Gymnast Grace Harrison was given a prestigious award by the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association for her achievements at Glasgow 2014. The ‘President’s Sword’ is awarded by the president of the Association after each Games and is given to the individual – or individuals – who have made an outstanding contribution to the team. It can be awarded to either a competitor or a member of the squad’s support team.
At Glasgow 2014, 19-year-old Grace became the first female Manx gymnast to reach an individual Commonwealth final in what was her Games debut. She had deferred going to university for a year in order to train full-time in the 12 months before the Games. Her schedule involved training twice a day, six days a week. Accepting the award, Grace said she was very proud to receive the honour and thanked all those who had helped her to produce her best performance. She is about to begin studying Sports Science at Loughborough University, but is also determined to represent the Island at the next Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Juliet Holt, President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, said:
“Grace has put in a tremendous amount of hard work since she began competing at six-years-old and has made many sacrifices in order to achieve her sporting ambitions. Whenever we asked for competitors to support their team mates at other events, Grace was always there. She is a deserving recipient of the President’s Award, not just for her outstanding performances in competition, but also for the tremendous team spirit she displayed in the build-up to the Games and in Glasgow.”
The award was presented during an event held at the Isle of Man Sport Institute to thank Team Isle of Man sponsors, including the 10 Team Isle of Man Champions Auxesia Ltd, Creechurch Capital, Heron & Brearley, IOMA Fund and Investment Management Limited, Isle of Man Creamery, Karsons Pharmacy, Manx Telecom, MM&C, Skanco and SMP Partners.
The President’s Sword award was the idea of Dursley Stott OBE who was President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association for more than 25 years. During his term of office, Mr Stott heard that the Wilkinson Sword company was giving away a limited number of presentation swords to deserving causes. He contacted the company with the idea of awarding it to a member of Team Isle of Man who made an outstanding contribution at each Commonwealth Games. The company thought it was a great idea, and the award was first presented after the 2002 Games in Manchester when it was given to team officials Frank and Pat Anderson. Mr Stott, who represented the Isle of Man in athletics at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, is now Honorary President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association.
Sending a strong team to the Commonwealth Games is only possible with fundraising initiatives organised by Association, which is a registered charity. Plans are already being drawn up to raise funds to send our national team to the 2018 Games in Gold Coast, Australia. You can find out more about how to support Team Isle of Man, and make donations, by going to www.cga.im
The Association is also responsible for sending Isle of Man teams to the Commonwealth Youth Games which will be held in Samoa next year, and St Lucia in 2017.
Photo - Gymnast Grace Harrison receives the President’s Sword award from Juliet Holt, President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association.
