Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/667669
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 APRIL 2016 53 RC44 Valletta Cup The RC44 Valletta Cup returns to our waters after having successfully debuted in 2015. The Cup, which forms part of the five location RC44 Championship Tour, is undoubt- edly one of the most prestigious events which has left its mark in the world of international yacht racing. The Tour brings together the world of business and sport to a compe- tition that sees top entrepreneurs and Olympians and America's Cup veterans, the likes of Cameron Ap- pleton, Michele Ivaldi and Ed Baird, battle it out on the water. Racing on one design boats, it is the skill and acumen of the RC44 boat crews which yields the final outcome of each race. The Tour, which is cel- ebrating its tenth year, will close in Maltese waters. "It is with great pride and satis- faction that today we are launching these two prestigious events, the RC44 Valletta Cup and the Yacht Racing Forum. The RC44 Class, together with their long list of pas- sionate and highly decorated sailors will return next November. The sec- ond event which we are immensely proud to present is the Yacht Rac- ing Forum" announced Mr. Niki Travers Tauss, Director, Yachting Events. "It is with pride and grati- tude that we announce the sup- port, for yet another year, from the Ministry for Economy, Investment and Small Business with whom we will be co-hosting the RC44 Valletta Cup". Within 24 hours of the end of the RC44 Valletta Cup the Yacht Racing Forum will take the limelight. Yacht Racing Forum Co-hosted by Yachting Malta, the Yacht Racing Forum is the leading annual international conference for the business of sailing and yacht racing and is recognized by the in- ternational sailing body World Sail- ing, formerly known as ISAF. The Forum brings together key players from across the whole yacht racing industry, facilitating business devel- opment through quality networking opportunities with decision makers from all areas within the industry. The world's best sailors, yacht rac- ing industry opinion leaders, the sport's most involved sponsors, prominent exhibitors and great net- working opportunities are expected to attend this year's Forum in Malta. "The staging of these events shows the direction in which Malta is moving. We are branching out be- yond traditional tourist activities, we are showcasing our superb natu- ral harbour and we are developing facilities which will enable us to build a strong reputation as a place of high quality and added luxury" remarked Hon. Dr. Christian Car- dona, Minister for the Economy, In- dustry and Small Business "Behind the glamour is something more solid -- a strong economy. We now have one of the highest growth re- cords in Europe. Our economy is powering ahead, new businesses are being created, older businesses are expanding, more people are in work and fiscal structures are being tightened". The Press Conference was also addressed by Mr. Bertrand Favre, RC44 Class Manager, Mr. Bernard Shopfer, CEO – Yacht Racing Fo- rum and Mr. Wilfrid Buttigieg, CEO of Yachting Malta as co-hosts of the Yacht Racing Forum. Yachting Events also announced a number of sponsorship tiers, offer- ing varying degrees of benefits to corporate organisations who wish to take advantage of the exposure and networking opportunities such events have to offer. More information on the 2016 RC44 Valletta Cup and Yacht Racing Forum can be obtained by contacting Mr. Niki Travers Tauss on ntt@yachtingevents.com.mt or Maria Vella-Galea on pr@yachtin- gevents.com.mt or by visiting www. yachtingevents.com.mt Sport SAILING CRICKET Yachting Events to host RC44 Valletta Cup and Yacht Racing Forum in Malta in November In line with its mission to organise sailing and yachting events in the clean waters of the Mediterranean, Yachting Events Limited have announced the launch of the RC44 Valletta Cup and the Yacht Racing Forum which will be hosted in Malta in November 10-day Festival of Cricket in Malta MARSA Cricket Club hosted 9 straight days of cricket with the visits of two senior teams and two renowned cricketing schools from the UK. With over 50 hours of action, there were plenty of highlights to savour. We also had visits from ex Yorkshire captain and coach David Byas (Pockling- ton School) and George Lavelle (England's