Twelve enthusiastic members of the Malta bowling youth squad will be travelling to England next week to compete in the 11th English Junior Open at the Strykers Bowl,Tamworth, Birmingham.

It will be the third successive English Junior Open for the Malta youths who will be looking to improve on the successes achieved in previous years, including the junior championship title in 2001.

Last year, 10 Malta youth squad members returned to Tamworth and, between them, managed to net a staggering 16 trophies in various events.

These included the Masters championship title, for Rankin Camilleri, second place for Nathan Brimmer who just lost out in the final for the ultimate crown - that of Junior Open champion.

There was another first place for Carl Borg and Camilleri in the doubles.

Other notable results were a third placing in the team event, second spot for Camilleri in Division Two with Borg finishing third in the same category.

Malta's best showing in girls' events was that of Stephanie Said. She was fourth in Division Three.

The extent of such success is put into a clearer perspective by the fact that the 2002 Open boasted 850 bowlers from 113 teams, largely from the British Isles.

The youngsters' coaches this year are Giancarlo Tolu and Pierre German.

The Maltese squad members are: Nathan Brimmer, Ryan Grech, Mattia Busuttil, Rankin Camilleri, Faye Formosa, Valentina Bezzina, Justin Caruana Scicluna, Annemarie Bonello, Karl Attard, Bernardette Carannante, Stephanie Said and Tiziana Carannante.

The continued success of the squad is down to their sheer dedication to the sport and also the invaluable coaching given by Tolu and German.

Such high standards could never be achieved without the coaches' professional guidance in every aspect of the sport as well as the constant backing of the Eden SuperBowl, the Malta Tenpin Bowling Association and the parents of the young athletes involved.