Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

Netballer Elaine Davis receives the Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence from the West Indian cricket great at the Jamaica Pegasus on Wednesday night.- Peta-Gaye Clachar/ Staff Photographer .

JAMAICA'S SUNSHINE Girls captain and 2002-03 Sportswoman of the Year, Elaine Davis, on Wednesday night took home the prestigious Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence at the third annual awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St. Andrew.

Davis won the award from a short list of athletes sent in by Jamaicans invited to participate in the nomination process.

The other nominees were national football captain Ricardo Gardner, sprinter Sherone Simpson, netballer Simone Forbes and water polo player Marlon McIntyre.

On behalf of netball

Davis was ecstatic after receiving the award.

"This award stands out," she said. "To be named along with Courtney Walsh, Jimmy Adams and Deon Hemmings is really an honour. It is a good feeling."

She spoke passionately about her achievements and added: "I accept this award on behalf of netball. We have had to fight very hard for all the support we get, whether financial or otherwise. Therefore, to have gained this award on behalf of my sport and my teammates is really a good feeling."

Ambassador-at-large, Courtney Walsh, was full of praise for Davis.

"She is a truly deserving winner. I am so happy for her because I think she has gone through a lot," Walsh said. "I have gone to watch her play and see her play in pain, so I think it is an award that she truly deserves. We need to make sure that these awards are highly recognised. And the more we can have these awards, it will make it definitely something for sports personalities to aim for."

Recognise excellence

The award, which is in its third year, was instituted to formally recognise the achievements of outstanding sportsman Walsh and is the brainchild of former Prime Minster, P.J. Patterson.

Launched in 2005 by the National Council on Sports in collaboration with the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, the award is intended to capture the spirit of sportsmanship and the soaring elegance which has been associated with Walsh on the cricket field.

The first recipient of the award was cricketer Adams. The second awardee was hurdler and 1996 Olympic gold medallist, Deon Hemmings-McCatty, who received the award last year.

Davis is now preparing herself to lead Jamaica's Sunshine Girls at next month's World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.