An action-packed weekend of fencing was witnessed at the Mtarfa gymnasium when the National Fencing Association Malta (NFAM) staged the National Championships.

In the senior events, Norman Martinez notched a double once again by taking both the men's epee and foil events.

Young Pierre Bianchi, bolstered by his positive participation at the World Championships (Austria 2005) lost 15-9 to Martinez in the finals.

In men's epee, Marcus Muscat Baron had the better of Juan Formosa to proceed to a top-quality final against Martinez.

Muscat Baron succumbed 15-11 to Martinez who collected his second gold and the national champion title.

In the ladies' foil, Susan Ronald secured the national title after beating Mary-Jo Scicluna 15-9 in the final.

The tables were turned in the ladies epee events with Rebecca Thomas taking gold in a hard-fought final against Ronald (15-14).

Owing to the rules of the NFAM which permit expatriates permanently resident in Malta to take part in the National Championships, the epee champion title went to Ronald in lieu of Thomas.

This year, competitions also featured the youngest three groups of fencers from the Engarde and St Paul Fencing clubs.

The practice in previous seasons had been that fencers under 12 years of age would participate solely in club competitions in preparation for the national ranking tournaments.

The fencing cadets are mainly concentrating on the foil while the senior counterparts participate in foil as well as epee.

There are three fencing 'weapons' - foil, epee and sabre. This last-mentioned discipline is not practised locally in order to allow the clubs and national association to focus their resources on the other two weapons.

Fencing bouts during the National Championships were presided by two Sicilian referees accredited to the Federazione Italiana Scherma (FIS).

After the successful completion of the National Championships, the local fencing community is now looking forward to the 'Malta Open' tournament to be held later this month.

This event, organised by the St Paul Fencing Club has, like in previous years, attracted foreign participation.

National Championships - results

U-10 (mixed boys/girls): 1. Cain Arpa (SPFC); 2. Martina Formosa (SPFC); 3. Maria Paola Micallef (EGFC), David Trapnell (SPFC).

U-13 (boys): 1. Paul Borg (SPFC); 2. Anton Saliba (SPFC); 3. Sami Chenbout (SPFC), Daryl Pisani (EGFC).

U-13 (girls): 1. Danika Formosa, 2. Sarah Grech (EGFC); 3. Ruth Micallef, J.A. Vella (EGFC).

U-16 (mixed boys/girls): 1. Kurt Mifsud (SPFC); 2. Andre Zahra (SPFC); 3. James Grech (EGFC), Matthew Saliba (SPFC).

Senior men's foil: 1. Norman Martinez (SPFC); 2. Pierre Bianchi (SPFC); 3. Antoine Bonello, Kurt Galea (EGFC).

Senior men's epee: 1. Norman Martinez (SPFC); 2. Marcus Muscat Baron (SPFC); 3. Juan Formosa (SPFC), Kenneth Spiteri (EGFC).

Senior ladies foil: 1. Susan Ronald (SPFC); 2. Marie-Jo Scicluna (EGFC); 3. Mary Abela (EGFC), Thomas Rebecca (SPFC).

Senior ladies epee: 1. Rebecca Thomas (SPFC); 2. Susan Ronald (SPFC); 3. Mary Abela (EGFC), Jessica-Ann Vella (EGFC).