Cricketer Sunil Ambris and long distance runner Linda Mc Dowall have been adjudged senior male and female sports personality of the year 2017 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
At last Saturday’s National Sports Awards, Ambris emerged as Senior Sportsman of the Year, ahead of cricketer Kesrick Williams, footballer Myron Samuel and long distance runner Junior Ashton.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ambris scored 188 for his club — Guardian General Saints versus Victors 1 in the 2017 National Lotteries Authority Premier Division.
In the Winlott Inc. Windwards Islands tournament, Ambris, the SVG captain, tallied 298 runs, including one century and two half centuries.
His average of 74.5 was the best in the tournament.
During the 2017 Regional Super- 50 competition, Ambris struck six half centuries in eight matches, compiling 423 runs, 77 playing for the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Also during 2017, Ambris hit his highest first class total – 231 against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
His 608 runs placed him seventh in the best run- scorer table.
Ambris, playing for West Indies A versus Sri Lanka A in three unofficial tests in Jamaica, was the most consistent batsman as he notched up two centuries 106 and 101.
Earning a call up to the West Indies ODI team in the series versus India, Ambris eventually made his debut versus England in Southampton, posting 38 not out.
He hit 153 for West Indies in warm up match versus New Zealand A in New Zealand last November.
Ambris went on to make his test debut in New Zealand, but had to leave the tour because of a broken hand, sustained in the second test.
Meanwhile, Nominee Kesrick Williams in 2017, emerged as one of the West Indies’ most consistent bowlers in the twenty/20 format.
He also outperformed footballer Myron Samuel, who helped Avenues United in taking the Premier Division of the National Club Championships.
The other nominee was Junior Ashton, the highlight of whose performance in 2017 was his retention of the NACAC Chatoyer Endurance 10k, which was run from Gordon Yard to Chateaubelair.
Distance runner outpaces cricketers
Meanwhile, in Senior Sportswoman of the Year category of the awards, long distance athlete Linda Mc Dowall outpaced women cricketers Cordel Jack and Juliana Nero.
In 2017, Mc Dowall scalped the women’s division of the South America 10k in Guyana, for the first time.
Her winning time was 39 minutes 50 seconds, ahead of second place, Grenadian, Kenisha Pascal.
Mc Dowall added the NACAC Chatoyer Endurance 10K to her winning.
Her time of 51 minutes 29.72 seconds, put her ahead of Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal and Chantel Glasgow of St Lucia.
For their part, Jack accumulated 446 runs, batting for United Survivors Cricket Club, in the local women’s 40 overs competition.
Inclusive of her tally, were three centuries and one half century.
On the other hand, in the local women’s super-40 cricket, Nero carried her team- Garifuna Stars on her shoulder.
She compiled 319 runs and captured 11 wickets, to be named the competition’s best all-rounder.