AN ARDENT search to find the south's top secretary reaches its climax today as nine finalists wait to discover which of them carries off the coveted Secretary of the Year Award.

BBC South television presenter Sally Taylor is due to reveal the winner of the 2001 accolade at a gala presentation ceremony at the prestigious Chewton Glen Hotel at New Milton.

The competition is run by Barker Personnel Services in association with the Daily Echo newspapers at Southampton and Bournemouth, the Basingstoke Gazette and Wave FM.

The nine finalists were selected by a panel of judges from among 300 contestants nominated by bosses and managers from companies and organisations throughout Hampshire, west Surrey and north and east Dorset. Each finalist is in with a chance of carrying off honours as a regional winner and the south's top honour.

Three regional Secretaries of the Year each win £1,000, and from among them the overall southern Secretary of the Year will be chosen. The top prize for the Secretary of the Year is an additional £1,000 together with the recognition during the year associated with winning such a prestigious award.

There are additional prizes such as a Pampering Day at the Chewton Glen Hotel, dinner, bed and breakfast at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel, lunch at the Hotel du Vin and a champagne balloon trip, plus a day thrill-seeking in a Ferrari, donated by Wave FM.

A separate competition for best keyboard skills carries a prize of £500.

Representing the southern region are Julie Ellis, from Hampshire Catering Equipment; Nancy Furlonger, of Skandia Life; and Viv Ions, of Hampshire Voluntary Housing Society.

From the northern region are Jenny Davies, of Westell; Majolein Mussellwhite, of Geocentre International; and Linda Parsons, of Farnborough Hill School; and from the western region are Marie Avey, of Bournemouth Borough Council; Jacqueline Buckingham, of Deric-Scott; and Amanda Wigley, of North Dorset District Council.

Barker Personnel's central administration and project manager, Karen Barker, said: "We at Barker Personnel have been very impressed with the quality of candidates.

"Each finalist was put through a set of tests before they were faced with a gruelling interview process with our six judges. It was a very close call indeed!''

The judges were Martin Ball, managing director, Wave 105.2FM; Nadine Bateman, woman's editor, Southern Daily Echo; Bill Browne, editor, Basingstoke Gazette; Neil Butterworth, editor, Daily Echo Bournemouth; Joy Vooght, human resources manager, Skandia Life, and Lorraine Reeve, operations director, Barker Personnel Services.