Aquilina and Borg best sailors for 2003

Mario Aquilina, of Birzebbuga Sailing Club, and Malta Young Sailors Club member Benji Borg were recently named by the Malta Sailing Federation as the best senior and junior sailor of the past 2003 season.

Their selection was carried out by a panel consisting of Jovin Rausi, John Ripard and Georges Bonello du Puis representing the Malta Sailing Federation, Marie Therese Zammit, from the Malta Olympic Committee, and Ghaqda Kittieba Sports official Mario Meli.

The panel, chaired by Rausi, based its assessment of those nominated for the awards on precise criteria set by the federation. This was considered to be generally successful and likely to be retained for next year. Sailors were judged according to performances and commitment to the sport.

Aquilina, 28, is the current national champion in the Laser Standard Class. He won first place in all local events bar one last year. But the cherry on the cake was the 2003 GSSE where he won a gold medal.

He now has his eyes set on achieving a good result in this year's Olympic Games in Athens.

Borg is 14 and sails in the Optimist Class. He was protagonist in two important international sailing regattas in 2003.

His best result was a fifth placing, out of 195, in the Europa Cup. Also, a significant achievement for him was first place and a gold medal in the GSSE last June.

Borg's performances throughout the year were consistently excellent despite stiff competition from the rest of the Optimist fleet, both abroad and locally.

The presentations ceremony will be held later on this month at the Gillieru Harbour Hotel.