Pace Grand Prix winner after superb 142 overall

Frans Pace yesterday confirmed his standing as Malta's leading Trap shooter after winning the International Grand Prix at Bidnija with a remarkable score of 142 from 150.

The Grand Prix came to a close yesterday after three days of competition involving no fewer than 66 shooters, 20 of whom were Italians and three from the UK.

Pace, now sure of representing the Maltese federation in this summer's European Championships in Slovenia, topped the scoreboard since Friday. He oozed confidence along the competition even smashing a straight on Saturday morning besides going on to win the team event along with Nicky Carabott and Justin Attard, the other two members in the Malta 'A' side.

Yesterday, Pace started with a four-point lead and went on to extend that advantage to seven after scores of 24 and then 22 in the final barrage.

Italian Emanuele Ceccucci failed to keep the pace with the leader and finally had to settle for an overall score of 135 in second place ahead of Carabott, 131.

Attard was the best shooter in the junior Grand Prix with a total of 108 and Kurt Cardona was second, one clay short. Ryan Bugeja was third on 100.

Italian Salvatore Capasso was the winner in the veterans category. He totalled 105 points and finished ahead of Emanuel Attard (102) and Arnaldo Plos (99).

The women's shoot winner was Joy Robinson with 73 points.

The Malta 'A' team finished first with an accumulated total of 340.

Campania 'A' were second (333) and Malta 'B' (Ryan Bugeja, Gorg Cassar and Nazzareno Attard) third (321).

Grand Prix top six

1. F. Pace (120+22) 142
2. E. Ceccucci (114+21) 135
3. N. Carabott (112+19) 131
4. C. Demanuele (112+18) 130
5. S. Perone (112+16) 128
6. M. Feola (111+16) 127

Team Event

1. Malta 'A' 340 - Pace 120, Carabott 112, Attard 108
2. Campania 'A' 333 - Cavassi 110, Perone 112, Feola 111
3. Malta 'B' 321 - Bugeja 100, Cassar 110, Attard 111