The final countdown

Thursday 28th January 2010, 3:00PM GMT.

Jersey’s Matt Banahan won senior England rugby recognition, scoring three tries in five Test matches

JUST hours remain before the 2009 Sportingbet Sports Personality of the Year Award winner is crowned – and the public vote is likely to be the largest to date.

Hosted this year at the Hotel de France, Bath RFC professional, and England star, Matt Banahan is joined by fellow Jerseyman and AFC Bournemouth’s leading goal scorer Brett Pitman on the shortlist of talented sports stars.

They face strong competition from three of Guernsey’s best in the form of bowler Alison Merrien, last year’s winner, together with US Open junior tennis champion Heather Watson and cricketer Jeremy Frith.

The big gala event, which features Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp as the guest speaker, is once again televised live on CTV with Channel Islanders able to vote for their favourites by phone, text, or online.

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