Sara Xuereb and Kayden Laganà crowned Under 23 champions

Sara Xuereb, who flew down from the US where she is currently studying, won the under 23 female championships for a record ninth time in a row, well ahead of Ruslana Grima and NSS student Karlise Bartolo, who just managed to beat Kathryn Fenech by two pins (2872 vs 2870) over the 18 games. 

The boys’ section saw five of the 13 players battling it out, but NSS student Laganà, who had just won the under 16 category the previous day, was in a class of his own on the last day, as he finished with a 210 average, almost 180 pins ahead of Dwayne Zahra. Zahra clinched second place just eight pins ahead of Miguel Xuereb.

Laganà also dominated the under 16 category ahead of 12-year-old Nicolai Mallia, with Chris Fenech finishing third.

Fenech, who played the highest game of all categories throughout the weekend with a brilliant 278, was injured on the second day and unfortunately had to withdraw from the last day of the U-23 section of these championships

The ladies U-16 was a hotly contested competition between the two Bonnici Group team-mates, Karlise Bartolo and Kathryn Fenech. Fenech emerged the winner on 1,920 against 1,900 of Bartolo. 

Mia Bugeja finished in third place, a further 150 pins behind.

The Under-12 category was a joint-girls and boys event, with Nicolai Mallia running away with it with a 1,455 over eight games, well ahead of his younger brother Mikhail Mallia (1046). NSS student Jade Barbara finished in third place.

Ernest Agius, Chief Officer at Bank of Valletta, accompanied by MTBA president Paul Baldacchino presented the trophies to the winners.

Bank of Valletta is a major supporter of sporting activities in Malta and Gozo as part of ESG commitments towards sustainability.