Aimee Howarth talks about her sporting hero, Cristiano Ronaldo
Steve Puddicombe on why he thinks Mark Cavendish should win Sports Personality of the Year 2011
The Yorker's sports team says what they would like for Christmas this year
The second blog for The Yorker from the University of York Riding Club
As Christmas and the New Year draws ever closer, the opportunity to reflect on the last year in sport always presents itself, and there is no better way to do that than to discuss the runners and riders in the running for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. On a personal note I absolutely love watching SPOTY and you always know that Christmas is drawing near when you sit down and think back through all the triumphs that have taken place in British sport throughout the year.
For the first time in many years there will be no women up for the main award, which will disappoint the likes of Rebecca Adlington, Beth Tweddle and Victoria Pendleton, but regardless of your opinion about whether it is morally right to have an all male shortlist, nothing should be taken away from the ten outstanding sportsmen that will battle it out for the main prize.
As well as an absence of women on the list, there are also no footballers or rugby players after a fairly lacklustre year for both sports. After a fantastic year for British golf, Luke Donald, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy are all present on the list. Clarke’s win at the British Open was outstanding, as was McIlroy’s US Open Triumph. Donald has also had an unbelievable year and despite not winning a major tournament, golf’s Mr Consistency has earned the most in prize money this year and sits at the top of the world rankings.
After an excellent year for England’s cricketers, particularly in the test arena, it is only right that they are well represented on the SPOTY shortlist, with Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook both being named in the final 10. This time last year, Cook was punishing any Australian that dared to bowl at him and he was the lynchpin for England’s Ashes success. Not content with having one good series in a year, Cook also provided the backbone for England’s batting line up against the Indians this summer and notched a career best 294 in one of the most gritty, patient innings you will ever see.
Not being a keen follower of cycling myself, I enlisted the help of fellow Yorker Sports writer and Deputy Sports Editor Andrew Pakes to write about the achievements of Mark Cavendish this year. Cavendish won the 2011 Tour de France Green Jersey, taking his Tour de France stage victory tally to a monumental 20 stages, which puts him sixth on the all-time list. He was also the first man to win three successive final stages since 1972, and became Britain’s first male world road race champion for 46 years.
Also included on the list are World Championship winning athletes Mo Farah and Dai Greene, tennis player Andy Murray and boxer Amir Khan.
The Yorker is backing...
James Tompkinson – I think that Mark Cavendish has an excellent chance of winning but I would love to see Alistair Cook take the title after an unbelievable year. Watch out for Luke Donald as well, a dark horse in my opinion.
Andrew Pakes – I think Cavendish should win it - the biggest sporting achievement out of all them across the last year for me.
Steve Puddicombe – Mark Cavendish.
Aimee Howarth – Just to be a little bit different, I think Rory McIlroy has an excellent chance.
Be sure to tune into BBC Sports Personality of the Year on 22nd December. After all, for any sports fan, it marks the start of Christmas, right?
For yesterday's Advent Calendar article, click here.
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