The Christmas season is a time for joy, cheer, and goodwill. It’s also time for the Malta Canoe Polo Club’s annual Christmas tournament, where joy, cheer and goodwill towards opposing teams are the order of the day - most of the time.

In spite of the cold weather, 18 avid canoe-polo players turned up at the national pool at Tal-Qroqq on the evening of 22 December – making up four well-balanced teams keen to get on the water and compete for first prize, donated by the president of the Malta Canoe Federation, Dr Peter Borg Costanzi.

A playoff tournament was organised, with each team playing against the other three teams in tough games lasting 20 minutes, and an overall winner announced after the final game. Twenty minutes of paddling, crashing, shooting, and scoring. With helmets on and spray decks fitting snugly around the cockpit, the blue teams battled the red teams for the ball, some using their superior strength, others preferring fast break tactics; passing the ball and blocking using both paddles and canoes, occasionally capsising, often successfully scoring, while those on the sidelines cheered on.

Towards the end, the exhausted winners won their final game by a single goal, scored after some brilliant passing by team captain Alex Rizzo.

The Canoe Polo Club’s grateful thanks went to the Tal-Qroqq national pool authorities for their support and encouragement, and to the pool attendants, who uncomplainingly gave them a helping hand throughout the year.