The Malta Youth Triathlon Academy, which was founded in June 2013, recently held two races for 
members and friends of Academy members. 

The first race consisted of a Duathlon (run/bike/run), held in Hal Far, whilst the second race was an 
Aquathlon (run/swim/run) held at the Kirkop Sports Complex. Both races saw over twenty five 
children, of varying ages take part in distances that were designed to cater for the varying ages of 
those taking part. The races were also an excellent opportunity to measure the progress made by the 
athletes, most of whom have been attending sessions organised by the Academy since its inception in 
June 2013. 

“We are very pleased with the outcome of the Academy. In less than a year we have had a consistent 
number of athletes training on regular basis and registering athletic progress as well as continued 
interest by the general public” said Dermot Galea, National Triathlon Coach and Malta Youth Triathlon 
Academy Co-ordinator. “The enthusiasm shown by our Tri-Kids, as we affectionately refer to them, 
and their parents is a sign that the programme we are offering is bearing fruit, not only from an athletic 
perspective but also from their own personal development, which in these years of youth are 
instrumental” 

The purpose of the Malta Youth Triathlon Academy, which was set up in June 2013, with the assistance 
of the Kunsill Malti Ghall-iSport and the European Triathlon Union, was to provide structured training 
sessions, by qualified coaches, to young athletes, giving them appropriate training according to their 
ages. In fact Academy coaches Matthew Azzopardi, John Scicluna and Maria Vella-Galea have recently 
obtained their coaching qualification from Semmelweiss University, in a course held in conjunction 
with the Malta Olympic Committee. 

The Academy is open to children and youths aged from 9 to 16 years of age. For more information on 
the new schedule to be launched shortly please contact the Academy by sending an email to 
myta@triathlonmalta.org 

The Malta Triathlon Federation is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with RockTape Malta who will be partners of the Triathlete of the Year Point Scheme for the Season 2014.

RockTape is a special kind of tape known as kinesiology tape. First used by acupuncturists and chiropractors in Japan, today kinesiology tape is used by practitioners throughout the world to treat injuries and improve sports performance.RockTape is effective for the treatment of a wide variety of problems, not just sports injuries.

RockTape can be used in the cases of :

• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Jumpers knee (PFS)
• ACL/MCL issues
• Rotator cuff
• Groin and hamstring pulls
• Lower back issues
• Shin splints
• Tennis and golf elbow
• Pain associated with pregnancy
• Postural correction
An info-pic about RockTape ands its use is attached with this email.

RockTape Malta will be the  exclusive sponsors of the TOTY Point Scheme, which will be henceforth called 'RockTape Malta Triathlete of the Year Scheme'

Through this sponsorship, RockTape Malta will be kindly offering the following benefits for the members of the MTF during 2014:

• All the awards and prizes related to the RockTape Malta TOTY Scheme is 2014;
  
• Free Kinesiology Taping for the Male & Female winners of the RockTape Malta TOTY Scheme for the 2015 season;
  
• Special discounts to ALL members of the MTF, amounting to 10% on all apparel, 15% of purchases on kinesiology taping and 25% on the services offered. These discounts are subject to the presentation of your MTF Membership Card;
  
• RockTape Malta will be present at the National Aquathlon Champiobnships and the National Triathlon Championships.
  

We at MTF believe that this is a very exciting package for all our members and we are delighted to work together with RockTape Malta.

More info about RockTape Malta can be obtained from their website www.rocktape.com.mt or by following their facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/rocktape.malta?fref=ts. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us and we will get you in contact with RockTape Malta. 

We would like to thank the team at RockTape Malta for this partnership with the Federation for the benefit of our sport and our athletes.

It will surely be a very exciting weekend for the National Triathlon Team at the Malta Triathlon Federation this coming weekend. Six of the members of the squad and the National Coach will be taking part in top continental races in view to prepare the team for the upcoming events, mainly the European Triathlon Championships but most importantly this summer's Commonwealth Games.

With this in view, the current top male triathletes on the island, Keith Galea and Graham Borg will be partecipating in the Invitational Triathlon Test event which will take place at  Strathclyde Country Park in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday 24 May. The event will provide an opportunity to validate the Commonwealth Games Triathlon course and help the athletes to familiarise with the course in view of their potential qualification for the Games. The two triathletes will be accompanied by Dermot Galea, National Triathlon Coach. The Commonwealth Games Triathlon events take place on July 24 and July 26, with three medal events including the new Mixed Team Relay making its Commonwealth Games debut.

The Female Squad will be complimented by National Duathlon Champion, Danica Bonello-Spiteri, Triathlon Champion Michelle Vella-Wood, Gold Medal European U23 European Age Group Winner Hannah Pace and Margaret Seguna. They will be racing in the Spanish National Sprint Triathlon Championships to be held on Saturday in Altafulla, a  town close to Barcelona. Spain is one of the dominating forces in World Triathlon and this will definitely prove to be a tough, challenging competition for the top four female triathletes in the current local Triathlon scene.

