FOR Maggie George, mother of Douglas teenage archery sensation Aalin George, it was a case of being spoiled for choice in deciding what category of the Flybe Pride In Mann awards to nominate her daughter.
She opted for young person of the year, because although Aalin’s sporting achievements speak for themselves, it is her youth which makes them remarkable.
Maggie said it was her daughter’s dedication and drive to succeed which has led her to be British junior outdoor and indoor archery champion. She made her international debut for Great Britain aged just 14,competing in the final of the women’s cadet compound competition at the European Archery Junior Cup at Reggio in Italy, claiming a silver medal in the final.
She has represented the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games in Dheli, and was voted ‘most outstanding performer’ at the 2011 Island Games in the Isle of Wight.
On her way home from those Island Games, Aalin gained a Grand Master Bowman status – at senior level – after competing in the Junior National Outdoor Competition, and she was also named GB junior archer of the year after setting seven British records. The status put Aalin in the top one per cent of archers competing in Britain.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/pride-in-mann|Click here to see the other nominees}.
In March the St Ninian’s GCSE student celebrated her 16th birthday at the Isle of Man Sports Awards at the Villa Marina, where she was crowned sports personality of the year, sharing the honour with superstar Mark Cavendish.
This season she has been away twice with Team GB – to Croatia and Denmark – and over the weekend was away in Guernsey with a Manx squad that included her younger sister Kirsten.
Maggie said Aalin is also at the centre of a push to see compound archery included in the Olympic games, which currently only features recurve archery.
Aalin would push for an Olympic place if one existed, and the funding Olympic status would give her sport would enable her to pursue archery full time.
Are the two disciplines not similar enough that Aalin’s skills are transferable?
‘No, it’s like squash and tennis, they are too different,’ said Maggie. ‘If there was a chance to go professional she would jump at it, but as it is she’s happy to carry on with A levels at St Ninian’s. She wants to be a teacher.’
Aalin first picked up a bow aged 11. What does Maggie think her favourite memories have been since that fateful decision?
‘The sports personality of the year award’ she said. ‘Aalin was so gobsmacked, she didn’t think she was old enough to win. She was in tears!’
Nominations for this year’s Pride in Mann awards have now closed.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/pride-in-mann|Click here to see the other nominees}.