Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/751614
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2016 Sport BODYBUILDING FORMULA 1 PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHIAS BUSSE - TEAMANDRO.COM Ralph Decelis and Blanche Coppola continue the run of positive results for Malta on the world bodybuilding stage THIS will be a year to remember for the Malta Federation of Body- building and Fitness (MFBBF). After the international success of Luke Debono, Gilbert Cuschie- ri, Derya Satariano and Hannah Grech, Ralph Decelis and Blanche Coppola represented Malta at the 2016 Mixed Pairs World Fitness Championships in Poland. Decelis and Coppola have great experience competing abroad. They are former Mixed Pairs world champions and as well have placed very well in other compe- titions against some of the best athletes in the world. Last weekend Decelis and Cop- pola won the silver medal in the mixed pairs category while Blanche also managed to place fifth in the Women´s Physique up to & over 163cm IFBB World Fit- ness Championships. For more information about the MFBBF log on to their official website http://www.mf bbf.org/ Blanche Coppola and Ralph Decelis with their silver medals Ralph Decelis and Blanche Coppola RON Dennis has confirmed that he will step down as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the McLaren Technology Group, which includes the Formula 1 team, after a 36-year spell on- board. Dennis arrived at McLaren in late 1980, steering it to an array of world titles, but the majority shareholders have now taken the decision to place him on garden- ing leave until his contract ex- pires. He last week failed in a High Court attempt to secure an injunc- tion against directors suspending him, after tabling a reported £1.6 billion takeover bid from a group of Chinese investors. As it stands, Dennis remains on the boards of both the McLaren Technology Group and McLaren Automotive Limited, as well as continuing as a significant share- holder in the two companies. Dennis holds a 25 per cent stake in the group, with a further 25 per cent owned by long-time busi- ness partner Mansour Ojjeh, and 50 per cent by Bahraini sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat. Dennis had been involved in a power struggle with Ojjeh and Mumtalakat. A statement released on Tuesday afternoon explained that Dennis intends to honour his commit- ments to the group, before launch- ing a new technology investment fund later in 2017. "I am disappointed that the rep- resentatives of TAG and Mumta- lakat, the other main shareholders in McLaren, have forced through this decision to place me on gar- dening leave, despite the strong warnings from the rest of the man- agement team about the potential consequences of their actions on the business," said Dennis, 69, in the statement confirming his de- parture. "The grounds they have stated are entirely spurious; my manage- ment style is the same as it has always been and is one that has enabled McLaren to become an automotive and technology group that has won 20 Formula 1 World Championships and grown into an £850million a year business. "Throughout that time I have worked closely with a series of tal- ented colleagues to keep McLaren at the cutting edge of technology, to whom I will always be extreme- ly grateful. "Ultimately it has become clear to me through this process that neither TAG nor Mumtalakat share my vision for McLaren and its true growth potential. "But my first concern is to the business I have built and to its 3500 employees. "I will continue to use my signifi- cant shareholding in both compa- nies and my seats on both boards to protect the interests and value of McLaren and help shape its fu- ture. "I intend to launch a new tech- nology investment fund once my contractual commitments with McLaren expire. "This will capitalise on my ex- pertise, my financial resources, together with external investment to pursue the many commercial opportunities I have been offered in recent years but have been una- ble to take up while being so com- mitted to the existing business." Dennis forced to stand down at McLaren Silver medal for Decelis and Coppola at the 2016 Mixed Pairs IFBB World Fitness Championships Ron Dennis