Charles Flask
Encyclopedia
Charles Flask was a renowned water polo
player of pre-World War II
St Julian's ASC. He was the first Maltese
swimmer and water polo
player who forced the resignation of the ASA Council in 1936 and of the ASA
president in 1937.
Charles Flask, the son of Alfred (the National and St. George's FC goalkeeper of the pre-World War I
era) and Rafela née Busuttil
was born in Bormla on July 11, 1907. Though still a child, he often went to help his father, who worked as a boatman at the Grand Harbour
, Malta
. During his free time, he would go to Kalkara
, Rinella
or Bormla wharf to swim with his friends, who soon noted how keen he was in swimming. At 20 he tried unsuccessfully to set up a water polo team at Marsaskala
and Bormla.
Two of St Julian's ASC committee members, Grixti and Vella Agius, alerted by some friends, contacted him and asked him to join St Julian's ASC. Though Charles was coming from "the other side" of Malta, the two were aware of his lethal left-handed
strike
and how strong he was in swimming. With St Julian's ASC he improved his swimming skills so that in 1932 many were of the opinion that he was one of the finest Maltese water polo players and swimmers. He successfully played for Pick Malta and St Julian's ASC both locally and abroad. At the same time he showed his skills as a swimmer, being second to none for various year in the 1930s. Suffice it to say that he was the first Maltese to swim the 100 yards freestyle in 57 seconds (as timed by Captain Curmi, KOMR
).
Unfortunately, he is remembered more for what in the history of water polo is referred to as 'The Charles Flask incident'. In 1936, Malta was preparing to take part in the Berlin Olympic Games. As was expected, Charles was called to join the national water polo team but, before the Malta party was formally announced, Flask was dropped from the side. St Julian's ASC, with players like Flask in its ranks, won 40 out of 42 games. For the rest of his life he never forgot the harm done to him and, though he continued to play for several years, he always regretted up to his death on May 29, 1978, not being given the possibility to play for the Malta side in the 1936 Olympic Games.
Charles Flask, was a real sportsman. He practised football, rowing
, boxing
, cycling
and billiard
but he was first and foremost a great swimmer and one of the best Maltese water polo players. Charles Flask was married to late Maria Concetta née Cilia (widow of Tony Delia) and had five sons and two daughters.
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
player of pre-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
St Julian's ASC. He was the first Maltese
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
swimmer and water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
player who forced the resignation of the ASA Council in 1936 and of the ASA
ASA
- Organizations :* Acoustical Society of America* Advertising Standards Authority * African Studies Association* Aid to Southeast Asia, a non-governmental organization* Airline Superintendents Association of Trinidad & Tobago...
president in 1937.
Charles Flask, the son of Alfred (the National and St. George's FC goalkeeper of the pre-World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
era) and Rafela née Busuttil
Busuttil
Busuttil is a surname of Maltese origin and may refer to the following people:*Carmel Busuttil , Maltese footballer*George Busuttil , Maltese diplomat*Jeanne-Marie Busuttil , French golfer...
was born in Bormla on July 11, 1907. Though still a child, he often went to help his father, who worked as a boatman at the Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. During his free time, he would go to Kalkara
Kalkara
Il-Kalkara is a small picturesque village in Malta, with a population of 2,856 . The name is derived from the Latin word for lime , and it is believed that there was a lime kiln present there since Roman times. Kalkara forms part of the inner harbour area and occupies the area around Kalkara Creek...
, Rinella
Fort Rinella
Fort Rinella is a Victorian fortification on the island of Malta. It is also referred to as the Rinella Battery in some maps and publications.-History:...
or Bormla wharf to swim with his friends, who soon noted how keen he was in swimming. At 20 he tried unsuccessfully to set up a water polo team at Marsaskala
Marsaskala
Marsaskala is a sea-side village in Malta that has grown up around the small harbour at the head of Marsaskala Bay, a long narrow inlet also known as Marsaskala Creek...
and Bormla.
Two of St Julian's ASC committee members, Grixti and Vella Agius, alerted by some friends, contacted him and asked him to join St Julian's ASC. Though Charles was coming from "the other side" of Malta, the two were aware of his lethal left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
strike
Strike (attack)
A strike is an attack with an inanimate object, such as a weapon, or with a part of the human body intended to cause an effect upon an opponent or to simply cause harm to an opponent. There are many different varieties of strikes...
and how strong he was in swimming. With St Julian's ASC he improved his swimming skills so that in 1932 many were of the opinion that he was one of the finest Maltese water polo players and swimmers. He successfully played for Pick Malta and St Julian's ASC both locally and abroad. At the same time he showed his skills as a swimmer, being second to none for various year in the 1930s. Suffice it to say that he was the first Maltese to swim the 100 yards freestyle in 57 seconds (as timed by Captain Curmi, KOMR
KOMR
KOMR , "Recuerdo 100.3 - 106.3 FM") in Sun City, Arizona, is a Spanish Adult Hits music formatted radio station serving the Phoenix area. The Univision station, along with satellite sisters KQMR in Globe and KKMR in Arizona City, is known on-air as "Recuerdo 100.3 - 106.3 FM".-History:The 106.3...
).
Unfortunately, he is remembered more for what in the history of water polo is referred to as 'The Charles Flask incident'. In 1936, Malta was preparing to take part in the Berlin Olympic Games. As was expected, Charles was called to join the national water polo team but, before the Malta party was formally announced, Flask was dropped from the side. St Julian's ASC, with players like Flask in its ranks, won 40 out of 42 games. For the rest of his life he never forgot the harm done to him and, though he continued to play for several years, he always regretted up to his death on May 29, 1978, not being given the possibility to play for the Malta side in the 1936 Olympic Games.
Charles Flask, was a real sportsman. He practised football, rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
and billiard
Billiard
-Games:* A , a type of shot in cue sports * Billiards: cue sports in general, including pool, carom billiards, snooker, etc.; the term "billiards" by itself is also sometimes used to refer to any of the following more specifically:...
but he was first and foremost a great swimmer and one of the best Maltese water polo players. Charles Flask was married to late Maria Concetta née Cilia (widow of Tony Delia) and had five sons and two daughters.