National champions Kenneth Arpa and Melissa Anastasi travelled to Ankara, Turkey, lately, accompanied by national coach Kenth Sandberg, to take part in the European Cup for Individuals - 2004.

The event was held at the Rollhouse Bowling Centre and 36 European countries, including Malta, were represented in the separate male and female divisions.

The competitions were played over 24 games in four eight-game sessions, with alternating short and long lane conditions for each session. The competitors' total pinfall after all four sessions would govern their position in the classification, from which the top eight men and women would go through to the final stages.

The men's competition started with eight games on short oil, the preferred condition for Arpa. He settled immediately into his game, opening with a pair of high games (224, 226) before a 194 in game three and a 176 in the fourth. He was back over 200 for his last two games (224, 202) to finish on a 1,246 total which rewarded him with top spot, 11 pins ahead of an awesome field of 'giants' in world class bowling.

Unfortunately, Arpa's game somewhat suffered on the longer condition in the next set of eight, topping 200 only once with a great 232 opening game. His session total of 1,084 left him on a cumulative 2,330 in 11th place.

It was going to be hard to pull off a recovery, and Arpa's 1,121 tally in set three (short oil) did little to help his campaign, and neither did his final session of 1,016.

He finished in 19th place with 4,467 pins from his 24 games (186.1 average) - still a very pleasing result in consideration of the formidable opposition.

After the final elimination round between the top eight male bowlers, the ECI 2004 title went to Domenico Righi - a hotshot from the Republic of San Marino.

Unlucky Anastasi

Anastasi was in 16th place in the female classification after a shaky opening session in which she scored 1,019. However, she drew on her considerable experience, keeping her head to improve to 12th place after a better second session (1,153 set, 2,172 cumulative).

Anastasi's standing improved again through the third eight games, her 1,132 score taking her up to 11th (3,304 total), and just 26 pins adrift of a qualifying position and still with six games to play.

Her best session to date had been that on the long oil programme, which was also used for the final eight games... still better auguring for a qualification spot.

Luck was against Anastasi, however, and a 1,049 score left her in 14th place on 4,353 pins (181.4 average), just 147 shy of eighth place.

The ladies' event was won by Germany's Tanya Petty.

This year's participation of Malta's national champions in the annual European event was aided by the support of the Malta Olympic Committee, Duwpa Ltd, Island Caterers and J.P. Caruana.