U16 wicket-keeper batsman). Following the visit of Sharks CC (April 1-2), Pocklington School and Merchant Taylors School - Crosby took part in a two-match series on April 3 and 4. Merchant Taylors, boosted by the outstand- ing wicket-keeping and batting of George Lavelle, won the series 2 nil. Monday 4 April In the first T20 match Lavelle hit a splendid century (108 off only 65 balls) to lead his side to a tally of 179. In reply Loten (32) and Ste- phenson (30) took Pocklington to a respectable total of 121 for 6. Tuesday 5 April The 2nd match of the series saw Pocklington reach a below-par 99 all out with Will Burns the only shining light with 33 runs. For Merchant Taylors, Edward Brown captured 3 wickets for 5 runs. MTS made light work of their chase, reaching their target in the 17th over. Alex Rankin top scored with 43 runs. Wednesday 6 April Merchant Taylors defeated Mar- sa CC by only 3 wickets. Again it was Lavelle with a stylish 55 runs leading the way. For Marsa, Kevin Krisha captured 3 wickets. For Marsa, Spiteri and Andrew Naudi top scored with 29 runs apiece. Tom Hartley took the bowling honours for MTS with 3 for 29 off his 6 overs. Thursday 7 April After a well-earned rest day, Pocklington School took on the Marsa in an exciting encoun- ter. The locals batted first and reached 148 runs (all out) from their allotted 30 overs. Frank Spi- teri who top scored with 49, was brilliantly supported in the mid- dle by Bikram Arora. The game was in the balance as Pocklington required 12 runs from the final over of 14 year old Ethan Xuereb. It was a brave move by Marsa cap- tain John Grima, and after being hit for a boundary early on, Xuer- eb composed himself to carry Marsa home to a memorable vic- tory (by 3 runs). Friday 8 April Marsa took on the Outcasts CC from Lincolnshire, UK in a T20 clash. Batting first, Marsa reached 148 for 8, thanks largely to a 50 from Andrew Naudi. In reply, opener Darren Clark spoilt the home side's party with a 50 of his own as Outcasts sealed vic- tory off the penultimate ball. 3 Way T20 Tournament Saturday 9 April Game 1: Marsa played Outcasts in the early game and restricted the visitors to 127 off their allot- ted 20 overs. The innings high- lights were the spectacular run outs by Niraj Khanna and Uday MacLean. The latter picking up 3 wickets for 17 runs. In reply, Nowell Khosla brought Marsa CC home, scoring an excellent 75 runs off just 44 balls. Game 2: Grasshoppers CC (Shropshire) batted first against Outcasts CC and thanks to 48 runs from Joe Yapp, reached the commendable target of 165 for 6. In reply, Outcasts left themselves a little too much to claw back, and the efforts of local based players Paul and Luke Bradley were in vain as they fell short by 24 runs. Game 3: Marsa took to the field in the final match of the day and Grasshoppers reached 144 for 4 wickets. Amar Gorania was the best of the Marsa bowlers but it was to prove a difficult task when Haroon Mughal, Sam Aquilina and Frank Spiteri were dismissed within the first 10 overs. Marsa reached the tally of 98 for 9, which gave Grasshoppers victory by 46 runs and the T20 Tournament trophy. Suday 10 April Outcasts defeated Grasshop- pers convincingly with Maltese junior representative Luke Brad- ley bowling an inspired spell of 7 overs, 1 wicket for 17 runs. The other star for Outcasts was again Darren Clark with the bat. Wednesday 13 April Marsa took on Grasshoppers in their final match and found young Joe Yapp in an unrelenting mood. His innings took the visitors to the commanding total of 215 for 8 off 30 overs. In reply, Marsa never got going and the wickets of Aro- ra and Khosla effectively ended the home side's chances. Marsa reached a respectable 171. Umpires: Les White & Alan Swift Scorers: Eric Balakrishnan & Paula Calleja After 10 games in the last 8 days, it kicked off nicely the April festi- val of cricket in Malta. This weekend Marsa will host Baldock Town, Graces and Wandlers CC, with 2 matches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The following weekend (April 22-24h) sees the Malta T20 Cross- fire Cup, the highlight of the 2016 Cricket Season. Hampstead CC, winners of the Middlesex Pre- mier League in 2013 and 2015, will start as tournament favorites. Matches will be played at 10am, 1pm and 4pm each day. Peter Valentino director yachting events Pocklington School CC