While commenting on these races, National Coach Dermot Galea stated that 'both races are very important as preparation for our National Team athletes in view of their possible qualification for the Commonwealth Games. Since both races are high level competitions, all participants will get the best possible experience to test their present abilities.  I'm expecting a strong  performance and from the Glasgow race we shall be taking note of all the key sections on the course which will serve well for the team that shall be selected for the Games'.

'Notwithstanding the fact that this will prove to be a very costly expedition for our team, we are intend to support our top athletes in their quest  to obtain slots for the Commonwealth Games and be in the best possible level of fitness and preparedness as possible, also for the June European Triathlon Championships. The support of the Maltese Olympic Committee is crucial for our Federation, our sport and our athletes' said Cyprian Dalli, President of Triathlon Malta. 

To compliment this exciting weekend, other Maltese athletes shall be taking part in races abroad this weekend. Fabio Spiteri will be tackling the Bilboa Triathlon in Spain while Glen Zammit and Josef Bonavia will be competing in the Ironman  70.3 at St. Polten, Austria. Both races will consist of a 1.9KM swim, 90KM cycle and a final half-marathon of 21.1KMs.

The Malta Triathlon Federation wishes the best of luck for strong performances to Danica, Hannah, Michelle, Margaret, Keith, Graham, Dermot, Fabio, Glenn and Josef.

The Malta Triathlon Federation has recently consolidated its partnership with Magri Cycles of Mosta, one of Malta's topmost bicycle & cycling stores.

The partnership with Magri Cycles has been strenghtened in the past years by the appointment of Paul Magri and his team as the official bike-mechanic & servicing supplier for most of the National Multisport Championships in the past two years.

The Federation is conscious of the expertise, knowledge, exeperience and attention to detail of Magri Cycles and looks forward to have this shared among its athletes.  Magri Cycles are synonymous not only with top brands and services, but mostly for their impeccable after-sales service and customer-oriented approach which has won them the trust of many athletes, cyclists and customers.

Magri Cycles has been in the business since 1889 and have grown and developed from a small bicycle shop to a fully-fledged cycling outlet. They are importers of all types of bicycles such a road bikes, triathlon bikes, mountain bikes, frestsyle and children bicycles. Some of the world-class brands they stock are Trek, Cervelo, Pinarello, Wilier, Focus,  Look and Bianchi. Apart from bicycles, Magri Cycles stock all supplies and aparel related to the sport of cycling and triathlon. They also have computerized bike-fitting software as well as top-quality bike servicing.

'The Malta Triathlon Federation is proud to be teamed with Paul Magri and his team at Magri Cycles', said Cyprian Dalli, President of the Malta Triathlon Federation. 'The support of local sport institutions such as this one is a sparkling image of the continous search by the Federation to team up with those passionate about our sport and who are willing to work with us for a better and stronger development of the sport'.

Paul Magri stated that 'Magri Cycles are aware of the dedication and commitment of the athletes  practicing triathlon as well as the hard-work of the Federation in order to sustain and develop this exciting sport. Magri Cycles are keen to be a partner in this vision of the Federation and of service to an ever-growing ommunity of triathlon athletes on our islands.'

Magri Cycles can be found at 148B, 155, Eucharistic Congress Road, Mosta and can be reached on info@magricycles.com or 2141 4399.

This Year’s Garmin Malta Long Distance Triathlon Championships saw the largest pool of athletes being fielded in Malta’s only long distance triathlon. The triathlon which consisted of a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle and a 21k m run took place in Birzebbugia in what have been the worst conditions for a 
long time, especially for this time of year. Nevertheless the race proved to be a hard fought battle 
from start to finish with a good show from some veteran athletes and determined racing from the 
newer breed of triathletes. The race also saw a strong international participation with fourteen 
triathletes hailing from Brighton, United Kingdom. 
 
With previous year’s male title holder, Rudolph Agius and potential contender Fabio Spiteri out of 
the fray, the hopes for the winning spot was an open challenge. First out of the very rough sea was 
veteran Joseph Cremona (Birkirkara St. Joseph), who after a long break from the sport returned to 
endurance racing this year, covering the 1.9k swim in just 31 minuntes 27 sec, second out of the 
water was veteran endurance athlete Nicky Farrugia followed by the experienced David Galea 
(Agones SFC), who has been in a fine form throughout. Although similar to previous years, this 
year’s bike route saw some changes, which were designed to give athletes a safe yet more technical 
route. The previous night’s rain caused some havoc on the route with quite a few bike crashes being 
experienced by several athletes. David Galea showed fine form in the cycle segment, clocking in a 
time of 2 hours 40 minutes beating Joe Cremona by less than one minute to head towards the 21km 
run. Jude Zammit (Agones SFC) clocked in to transition in third place having completed the bike 
segment in just less than 3 hours. These placings were mirrored in the final run segment where 
David Galea crossed the finish line in 4 hours 33 minutes, 51 seconds, Joseph Cremona in 4 hours 51 
minutes, 33 seconds and Jude Zammit in 4 hours 59 minutes and 45 seconds. 
 
