Gilford building bridges with trip to England

It was the best conceivable result.

With Michael Mifsud the outright favourite to win the Sportsman of the Year award, finishing second in the poll can still be considered as a minor victory for Darren Gilford.

"All considered, it was the most I had hoped for," he admitted afterwards, "and I'm very proud with the result just the same. The journalists' vote has fired up my determination to succeed."

One of his more immediate targets is to qualify for the World Indoor Championships which is why this week he will be going to England to train in a professional indoor arena.

During his time in England, Gilford will also take part in the Birmingham Games but will do so in the colours of Bolton Harriers, the English athletics club he joined last year.

The ties between the two were established some time back as Trevor Pledger, one of the club's committee members, explains.

"It all started when my daughter Sian was training in Malta some three years ago and she met Darren along with his coach Jivko Jetchev," he said.

"They immediately struck up a friendship and remained in touch ever since with Darren being an important source of support to her in recent years when she was injured.

"It seemed only natural when we were lucky enough to get a new indoor straight in Bolton to invite Darren over to train.

"It not only gave him the opportunity to prepare for his competitions in the UK but allowed our athletes to meet an Olympian. As a club we are growing and have a young team who clearly benefits from training alongside Darren."

The Maltese record holder over the 100m (10.54) and 60m (6.76) distances, Gilford has a wealth of international experience having taken part in every major championship including the Athens Games of 2004 where he achieved the fastest time ever set by a Malta sprinter.

It is easy to see why the club that was recently promoted to the Northern league First Division was so eager to have him over.

"It was quite an enjoyable experience and I have to say that the facilities at Bolton's Leverhulme Park are top class," Gilford said.

"During my time over there, I was asked to join the club, which was quite an honour for me, and I accepted without hesitation.

"I think that they were pleased to have someone with my experience at the club, and the story got some extensive coverage in the local media which must have helped the club promote itself."

Gilford's initial contact could pave the way for his two clubs, Pembroke Athleta and Bolton Harriers, to start working closer together. Pledger is certainly all for this.

"I would like to see this relationship continue to grow in friendship - Sian has made friendships that extend beyond athletics and this is very important to me," he said.

"We had hoped to bring athletes out to Malta this Easter from the club and Pembroke athletes back here in the summer but it has proved too difficult for a number of reasons - perhaps too big a jump in one go."