… Ageday and Edghill take Junior crowns
WORLD renowned bodybuilder Hugh Arlington Ross and Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) featherweight champion Shondell Alfred were yesterday voted Guyana’s Male and Female Sportsman and Sportswoman for 2010. The National Sports Commission (NSC) panel which included  chairman Conrad Plummer, Director of Sport Neil Kumar, veteran columnist Dr Ian McDonald and retired Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard also voted Chavez Ageday and Chelsea Edghill as the Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman respectively.
The 51-year-old Ross, a former powerlifter, etched his name into the annals of bodybuilding last year October, when he won his first-ever Mr Universe Master’s crown, that went along with the numerous titles he has won, following his ambition to become a world-class bodybuilder back in 2002 when he entered the Musclemania Atlanta in the United States of America where he now resides.
Apart from being the first Guyanese to land a Mr Universe title, Ross became the second bodybuilder to win the Sportsman-of-the-Year Award, following Sylvon Gardner’s win back in 2004.
Guyana and West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who took 44 wickets in three tournaments last year, including the prized wicket of India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, was named the runner-up Sportsman-of-the-Year to Ross.
On the distaff side, 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Aliann Pompey, who lost out in the race for Sportswoman-of-the-Year, defeated Guyana and West Indies female player Shemaine Campbell for the runner-up spot behind Alfred.
Another cricketer, this time national Under-19 right-arm leg-spinner Amir Khan landed the runner-up spot in the Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year behind Ageday, while Ashley Khalil took the runner-up spot in the female category.
Stabroek News’ photographer Orlando Charles was named the Sports Journalist/Photographer-of-the-Year with NCN’s Jermaine Carter taking the Sports Journalist (Non-print) award with Kaieteur News’ Franklyn Wilson being given honourable mention for the Sports Journalist (print) award, after being deadlocked with his workmate Rawle Welch after three votes.
Following their successful hosting of the North American Powerlifting Championships, in which Team Guyana retained their overall crown, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation was named the Sports Association-of-the-Year, with their president being adjudged the Male Sports Official.
Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Karen Pilgrim was voted the Female Sports Official, with the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), which is now being led by Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, winning for themselves the Most Improved Association Award.
Seibert Blake was voted the Male Sports Coach-of-the-Year and even though GASA’s Stephanie Fraser was the lone nominee for the Female Sports Coach-of-the-Year award, she was unfortunate not to receive same, since abstinence outvoted her 8-3 at the polls.
The national female soccer team, also known as the ‘Lady Jaguars’, had a tough battle for the Sports Team-of-the-Year with both the GAPF and Guyana’s Men Rugby 7s team, and after the casting of ballots for the second time, came out winner ahead of the GAPF Team.
Apart from Wilson, honourable mentions were also bestowed on Capitol News’ Esaun Griffith, the Guyana Karate Federation and the GAPF, with Walter Grant-Stuart riding away with the Persons with Disability (PWD) award from Gibraine Hussain.
The presentation of the awards will take place at the National Cultural Centre on Friday, February 25 from 20:00 h.