 | Press Report
Press Report on The Malta Open 2008
For a number of fencers, the Malta Open is as much part of their competition calendar as say the Welsh or the IOW. There is hard core who invariably turn up and while this year for one reason or another only three from the UK took part, the indications are that there will be a far higher figure for 2009.
Despite this year's small number, the quality of the competition and the holiday as a whole was in no way impaired and to a give brief itinerary - the first day gave an hour and a half boat tour of the Grand Harbour (cost as part of the package from the airline!) followed by a superb evening meal in the medieval city of Medina. The Saturday was 7 hours of foil competition and then for our youngest entrant (aged 17), a night of clubbing with the Maltese girls
Sunday - more fencing - sabre, men's epee and team epee. 9 hours fencing viewed for a short time by a TV crew and honoured by a visit of the Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, Mr Clyde Puli.
Monday - a trip in the hired car around the second largest island, Gozo. Fantastic views from the Citadel - swimming off the end of the island - exploring saltpans and in the evening, meeting up with the Maltese fencers for a meal.
Tuesday - a visit to the St Paul's Grotto and a walk through the underground catacombs that served as shelters during World War 2. Then a trip up to Fort Rinella the home of one last specimens of the largest gun ever made - a 100 tonner, Display of rifle drill and bayonet practice. Our youngest member fired a blank from an 8ins Howitzer, For the evening it was back into our gear for fencing in the open at the St Paul's Club, which accompanied by drinks and food went on to around midnight.
Wednesday - a boat trip around the islands with as much food and drink that we could consume as part of deal and for our final evening together, a rooftop barbecue at the home of one the Maltese fencers, Mark Borg.
Thursday - chill out around the rooftop pool at the Hotel Santana and then the flight back home arriving in the early evening.
All in all it was a fantastic 7 days break - full of activity and fun and in virtually guaranteed warm and sunny weather!
As for the fencing - those who may have come in the early years of the Malta Open will remember the British taking home most of the trophies. That happens no more. The standard has improved considerably. Nevertheless this year Kevin Alexander (Kingston Club) brought back the gold for sabre (medal plus a cup that you can keep) having taken out the Maltese coach Juan Formosa in a cliffhanger fight, 15-14.
In spite of his clubbing with the girls the night before, our youngest entrant Scott Willis (Newton Abbot) was no 1 at the end of the seeding round for the men's epee. He progressed from there quite well, until he met a young Frenchman from Normandy, Florian Crispin and for this year Scott had to be content with a bronze
Sabre is a new weapon for the Malta Open (it was tried once around 5 years ago) and will certainly be part of the 2009 competition. It is also a new weapon for veteran fencer Jim Pilkington (Wellington) who was eliminated by Juan but with some epee tactics thrown in, managed to collect the bronze
Next year's competition is planned for the weekend of June 20th-21st and further information and entry form can be found on the web site of salago.com who are co-sponsors the event.
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