Chetcuti... natural talent

Last week I considered myself one of the luckiest sport officials on the island. As Public Relations Officer of the Malta Shooting Federation wherever I went I was stopped and complimented on the achievement of the bronze medal and superb performance of William Chetcuti at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

The unassuming Chetcuti instantly became a household name by giving Malta a certain identity in sport and placing our country among the medal winners of these prestigious Games, considered second only to the Olympics.

Chetcuti grew up in Manikata which is close to Mizieb, a heaven for local hunters. Access to shotgun shooting was easy for him. When he first came to the federation's ranges in Bidnija he had already mastered the technique of clay shooting. He was prolific in the discipline of Down-the-Line. For him everything was natural. His talent was evident.

When the Malta Olympic Committee approved the engagement of Italian coach Lamberto Castellani by the Malta Shooting Federation, Chetcuti was entrusted into his hands and started practising Double Trap more seriously. Castellani immediately exploited Chetcuti's aptitude and within a few months he was hitting very good scores in this tricky discipline.

Of course, the coach set him on the right tracks but one must mention his family who were always ready to bend over backwards for their son. A special 'godfather' in Chetcuti's shooting career is federation vice-president Jimmy Bugeja.

If Chetcuti is shooting, either training or in a competition, in Malta or overseas, then Bugeja is always there for him as confidant and for moral support.

The tandem combination were together at the GSSE San Marino - silver medal, Mediterranean Shooting Championships in Malta - gold medal, Cyprus Grand Prix - gold medal, European Shooting Championships in Italy - silver medal, and last week in Manchester for the Commonwealth Games - bronze medal.

When I heard the good news from Bisley last week I rang Bugeja up.

After catching his breath in his aphoristic style, he told me that the medal won was a great honour indeed but seeing top world class shooters admiring the young Maltese lad's technique was a tremendous satisfaction.

Meanwhile, last weekend at the federation ranges, it was business as usual with a 50-clay trap competition and a 25-clay barrage final for the Muscat Cup.

Robert Aquilina shot well in the competition stage with a superb straight and a 22 for a total of 47. John Marmara was close behind with two 23s. The final was then up to the shooter with the toughest nerves.

Aquilina could manage only a 20 to another 23 from a calm and concentrated Marmara to enable the latter to take first place. Aldo Falzon was third.

Class A: 1. Robert Aquilina 47; 2. John Marmara 46; 3. Jimmy Muscat 45.

Class B: 1. Frans Bugeja 44; 2. Valent Galea 41; 3. Norbert Abela 41.

Class C: 1. Andrew Briffa 46; 2. Justin Attard 44; 3. George Grech 43.

Overall: 1. John Marmara 69; 2. Robert Aquilina 68; 3. Aldo Falzon 66; 4. Andrew Briffa 65; 5. Eugene Borg 65; 6. Jimmy Muscat 64.