With the end of the summer season now in sight, the fourth edition of Marsalforn Watersports Festival was held on Sunday along the promenade of this popular bay.

Supporters and tourists crowded the waterfront cheering on the competitors enjoying an exciting and fun afternoon of watersports.

Competitions were held in canoe races – including single and double canoe, swimming competitions and the traditional Maltese Gostra (greasy pole).Children, youths and adults participated in the canoe races and swimming competitions, whereas for the Gostra there were about 14 competitors from various nations all wanting to try their luck at grabbing the flag positioned right on the end of the very slippery pool.

Winners for the swimming competitions were Kane Bigeni (Under 7s), Gianni Schembri (Under 10s), Nathan Bonello (under 12s), Nahor Grima (Under 14s) and David Borg (under 16s).

For the canoe singles competitions – the winners were Elisa Rapa (under 10s), Samuel Camilleri (under 12s), Nahor Grima (under 14s), David Borg (under 16), and Jurgen Attard (adults).The canoe doubles competition winners were Jurgen Borg and Samuel Camilleri (under 12s), David Borg and Jeremy Perez (under 16s) and for the adults the winners were Anton and Chris Tyler.

The main attraction of the watersports festival was undoubtedly the very popular Gostra competition.

14 competitors tried their luck on the the greasy pole, when after 9 attempts each, Steve Xuereb from Victoria was announced the winner after he grabbed the Maltese flag cheered on by the many spectators. The second and third place were won by Jurgen Attard from Xewkija.The Gostra was sponsored mainly by Marsalforn Watersports (Johnny Cefai), Chris Xuereb, Steve Xuereb and Joseph Caruana Ltd.

Bottles of wine and soft drinks were delivered to the crowd and the swimmers had to dive in the sea for a treasure hunt with a difference, diving down time and time again to search for the bottles. The wines were all sponsored by all the establishments in Marsalforn Bay.

The afternoon Festival, which was compared by Mr Joe Louis Xiberras and Ms Sandra Grech, came to an end with the presentation of trophies to all the winners by Mr Alvin Grech the CEO of Gozo sports Board.The organising team together with the Kumitat Amministrattiv Marsalforn gave thanks to the Ministry for Gozo, the Zebbug Local Council, the Gozo Sports Board, Marsalforn Watersports (Johnny Cefai), all Marsalforn bars and restaurants, and EcoGozo for their support of this great afternoon of watersports, as well as Mr Alain Salvary (Gozo News).

The organisers said that they hope to see everyone again next year for another spectacular afternoon End of Summer Watersports Festival.

Photographs by Alain Salvary

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