Humble heroine Queripel says award ‘for netball, not just me’
GILL QUERIPEL walked onto stage aghast and seemingly about to release tears of joy when she received the Michael Lucas Sporting Hero Award on Thursday night.
Yet although her nearly four decades of dedication to Guernsey netball led to her lifting the prized honour at the Betway Channel Islands Sports Awards 2021, hosted at Beau Sejour, the great stalwart declined to take all the credit.
‘It’s for netball – it’s not just for me,’ the 69-year-old said.
‘I think one that should get a really big special mention is Mary Jehan. She’s the one who first got me involved in netball and Mary and I actually now are still working together.’
Queripel was serving a presidential term when she stepped down from the Guernsey Netball Association committee in late 2020, the same time as Jehan.
Her lengthy service to all areas of Guernsey netball began in 1984 and she will have no doubt inspired many islanders over these years, and she still fulfils several roles, including coaching and being a pivotal figure in indoor nets. That alternative game has taken her around the world with the England team.
‘I don’t do what I do for awards. I do it because I enjoy it, and if I can pass on my enjoyment to other people, then I’ve done my job,’ she added.
‘If I can help people believe in themselves – because sometimes they don’t when they first start – and build their characters, then I feel as though I’ve achieved what I need to achieve.
‘It’s not about international recognition, although it’s very nice – going to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, who can complain about that?
‘But there you go. You have to put in the hours, but I enjoy it.’
Olympic badminton silver-medallist Gail Emms attended the awards as special guest as Jersey took the lion’s share of honours, including cricketer Chuggy Perchard winning CI Sports Personality of the Year in a public vote from Guernsey’s Cam Chalmers, Alex Scott and Maya Le Tissier.
Perchard’s Jersey cricket squad won team of the year while Jersey Bulls football manager Gary Freeman took the coach of the year accolade.
Netballer Lily Jones was recognised as the Rising Star and Jersey Reds Athletic were presented with a judges’ award.
The other Bailiwick recognition came as Carl Hester, the Olympic gold, silver and bronze team dressage medallist raised in Sark, won the Champion of Sport Award.
