BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2006
 | | Phil recieved the award from Richard Collinson |
The judges have reached a decision and the inaugural BBC Jersey Sports Personality of the Year was awarded to sailor Phil Sharp. The results were announced as follows: 1st place - Phil Sharp (sailing)
2nd place - Becky Herbert (hockey)
3rd place - Liz Cann (badminton)
4th place - Sue Dingle & Gaynor Thomas (bowls) Winner PHILIP SHARP Sailor Phil Sharp has been named as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2006 following his win in the Route du Rhum. 25 year-old Phil won Classe 40 of the challenging solo transatlantic event. His victory earns him a place in the history books as only the second Briton ever to win a class in this race – the first was Dame Ellen MacArthur.
 | | Phil's yacht rounding Guadeloupe |
The Route du Rhum, which takes place every 4 years, sees sailors single-handedly race from St Malo, France to the West Indies island of Guadeloupe; a distance of approximately 6300 miles. Perhaps what makes Phil’s success all the more notable is that he was the only competitor in the Rhum who didn’t have full corporate sponsorship - he was essentially an amateur racing against a fleet of professional yachtsmen. Classe 40 had more entrants than any other and Phil saw off tough competition from experienced French sailors, who traditionally excel in this event, to cross the finish line in a winning time of 18 days, 10 hours and 21 minutes. Phil took a tactical decision to sail a course well to the north of the direct route, a decision which clearly paid off as he was nearly a whole day ahead of his nearest rival. However, his winning journey was by no means an easy one; he was pushed to the limit both physically and mentally. He experienced huge seas and high winds as well a frustrating last night of the race when he was becalmed.
 | | Phil Sharp at the helm of philsharpracing.com |
One of the more frightening incidents in his race occurred during a violent thunderstorm, complete with 60 knot winds, when Phil’s 40ft monohull yacht capsized. Phil hopes that his success in the Route du Rhum will help him to receive sponsorship which in turn will enable him realise his ultimate goal of competing in the legendary Vendee Globe Round the World Race. We received numerous nominations for Phil Sharp and here are just a few of the reasons we were given for why you thought he deserves this award: “I believe Phil has made Jersey very proud and deserves this accolade for putting Jersey once again on the world sailing map.” “An amazing feat in an international field of top racers.” “What a performance from a young Jerseyman.” “Skill, determination, seamanship, competitiveness, stamina and sheer guts.” “He succeeded where so many have failed. If he doesn't win then no one else deserves too!” Second Place REBECCA HERBERT
 | | Becky in action for England in Melbourne (c) Getty |
Hockey player Becky Herbert was a member of the bronze medal winning English Commonwealth Games team. England had a nail-biting victory over New Zealand in the bronze playoffs, which was decided on penalties. She also played for the national side in the Hockey World Cup in Spain this year, where England just missed out on a place in the semi-final after they drew with the hosts. Earlier in the tournament they knocked out Olympic champions Germany. Becky’s team, Leicester Ladies’, were crowned national champions in the 2005/06 season by winning the Slazenger English Hockey lead for the second consecutive season. They were also named as the BBC East Midlands Team of the Year. Third Place ELIZABETH CANN
 | | Lizz Cann (c) Getty Images |
Jersey came very close to winning a medal of its own at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne this year thanks to a stellar performance from badminton player Liz Cann. Cann progressed through to the semi-finals of the women’s singles event where she lost to England’s top seed, and eventual gold medallist, Tracey Hallam. Liz then faced Scotland’s Susan Hughes in a playoff for the bronze medal. The match between the two was closely fought, with the Scot taking the first set and Liz the second. The deciding set was neck and neck until Susan managed to pull two points clear after 19-19 to take the game and with it Jersey’s final chance of a medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Liz also won all of her singles’ matches in the team event. Fourth Place GAYNOR THOMAS & SUE DINGLE
 | | Gaynor Thomas and Sue Dingle |
This bowls partnership came within, quite literally, an inch of winning bronze for Jersey at the Commonwealth Games. After finishing at the top of their group in the qualifying stages Gaynor and Sue progressed through to the final four. Like Liz Cann in the badminton, they lost their semi-final match and faced a playoff for the bronze medal, and like Liz Cann it was a closely fought battle: Gaynor and Sue played New Zealand’s Khan sisters and the medal was decided on the very last shot of the tie-break; the Jersey pairs bowl being just an inch further from the jack than their opponents’. Other nominees We also received nominations for the following people: Alice Harvey
Andy Perchard
Arthur Falle
Ben Skinner
Charles Le Moignan
Clive Dunford
Craig Culkin
Dave Brodie
Grace Davies
Harry Smale
Jamie Stevenson
Jan Buttle-Ulvin
Judy Paul
Mariana Agathangelou
Matthew Parkman
Neville Ahier
Richard Collinson
Sally Minty-Gravett
Scott Ruderham
Simon Laurens
Tommy Kyle
Tom Millar | 
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