TRANSATLANTIC sailing star Phil Sharp became Jersey’s first winner of the Channel Islands Sports Personality of the Year last night, sponsored for the first time by Cable & Wireless.

Second place also went to Jersey, with England hockey international Beckie Herbert gaining around 20 per cent of the vote, just ahead of Alderney runner Nikki Neal, who was trailed by Guernsey athlete Dale Garland and triathlete Samantha Herridge. The Island’s public threw aside their reticent voting patterns of previous years to help crown the 25-year-old sailor at a televised gala dinner evening at the Hotel de France. Mr Sharp’s greatest achievement of 2006 was his victory in category 40 solo race from St Malo to Guadaloupe – the highly prestigious Route du Rhum. After being presented with the trophy by Olympian Steve Cram and Geoff Houston of Cable & Wireless, Mr Sharp was surrounded by well-wishers in the hotel’s Great Hall.