Brian Galea Claims Victory in MSSF Trap Competition at National Ranges
Malta’s top marksmen gathered at the Malta National Shooting Ranges on Sunday, July 5, 2026, for the highly competitive Malta Shooting Sport Federation (MSSF) Trap Competition (50 Targets 1-2026). In a dramatic showcase of precision, Brian Galea dug deep to secure the overall title, edging out a stacked field of local shooters.
James Galea Jnr finished in a hard-fought second place after a tense shoot-off, while veteran shooter Nazzareno Attard rounded out the podium in third.
A High-Stakes Qualification Round
The initial 50-target qualification stage proved to be incredibly tight, pushing a handful of competitors into dramatic shoot-offs just to book their spot in the final six.
Martin Xuereb led the field into the final phase with an impressive score of 46/50. He was pursued closely by former double-trap champion William Chetcuti and the eventual winner Brian Galea, who both logged solid 45/50 scores.
The battle for the final qualifying slots came down to a razor-thin margin: James Galea Jr and Nicholas Carabott advanced after breaking 44/50 and winning a +2 shoot-off. Nazzareno Attard grabbed the final ticket by the skin of his teeth, outlasting Gordon Caruana and Rennie Deguara in an extended multi-tier shoot-off after all three had initially tied on 44 broken clays.
Galea Holds His Nerve in the Finals
When the pressure intensified in the final stage, Brian Galea showed his experience. Shooting a brilliant 23 out of 25 targets, he managed to clear the field to take the gold medal.
The battle for the remaining podium spots required further tie-breaking. Both James Galea Jr and Nazzareno Attard finished their final round tied on 22/25. In the subsequent sudden-death shoot-off, James Galea Jr managed +7 to take the runner-up spot, leaving Attard (+6) with third place overall.
Overall & Class Results
| Position | Shooter | Final Score | Shoot-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st Place | GALEA Brian | 23/25 | — |
| 🥈 2nd Place | GALEA James Jr | 22/25 | +7 |
| 🥉 3rd Place | ATTARD Nazzareno | 22/25 | +6 |
| 4th Place | CHETCUTI William | 19/25 | — |
| 5th Place | XUEREB Martin | 15/25 | — |
| 6th Place | CARABOTT Nicholas | 13/25 | — |
Divisional Class Standings (Based on Qualification)
- Class A: 1. William Chetcuti (45/50) | 2. Brian Galea (45/50) | 3. Rennie Deguara (44/50)
- Class B: 1. Martin Xuereb (46/50) | 2. Gordon Caruana (44/50) | 3. Nicholas Carabott (44/50)
- Class C: 1. Frank Scorfna (37/50) | 2. Ryan Cini (36/50) | 3. Jeremy Vassallo (34/50)
Up Next: Steve Azzopardi Trophy
The local shooting community will have a quick turnaround to prepare for the next event on the MSSF calendar. Competitors will head to the Qormi Clay Shooting Club Range next Sunday, July 12, to compete for the prestigious Steve Azzopardi Trophy. Expect another high-caliber turnout as local shooters look to build momentum heading into the mid-summer season.
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