2010 European Single-Event Championships

The MDFPA organized its first ever international event here in Malta last weekend at the Preluna Hotel in Sliema over the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of October, the 2010 European Single-Event Championships. Over 180 of Europe’s strongest drug-free athletes were present.


The first athlete representing Malta on Day one faced off with Italy’s Davide Ambrosino in the 82.5kg category squat. Aleksandr Dolgopolyk took the honours with a classy 195kg squat, breaking the -82.5kg Malta National Squat Record previously held by Matthew Muscat Inglott, by a convincing 5kgs.

Mariel Incorvaja faced off against England’s Gabrielle Bennet in the women’s -90kg class but couldn’t quite catch up with her 102.5kg squat. Marvin Cilia registered some fine squatting as always in the 110kg class with a 227.5kg lift. The best Unequipped Squatter of the Championship was Alexey Kashirin from Russia with his 270kg lift, also in the -110kg class.


Saturday saw the big numbers turn out for the Bench Press. Europe’s strongest benchers battled it out in style on the sunny veranda of the Preluna Meridien Centre. Herman Mula stepped onto the platform first for Malta. One of 19 benchers in the -82.5kg class, he pressed 120kgs. England’s Pawel Kramer took that category with a 175kg press.

Next up was Josef Spiteri in the -90kg class, also showcasing 19 lifters. Spiteri broke his own Malta National Bench Press Record in his weight class with a 150kg press, positioning him 9th among a tough field of bench press specialists. Igor Ivanchenko from Ukraine won the class with a 187.5kg press.


The best unequipped bencher of the day was Alistair Murdoch from England with a 212.5kg press, which he performed during a thrilling battle in the 110kg class with Roland Gongarad from Switzerland and Alexey Kashirin from Russia. All three men benched over 200kgs in their attempts to win their category.


On the final day of the championships, the preluna hotel shook as the deadlift specialists took to the platform. Malta’s offerings of the day were George Bonanno and Charles Degiorgio both lifting in the -75kg class. George Bonanno lifted 185kgs, and of the seven athletes in the category, Degiorgio did us proud by lifting his way to the top with a fine 230kg lift. A European deadlift title will satisfy this lifters hunger only momentarily, as he now sets his sights on the full three-lift powerlifting World Championships in Ireland next month.


The championship organizers were Nikolai Borg, Kris Mintoff and Matthew Muscat Inglott. The MDFPA would like to extend a warm thanks to the Preluna Hotel, Feelgood Wellness Spa, and Noble Gym for making the Championships possible.