Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/679878
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 MAY 2016 Sport 54 KEVIN GRECH THE Maltese Bodybuilding & Fit- ness Federation organised its an- nual National Championships & the International Grand Prix on the 23 and 24 April at the Grand- master's suite of the Hilton Hotel in St.Julians. On the Saturday a record number of 80 local athletes battled for the National Championships in front of a crowd of over 1,000 people. This contest was also a qualifier for the EBFF European Championships, held the following week in Santa Susanna, Spain. Despite being a small country of 400,000 people the level in Malta is getting higher every year and Body- building & Fitness are very respect- ed by the local authorities in Malta. In fact these championships were attended by the Minister of Sport Hon. Chris Agius & the President of the Republic's husband his Ex- cellency Edgar Preca. They were awarded by the Maltese federation for their support towards the sport. BODYBUILDING & FITNESS IFBB Malta 2016 National Championships and International Grand Prix • In front of a crowd of over 1,000 people, Malta's top athletes battled for the top prizes • Four top six placings for Maltese athletes at the IFBB European Championships in Spain Malta International Grand Prix top three Men's Bodybuilding IFBB Pro Williiam Bonac The overall winners Kirsten Dalmas - Bikini Fitness Chantal Graziani - Body Fitness Konrad Fenech - Men's Physique Daniel Umanah - Classic Bodybuilding Darren Borg - Bodybuiling On the following Sunday 45 athletes from 7 European countries: Malta, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Ireland, Norway and Sweden competed in the International Grand Prix which had cash prices of €5000. There were also five guest posing appearances including two IFBB pros: Ellen Elizabeth Berg and Williiam Bonac. Top 3 Malta International GP Bikini Fitness: 1.Kirsten Dalmas (Malta) 2.Line Elizabeth Karlsen (Norway) 3.Laura Benasques (Spain) Body Fitness: 1.Vibeke Litland (Norway) 2.Chantal Graziani (Malta) 3.Elizabeth Stuglik (Ireland) Men's Physique: 1.Konrad Fenech (Malta) 2.Alberto Gonzales (Spain) 3.Axl Mallia (Malta) Classic Bodybuilding: 1.Daniel Umanah (Malta) 2.Erik Widlund (Norway) 3.Jan Palecinak (Czech Republic) Bodybuilding -80 kg 1.Rafel Beltran (Spain) 2.Roderick Theuma (Malta) 3,Roderick Schembri (Malta) Bodybuilding -90 kg 1.Darren Borg (Malta) 2.Vincenzo Coppola (Malta) 3.Anselmo Cortado (Spain) Bodybuilding 90+ kg 1.Karol Stuglik (Ireland) 2.Jorge Aunion (Spain) 3.Antoine Zerafa (Malta) Overall Bodybuilding: 1.Rafel Beltran (Spain) 2.Karol Stuglik (Ireland) 3.Darren Borg (Malta) Placing 2016 IFBB European Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships May 4-8 for Maltese athletes Axl Mallia - 3rd place in juniors physique - 178cm Mario Pace - 4th place in Masters Bodybuilding over 60 Raymond Cassar - 5th in Masters Over 50 Classic Bodybuilding Vincenzo Coppola & Chantal Graziani - 6th in Mixed Pairs Bikini Fitness - IFBB Malta National Championships Men's Physique - IFBB Malta National Championships A panel of international and local judges had the difficult task to judge the show. IFBB-Malta President Ralph Decelis (C) IFBB Pro Ellen Elizabeth Berg PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAYMOND CASSAR