WHERE does the powerbase in Channel Islands sport lie? Jersey or Guernsey? It’s a question worth asking five days ahead of the glitzy black-tie Sportingbet Channel Islands Sports Personality-of-the-Year awards at Beau Sejour.
And, I’m sad to have to say it, while Guernsey have more individuals at the top end of their particular sports - the Priaulxs, Garlands, Merriens of this world - Jersey are probably ahead when it comes to the team honours.
They win more Murattis and Siams than we do, they are so far ahead in golfing terms that it is depressing and our brief dominance on the cricket field seems to be over.
Sure, in swimming and hockey we currently have the upper hand and our men athletes are far stronger than the Jersey Spartans, but in the big sports the island with the bigger resources - land, human and financial - is flexing its shoulders more impressively than it has for a while.
But, in truth, and as a deep-green Sarnian this sure grates, has it not generally always been the case?
They have, after all, bigger pockets, bigger purses, bigger heads.
However, it is not a point worth becoming depressed about, especially when one considers that if you analyse the last 30 years or so and tally up the number of Channel Islanders who have cracked it at national or international level, you will see that on that particular field Guernsey probably kick the Jersey efforts into touch.
Exactly who have Jersey produced and I don’t want to hear whingeing Caesareans throwing names such as Nigel Mansell, Derek Warwick, Kieron Bracken and Ian Woosnam forward. And nor do I want to hear about Harry Vardon. That was more than a century ago.
Let’s have a little friendly analysis of the red half.
Well, for starters, there are this year’s two candidates for the Sportingbet CI sports award, including the fast-emerging rugby giant Matt Banahan who is creating a great stir at Bath.
Then there is the two-times national badminton champion, Elizabeth Cann, while also shuttlecocking her way up the UK ladder is Mariana Agathengelou.
But that’s old hat for us and the badminton score is levelled at 2-2 by our past successes.
It’s 20 years and more since Sally Podger took the national title and don’t forget our Guernsey-raised Irishman, Liam McKenna, won a string of Irish crowns.
For no other reason than stoking up a bit of friendly inter-island banter ahead of Thursday’s bash, here are a few other cross-island match scores when it comes to producing national stars.
We win, but don’t worry my Jersey friends, it’s only a bit of fun.
Just where does the CI power base lie?
By Rob Batiste
WHERE does the powerbase in Channel Islands sport lie? Jersey or Guernsey? It’s a question worth asking five days ahead of the glitzy black-tie Sportingbet Channel Islands Sports Personality-of-the-Year awards at Beau Sejour.
And, I’m sad to have to say it, while Guernsey have more individuals at the top end of their particular sports - the Priaulxs, Garlands, Merriens of this world - Jersey are probably ahead when it comes to the team honours.
They win more Murattis and Siams than we do, they are so far ahead in golfing terms that it is depressing and our brief dominance on the cricket field seems to be over.
Sure, in swimming and hockey we currently have the upper hand and our men athletes are far stronger than the Jersey Spartans, but in the big sports the island with the bigger resources - land, human and financial - is flexing its shoulders more impressively than it has for a while.
But, in truth, and as a deep-green Sarnian this sure grates, has it not generally always been the case?
They have, after all, bigger pockets, bigger purses, bigger heads.
However, it is not a point worth becoming depressed about, especially when one considers that if you analyse the last 30 years or so and tally up the number of Channel Islanders who have cracked it at national or international level, you will see that on that particular field Guernsey probably kick the Jersey efforts into touch.
Exactly who have Jersey produced and I don’t want to hear whingeing Caesareans throwing names such as Nigel Mansell, Derek Warwick, Kieron Bracken and Ian Woosnam forward. And nor do I want to hear about Harry Vardon. That was more than a century ago.
Let’s have a little friendly analysis of the red half.
Well, for starters, there are this year’s two candidates for the Sportingbet CI sports award, including the fast-emerging rugby giant Matt Banahan who is creating a great stir at Bath.
Then there is the two-times national badminton champion, Elizabeth Cann, while also shuttlecocking her way up the UK ladder is Mariana Agathengelou.
But that’s old hat for us and the badminton score is levelled at 2-2 by our past successes.
It’s 20 years and more since Sally Podger took the national title and don’t forget our Guernsey-raised Irishman, Liam McKenna, won a string of Irish crowns.
For no other reason than stoking up a bit of friendly inter-island banter ahead of Thursday’s bash, here are a few other cross-island match scores when it comes to producing national stars.
We win, but don’t worry my Jersey friends, it’s only a bit of fun.
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