Sports Awards of the Year 2012-Andrique Allisop, Lisa Labiche take 2012 sports crowns |28 January 2013

President James Michel presented Labiche and Allisop with the big trophies during Friday night’s 29th Sports Awards crowning ceremony at the International Conference Centre in the presence of Vice-President Danny Faure, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, senior sports officials, family members of the athletes and representatives of the sponsors, among other guests.

Both Allisop and Labiche represented the country at the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London last year.

Allisop qualified for the Olympics after winning a bronze medal at the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (Aiba) African Olympic qualifying tournament in Casablanca, Morocco from April 27 to May 6, giving Seychelles a 13th overall spot.

As for Labiche, she competed at the Games after receiving an invitation from the International Association of Athletics Federations. In 2012, Labiche also won a gold medal at the 18th African Senior Athletics Championships in Porto-Novo, Benin after clearing the bar at 1.86m. She also won a silver medal at the 14th International IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships inside the Montjuic Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, with a leap of 1.88m for a new a junior and senior Seychelles record.

Praslinois judoka Dominique Dugasse, who was the first local athlete to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games, finished second overall, pushing badminton player Georgie Cupidon, who was ranked second in 2011, one spot down the ranking into third position. Allan Julie, who won the Sportsman of the Year title for a record sixth time in 2011, finished fourth overall and young swimmer Adam Viktora took fifth position.

In the ladies’ group, Janet Georges, a four-time Sportswoman of the Year winner in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010, finished second ahead of 2011 winner badminton player Alisen Camille who has finished third overall best.

Throws specialist Rose, who also won the Young Female Athlete of the Year title, is fourth in the ranking, ahead of judoka Brigitte Rose who has finished fifth overall.

As Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Allisop and Labiche received the floating cup from President Michel, a certificate, a R15,000 cash prize sponsored by Seychelles Breweries, a return ticket to any network destination from Qatar Airways, a telephone set (iphone 4) sponsored by Cable & Wireless and a Lava tablet sponsored by Airtel.

The runners-up got R8,000 and a return ticket to any network destination from Qatar Airways, third place finishers R6,000, fourth place finishers R4,000 and fifth place getters R3,000. They also each got a cup and a certificate.

In the young athletes category, swimmer Viktora finished first ahead of tennis player Damien Laporte who claimed the runner-up position. Athlete Dean William finished third, while 2011 winner weightlifter Sirous Farabeau and sailor Aubrey Sophola were fourth and fifth respectively.

Rose topped the female youth category, relegating sailor Alison Hoareau into second position.
2011 Young Female Athlete of the Year winner weightlifter Rena Agricole finished third, judoka Caroline Philoé fourth and badminton Chlorie Cadeau fifth.

As prizes the young athletes received a trophy, certificate and cash prizes of R5,000 (winner), R4,000 (runners-up), R3,000 (third place finishers), R2,000 (fourth place finishers) and R1,000 (fifth place finishers) from Cable & Wireless. Cable & Wireless chief executive Charles Hammond and the company’s director for Human Resources and Administration Thomas Dauban presented them with their prizes.

In the best school of the year category, Plaisance primary and the Baie Ste Anne primary schools have replaced Anse Aux Pins as winners, while the Plaisance secondary school won the title at secondary level, replacing Anse Royale.

Both Anse Aux Pins and Anse Royale had won the title for three consecutive years.
For post-secondary, the School of Business Studies and Accounting replaced the Maritime Training Centre as the winners.

Bernard Denis received the coach of the year award and football referee Bernard Camille took the award for official of the year.

The Seychelles Judo Federation won the best sporting association award, while Nathalie Didon of the Seychelles Cricket Association won the volunteer of the year award.

Six individuals also received special awards for their special achievements and contributions in Seychelles sports. They are Doreen Auguste and Luther Roseline from the Anse Aux Pins primary school, Marie-Ange Bouchereau and Gerish Rachel from the Anse Royale secondary school, triathlete Nick Baldwin and Seychelles’ honorary consul for South Korea, Jeong Dong Chang, the brainchild behind the Eco-Friendly Seychelles Marathon.

What the champions said:

Sportsman of the Year Andrique Allisop

“The title is for me an accomplished dream. I have always promised my coaches that I will bring back the Sportsman of the Year title to the sport of boxing as they themselves won it during their heydays. My next target is to work harder to keep the title within the sport. I have a long way to go and I am ready to fight and push myself to the limit so that I can reach even further, if given the appropriate opportunities and support. My wish is to strive and fly the Seychelles colours as high as possible.”

Sportswoman of the Year Lissa Labiche

“I worked hard during the year and the award crowns all the hard work and sacrifices I made over the years. I have a lot more to give and I am ready to push myself further to achieve better results despite all possible obstacles ahead. I am also urging the authority to better cater for athletes, offering us more support. I am speaking on behalf of all athletes, regardless of their level of achievement. The government should support all of us to the maximum and not only those who compete at a higher level, as we all want to excel and make our country proud.”

Young Male Athlete of the Year Adam Viktora

“I was not expecting the best young male athlete award and the title has come as a surprise for me. Finishing in the top five in the senior category is a huge achievement for me. The titles will serve as an inspiration for me to work harder to achieve better results. My target is to climb higher in the ranking and grab the best male athlete of the year title, if possible, while my long term target remains an Olympic medal.”

Young Female Athlete of the Year Marie-Helen Rose

“I have worked hard during the year and the award is the fruit of all the sacrifices and devotion. The achievement will motivate me to work harder and improve my performance. It is only the beginning for me.”