JERSEYMAN Charles ‘Chuggy’ Perchard enjoyed a landslide victory to claim the Channel Islands Sports Personality of the Year award for 2021.
The Island men’s cricket captain received 61% of the public vote to fend off the challenge of three Sarnians at Beau Sejour in Guernsey, while there was a clean-sweep for Jersey in the Rising Star, Team of the Year and Coach of the Year accolades.
Perchard, who guided his national side to a best-ever result in the European qualifiers for the 2022 T20 World Cup – finishing the tournament as the leading wicket-taker – beat professional footballers Alex Scott and Maya Le Tissier and Olympic Games track athlete Cameron Chalmers to the top gong, to follow in the footsteps of team-mate Jonty Jenner, who won the leading prize in 2015.
Scott, who broke into Championship club Bristol City’s first-team ranks last year, finished as runner-up.
Jersey’s men’s cricket squad claimed the Team of the Year award for their efforts at that World Cup qualifying tournament in Spain last October, where they claimed six wins from six, although their head coach, Neil MacRae, was beaten to the Coach of the Year award by Jersey Bulls manager Gary Freeman. He was honoured in recognition of his side’s stellar league performance and record-breaking run to the third qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Jersey Rowing Club, Jersey Table Tennis Association, Jersey Bulls and Guernsey Padel Club were also on the shortlist for the team award, while Miro Afonso [jiu jitsu] was also among Jersey’s hopefuls for the coaching honour.
There were celebrations for Jersey’s netball and rugby communities, too, as Lily Jones picked up the Rising Star award and Jersey Reds Athletic claimed a special judges’ award.
Jones, named in Team Bath’s Superleague squad for 2022, made her senior debut for the club last year and helped them claim their first Fast-5 Championship title at the Copper Box Arena in London. She was selected ahead of fellow nominees Luke Harris, the Fulham FC junior, Reds’ professional Harry Doolan and Guernsey golfer Ollie Chedhomme.
Reds Athletic, represented on the night by head coach Myles Landick and captain Tim Corson, were picked out for special praise by the judging panel following their Siam Cup triumph over Guernsey in November.
Sark’s Olympic Games dressage medallist, Carl Hester, was named Champion of Sport, while Guernsey netball coach Gill Queripel claimed the annual Michael Lucas Sporting Hero award.
Reaction to follow.
