Fast becoming a tradition, the Malta Amateur Athletic Association annual dinner was another occasion when the hard-working officials, coaches appointed by the association and other distinguished guests got together socially to conclude their endeavours for the fast receding year. It was also, as appropriate, an evening when the protagonists themselves, the star athletes around whom revolves many hours of toil, intense focus and sacrifice, received the recognition so hard won.

As fitting the occasion, Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, President of the Malta Olympic Committee, honoured the MAAA by presenting the handsome awards to the Athletes of the Year 2006. The Male Athlete of the Year for the third year in succession was Darren Francis Gilford (also honoured as Best Senior Male), primarily due to his excellent times at the national championships and in representing the Small States of Europe in Novi Sad, where once more he scored high enough to leave absolutely no doubts as to his selection.

The sprints were also the dominant factor in the choice of the association in choosing the Woman Athlete of the Year, but in comparison to the males, the competition was much fiercer and hotly contested.

Charlene Attard, on the strength of her performances at the World Indoor Championships and the preceding competition leading to these Games, where she broke convincingly national records in the 60m and 200m sprints, and her exceptional time at Novi Sad in the 200m outdoors, to establish yet another national record, were reasons enough to merit the coveted award.

In fact, 2006 was her best year yet, her exploits also earning her the Best Junior Woman Athlete, and, as a member of the record-breaking 4 x 100m relay team at Novi Sad, the shared trophy for Best Senior Female Athlete(s) 2006.

Likewise honoured were Therese Mallia, Diane Borg and Angie Mangion.

The President of the association, Anthony Chircop, presented the rest of the awards in the other categories.

These included that to Jeandre Mallia as Best Junior male and to Diane Borg and Andy Grech as the best in the Intermediate category. The twins, Francesca and Martina Xuereb, shared the prize for Best Youths along with Sacha Dunlop and finally, in the Cadet category, the outstanding athletes voted first were Tamara Vella and Jeremy Borg, incidentally both raising the bar in the high jump and shining bright in the Long Jump.