Guyana’s world class bodybuilder Hugh Ross and female boxing champion Shondel Alfred have been voted as the 2010 Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively.
The duo were selected for the country’s top sports award after voting to identify 2010’s top sports personalities took place yesterday morning at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).
An 11-member panel of judges convened at the CASH and after voting, Ross and Alfred were the top choices from the field of nominees in the respective categories.
The US-based Ross, who is also a former powerlifter capped his 2010 sporting year and his ambitious powerlifting career by winning his first Mr. Universe Master’s title, adding to his many accolades.
Ross was the first Guyanese to win a Mr. Universe title and became the second bodybuilder to win the Sportsman of the Year Award, following in the footsteps of 2004 winner Sylvan Gardner.
And Alfred, known in the ring as the ‘Mystery Lady’, is currently the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Bantamweight champion and was pleased to know that she was selected for the award yesterday.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport, Alfred stated that she was “overwhelmed” upon hearing of her selection.
“It’s good that I got recognized. I have been waiting for this since last year, because I thought I would’ve got it since last year,” said Alfred.
She added that it is a “good stepping stone” starting the year and nothing will be holding her back.
National cricketer, leg spinner Devendra Bishoo, was named the runner-up Sportsman of the Year while 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medalist Aliann Pompey was awarded runner-up behind Alfred after missing out on the Sportswoman of the Year award.
In the junior category sprinter Chavez Ageday and junior table tennis star Chelsea Edghill were voted the Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year respectively.
Another cricketer, national Under-19 right arm leg spinner Amir Khan, was adjudged runner-up in the Junior Sportsman of the Year category, while Ashley Khalil took the runner-up spot in the female category.
Awards for associations went to the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), who was selected for the Most Improved Association Award and the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) was named the Sports Association of the Year.
Among other awardees yesterday, Alfred’s coach, Seibert Blake, was voted the Male Sports Coach of the Year, while secretary of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Karen Pilgrim and GAPF president, Peter Greene was voted the female and male Sports Official of the Year respectively.
The national female football team (Lady Jaguars) emerged as the Sports Team of the Year and cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart was selected for the Persons with Disability award.
In other categories, Stabroek News photographer Orlando Charles was named the Sports Photographer of the Year, while NCN’s Jermaine Carter took the Sports Journalist (non-print) award.
The presentation of the awards will take place on February 25 at the National Cultural Centre.
