William Chetcuti again stole the limelight at the 2012 MOC Sports Awards after he was honoured with the Platinum Award during yesterday’s ceremony at the Grand Hotel Excelsior.
The double trap shooter was rewarded for his excellent performances this year when he also managed to win a silver medal in the World Cup shoot held in Tucson, US.
In August, Chetcuti also represented the country at the London Games where, despite missing out on what would have been a historic medal, he achieved a top-10 placing when finishing ninth.
Besides, Chetcuti also finished fifth in a World Cup shoot in Lonato and eighth in the World Cup finals, held in Maribor, Slovenia.
Former Italy and Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, the star guest at yesterday’s ceremony, presented the trophy to Chetcuti alongside MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco.
Another notable prize yesterday was the Special Award of Excellence that was presented to Mr Whippy owner Joe Carabott and driver Manty Bugeja who, this year, won the European Top Methanol Dragster Championships, organised by the International Motorsport Federation (FIA).
Elsewhere, only three sportsmen/women received a gold award yesterday.
Nathan Lee Xuereb, the upcoming double trap shooter, was honoured for his commendable performances in the past year as he collected the gold award.
Xuereb, 16, caught the eye in the last few months with some impressive results which included a fourth place finish in the World Cup shoot in Tucson before his success at the Malta International Double Trap Grand Prix. The talented shooter was ninth in the Maribor World Cup finals.
Squash player Brad Hindle Deguara claimed the second gold award of his career after another positive year on the professional tour.
Hindle Deguara won silver in the Luxembourg Open and was a semi-finalist in the Polish and Swiss Opens. He also represented Malta in the European Team Championships were he re-mained unbeaten.
Bowler Sue Abela was the other gold award winner after clinching gold in the Mediterranean Championships and then placed in the top 16 of the world championships for professionals.
During yesterday’s ceremony the MOC also presented seven silver awards.
The recipients here were judoka Marcon Bezzina, table football player Samuel Bartolo, bowlers Abela and Melissa Swift, sprinter Diane Borg, shooters Darren Vella and Clive Farrugia, swimmer Andrew Chetcuti and the bowling team of Abela, Justin Caruana Scicluna, Mark Spiteri and Swift.
Four sportsmen and administrators were inducted into the MOC Hall of Fame last night.
These are former Malta international John Buttigieg who, in recent years, also coached the national team, long-distance swimmer and triathlete Nicky Farrugia, long-time Malta Wrestling Federation president Simon Bonello and former judoka Laurie Pace.
The winners...
Platinum award: W. Chetcuti (shooting).
Special award for excellence: Mr Whippy (drag racing).
Gold awards: N.L. Xuereb (shooting); B. Hindle Deguara (squash); S. Abela (bowling).
Silver awards: M. Bezzina (judo); S. Bartolo (table football); S. Abela, M. Swift (bowling); D. Borg (athletics); C. Farrugia, D. Vella (shooting); A. Chetcuti (swimming); S. Abela, J. Caruana Scicluna, M. Spiteri, M. Swift (bowling).
Bronze awards: J. Scicluna, M. Spiteri (men’s bowling team); T. Brousson, S. De Cesare, C. Farrugia, J. Rizzo, C. Sultana (women’s squash team); E. Bonello (cycling); J. Saywell (judo); M. Kisvardai (target shooting); D. Conti (table football); N. Muscat (swimming); J. Reljic, N, Coleiro, M. Muscat Inglott (weightlifting team); M. Sammut (swimming); K. Galea (triathlon); Valletta SC (table football); G. Schembri (mini moto).
Special Awards: M. Umnov (swimming); L. Farrugia (athletics), B. Cassar Torreggiani, R. Sammut, K Sammut, R. McCarthy (tennis); A. Micallef (swimming); K. Caruana (gymnastics); T. Massa, R. Zammit, R. Fitz, N. Gatt (athletics); J. Harding (swimming); F. Aufieri (judo); N. Gatt (athletics); B. Mifsud (athletics); A. Zammit (gymnastics); K. Cauchi (squash); I. Bezzina (judo); N.L. Xuereb (shooting); J. Saywell (judo); D. Bonello Spiteri (triathlon).
Local council award: 1. Qormi, 2. Gudja, 3. Mellieħa, Floriana.