- Nominees for the 2015 Bill Custard Memorial Award announced ahead of Team Jersey celebration evening.
- Winner to be named at Fort Regent on Tuesday evening during Vin d’Honneur.
- Who do you think should win? Have your say below.
The twelfth winner of the JEP Bill Custard Memorial Award will be named at Fort Regent tomorrow evening as the Island’s athletes celebrate their achievements at the 2015 NatWest Island Games.
Presented in memory of the newspaper’s long serving sports reporter at Team Jersey’s celebration evening – the Vin d’Honneur – following every Games since 1993, the award recognises sporting qualities such as fair play, determination, resilience and bravery. And, after the success of Jersey’s second home Games, there are a whole host of Caesareans who fit the bill.
Kim Ashton (cycling)
A winner of new fewer than six gold medals at Jersey 2015, Ashton picked up a road-cycling clean sweep with victories in the time trial, road race and town criterium. Her performances helped Jersey win all three ladies team events.
Fred Barette (shooting)
Winner of two golds and silver in his first Island Games, Barette dedicated his spare time to helping prepare the shooting facilities ahead of Jersey 2015, spending months re-building the skeet layouts.
Ian Black (swimming)
Commonwealth Games swimmer Black’s impressive haul of four gold medals in the pool was unrivalled within the Team Jersey camp. He also picked up two silvers and a bronze at Les Quennevais.
Jodie Botterill (football)
Captain of Jersey’s first women’s football team to win Island Games gold and a member of the Island’s basketball team. A constant threat for both sides whose willingness to give her all caught the eye at Jersey 2015.
Mark Constable (badminton)
Despite picking up men’s singles and team event gold and men’s double bronze, it is Constable’s off-the-court presence during Jersey 2015 that has attracted great recognition. His dedication to supporting (and coaching) his team-mates throughout the week, despite being in action himself, certainly warrants his nomination for this award.
Kerry Coombs-Goodfellow (badminton)
Team event gold medallist who showed ‘true grit and determination’ to help Jersey to success while carrying an injury. Her performance against the Faroe Islands in the women’s singles of the team competition was perhaps the most memorable; coming from 18-10 down in the third set to win 22-20 to secure the hosts a vital point.
Natasha Forrest (tennis)
Jersey’s rising star on the tennis court, 14-year-old Forrest claimed ladies singles and ladies doubles bronze at the Caesarean Tennis Club in her first Games. She also helped the home side to team silver.
Dan Halksworth (triathlon)
Despite suffering from illness, Halksworth stole the show at Jardin de la Mer on Day One, finishing over five minutes ahead of his nearest rival to claim individual and team triathlon gold. Also finished eighth in the 10,000m at FB Fields.
Rhys Hidrio (mountain biking)
A triple silver medallist for Team Jersey who showed great determination after technical difficulties to finish second in the men’s mountain bike criterium.
Nikki Holmes (shooting)
Just three weeks before the Games Holmes was unsure she would be able to compete due to tennis elbow, but she put her troubles behind her and won no fewer than four gold medals at Jersey 2015.
Kelly Hughes (football)
A solid presence throughout for Jersey’s women’s football team, the defender played on despite huge set backs. After suffering three large burns on the Springfield pitch on Day One, one of which became infected, a family bereavement and a separate serious illness in the family followed, just two days apart. However, she ‘stepped up’ for each game and was withdrawn from the final after 25 minutes due to pain from the burns.
Flora Keites (golf)
Fifteen-year-old Keites may have surprised some with her silver medal in the ladies competition, but her performances were nothing other than impressive over the four days. Up against nine ladies with a lower handicap, she guided Jersey to team gold.
Jordan Wykes (table tennis)
Another young star in the making, Wykes (15) made it through to the men’s singles final in his first Games and picked up a well-deserved silver medal. Also medalled in the men’s doubles after reaching the final with Josh Band.
