British sports personality of the year

[BoyBrumby]

Severely underrated sport, easily the most physically enduring out of anyone on the list.

That's as maybe (the endurance bit, I mean, I find it dull as ditchwater myself), but cycling is a minority sport over here at best. I'd guess only 3-day eventing & (possibly) gymnastics have a smaller following amongst the British public.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Still proudly supporting Paul Wellens - the BBC can shove their sports personality trophy up their arse, elitist southern *****.

Where do you suggest they shove the Coach of the Year and Team of the Year awards?

 

[Scaly piscine]

ffs. Absolute Joke.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Oh god, that's awful, I can't believe that bloody royal won it

 

[Jamee999]

God, this country can be pathetic.

I thought we'd evolved past horse riders winning stuff!

 

[grecian]

Shocker.

Seems there are still enough people in this country willing to tug the forelock.

I'd do her though

 

[Neil Pickup]

Turned off in disgust on hearing 'Z'.

 

[Scaly piscine]

You know it's drastically wrong when it makes steds right.

 

[The Baconator]

Absolute load of crap. It's not even a real sport ffs.

 

[Goughy]

Obviously not seen any of it.

What were all the results of the awards?

 

[The Baconator]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/6220542.stm

 

[Anna]

FFS, I can't believe the response to this. It really makes me angry that people slag her off because she's royal. She's worked damned hard to get where she is - it's bloody hard to get a horse to do anything you want it, let alone go over difficult jumps etc. Yes, she's had more financial help than others but it's the talent that will actually win you things & she is it in bucket loads: from the BBC- "The 25-year-old equestrian star picked up the award following a season which has seen her become only the third rider to hold the European and World titles at the same time."
Also, if you want to get anywhere in any sport you have to pay a lot of money to get there (travel, accommodation, equipment etc). So would all of you just stop the anti-royalist whinings? It's particularly unattractive.

Rant over.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

So would all of you just stop the anti-royalist whinings? It's particularly unattractive.

It's anti-equestrian whinings, mostly.

Mind, then auto racing shouldn't count as a sport either, and Surtees, Moss, Stewart, Mansell and Hill have all won it.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Mansell & Hill being named sports personality of the year is a massive contradiction in terms. Two of the very least charismatic sportsmen ever.

The issue I have with Phillips winning is the fact it's a massive tug of the old forelock by the GB public. If she wasn't the Queen's granddaughter does anyone seriously think she'd have won? 3-Day eventing ranks down with Polo on public recognition. I wonder how many of those who voted for her could name who she beat into second place in either chmapionship she won?

 

[Scaly piscine]

FFS, I can't believe the response to this. It really makes me angry that people slag her off because she's royal. She's worked damned hard to get where she is - it's bloody hard to get a horse to do anything you want it, let alone go over difficult jumps etc. Yes, she's had more financial help than others but it's the talent that will actually win you things & she is it in bucket loads: from the BBC- "The 25-year-old equestrian star picked up the award following a season which has seen her become only the third rider to hold the European and World titles at the same time."
Also, if you want to get anywhere in any sport you have to pay a lot of money to get there (travel, accommodation, equipment etc). So would all of you just stop the anti-royalist whinings? It's particularly unattractive.

Rant over.

Her winning the award is slagged off because:

She's hardly competing against anyone, just a few other toffs who get the opportunity to ride horses all the time because they're loaded and have plenty of time on their hands.

The horse does most of the work so it's not a proper sport

The horse does most of the work so her credit should be limited and she's royal so she'll get the best horses to ride on (as well as plenty of time to dedicate herself, have the best conditions to train in and so on)

She's seemingly devoid of personality

Hardly anyone gives a toss about equestrianism

She got lots of votes and publicity because she's royal


Compare her to the boxing, gymnastic, cycling champions and so forth and it's a no-brainer. Speaking of privilege it's interesting how she's had a bit of a publicity campaign recently and the BBC showed a long piece about her first up - giving her a big advantage.

 

[Goughy]

One would suspect that her being royal would give her a great deal of name recognition. I have no issue with a royal winning or someone with advantages getting ahead. My primary issue is that without the name recognition being a royal brings she would have had no chance.

If she was Betty Frogbottom from Darlington she would be a near unknown and certainly not a BBCSPotY winner.

 

[Matteh]

Shows how underrated cycling is in this country tbh. Darren Clarke second for playing on despite his wife dying and a Star Wars character in third.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Shows how underrated cycling is in this country tbh. Darren Clarke second for playing on despite his wife dying and a Star Wars character in third.

I've also not found anyone yet admit to voting for Zara. Anyone willing to confess??

 

[Scaly piscine]

I've also not found anyone yet admit to voting for Zara. Anyone willing to confess??

All the votes will have been from toffs and soft, gullible women I reckon.

 

[Matteh]

I've also not found anyone yet admit to voting for Zara. Anyone willing to confess??

Definitely Nicole Cooke here.