CONI Sicilia secure trophy on last day

There was a positive ending to Team Malta’s participation in this year’s Mediterranean Friendship Games in Syracuse yesterday as Danica Bonello Spiteri won the triathlon in Mellili.

However, her efforts were not enough to deny CONI Sicilia from overall victory as the hosts claimed the 2011 trophy 6-3 at the end of all competitions.

The Maltese started Day Three trailing 4-3 behind and needed to win the triathlon aggregate and fencing to stay in contention but CONI Sicilia clinched both points in the end to avoid a home upset.

Keith Galea, Carl Attard, Donatelle Camilleri and Bonello Spiteri took part in the triathlons that included a 750m swim, 20km bike and a 5km run.

In all, 59 participants took part as the race doubled up as a re-gional championship event.

Bonello Spiteri’s main rival was Maria Grazia Prestigiacomo.

Out of the water, the Malta champion powered her way to the front, opening a 90-second lead over the Sicilian who won the race in Malta last year.

She then succeeded in administering her lead to cross the finish line in 1:11.42. Prestigiacomo was second in 1:13.15.

Margaret Seguna, who was not racing for the MOC team, placed third in 1:18.04 ahead of Camilleri, 1:18.12.

“Last year, Prestigiacomo beat me in the final metres but today I was better prepared and there was no way I was going to forfeit my lead,” Bonello Spiteri said.

In the men’s race, Salvatore Campagna and Stefano Intagliata sealed the title for Sicily, dashing home first almost three minutes ahead of Attard, 1:05.22.

Galea’s chances were lost at the bike segment when he forfeited precious seconds due to a mishap.

In the end, he had to settle for a distant 10th in 1:07.31.

In fencing, Pierre Bianchi, Paul Borg and Andre Zahra were beaten by Sicily’s Simone Sortino, Giovanni Repetto and Enrico Spadaro Alessandro Bruno 45-27 in epee.

However, the Maltese managed to end on a better note when they edged the out-of-competition Syracuse quartet 45-44.

Late Saturday, tenpin bowlers Sue Abela, Tiziana Carannante, Neil Sullivan and Justin Caruana Scicluna played in doubles and team events.

In women’s doubles, Abela and Carannante beat Daniela Graziano and Provvidenza Rapisarda 2,434-2,196 but the honours were reversed in the men’s competition as Sullivan and Caruana Scicluna were outpointed by Francesco Bellomonte and Salvatore Polizzotto 2,504-2,344.

Still, it was Malta who took the overall point as they won the team competition that included accumulated scores from the two days, totalling 11,720 pins to Sicily’s 11,341.

Meanwhile, the promising Nicole Gatt drew the plaudits after setting new national weightlifting records in the 48kg category to finish second in her class.

Rodmar Pulis pulled out with a strained muscle while Clint Grech managed 201kg overall to place second in his category.

The other Maltese lifter in action was Matthew Muscat Inglott in the 94kg category. He managed a best attempt of 205kg to claim the runner-up spot.

MOC warning

Summing up the Games before leaving Sicily, MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco criticised some federations for not selecting their top performers for the trip to Sicily.

“I have to be frank and admit that we’re disappointed with some of our federations, particularly for failing to name their best athletes to make this trip here,” he said.

“In some sport we were clearly not up to the challenge. A thorough evaluation will be made but it’s not acceptable for some of our federations to opt for young and untested athletes to represent the country.”

The MOC president was also critical of the CONI Sicilia or-ganisers.

“The Games were badly handled,” he lamented

“The programme of events was continuously changing in the build-up to these Games and that placed us in a very difficult situation. There were a lot of shortcomings that hampered our participation here.

“If things don’t improve from their part we’re ready to pull out of these Games in future.”