STEVE CRAM is the headline speaker at this year’s CI Sports Personality of the Year event in Jersey later this month. The former world 1,500m champion has a good chance of handing over the prestigious award to a fellow athlete with two among the list of five nominees from around the Channel Islands.
With twice winner Andy Priaulx out of the reckoning, Dale Garland, the inaugural winner, is again a strong challenger and he is joined on the shortlist by fellow athlete, Nikki Neal.
The mother-of-four and new CI marathon record-holder after finishing 29th woman overall in 2hr 54min. at last year’s Flora London Marathon is the first Alderney resident to be nominated.
Triathlete Sam Herridge is the Bailiwick’s other nominee for the top prize.
Jersey’s representatives on the shortlist are trans-Atlantic sailor Phil Sharpe and England hockey star Becky Herbert.
Thanks to new sponsors Cable & Wireless the event returns as a black-tie gala dinner, following last year’s pre-recorded television event.
‘It is tremendous that Cable & Wireless have shown massive support for Channel Islands sport through their support of this showcase event,’ said Graham Chester, Guern-sey’s sports development manager.
‘Without them there would have been no live event again, so everybody involved in local sport is indebted to them,’ he added.
Organiser of the event to be shown live on ITV in the Channel Islands from the Hotel de France in Jersey, Darren Duquemin of Wallace Barnaby, says he views it as ‘the Oscars meeting X Factor’.
‘It is a gala black-tie awards ceremony that all the Channel Islands talks about. And, of course, television viewers decide the ultimate winner on the night with what has proved to the islands’ largest telephone vote.’
Article posted on 9th January, 2007 - 12.00am
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