This Is Guernsey

By Nigel Baudains

TENNIS star Heather Watson will be feted on her return to Guernsey.

Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland yesterday said that her US Junior Open triumph would be celebrated with a civic reception.

He was one of many islanders to express their delight at the 17-year-old’s amazing success in knocking out the world number two on her way to victory at Flushing Meadows.

And the national media reaction to Heather’s outstanding achievement took her father, Ian, by surprise.

He was expecting column inches – not pages.

‘It even made the news pages in the broadsheets,’ he said.

‘It’s because winning a Grand Slam is everything. The organisers of some Olympic Games don’t like tennis because they know that the players value the Grand Slams more.’

Instead, national media scooped up Heather as a plucky Brit, triggering an outbreak of Guernsey Pride.

‘Guernsey is basically the fabric of who she is, what she is, and what she has achieved,’ said Mr Watson.

‘Some people might think that now she spends a considerable amount of time out of the island, that that has changed but it hasn’t. In fact the connection is even stronger.’

He said that Guernsey would always be home to his daughter.

‘When she was preparing for the US Open she chose to practise with Patrick Ogier and there are other Guernsey people she hits with.

‘She has support from all of the Guernsey public, the Guernsey media, her school in the island and the club where she learnt to play tennis is here.’

Playing tennis at Heather’s level required sponsorship, he said, and it was a Guernsey company, Sportingbet, that provided that support.

‘Guernsey is always mentioned after her name and most people see her as a good tennis player who is an ambassador for the island.’

Other islanders were quick to pay tribute yesterday to the first British girl to win the US Junior Open.

Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland said: ‘Winning a junior Grand Slam is the platform for a career in the professional senior rankings.

‘She has had a just reward for her focus and dedication to the sport she loves.’

The assembly was changed at Heather’s former school, Ladies’ College, yesterday in recognition of her success.

‘We played a clip of her giving a post match interview,’ said principal, Jo Riches.

‘The girls in the upper sixth, which is the year she would have been in, were all talking about their memories of her.

Turn to Page 2

A star is born Page 48

Support Heather on www.thisisguernsey.com

‘We feel we are sharing in her success and the PE department is over the moon.’

The college had been delighted to accept an offer from Heather’s father for his daughter to come and speak at the College when she is next in Guernsey.

Guernsey Sports Commission chairman Stuart Falla said: ‘It was a brave move by Heather’s parents to take her away when she was 12 and it highlights the application and sacrifices that have to make.

‘You need skill to get the top but it has to be nurtured.’

Mr Falla was attending a meeting of the Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association during the final and everybody was keenly monitoring Heather’s progress.

‘When the result came through we were all just so excited,’ he said.

Sportingbet managing director Bob Dutnall said it had been a fantastic year for Heather.

‘After a disappointment at Junior Wimbledon she has proved to everyone what a lot of talent, guts and determination she has,’ he said.

‘Having made her mark in the senior rankings earlier on this summer, she has now reached the dizzy heights of winning a Grand Slam and entering the history books for Great Britain and Guernsey. There seems to be no stopping her now.’

He said that when he met Heather and her parents in August she reconfirmed her shor- term ambition to be the world junior number one and Sunday’s success had been a huge step towards that target.

Article posted on 15th September, 2009 - 2.30pm