THE large crowd at the Jersey Sports Council’s annual Highland Spring awards, held at the Hotel Ambassadeur on Thursday evening, reserved their warmest applause for two long-time servants of sport, Bob Blake and Ron Halliwell.

Though illness prevented Bob Blake from collecting the prestigious Sid Guy Memorial Award for long and distinguished service to shooting and motor sports, it was a night when he was rightly hailed for for his efforts over the decades.

He was presented with the trophy at Hospice yesterday afternoon, with some 20 people present, the staff having kept the news of the award as a surprise. His long-time friend and shooting colleague Derek Bernard said last night: ‘There was a good mixture of people there as Bob wears a fair number of hats – Island Games, Sports Council, shooting and even Home Affairs were all represented.

‘Whatever Bob has taken on he has always put a lot of energy into it and he richly deserves this honour.’

The Colin Welsh Memorial Award, for the unsung heroes of Island sport, was collected by Ron Halliwell, from the Welsh family, mainly for his unstinting work behind the scenes, either as secretary or treasure (or both) in cricket, but also for his efforts in football with St Ouen and the Tradesman’s Darts League.

In what was acknowledged as an outstanding year of sporting achievement for the Island, surf kayak dominated the evening’s other awards, voted on by Sports Council members.

Seventeen-year-old surf kayaker David Speller became a double winner of the Sports Person of the Year, following on from his win as a 15-year-old.

The tall Highlands student, who hopes to go on to Newquay to become an outdoor sports instructor, becomes only the third person to win the award twice, following Sally Minty-Gravett and John Searson, and is certainly the youngest ever to win it twice.

Surf kayak were also the winners of the Highland Spring Bursary award. Elizabeth Johnson, unable to be present on the evening, will receive £500 towards purchasing her own kayak. Swimmer JJ Gallichan, who regularly qualifies for the national age group championships, wins the second award of ฃ250.

The Perpetual Team Award went to Jersey’s ladies fours team who excelled in the Atlantic Rim competition, winning gold by beating a host of top teams, including Canada in the final. The four were Lindsay Greechan, Liz Cole, Joan Renouf and Chris Grimes.

Certificates of merit were presented to Denise Richards (for swimming from Jersey to France); Daniel Richardson (fullbore shooting U21 world champion), Paul Clements (triathlon double gold medallist in Rhodes), Bruce Dingle (Super moto championship performances) and Andrew Toporis (world masters ju-jitsu champion for the third time). Surf kayaker Ailsa McDougall’s certificate was collected in her absence (for her performances in the world championships) by David Speller.

The Highland Spring Achievement in Disabled Sport award went to special gymnast Samantha Godel for her displays home and away and particularly for the Special Olympics. Fellow gymnast Harry Smale was a runner-up as was wheelchair tennis player James Brady.