Shooting: Brian Galea wins the Santa Marija Grand Prix

The Santa Marija Grand Prix, held over two days at the Southern Shooting Club, concluded with a thrilling finish as Brian Galea claimed top honors in the prestigious Trap shooting competition.

Brian secured the overall victory with an impressive 46/50 in the finals, edging out his brother James Galea Jr, who finished in second place with 43/50. Jean Pierre Coleiro completed the podium with a strong third-place finish, scoring 34/40.

Final Standings

1. Brian Galea – 46/50

2. James Galea Jr – 43/50

3. Jean Pierre Coleiro – 34/40

4. Nico Sciberras – 28/35

5. Ryan Bugeja – 23/30

6. Roderick Vella – 17/25

The event saw shooters tackle 125 qualifying targets each, with the top six advancing to the finals. Qualification was fiercely contested, with James Galea Jr leading the table with 121/125, followed by Brian Galea (119/125) and Nico Sciberras (117/125).

Class Results

Class A

1. James Galea Jr – 121/125

2. Brian Galea – 119/125

3. Nico Sciberras – 117/125

Class B

1. Luke Cassar – 112/125

2. Philip Camilleri – 105/125

3. Stephen Vella – 105/125

Class C

1. Roderick Vella – 115/125

2. Abiel Cassar – 105/125

3. Charles Briffa – 103/125

Barrage B

Shooters who narrowly missed the top six had another chance to shine in the Barrage B contest, where 25 additional targets were faced with single shots. After a close shoot-off, Luke Cassar (Class B) emerged victorious with 19/25 + 1 shoot-off, ahead of Philip Camilleri and Mario Buhagiar.

Barrage B Results:

1. Luke Cassar – 19/25 +1 SO

2. Philip Camilleri – 19/25 +0 +1 SO

3. Mario Buhagiar – 19/25 +0 +0 SO

4. William Chetcuti – 18/25

5. Charles Briffa – 13/25

6. Abiel Cassar – 10/25

Special Awards

• Best Shooter Day 1 & 2: James Galea Jr (73/75 on Day 1, 48/50 on Day 2).

• Veterans Category: Nazzareno Attard.

• Women Category: Yana Grima.

• Best Junior Athlete: Nico Sciberras.

The Santa Marija Grand Prix once again delivered high-level competition and showcased the talent and dedication of Malta’s trap shooters.

The next event on the calendar will be the All Malta – 5th Selection Shoot 2025, scheduled for September 6–7, 2025, at the Malta National Shooting Ranges.

Gerald Fenech

Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist