The fourth international Double Trap and Trap Grand Prix is being held at the Bidnija Ranges next week with the Double Trap competition on 15 August and the Double Trap event on 17 and 18 August.

Addressing the press during the event’s launching yesterday afternoon, Dr Carmel Cascun, president of the Shooting Federation, said that this is the fourth year that the federation is organising this event. And for the first time, there will also be a Trap event.

Dr Cascun said this event will be an occasion to celebrate the MSSF’s excellent year during which Eleanor Bezzina won the air rifle 10m gold medal at the Games for European Small States in Luxembourg, William Chetcuti won the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Turkey and Nathan Lee Xuereb won the European Junior Championship gold medal in Germany.

The MSSF president added that the competition should be a great spectacle. “Apart from William Chetcuti, well known in the world of Double Trap, there will also be some top world shooters including Francesco D’Aniello and Daniele Di Spigno from Italy and Steve Walton of England, all former world, European champions or Olympic medallists.

“And for the first time in Malta, we will be having an Italian woman taking part in the Double Trap competition. This should make it even more interesting,” he added.

For the record, William Chetcuti had won the second edition while Nathan Lee Xuereb had won last year’s third edition. The other two shooters representing Malta in the competition (Double Trap) are Johan Xuereb and Gianluca Chetcuti.

Dr Cascun said the MSSF was expecting around 57 to 60 shooters for participation in the competition. He said: “Eighteen will be taking part in the Double Trap and the rest in the Trap event. The majority of foreign shooters will be coming over from Italy (almost all their national squad) and around 23 Maltese shooters, if not more, will also be taking part,” he added.

He thanked the Maltese Council for Sport and the Maltese Olympic Committee for their continuous support and collaboration and also thanked main sponsors Bank of Valletta and MSV Life, apart from other new-found sponsors like fimbank, easisave, Malta International Airport and Brasserie Dragonara Casino.