National
Fencing Championships 2005
by di-ve.com
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Monday,
27 June 2005
The National Fencing Association Malta recently organized the 8th editi=
on
of the National Championships held over an action packed weekend at the
Mtarfa gymnasium. This year the events also featured the youngest three
groups of fencers hailing from the Engarde and St. Paul Fencing clubs. =
The
norm in previous seasons was that fencers under twelve years of age wou=
ld
participate solely in club level competitions in preparation for the
National Ranking tournaments. The Council of the N.F.A.M. this year took
the decision to hold the Nationals across the whole range of age catego=
ries
which favoured the introduction of a Ranking classification for the you=
nger
fencers. Ranking points obtained would be carried forward even when the
cadets cross over to an older age category and are subject to the same
rules of National Team selection as are the senior fencers. The fencing
cadets are mainly concentrating on the foil whilst the seniors particip=
ate
in foil as well as epee.
There are three fencing ?weapons' -- the foi=
l,
epee and sabre. This last weapon is not practiced locally in order to a=
llow
the clubs and National Association to concentrate resources on the other
two weapons.
During the national championships the fencing bouts were all presided by two Sicilian referees accredited to the
Federazione Italiana Scherma (F.I.S.). The allocation of Italian refere=
es
for National Ranking competitions in Malta=
was made possible under t=
he
terms of the protocol signed between the two associations in 2004. This
year the F.I.S. also loaned scoring equipment which had been adjusted to
the new rules for foil fencing introduced by the Federation Internation=
ale
D'Escrime (F.I.E. -- the world governing body).
In the cadet events Cain Arpa, Danika Formosa, Paul Borg and Kurt Mifsu=
d took
Gold in the U10, U13 (Girls), U13 (Boys) and U16 categories respectivel=
y.
In the senior events Norman Martinez made it a double once again by win=
ning
both the Men's Epee and Men's Foil events. Young Pierre Bianchi, fresh =
out
of a successful participation at the World Championships (Austria 2005)
lost 15-9 to Martinez in the finals and claimed=
a
very valid Silver placing. Antoine Bonello and Kurt Galea shared a joint
third placing. In Men's Epee Marcus Muscat Baron eliminated Juan Formos=
a to
proceed to a top quality final against Martinez. Muscat Baron succumbed 1=
5-11
to Martinez who claimed his second gold and National Champion t=
itle
for the weekend. Juan Formosa and Kenneth Spiteri had to content themse=
lves
with a bronze placing.
In the Ladies Foil Susan Ronald claimed the national title after beating
Mary-Jo Scicluna 15-9 in the final. Bronze placings went to Mary Abela =
and
Rebecca Thomas. The tables were turned in the ladies epee events with
Rebecca Thomas taking gold in a hard fought final against Ronald (15-14=
).
Maria Abela and Jessica-Ann Spiteri were joint third. Owing to the rule=
s of
the N.F.A.M. which permit expatriates permanently resident in Malta=
to participate in National
Championships the Epee Champion title went to Ronald in lieu of Thomas.=
The President of the N.F.A.M, thanked all the
participants, the Sicilian referees, Kenneth Spiteri (General Secretary=
),
Nicky Bianchi (Sports Director) and Alex Micallef (Treasurer) for the a=
mple
help which they provided to make the Nationals a success. A special thanks was given to Danika Formosa who dedicated Friday even=
ing in
helping to set out the scoring equipment prior to the weekend.
The local fencing community is now looking forward to the
?Malta Open' fencing tournament to be held at the end of June. T=
his
event, organized by the St. Paul Fencing Club has like in previous years
attracted foreign participation.
Results:
Category under 10 (mixed Boys/Girls)
1st Cain Arpa (SPFC), 2nd Martina Formosa (SPFC), 3rd Maria Paola Mical=
lef
(EGFC), David Trapnell (SPFC).
Category under 13 (Boys)
1st Paul Borg (SPFC), 2nd Anton Saliba (SPFC), 3rd Sami Chenbout (SPFC),
Daryl Pisani (EGFC).
Category under 13 (Girls)
1st Danika Formosa, 2nd Sarah Grech (EGFC), =
3rd
Ruth Micallef, J.A. Vella (EGFC).
Category under 16 (Mixed Boys/Girls)
1st Kurt Mifsud (SPFC), 2nd Andre Zahra (SPFC), 3rd James Grech (EGFC),
Mathew Saliba (SPFC).
Category Senior Mens Foil
1st Norman Martinez (SPFC), 2nd Pierre Bianchi (SPFC), 3rd Antoine Bone=
llo,
Kurt Galea (EGFC).
Category Senior Mens Epee
1st Norman Martinez (SPFC), 2nd Marcus Muscat Baron (SPFC), 3rd Juan
Formosa (SPFC), Kenneth Spiteri (EGFC).
Category Senior Ladies Foil
1st Susan Ronald (SPFC), Marie-Jo Scicluna (EGFC), 3rd Mary Abela (EGFC=
),
Thomas Rebecca (SPFC).
Category Senior Ladies Epee
1st Rebecca Thomas (SPFC), 2nd Susan Ronald (SPFC), 3rd Mary Abela (EGF=
C),
Jessica-Ann Vella (EGFC). National Champion: Susan Ronald
END
Photos:
Photo 1: NFAM President Juan Formosa presenting medals to the Women's
finalists.
Photo 2: Women's Epee: Anya Soldatova vs Susan Ronald
Photo 3: Group Photo -- Women participants -- Foil
Photo 4: Women's Epee: Rebecca Thomas vs Anya Soldatova
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