The second TENOVAR senior championships were recently concluded at the Eden SuperBowl, St Julian’s. The 50 years-plus event, played over one day, saw a title retention for 2010 Ladies Champion Josephine Borg, while husband Sammy gave a solid performance to take the men’s title.
Ladies’ Division
2010 saw the inaugural senior championships run by the Malta Tenpin Bowling Association, the first ever ladies’ title being taken by Josephine Borg, who was back to defend her title in the second, 2011 edition.
She seemed determined from the get-go, taking an immediate lead in the first game, and holding her position as the six game series progressed.
Josephine peaked with a 201 in the third game, and completed a good 1,083 scratch total (180.5 ave), which increased to 1095 with Borg’s age bonus of two pins per game.
Borg’s rival for the top spot was Mary Anne Mula, who shot a 995 scratch total (no bonus), to place second, and so Josephine Borg was able to hang her to her champion’s trophy for another year.
Men’s Division
A Borg family ‘double’ was achieved in this year’s Tenovar Senior Championships, as Josephine’s husband Sammy managed to clinch the men’s title, against considerable odds.
John Balani was the game one leader on 235, the lead then going to Leli Baldacchino after two. Playing among several higher ranked players, Borg then took over by bagging a brace of high games (214-232) to go top.
Balani, Leli Baldacchino and Paul Baldacchino were still snapping at his heels, as Sammy rounded off with a 191 (195) in game five, and a tournament high of 236 (240) in the last of the session, for a 1,275 net, giving him a 1,299 including age bonus. He claimed the title with a 31 pins final advantage over John Balani (1,268), as Leli Baldacchino placed third on 1,268, and Paul Baldacchino finishing third on 1,213.
Other than the honour of their TENOVAR national senior championship titles, Sammy and Josephine Borg were also rewarded with complimentary entries to the Eden SuperBowl’s 14th senior Malta Open, courtesy of the MTBA.