Gozo Martial Arts Festival

On March 4, 25 students from the Gozo Spirit Combat Club participated in the Gozo Martial Arts Festival 2007. This was held at the Gozo Sports Complex and was organised by the association chief instructor Master Mario Saliba.

The festival comprised various competitions: Viking combat, back to back ground wrestling, free-style free-hand kata, and free-style weapon kata. The students thoroughly enjoyed the competitions, ably conducted both by the referee and judges. The standard of the techniques exhibited by the students was high.

The main sponsor of the event was the Gozo Sports Complex within the Ministry for Gozo. Papillon Unisex Hair Salon and Refcold also sponsored the festival. It is now hoped that this event will be held annually.

The winners of the competitions were: Viking combat - Nathan Camilleri, Joseph Mario Vella, Marie Therese Camilleri, Lucian Camilleri, Ryan Vella, Anthony Xerri, Joshua Vella, Melvin Calleja, Christopher Gauci, and Joseph Louis Grech; back to back ground wrestling - Marie Therese Camilleri, Scott Saliba, James Vella, Jurgen Spiteri, Lucian Camilleri, Mark Grech, Ryan Vella, Gordon Formosa, Joe Mifsud, Christopher Gauci and Melvin Calleja; free-style free-hand kata - (white grades) Joseph Mario Vella (first), Marie Therese Camilleri (second), Lucian Camilleri (third); (colour grades) Melvin Calleja (first), Joseph Louis Grech (second), Christopher Gauci (third); free-style weapon kata - Melvin Calleja (first), Joseph Louis Grech (second), Christopher Gauci (third). Melvin Calleja was named Martial Artist of the Year.