12/5/2008 11:16:00 AM Who deserves to be Male Athlete of the Year?
Number one: Gavin Manders showed he can hang with Bermuda’s best players when he upset Andy Bray and won two of the four majors. *Photo by Ras Mykkal
Who qualifies?
Below are regulations for the Government Sports Awards
Athlete of the Year
These awards are presented to the competitive male and female athlete of the year who is clearly recognized as the most outstanding athletes in the current awards year. These athletes must have demonstrated an obvious programme of excellence and conduct consistent with the ideals of sport.
Achievement Award
These awards are presented to those athletes who excelled in national and/or international competition during the current awards year. They must have placed in the top four places in a recognized international competition or first in a national competition.
After another dramatic year of sport, it's time to nominate your Sports Personality of the Year. Starting today with the Male category James Whittaker takes a look at the contenders.
To vote e-mail jwhittaker@bermudasun.bm or utilize our online poll here at www.bermudasun.bm.
To nominate any athlete for the Bermuda Government Sports Awards pick up a form from the Department of Youth and Sport or any major sports store and submit your nomination by December 12.
Tyrone Smith
Bermuda's best performer at the Olympics looks to be the stand-out contender in this year's list.
The Chicago based athlete finished 15th at the Beijing games with a jump of 7.91m. Earlier he'd broken the national record and become the first Bermudian to break the eight-metre barrier with a leap of 8.03 in Greece.
He's teamed up with U.S. legend Carl Lewis' team and is working with expert coach Tom Tellez.
The main drawback for Smith is that he has not lived on the island since he was five and his lack of true Bermudian credentials might count against him.
Lionel Cann
After a match-saving 99 for St. George's in Cup Match, Cann converted his tremendous local form onto the international stage.
With over 300 runs at an average of 102 at the ICC Americas Championship in Florida last week, this was his best performance to date for the national team and a sign that he is maturing into an influential performer on the world stage.
His lack of international action in the first half of the year may count against him.
Patrick Nisbett
Patrick Nisbett was one of three Bermudians to actually qualify for the Olympics.
Unfortunately for the showjumper he didn't get to go. Nisbett had been selected for the slot ahead of Jillian Terciera.
But his horse Antille fell ill and he was unable to travel. Still, his achievement in qualifying for the games will undoubtedly gain him recognition.
One downside for Nisbett could be that the event in which he met the qualifying standards - the Pan Am Games in Rio - was actually last year.
Gavin Manders
A good year for Manders who managed to break Englishman Andy Bray's stranglehold on the domestic tennis scene winning the Island Construction Open and the WER Joell tournament.
He also reached the final of the Coral Beach Invitational and was part of the Davis Cup team that finished third in its group in Honduras.
A lack of higher profile international victories may count against him.
Roy Allan Burch
A record breaking year for Olympic swimmer Burch. He may have been disappointed with his time of 52.65 in the 100m freestyle but he was still head and shoulders above his local rivals.
Burch broke the Bermuda record in the 50 free with a time of 23.05 at the National Swimming Championships. He also broke the national record in the 100 free by clocking 51.71. Both of the previous records were owned by Roy, which he had set a few weeks earlier in California.
James Stout
He may excel at a sport that few have heard of and even fewer know how to play, but a Bermudian world champion is nothing to sniff at.
Stout claimed the world title in rackets - a kind of 'extreme squash' played with an old fashioned wooden racket and a golf-style ball that pings around the court at speeds of up to 170mph.
The former squash pro has also won the British and U.S. Open rackets titles.
John Barry Nusum
It wasn't necessarily a stand-out year for the big centre forward but he merits nomination for his part in the giant-killing World Cup first leg victory over Trinidad. Nusum scored both goals as Bermuda beat Trinidad 2-1 in Trinidad to shock the football world.
The brace also took him past Shaun Goater's total of 10 World Cup goals to become Bermuda's all-time top scorer in the competition.
Antonio Pierce
Became the first 'Bermudian' to win the Super Bowl when the New York Giants defeated the New England patriots 17-44 in a dramatic finish.
The middle linebacker was influential as the Giants turned round their season and defeated the previously unbeaten Patriots. He has since gone on to lead the Giants defence as they head for the play-offs again with an 11-1 record so far this year.
Though he has never lived on the island he has strong local credentials through his Bermudian father Cleo Burrows and worked summers at Southampton firm IEL Plumbing Supplies. He may have blotted his copy book as far as this award is concerned with his alleged involvement in the Plaxico Burress nightclub shooting incident.
Chris Estwanik
Ohio-born runner Chris Estwanik has dominated the local road running scene and set a new May 24 record blazing to victory in a time of 1:08.25.
He's set new marks in several other local races, finished midway through the elite pack in the Front Street Mile.
He's not Bermudian so he is not eligible for the Government Sports Award but you can vote for him in the Bermuda Sun poll.
Garth Thomson
Another great year for cyclist Thomson who claimed a silver medal in the Caribbean Time Trial Championships.
He also finished second in the CD&P Grand Prix, won the Bermuda Time Trial and the National Mountain Bike Championships. Like Estwanik he is not eligible for the Government Sports Award but is in the running for the Sun award.
Posted: Saturday, December 13, 2008
Comment by:
Gui Gomes
GAVIN !!!!!!!!!
Posted: Friday, December 12, 2008
Comment by:
Alejandro Luna
I used to see this man everyday on the courts perfecting his game. I know a hard worker when I see one and he deserves this award
Posted: Thursday, December 11, 2008
Comment by:
Ryan Owoc
That boy Gavin is somethin else. He definatly deserves Althlete of the year...
Posted: Thursday, December 11, 2008
Comment by:
Paul Sofianos
Gavin Manders
Posted: Thursday, December 11, 2008
Comment by:
Michele Smith
Gavin Manders
Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Comment by:
Roy-Allan Burch
The record that was set in california was a long course record (23.74) separate from the two other records which were short course. I also set numerous school and conference records at Springfield College http://www.spfldcol.edu/homepage/athletics.nsf/2404afe7dd4d7ef545256bf4002a67e2/bb44e1e00bc5cce045256d4a0022db50?OpenDocument
