The 30-year-old represented Jersey as part of the Island Sports School Federation team in Malta in 1997 and his been a great ambassador for the Jersey Sports Association for the Disabled ever since, particularly with his efforts in swimming.
Chairman of the JSAD, Paul Patterson said that Harburn ‘in spite of multiple physical and learning difficulties, has improved significantly in terms of stroke discipline and speed.
‘He was selected to represent Jersey at the Enfield Special Olympic regional swimming championships in April this year, returning with a silver medal.
He is a great ambassador and thoroughly deserves our recognition with this top award.’ Harburn also won the Improved Swimmer of the Year trophy, 2006, and said afterwards that: ‘I was gobsmacked to win.
I’ve recently switched to breaststroke and I’ll definitely carry on.
This has given me something to focus on.
I train twice a week at Langford and Haute Vallée.
What I’ve got to do now, is to swim much faster!’ Also at the Merton Hotel, the winners of the 2006 Vernon Tomes Memorial Trophy for the team of the year were named as Nick Jarvis and James Brady, the wheelchair tennis doubles team.
Both players competed at a high standard at the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Gloucester in May.
Brady (28) and Jarvis (31) finished the tournament as worthy B Division champions and both players received one of the loudest rounds of applause on the night.
Also nominated for this award was the Swim Easy JSAD swimming team and although they did not win, the JSAD’s coach of the year was Melissa Sheehan, their Swim Easy coach.
Despite having to look after a young family, Sheehan has travelled away with her swimmers, on more than one occasion, and has been involved in their training since 1992.
Meanwhile, at the Merton, Nick Pitman presented the fifth Graeme Pitman Memorial Trophy for endeavour to Aaron Boschat, along with a bursary of £100 to be used to purchase sporting equipment.
Aaron is only 11 years old, and as well as suffering from spina bifida has had to overcome other severe medical conditions which have led to long stays in hospital, both in Jersey and in the UK.
He, again, received one of the most heart-warming rounds of applause of the night.
And, despite being confined to a wheelchair, Aaron regularly plays both wheelchair basketball and tennis.
He also recently took part in one of the stages of the JSAD 26 x 1 marathon relay, which formed part of the first Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon.
The Tim Collins Memorial Trophy for the Wheelchair Sports Person of the Year was awarded to Alan Ronxin, together with a bursary of £100, by Paul Raimbault of the Jersey Hash House Harriers.
Ronxin, who has been a JSAD member since its inception, has played both wheelchair basketball and tennis as an able bodied volunteer.
Indeed, as Patterson explained: ‘It is no exaggeration to say that Alan has been the backbone of wheelchair sport, and in his own quiet way has been a motivating force for all our members.
‘He is particularly patient and understanding with our younger wheelchair athletes, always encouraging them to do well, and supporting them technically.
He is affectionately referred to by all Islanders in wheelchair sport as ‘Spanners’ because of his role as the wheelchair mechanic.
‘He has taken part in many wheelchair basketball competitions over the years and is an extremely worthy winner of this award – for which Tim Collins would have heartily approved.’ This was the 15th time that the JSAD have hosted the occasion and, if it is to be remembered for any one moment, in years to come, it will be for the smile that Aaron Boschat gave as he went up ‘on stage’ to receive his award.
The Alan Kelly Memorial Trophy for gymnastic achievement was presented to Valliant Special GC’s Lisa Littlemore by Mrs Francesca Kelly.
Results Friday: Wheelchair Tennis: singles competition: Andrew Lapthorne (UK) beat James Brady (Jsy) 8 games to 5.
Doubles: Nick Jarvis (Jsy) and Dan Robbins (UK) beat James Brady (Jsy) and Kathy Hancock (UK) 6-5.
Swimming: 5th Guernsey (22 points); 4th Birmingham (66 points); 3rd Solihull (105 points); 2nd Jersey (155 points); 1st North and West Cheshire (168 points).
Uni-hoc: CI combined team beat Birmingham 5-1.
Tchouk Ball: North & West Cheshire beat combined Jersey and Birmingham team 5-3.
Saturday: Wheelchair Basketball: UK All Stars beat Jersey Wheelers 34-15.
Indoor Athletics: Joint second place went to Guernsey and North & West Cheshire.
First place went to Solihull.
Bowls: There was a five-way tie between all teams, Jersey, Guernsey, Solihull, Birmingham and North & West Cheshire.
Badminton: Player of the Tournament was Jersey’s Linda Barr.
Basketball: Solihull were first, Birmingham second and Jersey third.
Yesterday: Solihull won the five-team round-robin six-a-side football competition played at St Paul’s FC.
Guernsey were second and Birmingham third.
Jersey’s A and B teams placed fourth and fifth respectively.
