The association recen=
tly
organised the eighth edition of the national championships held ove=
r an
action packed weekend at the Mtarfa gymnasium.
This year the events also featured the youngest three groups of fen=
cers
hailing from the Engarde and St. Paul Fencing clubs.
The norm in previous seasons was that fencers under 12 years of age
would 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 categories which favoured t=
he
introduction of a ranking classification for the younger fencers. <=
br>
Ranking points obtained would be carried forward even when the cade=
ts
cross over to an older age category and are subject to the same rul=
es
of national team selection as are the senior fencers.
The fencing cadets are mainly concentrating on the foil while the
seniors participate in foil as well as epee.
There are three fencing ‘weapons’ – the foil, epee
and sabre. This last weapon is not practised locally in order to al=
low
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 t=
o the
Federazione Italiana Scherma (F.I.S.). The allocation of Italian
referees for national ranking competitions in Malta was made possib=
le
under the 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 Federa=
tion
Internationale D’Escrime (F.I.E. – the world governing
body).
In the cadet events Cain Arpa, Danika Formosa, Paul Borg and Kurt
Mifsud took Gold in the U10, U13 (Girls), U13 (Boys) and U16 catego=
ries
respectively.
In the senior events Norman Martinez made it a double once again by
winning 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 Bar=
on
eliminated Juan Formosa to proceed to a top quality final against
Martinez. Muscat Baron succumbed 15-11 to Martinez who claimed his
second gold and national champion title for the weekend. Juan Formo=
sa
and Kenneth Spiteri had to content themselves 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 Ab=
ela
and Jessica-Ann Spiteri were joint third.
Owing to the rules of the N.F.A.M. which permit expatriates permane=
ntly
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 al=
l the
participants, the Sicilian referees, Kenneth Spiteri (General
Secretary), Nicky Bianchi (Sports Director) and Alex Micallef
(Treasurer) for the ample help which they provided to make the
nationals a success.
A special thanks was given to Danika Formosa who dedicated Friday
evening in helping to set out the scoring equipment prior to the
weekend.
The local fencing community is now looking forward to the ‘Ma=
lta
Open’ fencing tournament to be held at the end of this month.
This event, organised by the St Paul Fencing Club, has again attrac=
ted
foreign participation.
Results
Category under 10 (mixed Boys/Girls): 1st Cain Arpa (SPFC), 2nd Mar=
tina
Formosa (SPFC), 3rd Maria Paola Micallef (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 (EGF=
C),
3rd Ruth Micallef, J.A. Vella (EGFC).
Category under 16 (Mixed Boys/Girls): 1st Kurt Mifsud (SPFC), 2nd A=
ndre
Zahra (SPFC), 3rd James Grech (EGFC), Mathew Saliba (SPFC).
Category Senior Mens Foil: 1st Norman Martinez (SPFC), 2nd Pierre
Bianchi (SPFC), 3rd Antoine Bonello, Kurt Galea (EGFC).
Category Senior Men’s 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 Scic=
luna
(EGFC), 3rd Mary Abela (EGFC), Thomas Re=
becca
(SPFC).
Category Senior Ladies Epee: 1st Rebecca Thomas (SPFC), 2nd Susan
Ronald (SPFC), 3rd Mary Abela (EGFC), Jessica-Ann Vella (EGFC).
National Champion: Susan Ronald