Tomorrow: Meet the finalists in the Community Champion(s) category
The managers, coaches, secretaries, club stalwarts, groundsmen, caretakers and other volunteers? Sport in Jersey wouldn’t happen without these people and this is an opportunity to say thank you.
So whether you are part of club or team and want to thank someone who dedicates their spare time to making your sport happen or you are a parent of child involved in sport, whose team of coaches and volunteers keeps your little one inspired and interested, all forms of nominations are welcome.
Jersey is a sporty place, many of whom excel and go on to perform at high levels and it is the dedication of those unsung heroes that makes it all possible.
Meet the three finalists:
Normandy Rescue
Nominated by: Andrew Scott-Miller
NOMINATOR: Andrew Scott-Miller
What was it about Normandy Rescue that made you want to nominate them for a Pride of Jersey award?
‘Normandie are a small team (less than 20) that have been operating in the Island for over ten years, but very few from outside motorsport know they exist.
‘They often work alongside St John Ambulance and most believe they are just the same team, so it’s great for them to get some recognition on their own.
‘The team play an essential role, not only do they provide medical cover, but they are also trained to provide first response fire and extrication.
‘These are complex and demanding skills requiring years of training which is done outside of the volunteering at events they do.
‘They have no paid staff at all, no admin support, and the team of just under 20 members cover over 75 events a year with a total turnover for the charity of under £20,000. The members cover a lot of their costs themselves because they love what they do and they know that a great number of the events they cover could nto go ahead without them in attendance due to the license requirements demanding a certified rescue unit.’
NOMINEE: Normandy Rescue
What would it mean to you to win a Pride of Jersey award?
‘It would give the whole team a massive boost and would make everyone very proud and feel like what we do is really worthwhile.
‘The team are already pleased just to be nominated but they would be absolutely delighted if we won.
‘We are a registered charity and everyone involved gives up their time to help out.
‘It is completely voluntary and to win would show our team that that is really appreciated.
What does it mean to you to have been nominated for a Pride of Jersey award and to have received the backing of the public to reach the final three?
‘We are all a little bit gobsmacked at being nominated.
‘We are very much part of the backroom staff for the events we cover and we are not the first thing people think of when they think about the event.
‘To get some recognition is amazing and makes it feel worthwhile and the fact that we have been shortlisted in the top three is incredible.
‘To be nominated by the Motocross Club is fantastic because we do cover a lot of events for them.
‘It is a bit odd because a good day for us is one where we don’t have anything to do while we are only needed if something bad happens.
‘Everyone in the team is very excited about it.
‘A lot of our members are actually quite shy but the fact that they have been talked about in such a positive way has been great.
‘They all want to put themselves out there and give something back to the community, but to be shortlisted is completely unexpected.
‘It has definitely been a big boost to morale.’
Ana Goncalves
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: David Allo
NOMINATOR: David Allo
What was it about Ana that made you want to nominate her for a Pride of Jersey award?
‘She is very caring and has raised an awful lot of money for charity.
‘Every time she has run I have always supported her and sponsored her because I think she deserves it and she is someone I admire for all the good work she does.
‘She has done a lot for Headway Jersey.
‘She is not a local girl but has put a lot into local charities.
‘She has run a lot of marathons and has raised a lot of money purely because that is what she wants to do.
‘She does it entirely on her own and goes out in all weathers.
I know there are a lot of people in Jersey who fundraise but the way she goes out about it is very impressive.
‘She is a very quiet, unassuming lady and that is what I like about her.’
Can you give an example of how Ana has inspired others?
‘She is a very good runner and has inspired people in that way.
‘I saw her running once and there was a chap there with her who was in agony with his leg and she was consoling and massaged it rather than focusing on herself and when she sorted him she carried on running – I admired that greatly.’
NOMINEE: Ana Goncalves
What would it mean to you to win a Pride of Jersey award?
‘That would be amazing.
‘To be at the awards and in a room surrounded by so many people who do so many good things would be absolutely amazing.
‘I haven’t really thought about winning because I didn’t really think about being nominated.
‘I wasn’t expecting to make the last three at all so to win would be really incredible.
‘My sister was an amazing runner and she had an accident and a head injury.
