Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/385963
21 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2014 MOTORSPORTS ATHLETICS Malta Triathlon Federation organises National Aquathlon Championships IN its constant aim to upgrade its standards and levels of competi- tion to ref lect the trends of the continental and global directions of multisport, the Malta Triath- lon Federation has recently held its first ever National Aquathlon Championships in Malta. Aquathlon is one of the three pillars of multisport in which the athletes compete in the disciplines of running and swimming and fin- ish off their efforts in a final run. The Malta Triathlon Federation opted to dispute the Champion- ships on the Standard Distance of 2.5km run, a swim of 1000 metres and a final 2.5km run. The cham- pionships were held in M'Xlokk and saw the partecipation of a healthy number of athletes from the triathlon background. Having to forsake the use of the cycling leg, the athletes had to carefully pace their race in this short yet very challenging route. In the male category, all the big guns of the triathlon scene were side by side on the starting line with Fabio Spiteri, David Agius- Lia and Graham Borg ready to give national triathlon champion Keith Galea a good run for his money. Agius-Lia was however the only to keep up with Galea in the first run and they entered the wa- ter side by side, however, a strong performance by Galea in the swim resulting in the fastest perform- ance in the water on the day and the fastest run from them all saw Galea claiming the championship in a formidable 34 minutes. Thus, Galea is currently poised as the National Champion of Duathlon, Triathlon and Aquathlon on the island. In the female field the conspic- uous absence of the Triathlon Champion, Michelle Vella-Wood left the field of play open for the ex- ploits of Margaret Seguna to chase down Duathlon champion Danica Bonello Spiteri who was looking to continue her formidable streak of the season. Seguna managed to keep at the heels of Bonello-Spiteri in the first run and even after the swim which left the duo fighting till the last metre to the finish line, with Bonello Spiteri edging it over Seguna for just a couple of inches for a thrilling finale, while Johanna Galea claimed the third spot on the podium on her come- back after some months of absence from the multisport scene. The Age Categories prizes were hardly fought but in the end were claimed by Claudia Zammit and Jude Zammit in the Over 50 and Fabio Spiteri in the Over 40. Youngsters Neil Markham and Nina Zammit claimed the Under 20 category, in a very tangible sign of the progress they are registering after the European Triathlon Un- ion's training camps this summer. Mattea Grech and Loredana Vella claimed the Relay Team prize. The Federation, in order to nur- ture the future of multisport on the island also organised a kids & youth race immediately after the adults championship. These races were coordinated by the Malta Youth Triathlon Academy's coach- es and saw the participation of 38 young athletes aged between 5 and 15 among the excitement and sup- port of parents, friends and ath- letes alike. The next appointment of the Malta Triathlon Federation is now scheduled for the Grand Finale of the multisport season : The Na- tional Triathlon Championships which will be held on Sunday 12 October at Marfa and Mellieha. More information on the event can be obtained by contacting the Federation on 79037933 or info@ triathlonmalta.org Female winner Danica Bonello Spiteri and male winner Keith Galea. Photos by Jason Muscat of Capture Me Photography ASMK donates €717 to ARKA Foundation in Gozo ON Sunday 21 September 'Assoc- jazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi' (ASMK) successfully organized a Special Autocross event in Sannat Gozo to raise funds for the ARKA Foundation also of Sannat. It all started during last May Moto En- duro event when the Minister for Gozo expressed his wish to ASMK to organise an event for ARKA. In a full week's work with special machinery from Gozo department and contractors including machin- ery from ASMK which was trans- ported from Malta was used to con- vert a large field into a Motorsport Autocross complex in Sannat. This was possible by kind permission of Cassar and Curmi families as land owners, the Ministry for Gozo, the Sannat, Victoria and Xewkija Lo- cal Councils, the Gozo Police, the Works Department and the Gozo Sports Board. Apap family from Victoria also helped ASMK to solve all arising difficulties during the week's hard work to convert a field into a temporary Autocross track. During this event ASMK collect- ed €717, 00 which are wholly being donated to Fr. Michael Galea obo ARKA Foundation who thanked all present during the trophies presentation for their donation towards ARKA in a few hours. He also expressed himself as being im- pressed by the large number of fol- lowers of both Maltese and Gozo Motorsport fans and enthusiasts. Sannat Mayor Philip Vella also thanked all especially ASMK Exec- utives for transforming a field into a temporary Motorsport complex and for a good cause. He also said that he will support ASMK in fu- ture events in Sannat Gozo too. ASMK President Frans Deguara thanked all for their help and sup- port and said that if ASMK will be supported again while in Gozo, ASMK will hold such event as an appointment with Autocross and Morocross events in Gozo. Mr De- guara also said that during this week all machinery was utilized to the full. In fact, the Motocross track in Nadur was completely refurbished after some years of neglect. All this was done during the construction of the temporary Autocross track in Sannat. Though the ambient tempera- ture was not the ideal one for Mo- torsport, 23 competitors made it to Sannat. They were divided be- tween Maltese and Gozo drivers. In the Maltese Class A Christian Mark Galea on his Ritmo demon- strated his skills to all present. In the 6 Laps Final Race Galea bet all though he started from the five cars grid. Duncan Delia and Philip J. Vella finished in 2nd and 3rd places respectively. Andreas Zammit and Philip Grima also competed in this Class A Finals both on Ford cars. The Finals Class B drivers were Carlos Mifsud and Christian Apap both on Ford Fiesta, Lucas Pace on a Honda Civic, Melo Zammit on an Opel Corsa and Jean Paul Grech on his Peugeot 106. From the start Gozo driver Christian Apap took the lead ahead of Lucas Pace on a Honda Civic. The six laps Final was battled completely between Apap and Pace who held their placing in this formation right to the Finish. Carlos Mifsud won 3rd in Class. The Gozo Class A was very well battled between Domenic Zam- mit on an Alfa Sud and Marvin Grima on an Opel Corsa but Zam- mit demonstrated his experience in Autocross driving andwon the race ahead of Grima, Chris Sultana and Derrick Vella both on Honda Civic cars. In the meantime ASMK also in- formed all present about the small changes in the ASMK Calendar of events for the 2014/2015 season. On Sunday 12th October the En- duro Section will launch the new events at Fawwara. The Autocross (in Ta Qali Sport Complex) starts on Sunday 19th October 2014 while the 1st Tri- als event will be held on the same day at Ballut quarry in limits of Naxxar. The Motocross championship launch date will be announced soon. More information can be found in the Official Site www.as- mk.org.mt