In the female category, title holder and current National Triathlon Champion Birkirkara St. Joseph 
triathlete Michelle Vella Wood had little competition in the field yet she still had a very strong 
showing completing the race in 5 hours, 18 minutes and 35 seconds. Second and third female to 
cross the finish line were international athletes Elle Breeds and Amy Jordan both finishing in a time 
of 6 hours 10 minutes 20 seconds and 6 hours 27 minutes and 7 seconds respectively. 
 
In the Master Category, trophies were awarded to Gaetano Catania (Agones SFC), Nicky Farrugia and 
Peter Zammit in first, second and third place respectively. The female trophy went to Issi Doyle. 
 
The Relay Category saw a fine showing of a mix of top, upcoming and new athletes hailing from 
Swimming, Running and Cycling disciplines teaming up to give some exciting performances. A total 
of seventeen teams were fielded. Coming in first place was Team G made up of Triathlete Graham 
Borg, upcoming Cyclist Wayne Spiteri and veteran marathon runner Jonathan Balzan. Second in were 
U23 Triathlon Champion Hannah Pace, seasoned cyclist Jeffrey Borg and runner Clifton Caruana who 
clinched his first podium. Third in were Zach Cutajar, Mark Bonnici and Hadrian Bonello, all of which 
are successful athletes in their own right. 
 
“With each year that passes we learn and gain experience, which is then translated into a better 
racing experience the following year. This year’s race saw a number of changes and milestones – we 
worked even more closely with the Malta Triathlon Federation, to design a route that was more 
spectator friendly as well as to upgrade the race to championship status. We also received increased 
support from the Authorities which enabled us to offer a safer racing environment, increased 
sponsorship gave us the opportunity to offer more attractive prizes to the winners and a varied 
goody bag to all athletes” said Race Director and Endurance Athlete Charlie Demanuele. “We are 
indebted to these people and thank them for their support” .
 
“The Malta Triathlon Federation welcomes such initiatives. Endurance racing has become 
increasingly popular and this race is an opportunity for the triathlon community to race on home soil 
prior to undertaking any races abroad” said Cyprian Dalli, President of the Malta Triathlon 
Federation. “Working closely with the race organisers we are pleased to see that the criteria set out 
by the Federation for sanctioned races was well met and this race was a great success in terms of 
experience participation and results” 
 
The Garmin Malta Long Distance Triathlon Championships, held under the auspices of the Malta 
Triathlon Federation, was supported by Garmin Malta, Medcomms Ltd, The Cyclist, Urban Jungle, 
Mochika, San Michel, Twistees, Birzebbugia Local Council, Transport Malta and Agones SFC. 

The Malta 113km Long Distance Triathlon Championships, this year for the first time sponsored by Garmin, has become a staple fixture on the triathlon calendar.

Covering a total distance of 113km, split into a 1.9 kilometre swim, a 90 kilometre cycle and a half marathon, i.e. a 21km run,  this event is in its eight year, and is considered to be a great training ground for endurance athletes, irrespective of their levels and their goals.  

The popularity of the event has resulted in a substantial amount of foreign triathletes signing up for the race, giving it more of an international feel to all those taking part.  Whilst the main focus of the race will be the individual athletes undertaking the full distance the organising team will be encouraging relay teams (swimmer/cyclist/runner) to be formed. Past relay participation has seen quite a number of relay team athletes undertake a full distance in subsequent races so this is an excellent opportunity to introduce them to long distances.

This year’s race, scheduled for the 18th of May, will once again take place in Birzebbugia. In order to ensure a better and safer racing experience, discussions and co-ordination with the Malta Triathlon Federation led to some changes being made to the original cycling route. In addition to this, the Malta Triathlon Federation has seen this race being designated as the official Long Distance Championship race.

“We are very pleased to have worked closely with the Malta Triathlon Federation to upgrade the status of this race. Endurance racing has seen a sharp increase in popularity in Malta, with over 25% of triathletes competing in some type of endurance event throughout the year. This race is a perfect opportunity for triathletes to test their skills, either in preparation for races such as Ironman, or even just as a taster to see their aptitude for endurance racing, hence the possibility to join in relay teams” explained Charlie Demanuele, endurance athlete and race organiser.

The Race Hub, will be located at Al Fresco Restaurant in St. George’s Bay which is where the race will start and finish.   The race was designed to be spectator friendly, ensuring that athlete supporters and sports enthusiasts will have easy access to view the race in its entirety.

