British No. 1 Watson wins commission's top accolade

THE Guernsey Sports Commission will be far from disappointed that the winner of their top award was unable to collect it personally last night.

Instead, Heather Watson is once again being a tremendous ambassador for the island on the international scene thanks to her amazing progress in the first Grand Slam of the tennis year down under.

However, it is for her exploits in 2012 that Watson was honoured yesterday with the Guernsey Sports Commission Trophy at the Sporting Achievement Awards sponsored by Credit Suisse at Beau Sejour.

The other two contenders for the main award did not go home empty-handed, metaphorically speaking at least.

Like Watson, both Lee Merrien and Alison Merrien were unable to be present at Beau Sejour because the GB Olympic athlete is altitude training in Kenya while the star bowler is in Norfolk for the World Indoor Championships.

The marathon man won the Richard Burton Salver for his performance as top Briton in the London 2012 men's race.

Meanwhile, Ali Merrien will return home to the Guernsey Brewery Salver after winning the World Cup women's singles title in Australia last year with a perfect record.

• Full list of winners in today's Guernsey Press sports pages