The award to the ‘stunned’ triathlete was announced at the council’s new-look, and much improved, awards evening, now sponsored by Highland Spring, at the Hotel Ambassadeur last night.
The Sid Guy Memorial Award, for long and distinguished service to Island sport went to table tennis stalwart Geoff Reed, while the Perpetual Team Trophy was carried off by a delighted Jersey Women’s Bowling Association fours team of Myrtle Le Marquand, Gene Vibert, Jean Holmes and Joan de Gruchy.A new award, the Highland Spring Mineral Water Shield, for achievement in disability sport, went to 22-year-old Warwick Miller.The council gave Messervy the nod for her brilliant year in triathlon, ironman and athletics events.
She led Jersey’s gold medal charge in the NatWest Island Games in Guernsey by scooping two firsts, in the team and also in retaining her individual title, this time by a whopping six minutes.Later on in the week she helped the athletics team out and won a brave silver in the 5,000 metres.
Her determination, often veiled by a ready and winning smile, was further underlined when she qualified for this year’s World Ironman championship in Hawaii, by finishing first in her age group in the UK half-ironman event in Dorset.Excusing herself for her ‘cliché’ response on receiving the huge trophy, she thanked the people behind the scenes who had helped her.Finishing in joint second in the Sports Council’s list were England hockey international Beckie Herbert and kart star Malcolm Crowe.Geoff Reed, a life president of the Jersey Table Tennis Association, won the Sid Guy Memorial for his dedication to Island table tennis, which started the year after he arrived in Jersey in 1948.
Despite an injury halting his Division I playing career he has stayed with the game ever since being heavily involved in coaching and administration.His lifetime involvement – and influence – in the sport is never better illustrated than in the name of the excellent headquarters table tennis boasts at the FB Fields – The Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre.
Twice president of the association, both for long stretches, he is still heavily involved in the day-to-day running and development of the sport.
On being presented the trophy by the late Sid Guy’s sister, Valerie, he said that he was very pleased to receive it, pointing out that the much-missed Sid, too, had been an administrator in the sport way back in the Sixties.Also honoured with nominations for this prestigious award, profiled over the past week in the JEP, were Mary Asbury, Eileen Vowden, Annette Langley, Jean Lowery and Denis Le Breuilly.
A staggering number of years of service to sport covered in that small list.Indeed, as remarked by both Senator Mike Vibert, president of Education, Sport and Culture and Deputy Terry Le Main of the Sports Council, the whole evening illustrated the massive contribution made to Island sport by such dedicated individuals.Popular winners of the team award were the JWBA fours team that lifted the British Isles title in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, last June, beating favourites England 21-20 in the final.They beat off the challenge of the Jersey swim squad at the 2003 Island Games and the triumphant Jersey Clipper crew.A wonderful year for Jersey sport was underlined with the list for Certificates of Merit.
Last year’s Sports Person of the Year Roy Smith retained his world powerboat title; shooter Peter Stock represented Great Britain, won the world U21 fullbore championship – and struck double gold in the Island Games in Guernsey; hockey’s Beckie Herbert had another incredible year, which was, literally, capped by senior England honours against Japan; Mountaineer and MBE Eric Blakely swam the English Channel at his second attempt, in 20 hours 30 minutes; Sammy Maletroit, at 16 years last August, became the youngest swimmer for many years to cross the channel, in 12 hours 12 minutes; Malcolm Crowe, winner of the super karts MSA British championship; and teenager Ryan Gregory had a brilliant season – home and away – astride his motocross bike, crowned by a class victory in the Brittany championships.There were three candidates, nominated by Jersey Sports Association of the Disabled, for the disability in sport award won by Warwick Miller.Receiving awards for finishing joint second were Alex Dudley (27), the JSAD Sports Personality of the Year in 2002 and who received the Improved Swimmer of the Year award in 2001 and John Le Seelleur (17), also a former JSAD Sports Personality of the Year in 2001, and only the third association member ever to be awarded their special merit award for achievement (he is the current world champion special gymnast level 2 in two disciplines).
The later has now left the Island and his award was picked up by his coach John Grady.Miller is very much a rising star in JSAD.
He suffers from multiple physical and learning difficulties and is an all-round lover of sport, his two favourites being football and running.
Warwick really came to the attention of JSAD at the 2002 Hash House Harriers half marathon.He was so inspired by the runners that he vowed to take part in the 2003 race.
In spite of his disability affecting his legs and one arm, he completed the course in 2003 in a very respectable time, running with the able-bodied field.An excellent evening, well presented by Roger Bara, closed with £350 being raised for charity by the auctioning of a ride in world champion Roy Smith’s powerboat.
