Italian Emanuele Bernasconi claimed the major honour in a high-level fourth Malta International Double Trap Grand Prix which was hosted by the Malta Shooting Sport Federation at their premises in Bidnija, yesterday.
International regulations were applied for the event which saw the participation of 20 marksmen among whom Malta’s best hopes William Chetcuti and Nathan Lee Xuereb.
However, the Italian contingent of 15 shooters registered for the competition was always going to leave its mark and, eventually, it was Bernasconi who climbed on the highest step of the winners’ rostrum with compatriot Alessandro Chian-ese second.
Third place went to Xuereb who thus forfeited the title he won last year in sensational fashion.
The competition was on 150 clays.
The top six qualified for the semi-finals and then the medal matches on another 15 pairs.
Chetcuti, the 2011 Grand Prix winner and Mediterranean Games gold medalist in June, made it to the top-six stage but was unable to force his way into the medal zone shoot-offs after missing three clays.
Xuereb, fresh from becoming the new European Double Trap junior champion, had to dig deep into his resolve to fend off the challenges of Francesco d’Aniello and world champion Daniele di Spignio to seal the bronze medal.
In fact, Xuereb first had to deal with a three-way shoot-off against the two Italy national team members before firing a round of 29 to beat D’Aniello for third place.
In the gold medal match, Berna-sconi, who hit a straight of 30 in the semi-finals, only failed to smoke one clay. Chianese also hit a full 30 in the semi-finals but could only manage a round of 25 in the decisive stage to settle for the silver medal.
Among those who failed to make the cut was Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Steven Walton, of Great Britain.
Italian Monica Girotto was the only woman in the competition yesterday.
Girotto took part in the B Category.
The MSSF will now turn their attentions on the weekend Trap Grand Prix with the registered entry of more than 40 shooters.
Competition starts tomorrow with 75 clays and continues the next day with another round of 50 before the afternoon medal matches.
The main sponsors of the shoots are MSV Life, BOV, MIA, Dragonara Brassarie and Kunsill Malti għall-Isport.
Double Trap Result
1. E. Bernasconi 137 – 30 – 29; 2. A. Chianese 136 – 30 – 25; 3. N. Lee Xuereb 135 – 28+8 – 29; 4. F. D’Aniello 132 – 28+8 – 28; 5. D. Di Spignio 134 – 28+7; 6. W. Chetcuti William 134 – 27.
‘B’ Category
1. I. dal Moro 27 – 25; 2. J. Xuereb 26 – 24; 3. U. Isalberti 25 – 24; 4. R. Zaccolo 24 – 23; 5. Monica Girotto 22; 6. W. Trevisan 22.