The Malta Tenpin Bowling Association held the 2009 National Championships at the Eden SuperBowl recently, the most prestigious local event in the bowling calendar. The eventual champions after the tough 24-game competition were Kenneth Arpa and Sue Abela in the respective male and female divisions.
The National Championships are played over three 8-game sessions on a ‘scratch’ basis, and positions are decided according to the simple 24-game total. As has become the vogue in all major tenpin bowling tournaments, varying lane oil patterns were used during the event, varying from ‘long’ oil on day one, ‘short’ oil on day two, and a ‘dual’ long/short combination on the third and final day. This system tests bowlers’ abilities on the lanes, ensuring that top positions go to truly deserving bowlers, able to adapt to the varying conditions and maintain a winning game average.
Both Arpa and Abela took the early lead in their divisions, Kenneth shooting a 1,702 total (212.7 ave) on the opening session’s long oil pattern, to lead by only 5 pins ahead of Justin Caruana Scicluna in second place on 1,697 (212.1). Veteran John Balani was third after eight on 1,654 (206.7). Sue Abela was bowling for a staggering 13th national title, and took the top spot on a huge 1,725 tally (215.6 ave), followed by Joanna Attard on 1,525 (190.6) in second, and Doris Camilleri, in third on 1,472 (184.0).
The second session was on the short pattern, which posed no problems for men’s leader Arpa, who found his line during a low 179 opening game, going on to shoot a 1,721 on the day for a 3,423 interim balance (213.9 ave), while the second spot was taken by Mark Spiteri, who’s excellent 1,831 block (228.8 ave) put him on 3401 to boost him from his previous 6th place. Justin Caruana Scicluna rolled a 1,568 for a 3,265, leaving him in third place ahead of Balani on 3,244.
Sue Abela shot a lower 1586 on day two, but her considerable day one advantage meant she easily held on to the lead on 3311 (206.9) over Joanna Attard with 3,040 (190.0), and Tiziana Carannante who snatched third place from Camilleri with a 1,483 series to give her 2,952 (184.5) after 16.
Day three brought the tricky dual lane conditions (short on the left lane, long on the right). Kenneth Arpa dropped pins with a 164 in the opening game of the day while trying to adapt to the varied shots required, but soon regained the pace to claim 1,704 pins for a 5,127 championship winning final score (213.6 ave). Overall it had been a soundly consistent from the new Champion, the title a well deserved one. Mark Spiteri came in as runner up on 5,055 pins (210.6), while third was held by young Justin Caruana Scicluna on 4944 (206.0 ave).
Sue Abela shot some below-par games during her final set, but was still 200+ on the day (1620 over eight), claiming her 13th National Champion title, truly an astonishing personal record, with a 4,931 total overall (205.4 ave). Joanna Attard held on to second place after a good overall showing, rendering 4,647 pins (193.6 ave), and Doris Camilleri rallied on day three to regain third place on 4,443 pins (185.1 ave).
The two national champions will now represent Malta in the European Champions Cup, to be held in Chania, Crete, between 21 and 28 September. Their participation is being made possible thanks to backing from the MOC, KMS, the Ministry responsible for sport, and also the Eden SuperBowl which provides the required training facilities to enable Malta’s bowlers to make adequate preparations for the ECC.