Five bowlers from Special Olympics Malta (SOM) have placed well in the 2011 Tenovar national championships organised by the Malta Ten Pin Bowling Association. (MTBA) The youngest player Philip Gruppetta came in first place in the under-16 division with a total of 1,983 pins. This result helped him qualify to also play in the under-23 division where he placed fifth in the final.

Bjorn Tabone played a great game in the under-23s coming in with a total of 1,934 pins – a score above his usual average. Maria Spiteri came in third place in the under-23s with a total of 1,384 pins. Luke Burke placed third in the under-16 division with a total of 1,425 pins while his brother Kyle Burke placed fourth in the same division, with a total of 1,424 pins.

“We are extremely proud of our athletes,” said Anna Calleja, Director of Special Olympics Malta. “We’re also satisfied with gaining this opportunity for inclusion for our athletes. Participation in this tournament is a result of the European-wide partnership between Special Olympics Europe Eurasia and the European Tenpin Bowling Association, an agreement that was signed in Malta in March last year. The terms of the agreement have been implemented by SOM and the Malta Ten Pin Bowling Association and as a result SOM elite bowlers are now receiving training with national mainstream teams with the opportunity to participate in the national championships.”

SOM thanked its volunteer coaches Jean Carlo Tolu, Anna Farrugia and Mark Spiteri for their ongoing dedication in training the athletes, and Liliana Said from MTBA for her support.

Martin Gregory, from the Vodafone Malta Foundation, main sponsor of SOM, said: “Our ongoing support of Special Olympics Malta has taught us that the ultimate achievement for SOM is inclusion. The good results are added-value to this achievement and augur well for the growth of SOM in Malta.”