Senglea retained the Shield yesterday after winning the traditional Victory Day regatta for the fourth year in a row and 22nd time in their history.
The yellow and red flags of Senglea fluttered proudly in the Grand Harbour as L-Isla topped the table with 76 points, 28 more than neighbouring rivals Cospicua who failed to end their title drought.
The Category B Shield was won by Marsa on 68 points with Cospicua second on 46. This year, the regatta course was shortened due to on-going works in the Customs area as well as in other parts of the Grand Harbour. The Victory Day Regatta was once again organised by the Kunsill Malti għall-iSport.
As in previous years, seven clubs took part, namely Senglea, Cospicua, Kalkara, Marsa, Marsamxett Valletta, Vittoriosa and Birżebbuġa.
The regatta got off to an exciting start as the Dgħajjes tal-Midalji A race was keenly contested, culminating in a close finish between the four rowers of Senglea and those of Cospicua after the two crews sprinted together in the final 100 metres.
The win was awarded to the four Senglea rowers, Lawrence Ciantar, Clayton Darmanin, Donald Gilford and Rhys Fiteni, after the photofinish had been consulted. Marsa finished third.
After finishing second in the opening event, Cospicua bounced back in the next race as George Frendo and Redent Cassar took first place in the Frejgatini race. The Cospicua duo were in a class of their own as they led Senglea and Marsa by three lengths at the finish.
All the seven clubs lined up for the Dgħajjes C tal-Pass b’żewg imqadef race. Kalkara sprung a surprise as Noel Bugeja and Roderick Briffa produced a strong burst in the final metres to edge ahead of Senglea. Marsa were third.
Cospicua’s failure to place among the top three in the third race handed the initiative back to their rivals from Senglea but the fight was not over yet.
Once again, Senglea and Cospicua were engaged in a neck-and-neck duel in the last 500 metres of the fourth race, Kajjikki. Senglea’s Donald Gilford and Gilmour Zammit refused to give in to Cospicua’s pressure as they just managed to surge ahead of their challengers to secure first place and send the numerous Senglea fans into rapture. Marsa again finished third.
Despite Senglea’s lead, the shield issue was still open ahead of the final race, the Dgħajjes B Tal-Pass with four rowers. This race carried most points with 24 going to the winners.
The Senglea foursome of Fiteni, Ciantar, Darmanin and Gilford made a strong dash in the first lane to win this race and put the seal on their club’s success. Cospicua and Marsa were second and third respectively.
At the end of the races, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport Clyde Puli presented the traditional shields to the officials and rowers of Senglea and Marsa in the presence of Bernard Vassallo, chairman of KMS.
Race results
Race 1: Dgħajjes C Tal-Pass (Category B) 1. Marsa (Clive Casha, Charles Ahar) 5.47” ; 2. Senglea 3. Cospicua.
Race 2: Dgħajjes A Tal-Midalji (Category A) 1. Senglea (Lawrence Ciantar, Clayton Darmanin, Donald Gilford, Rhys Fiteni) 4.49”; 2. Cospicua; 3. Marsa.
Race 3: Kajjikki (B) 1. Marsa (Nathaniel Caruana, Jesmael Caruana) 6.34”; 2. Cospicua; 3. Vittoriosa.
Race 4: Frejgatini (A) 1. Cospicua (George Frendo, Redent Cassar, Zaylin Muscat) 6.52”; 2. Senglea; 3. Marsa.)
Race 5: Dgħajjes A Tal-Midalji (B) 1. Cospicua (Trevor Thomas, Anthony Attard, Sven Refalo, Glenn Bonello) 4.35”; 2. Marsa; 3. Marsamxett.
Race 6: Dgħajjes C Tal-Pass (A) 1. Kalkara (Noel Bugeja, Roderick Briffa) 4.26”; 2. Senglea; 3. Marsa.
Race 7: Frejgatini (B) 1. Marsamxett (Gino Viacava, Lee Pendry) 7.03”; 2. Kalkara; 3. Cospicua.
Race 8: Kajjikki (A) 1. Senglea (Gilmour Zammit, Donald Gilford) 6.20”; 2. Cospicua; 3. Marsa
Race 9: Dgħajjes B Tal-Pass (B) 1. Marsa (Gilbert Savona, Clive Casha, Charles Ahar, Joseph Debono) 5.26”; 2. Senglea; 3. Cospicua.
Race 10: Dgħajjes B Tal-Pass (A) 1. Senglea (Fiteni, Ciantar, Darmanin, Gilford) 5.17”; 2. Cospicua; 3. Marsa.
Category A standings
1. Senglea 76 points; 2. Cospicua 48; 3. Marsa 28 ; 4. Kalkara 20.
Category B standings
1. Marsa 68 points; 2. Cospicua 46; 3. Senglea 28; 4. Marsamxett 18; 5. Kalkara 8; 6. Vittoriosa 4.
Last 10 winners
2002 Senglea; 2003 Senglea; 2004 Senglea; 2005 Marsa; 2006 Marsamxett; 2007 Marsamxett; 2008 Senglea; 2009 Senglea; 2010 Senglea; 2011 Senglea.