The 2011 Sports Personality of the Year is announced on Thursday, with Mark Cavendish and Darren Clarke the front runners
It’s that time of the year again when the British public vote for their favourite sports star for 2011, with plenty of contenders for Sports Personality of the Year accolade. The winner seems certain to come from either the world of cycling, athletics or golf – we take a look at the favourites.
Mark Cavendish (4/9f – Outright Winner with
Betfred) has enjoyed a stellar year and the increasing popularity of cycling in the UK, makes him a likely winner of the BBC prize. The ‘Manx Missile’ has built on previous success stories in road cycling and taken it to the next level in 2011.
Cavendish claimed the Green Jersey at this year’s Tour de France as the race’s top sprinter, which in itself is a major achivement. But the 26-year-old, who has won more Tour de France stages than any other Brit, then went on to to take the title at the World Road Race Championship in Denmark.
The man from the Isle of Man certainly has a personality as well and is not one to hold back on his thoughts when speaking to the media, something which also appeals to sections of the sporting public.
It’s also been a decent year on the athletics track for Team GB, with Mo Farah (14/1 – Outright Winner) the stand-out performer at the World Championships in Daegu. The long distance specialist also had to deal with disappointment just days before his career highlight.
Having led for the majority of the 10,000m final, Farah was pipped on the line by Ethiopia’s Ibrahim Jeilan. The 28-year-old responded by taking the 5,000m title in fine style – the first British man to win a global title over the distance.
It’s also been a year to remember in golf, where two of the year’s four majors were won by Northern Irishmen while an Englishman sits at the top of the world standings.
Rory McIlroy (13/8 – Top Three Finish) bounced back from a final-round nightmare at the Masters to claim his first Major Championship at the US Open. His success will surely be the first of many and his age may work against him in the voting.
At the other end of the age scale, Darren Clarke fought through the nerves to lift the Claret Jug after four solid days in blustery conditions at Royal St George’s. The emotional vote will certain go to the veteran, who deserves his moment in the glory after a memorable career.
Luke Donald (5/2 Top Three Finish) is probably more deserving of the accolade than his two fellow golfers, with his historic achievement of topping the money lists in both the US and Europe – the first man to do that. Couple that with being known as the world’s best golfer at the end of 2011 and the Englishman has certainly had a 12 months to remember.
