SQUAD 'E' - First six of 12 games (Thursday 12:30):
Two Germans, Ulz Dehler, 60, from Duisburg and Gisela Insenger, 63, from Berlin topped Squad 'E' in their first six-game block but neither made it to the top of the six-game leader board.

It is just the second time that Ulz Dehler has competed in the Malta Senior Open .. "and I'm bowling much better than I did last year," he commented. He has some 15 years experience bowling in Germany's Bundesliga, the national league and was a German national team member from 1980-84 and 1992-1995. He is not able to bowl all of the European senior circuit but like so many others, loves Malta for its atmosphere and friendly people.

Gisela Insenger was also a German national team member, back in the 1970s, and last played in the World Championships in Manila, The Philippines in 1979. She thinks that this is the fourth or fifth time in the Malta Senior Open and her best finish was making it through to the matchplay last eight a couple of years ago.

SQUAD 'F' - first six games (Thursday 19:30):

Kalle Gaiser of Germany (pictured, left) and England's Kaz Barfoot were the stars of the final qualifying squad to bowl their first six-game block, Gaiser coming home with 1305 and Barfoot 1121.

Kalle, 62, from a small town near Hamburg, owns two bowling centers and recently hosted the sixth stop of the EBPA Senior Tour. He's now bowling in Malta for the sixth time and hopes to very much improve on his previous high finish of 16th place. "I love to come to Malta for a holiday with me wife and the timing is great as it is just before the start of the bowling season in Germany. so that gives us ten days more of summer sun which is so nice."

Kalle, now seventh after the first block, needs another six-game set of 1317 to take over pole position from Sven-Olof Gustafsson of Sweden who currently sits at the top of the leader board on 2621.

Kaz Barfoot, 57, from Wednesbury, near Birmingham, in the England's midlands, is only on her third visit. "I really enjoy coming here and meeting so many friends," she told us. "The organisation here is fantastic and normally, but not tonight, the lane condition is good. It is so nice to arrive here and be greeted as 'Hi Kaz' by so many of the management, staff and bowlers."

Kaz is currently fifth in the block of bowlers still to bowl their second set to make the twelve qualifying games and if she maintains her 185 average she should place in the top five.

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For further information, contact Keith Hale: keithhale679@aol.com