What does it mean to you to have been nominated for a Pride of Jersey award and to have received the backing of the public to reach the final three?
‘I am absolutely shocked – it was not something that I was expecting at all.
‘I didn’t do anything to be nominated I just do it because it is something I enjoy and I try to raise some money at the same time – I think I have raised over £100,000 since I started running.
‘To be nominated is amazing and makes you feel really good.
‘When someone nominates you, you don’t really think about the next bit.
‘I am very shocked that I am in the top three.’
Mark Jones
Parish: St Saviour
Nominated by: Bill McAvinue and Adelina D’Orleans
NOMINATOR: Bill McAvinue
What was it about Mark that made you want to nominate him for a Pride of Jersey award?
‘For anybody in life to have one handicapped child is very difficult.
‘Mark has two and unfortunately his wife died a few years ago.
‘It is very heart-breaking but he has never once complained and has given his time to help not only his children but others as well.
‘He is a big Manchester United fan and some years ago he arranged for Sir Alex Ferguson to come over to Jersey.
‘Sir Alex spoke so highly of Mark and that just shows what kind of person he is.
‘I know that if I had to look after my children for a weekend while my wife was away then I would struggle so to go through what he has been through and continue in the way he has is amazing – he is just a fantastic guy.’
Why should Jersey as a whole feel proud to have Mark working in their community?
‘Anybody who gives their time for free deserves a lot of credit.
‘There are a lot of people who are quick to criticise Jersey but it is a good place and it is people like Mark who make Jersey what it is.
‘For him to have done what he has done is superb.’
NOMINEE: Mark Jones
What would it mean to you to win a Pride of Jersey award?
‘While it would be fantastic for me personally and I would be very proud to win, I am aware that it could also be good for disability sport and could help to get disability sport a bit more of a public presence.
‘We do struggle with sponsors sometimes, so something like this could help to get the message out there.’
What does it mean to you to have been nominated for a Pride of Jersey award and to have received the backing of the public to reach the final three?
‘When I saw the comments made when I was nominated, I was so overwhelmed.
‘I have been involved with the learning disability football team for 11 years and started the ten-pin bowling team about 18 months ago.
‘I have two severely handicapped children so a bit of it is to do with family circumstances, but I have always got involved because I want to do it.
‘To be recognised for that is unbelievable because we don’t do it for any recognition.
‘I got involved with the football team with my son, Ryan and my daughter, Megan, has got into the ten-pin bowling which is not something I expected her to do but she really enjoys it.
‘I have immense pride that people think I am worthy of a nomination and a vote and I am humbled to have been nominated.’
DUE to their already high, but subtle, level of involvement in local sport, Jacksons CI feels that the Jersey Evening Post’s Unsung Sporting Hero of the Year award is the perfect fit for them.
It currently has sponsorship relationships with Jersey Rugby Club, the Jersey Football Association, Jersey Triathlon and St Peter’s Football Academy, to name but a few, and wants to build on its local support for sport by now helping to recognise those that can be often overlooked and taken for granted.
Charles Tennant, the head of operations at Jacksons CI – who has responsibility for Jacksons, Trinity Tyres and Motormall – which includes the busiest fuel forecourt in the Island – said that although Jacksons CI had a significant corporate responsibility programme it was keen to get involved.
‘As a company we do quite a lot that is designed to engage the community,’ Mr Tennant said. ‘We do that because we employ over 200 staff across the Island, and with something like 25,000 customers a year as well as 3,500 fuel customers each week, we are interacting with a huge number of people, and it is really quite important to us that we reflect that care we have for the community.
‘Therefore, we are very excited to be involved in what is going to be a large-scale event for Jersey. We already support many local sports, as sport brings so many people together in Jersey. Although we do not shout about it, we are very much involved in the local community and very keen to bring it together, and one way of doing that is through sport, as it can involve the whole family.
‘What always strikes me is how many people there are involved behind the scenes at sporting events. The benefit they give some clubs by being part of Island life is tremendous,’ said Mr Tennant.
‘We will be looking for the eventual winner of this award to be someone who invests a huge amount of their time into sport and gets very little praise. The sort that turn out in all weather to provide care, training, coaching and doing whatever it takes to make sure that the sport that they are involved in goes ahead week in, week out.’
