Media Release - 9th June 2006

The Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey's Post Melbourne Games Reception last night at Highland's College was attended by competitors and officials from Team Jersey and by representatives of the many companies that had either sponsored individual sports or the Association in supporting Jersey's largest team ever to take part in a Commonwealth Games.

Resplendant in their red blazers, members of Team Jersey were provided with the opportunity of sharing their experiences of the Games last March with each other and of seeing a selection of photographs displayed on a large screen in the College's Great Hall.

The Association's President, Martin Hebden , congratulated all of the Team on their performances both on and off the ‘field of play' and also expressed, on behalf of the Association, his appreciation to the media for their excellent coverage of Team Jersey throughout the period of the Games. He then presented Team Managers and assistant officials with Melbourne 2006 certificates and a CD of official Team photographs. Paul Huddlestone, the General Team Manager, was commended for his outstanding contribution in organising both the arrangements for the Team prior to the Games and for his role as the GTM in the Games Village. He was presented with a framed photograph of the Team as a token of the Association's appreciation.

The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Mike Vibert, re-iterated many of Martin Hebden's comments and added his commendations of the Association's Officers, in particular Martin Hebden and the Association's Secretary, Alan Cross, for their work over the past three years in the build-up to the 2006 Melbourne Games. He spoke of his pride in attending the Games and witnessing, first hand, the performances of all members of Team Jersey and related how, even Lord Sebastian Coe, had passed on to him his compliments on the smart appearance of the Team as they paraded into the Melbourne Cricket Ground arena for the Opening ceremony of the Games.

The final presentation of the evening was the award of the Ken Webb Trophy. This trophy was presented to the Association on the death of its founder member and first secretary, Ken Webb, and has been awarded, after every Games, to the member of Team Jersey, that has, in the opinion of members of the Team, made the greatest contribution towards the Team during the period of the Games. Last Game's recipient of the Trophy, Pat Henwood, had the honour of presenting the Ken Webb Trophy to the Team Physiotherapist, Morag Obarska, for her dedication and professionalism and constant availability to competitors during the Melborne 2006 Games.