Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/573382
58 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2015 Sport TRIATHLON FOOTBALL TENNIS Malta Community Chest Fund L-iStrina 2015 Solidarjeta Bl-iSports Campaign THE coordinating team of the MCCF L-iStrina – Solidarjeta bl-iSports 2015 is calling on all sports organisations, clubs and bodies willing to join this year's fund-raising campaign by dedi- cating an activity in their local- ity or facility to help raise mon- ey for the Malta Community Chest Fund. The campaign, now in its sixth year and well underway, is steadily gaining momentum and popularity, the team said. Last year it managed to attract an impressive number of par- ticipants which exceeded that of the previous year. The Of- fice of the President of Malta is very grateful with the positive response so far, as the majority of those who took part last year have already expressed their in- tentions to support this year's campaign as well. Support is very welcome as it provides the only financial life- line to the Malta Community Chest Fund through the various on-going fund raising activities. Sports organisations, clubs and others, including sports sec- tions within corporate entities that wish to be part of the MC- CF Solidarjeta bl-iSports Cam- paign 2015, are encouraged to discuss and consider this op- portunity of solidarity within their organisations. In the meantime the Presi- dent's Office would appreci- ate, if at the earliest opportu- nity, those intending to take part would communicate their intention, along with propos- als, to the MCCF L-iStrina – Solidarjeta Bl-iSports to Dan- iela Mifsud (Tel: 2122 1221 / 77771212) as early as possible to obtain further details as well as the essential approval that will allow them to proceed and raise funds for this year's cam- paign. LAST Sunday, 13 September, Danica Bonello Spiteri took part in Campeonato De España De Triatlón Por Clubes (the Spanish National Triathlon Champion- ships for Clubs) in the Provence of Murcia, Aguilas (near Alicante). She was invited by Club De Triat- lon Ondarreta Alcorcon- CTOA of Madrid to take part in the Sprint Triathlon distance (750 metres Swim, 20Km Bike and 5Km Run). Over the past months, Danica was invited a few other times by CTOA to take part in similar Triathlon events, who race in the Spanish Elite category (1st Divi- sion). Last Sunday's race proved that Danica was an energetic team member for Club CTOA, wherein over 130 ladies were taking part, therefore it was a tough race, where every second counts for each club participant. This triathlon event in Aguilas attracts over 900 triathletes com- ing from more than 70 Triathlon Clubs from all over Spain to take part in various categories. A few clubs take the initiative to invite foreigners to join their team. Bonello Spiteri managed to se- cure a 10th place overall in the women's Elite Category in what turned out to be a very tight com- petition. We caught up with an elated Bonello Spiteri, who gave her own vivid description of how the race unfolded. "The swim start went off pretty fast and sighting was crucial. Af- ter about 300m I'm still swimming strong and up with the leading pack of ladies. At this stage I set- tled into my swim pace and con- tinued advancing ahead, despite starting to swim through massive (harmless!) jellyfish. Exiting the water and the first transition from swim to bike was crucial and here is where I had to make use of pre- vious racing experience to ensure I stayed with the bike pack. Once out on the bike, the pace settled down after a while and I found the pace to be steady going, as it seemed none of the women were ready to work hard on the bike, but there was a group of 4 women about 40 seconds ahead of us. I tried to put in some work, but in- clines and headwind made it hard- er. I knew that the run was going to be a mad rush, so when I exited the second transition from the bike to the run, along with another 12 or so ladies, who I knew ran 18- 19minute for 5km I knew I had to be tactical right down to the fin- ish line. I kept my pace, knowing my body felt strong and it ended up as a sprint finish down to the last 100m to clinch the 10th place, only 2 minutes behind the overall winner Anna Godoy Contreras (Club Cidade de Lugo Fluvial) and her team mate Alessia Orla. Well it turned out these two top Span- ish Elite triathletes had also raced with me last July in the European Games in Baku". "A top 10 finish at elite level rac- ing in a Spanish National Champi- onship race is one of my top inter- national results, and competing in this high level competition at Elite level, it was my aim from the out- set. I'm very elated that with my performance as I greatly helped my team, CTOA, to claim the 3rd team place overall, so there were more celebrations at the end of the day." "I am very grateful to Nuria Blanco, who takes care of me when I race for CTOA, as well as my sponsors ECCO shoes, Quest vitamins, BBB Bike Parts and www.buffmalta.com who help make this triathlon journey easier, whilst bringing top honours. I also thank the Malta Triathlon Federation for their support in my overseas events". Danica's time in this Sprint Tria- thlon in the Spanish Champion- ship was 1hr. 07min 38 secs. Bonello Spiteri leads Spanish CTOA elite team to third place in Spanish Championships CTOA celebrate their 3rd place - Bonello Spiteri bottom right Murray brothers win tense doubles against Australia Moreno visits Shaw in Dutch hospital after leg break BROTHERS Jamie and Andy Murray claimed a tense four-hour doubles rubber against Australian pair Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth on Saturday to put Britain on the verge of a first Davis Cup final since 1978. The Scottish pairing kept their vociferous home sup- porters on the edge of their seats at Glasgow's Emirates Arena before triumphing 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-4. "It was an incredible match, to come back from the disappointment of los- ing the fourth set," Andy Murray, ranked third in the world, told the BBC. "We kept creating chances, we stuck together like broth- ers should and managed to come up with enough good returns." Older brother Jamie, the doubles specialist, said: "We let it slip a bit but we kept fighting and got right back on it. It was so good, it was so noisy, it was magic. "Scottish people don't get the chance to see Andy play very much and when they do they let him know it." Andy Murray won the opening singles on Friday 6-3 6-0 6-3 against Thanasi Kokkinakis and plays Aus- tralian No.1 Bernard Tomic on Sunday's deciding day. Tomic, who beat Dan Evans on Friday to square the tie, lies 20 places below Murray in the world rank- ings. LUKE Shaw has received a visit from PSV Eindhoven defender Hector Moreno, whose challenge in Tues- day's Champions League tie broke the Manchester United fullback's leg in two places. Moreno was accompanied on Fri- day by PSV coach Phillip Cocu at the hospital in Geldorp, where Shaw un- derwent surgery directly after being admitted. "We first asked whether Shaw would meet us, which he wanted to," Cocu told Dutch media on Saturday. "We offered him the help of PSV should he need anything in relation to his recovery." Cocu said the inci- dent had weighed heavily on Mexi- can international Moreno, who suf- fered a broken leg of his own at last year's World Cup in Brazil. "It has affected him, it has affected the others and it has affected me," Cocu told reporters. "Hector is re- ally distressed his opponent was so badly hurt." Cocu also defended his player, saying he had no intention of injur- ing the Manchester United man. Moreno issued an apology the day after the game. Shaw, 20, was injured under a challenge from Moreno as he stormed into the penalty area in the 15th minute of PSV's 2-1 win in their Group B opener. The game was stopped for eight minutes while medical staff attend- ed to the England international, who was then carried off on a stretcher with an oxygen mask strapped to his face. On Friday, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said he took heart from Shaw's positive attitude. "Amazing for me. Big surprise," said Van Gaal. "It is not easy but his family is there. We have sent people to him. There is still a long way to go."