Yesterday’s 2024 GBC Sports Awards were broadcasted live on GBC from the John Mackintosh Hall. The Sports Person of Year title was awarded to Golfer Sebastian Desoisa.

A statement from GBC follows below:

The 2024 GBC Sports Awards were broadcast live on GBC from The John Mackintosh Hall in front of the Rock’s sporting fraternity. The annual ceremony aims to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Gibraltar’s sportsmen and women.

There were 6 Awards on the night and these were met with eager anticipation. 

Junior Team of the Year 2024.

The first award went to Calpe’s Junior Rowers Sienna Lee & Sophie Lines who took the sport by storm in Gibraltar, Spain and the British Junior Championships winning several gold medals. Rowing has proven strong in this category giving us 9 winners over the years.

Junior Sports Person of the Year 2024.

Horse Riding featured for the first time at the awards with Stella McComb’s steady progress on the Andalusian circuit bearing fruit as she won tournaments across the region, her efforts have not gone unnoticed within the Great Britian riding scene. 

Unsung Hero.

This award recognises the hard work and dedication of those people working behind the scenes whose contribution is essential to the success of the sport.

This year Sharron Celecia was recognised for her time and tireless dedication spent shaping our youth athletes into the stars of tomorrow. Sharron has moved to coaching after a glittering career as Gibraltar’s ‘Queen of the track and road’ which saw her represent Gibraltar at Commonwealth, World and Island Games, medalling at the latter and setting National Records; many which have stood for decades, a true ‘Unsung Hero’.

Senior Team of the year 2024.

A superb year for team sports gave the panel plenty to deliberate before deciding on Eagles Men’s Hockey Club. The club were once again dominant on the local scene but their crowning achievement came in late Spring when they won promotion on home soil at the EHF Club Challenge II. 

Lifetime Achievement Award.

The recipient for this year was Cricket’s Tommy Finlayson, a stalwart for the local game, Tommy would become a pivotal figure in the administration of the sport, first with his club and later with the Association, eventually being named Honorary Secretary of the Gibraltar Cricket Association, a post he held for 15 years until 1997.  The following year he was made Chairman and in 2010, President, which he remained until retirement.

 During the sport’s heyday on the Rock in the 1980s, Gibraltar would gain affiliate membership of the International Cricket Council, which saw Tommy travel with the national side to ICC Trophy Competition, first as a player, then as Tour Manager & Scorer and for many years the driving force behind Gibraltar’s attendance. 

A custodian of the game both domestically and International putting Gibraltar on the map.

Sports Person of Year 2024.  

In an outstanding group of Gibraltar’s elite athletes which again featured; Swimmer Asia Kent, Boxer Tyrone Buttigieg, Triathlete Andrew Gordon, two time-winner Rower Jack Prior and Athlete Kim Baglietto. it was Golfer Sebastian Desoisa a former Junior Sports Person of the Year who claimed the top honour for his continued achievements abroad.

GBC would like to thank Gibtelecom for its continued support, and donating all monies raised from the phone lines to the Open Day Fund, and all those who called and placed their vote, £911 was raised. 

The Sports team are grateful for all the support they receive from the Sporting community throughout the year and look forward to reporting on an exciting 2025.