muscat (supercharged Forch-Malta Radi- PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID AXISA ETIENNE GRECH Zach Zammit cal Club Sport) by just under four tenths of a second. Jonathon Tonna (Fat Harry's Tatuus Hayabusa) followed in fifth place just under a tenth of a second away ahead of his class rival Fabio Baldachino (Tonys Bar OMS) in sixth. Ivan Deidun (IDR Roadster) managed a good seventh position whilst Alex Zammit (Bali-Stuff Radical Club Sport) rounded up the top eight overall times. The hillclimb ran smoothly also thanks to the co-operation of the Mellieħa Local Council and the army of volunteers and race marshals. Honours for best rear-wheel drive went to Joe Cutajar who had another fine showing placing eleventh overall on home grounds in his Cosworth powered Ford Escort Mk2. He was quickest, ahead of John Zammit in his Audi-powered Lotus Elise by just under 8 tenths of a second. Noel Galea in his familiar Olympic-blue Ford Escort Mk2 was third fastest. Roswell Bugeja proved to be equally impressive with his 2.0ltr Peugeot 205 Gti. He was the top driver in the front-wheel category. Didier Bugeja (Peugeot 106) and Etienne Grech (Citroen Saxo Vts) followed in that order. All three proved to be very competitive front wheelers all year round since they always scored high and never seized to impress the numerous enthusiasts who follow this exciting competition throughout the whole season. In the four-wheel-drive class Steve Baldachino emerged fastest in his Subaru Impreza. Simon Tabone was second in his Toyota Celica GT4 and Pierre Grech (Subaru Impreza) third. HORSE RACING BODYBUILDING Eric Bezzina nominated driver of the month for October Bertu's Gym 2013 Posedown THE Chairman of the Malta Racing Club Dr Matthew Brincat presented Eric Bezzina with the driver of the month award for the month of October. Eric Bezzina was chosen because during the month of October he won three races with the horse Midnight Passion including the Cassar Fuels Condition Race for Gold Category. 37-year old Bezzina lives in Marsa and he drove his first race on 28th March 1993 with his first victory being registered on Arnie's Dot on 12th November 1995. Until this presentation he had won a total of 31 races but later on he registered yet another victory on Midnight Passion during one of the heats for the President's Cup. For Bezzina this is the best season of his career and Midnight Passion is the horse that has given him the greatest satisfaction. The driver of the month award was sponsored by Winner's Circle Bar & Restaurant of Mgarr courtesy of Mr Jason Vassallo. BERTU'S Gym will be organising it's annual Christmas Posedown on the 8 December, 2013. The event will take place at the Gharghur Hall in Gharghur at 10am. The highlight of the Posedown will be a posing routine by guest poser Dominic Schieda, the 2013 IFBBMalta National Champion. The Posedown is a great starting point for newcomers to the sport of bodybuilding. It helps them gain the desired confidence and experience on stage in a non-competitive environment. Other events will include a gymnastics show and spirit combat. The event will be followed by the traditional Sunday buffet lunch at the Golden Tulip Vivaldi Hotel St. Julians at approx 12:30pm. For more information contact Bertu's Gym on 21 413 406 Download the MaltaToday App now Dominic Schieda