The Malta Judo Association is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

During these 40 years, it has been a story of success for the association and its Judoka.

It had all started in 1969 when a group of Judoka who used to meet regularly at the Zabbar Physical Cultural Club decided to form the Malta Judo Association. Today Judo is still the most successful sport in the Games of the Small States of Europe with 11 gold medals won over the years.

Those people who founded the association and most of the Judoka who made Judo so successful in Malta over this 40 year span between 1969 to 2009, met at the San Anton Gardens, in a Black Tie reception under the Patronage of His Excellency Dr George Abela.

Judo Malta has a lot to celebrate as during these 40 years, much has been achieved and besides the opportunity for the Maltese Judo community to meet and renew beautiful memories, the Association distributed several awards.

The function was officially opened by the Hamrun Boy Scouts marching in to the tune of the bagpipes, which resonated around the gardens. The Hamrun Boy Scouts were not only selected for their professionally trained band, but also because they were one of the first clubs to affiliate with the MJA and also formed part of the Maltese Judo History.

Charles Camenzuli compering the event with Louisa Galea, invited Father Hilary Tagliaferro, the Association Chaplain to open the celebrations with a prayer, which he did jokingly stating that he had adapted the prayer he had recently written on the occasion of Hibs becoming local football champions.

A minute’s silence was called accompanied by the melancholic sound of Amazing Grace, to remember those Judoka who had passed away: among whom those mentioned were Andrew Bertie - Patron of the Association and Founding Member of the Malta Judo Foundation; Anthony Caruana - First President, Joe Gravina - Vice President, Marchesa Alice Buttigieg de Piro - wife of the Honorary Life President, Mike Williams - General Secretary, Charles Fava - Photographer, Tony Tanti - Athlete and Club Representative, Reno Portelli - Athlete and Club representative, Anton Azzopardi - Athlete.

The first award was the Andrew Bertie award for lifelong service to Judo. This was presented by His Excellency Umberto Di Capua, Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Joe Caruana, founder of Maltese Judo.

Marquis Anthony Buttigieg de Piro, Honorary president of the Association, presented the Marchesa Alice Buttigieg de Piro Award to those women who contributed exceptionally to Judo. Receiving the awards were Jackie Xuereb, three times Gold medal winner in the GSSE and Laurie Pace, Olympian, Bronze medal Commonwealth Games and two times Gold medal winner at the GSSE.

Joseph Cassar, Secretary General of the Malta Olympic Committee, then presented the Olympian award to four Judoka, namely Stephen Farrugia, Jason Trevisan, Laurie Pace and Marcon Bezzina, the last two having also been honoured as Flag Bearers in three Olympic Games.

Next was the handing out of the 40th Anniversary Certificate of Membership to the Judo Clubs. Clyde Puli, Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, accompanied by Bernard Vassallo, Chairman of the Malta Council for Sport, congratulated and presented certificates to Tigne Judo Club, Kamikwai J.C. HBJC, The Malta Judo Academy, Mai Judo Club, Tora J.C, St Michael’s Judo Club, The Malta Jujitsu Academy and The Malta Kendo Association.

Charles and Louisa called Joanna Camilleri, to the podium. She read out a poem written by Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, President Emeritus, when he was still president of Malta in 1997, on the occasion of the extraordinary results achieved by the Maltese Judo contingent during the GSSE in Iceland winning three Gold, three Silver and two Bronze Medals with just eight athletes. The poem compares Judo to the non-native flowers which are planted by Maltese gardeners to enhance the beauty of their gardens, in the same way, as Judo, a Japanese Sport, had brought honour and success to Maltese Sport.

The first part of the award ceremony was the Golden award given to all the Judoka who won the 11 Gold medals for Malta in the past GSSE Games. This award was presented by HE Dr Abela to Jackie Xuereb, Laurie Pace, John Zammit, and Marcon Bezzina. Kamilla Peter and Natalie Galea were away from Malta and will be presented with this Award on another occasion.

MJA president Envic Galea then presented a 40th anniversary memento to Dr Abela and Jackie Xuereb, presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Abela.

Later on in the evening, Joe Caruana presented a 40th anniversary award to Envic Galea for his 16 years service as General Secretary and 25 years as President of the Association.

Three Judoka, two from Italy and one from Great Britain, were enrolled in the small circle of Life honorary members of the Malta Judo Association.

These were, Alfredo Monti, 7th Dan, and Dr. Attilio Sacripanti 6th Dan from Italy and Dr. Mike Callan, 6th Dan from Great Britain.

The MJA president explained what a great honour it was for the Association to have as Life Hon Members these three Judoka who have contributed so much for the success of Maltese Judo. The other Life Honorary Members are Flight Lieutenant Ian Crawley, Jack Cook (deceased), Franco Capelletti and Angelo Beltrachini.

Immediately after, Alex Bezzina, Sports Director of the MJF was called to receive the 6th Dan red and white belt. This award was kept a secret and it showed from Alex’s face and from the fact that Alex, usually a great orator, was completely at a loss for words. The red and white belt is a mark of achievement for any judoka and never fails to draw emotions on the one who receives it and Alex was no exception. The President thanked Alex for all his dedication to Judo and identified him as one of the stalwarts of Judo in Malta.

A group of surprised people were the small team of MEUSAC headed by Maria Schembri, whose father was another pioneer in Judo at the Stella Maris Judo Club. Maria and her great team were given a small token of appreciation for the help they give NGOs like the MJF in seeking funding from EU. The president thanked them for their professional assistance.

Jesmar Baldacchino, on behalf of Smash TV, was thanked for the great support he has given to the Malta Judo Association in the assistance of the production of the Judo TV Programme, Hajime, hosted by Louisa Galea, which was aired on Smash TV during the winter months.

At the end, the MJA president thanked everybody present, honoured guests, Judoka, Press and TV for having accepted the invitation. He presented a Judo Memento to Charles Camenzuli who, together with Louisa, ably took the evening through 40 years of Judo history.

He then presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Doris Galea and Mrs Lycia Saywell for their hard work over the past months to ensure that this reception was organised to perfection and finally invited everybody to taste the MJF birthday cake.

All photos of the occasion can be viewed on www.maltajudo.com