Whilst the swim and run segments remain unchanged from the previous three years, in order to provide a better race experience, some changes have been made to the cycle route, which will enable cyclists to pass through some scenic coastal routes along the Ghar Hasan area.  This change in route was also designed with increased safety in mind as well as to minimise inconvenience to the general public on the day. 

“The Malta Triathlon Federation welcomes such initiatives as they are the medium to develop the various angles of multisport on the island” said Cyprian Dalli, President of the Malta Triathlon Federation. “We have been working closely with the organisers to ensure that all the necessary conditions are met. We are confident that with the experience and enthusiasm the race organisers have this race will be a success”.

Registration for the GARMIN MALTA 113KM LONG DISTANCE TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS will take place on Friday 9th May at Al Fresco Restaurant in B’Bugia, from 7pm – 9pm.

More information on the race can be obtained by sending an email to 113kmlongdistance@gmail.com

In conjunction with the Malta Youth Triathlon Academy, a Duathlon race (run-bike-run) will be held on the day. The race is open for children and youths aged between 6  – 16 years of age and distances will vary depending on the age group registered. Distances will be as follows:-

Under 6 - 200m Bike / 50m Run
Under 10 - 400m Run / 1km Bike / 400m Run
Under 13 - 600m Run / 1.5k Bike / 600m Run
Under 16 - 800m Run / 3k Bike / 800m Run

Registration for children’s races can be done on the day however parents are strongly advised to notify organisers by Saturday 10th May their intention to participate.  More information on the children’s race can be obtained by sending an email to myta@maltatriathlon.org

It was the return of the king and queen at the National Duathlon Championships, organised by the Malta Triathlon Federation on the 1 of May. Both Danica Bonello-Spiteri and Keith Galea banked upon their disappointment of last year and came out on tops by beating last year's title winners, Michelle Vella-Wood and Fabio Spiteri respectively. While it was the second Duathlon Nationals claimed by Galea, it was the 8th for Bonello-Spiteri who has confirmed herself as the most successful female triathlete Malta has ever produced.

Both winners wanted to ensure enough ground between them and the rest of the field by opening strong advantages from the early stages. While Galea opened a 30 second gap on Spiteri after the first run of 4.25KM, Bonello-Spiteri had already both hands on the title at Transition One by leading the female contenders by more than a minute.

In the men's category, Brian Magri ensured a customary strong run by placing the second fastest run in the first part, while Fabio Spiteri closed down the gap on Galea by the fastest bike-split of the day, covering the 9 laps of Zebbug By-Pass in just over 59 minutes.

The gap in the female race remained unchanged during the cycling segment and augmented further in the last run which saw Bonello-Spiteri comfortably taking the honour by over two minutes on the fighting Vella-Wood. Margaret Seguna continued her positive streak by finishing third.

Meanwhile, the battle for the male title continued and although Spiteri fought hard to diminish the Galea lead, who trailed the new Duathlon Champion by almost a minute, while Rudolph Agius claimed the third step of the podium by a strong run in the last segment of the race.

Ryan Saliba claimed the Male Under 23 Title, while Donatelle Camilleri and David Galea won the Seniors categories.

In the Sprint Distance, Kevin Muscat dominated the field, while John Scicluna ran hard in the last segment to claim second spot and teenager Shaun Galea followed on the podium. In the female race, Gianella Bugeja Persiano topped the chart with a strong performance in the running segment, while young Lara Buttigieg made optimum use of her strong cycling to take second place. Newcomer Tara Vella managed to overcome adversity during the bike segment to finish in a strong third place. A relay-race was also organised, which saw runner Hadrian Bonello and cyclist Etienne Bonello dividing the effort to claim the category.

The Sprint Under 23 section was claimed by Denise Buttigieg and new-comer Jake Vella, while the Senior categories were topped by William Brydon and ex-National Champion Angele Cremona.

In total, 72 athletes participated on the two distances, which established an all-time record of participation in these championships for the MTF.

Commenting just after the race, Cyprian Dalli, President of the MTF was radiant. 'Today has been a great day for multisport in Malta. The Federation had everything it could have wished for: record number of participants, course records, confirmation of strong performances by the National Team members, a very good number of young and budding athletes who will ensure that this sport will continue to develop and grow in number and quality in the years to come, together with a priceless set of people who volunteer to ensure smooth-running of the events we organise', said Dalli just after the awards were presented by Director of Sport of the Maltese Olympic Committee, Mr Mario Micallef.

The event was supported by www.TriRush.com, a sport-related online-shop who is partnering with the MTF on a number of projects.

The next event for the Malta Triathlon Federation will be held on the 2 of August, where the first-ever National Aquathlon (run-swim-run) Championship will be held at Marsaxlokk & Birzebbuga.