The rowing club of Marsa made it a memorable Victory Day regatta as they sealed the coveted Shield for an 11th time following an outstanding performance by their oarsmen at Grand Harbour, yesterday.
Marsa’s success was made to look even more significant as the red-blues clinched a double following a dominant show in the Category ‘B’ races.
Last year, the Shield was shared between Cospicua and Marsa after the two rivals had finished on the same number of points at the end of competition.
With Senglea again opting for youth talent and the other clubs failing to assemble competitive crews, no-one was looking beyond Cospicua and Marsa for the major honours this year as most of the best rowers in the country were engaged by these two major contenders.
The first four races were shared by Marsa and Cospicua, setting up a tense finale. Both teams required a first-place finish in the last race to secure victory.
In the end, it was Marsa who kept hold of their nerves as their four-man crew won the race in four minutes and 41 seconds.
Cospicua lost their plot and failed to place among the top three with Senglea (5:01) getting the 16 points for the runners-up spot and third place went to Birżebbuġa (6:47).
Marsa won the five-race series for reserves in convincing style, amassing 72 points and finishing way ahead of second-placed Senglea.
Senglea, the 2013 Category ‘B’ winners, had 28, two more than Cospicua who had to settle for third place.
Final standings
Open Category: 1. Marsa 76 points; 2. Cospicua 48; 3. Senglea 40; 4. Birżebbuġa 8.
Category ‘B’: 1. Marsa 72; 2. Senglea 28; 3. Cospicua 26; 4. Vittoriosa 20; 5. Marsamxett 18; 6. Birżebbuġa 8.
Last 10 winners
2005 Marsa; 2006 Marsamxett; 2007 Marsamxett; 2008 Senglea; 2009 Senglea; 2010 Senglea; 2011 Senglea; 2012 Senglea; 2013 Cospicua/Marsa; 2014 Marsa.
Overall winners
Senglea 23 times; Cospicua 17; Marsa 11; Kalkara 7; Marsamxett 2; Vittoriosa 1.