Female Sporting Star voted Ambassador of the year 2009

Friday 05 February 2010

Heather Watson, Guernsey’s star female tennis player has been voted Guiton Group Ambassador of the Year 2009 at the annual glittering Guernsey Awards for Achievement Gala Evening on 4th February at Beau Sejour.

Heather Watson achieved in 2009 something that no other Guernsey person, or UK female player has in the sport of tennis ... and that was winning the US Junior Open, a Grand Slam tournament, in New York. Becoming a winner of a Grand Slam came soon after her victory in the Junior Commonwealth Games in Pune in 2008 and she is already preparing for the 2010 Junior Commonwealth Games in Delhi where she has elected to forfeit playing in a professional tournament from which she could gain valuable world ranking points to represent her home island of Guernsey – an island that Heather is intensely proud of and where she was born and started to play tennis.

The other two finalists for the 2009 Guiton Group Ambassador of the Year Award were 201 (Guernsey’s Own) Squadron and international bowling champion Alison Merrien.

The Squadron’s links with Guernsey were forged before the Second World War and are as strong today as ever they were. 2009 marked not only their 95th anniversary of their formation but also their 70th anniversary of their formal affiliation with Guernsey. The Squadron’s Wing Commander describes this affiliation between 201 and Guernsey as a “coming together of activities with the squadron supporting Guernsey and Guernsey supporting the squadron.”

Alison Merrien is no stranger to awards evenings. In 2009 she continued to perform at her highest level winning another Bowls World Title, a Silver and Bronze at world events, her fourth British Isles Ladies Singles Title, a Team Bronze at the European Championships and being ranked Number 1 Lady Player in the World. Alison’s conduct both on and off the bowling green is a credit to Guernsey and she always flies the Guernsey flag with pride.

“The nominations for this year’s Ambassador of the Year Award exceeded our expectations” said John Averty, Chairman of the Guiton Group, the sponsor of the Award. “It is evident that this special Award, that is given to a group or individual who promotes Guernsey outside of the island, appeals directly to the hearts and minds of islanders who go to a lot of trouble to complete the nomination forms and to provide supporting photographs and newspaper clippings. It truly is a people’s Award nominated by and for Guernsey.”

For more information on any of the short-list or the nominees for the 2009
Photographs of the winner and short-list can be viewed on www.guernseyachievementawards.com from Tuesday 9th February 2010