Indeed, three of the four nominations for the major prize, are Olympians – two from Guernsey and one from Sark. The sole Jersey representative is from football, with ‘Jodie Bottrill’s busy year in turning professional in Aland and winning representative honours for Wales, being recognised.
The rare entry from Sark is Olympic gold medallist Carl Hester, who won fame as a member of the four-strong GB dressage team, while Guernsey are represented by marathon man Lee Merrien – the top British runner at both the Olympics and London Marathon – and Heather Watson, the current British No 1 woman and the first to win a WTA title, in Japan, for close on quarter of a century.
The televised awards evening, at Beau Séjour, Guernsey, is on Thursday, 31 January, with the main award announced after the completition of public voting on the night.
