Formula 1 drivers did not figure in the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year event which was held over the weekend at the LG Arena in Birmingham. The winner of the main award was Ulster jockey Tony McCoy, who has been champion jockey 15 times, despite being only 36. He had won all the major races over jumps except the Grand National, the biggest event of them all, which he finally achieved this year, riding Don’t Push It. McCoy is the first jockey to win the BBC award. He finished ahead of darts player Phil Taylor and the current World and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.
David Beckham was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award – at the age of just 35 – for his achievements in soccer, receiving the award from Sir Bobby Charlton, who is a legend in the game.
Colin Montgomerie was named Coach of the Year after captaining Europe to the Ryder Cup while Tom Daley was named Young Sports Personality of the Year for the third time following his double gold in diving at the Commonwealth Games.
Sir Frank Williams kept F1 in the limelight being honoured with the Helen Rollason Award. This is named after a BBC presenter, the first woman to present the celebrated Grandstand sports show in 1990. She died of cancer at the age of 43 in 1999. The award is for “outstanding achievement in the face of adversity” and recognised Williams’s achievements as a team owner since being paralysed in a car accident in 1986.
Well deserved recognition to such a great man, so passionate about motor racing – congrats to Sir Frank Williams.
Touching moment to see MotoGPs Shoya Tomizawa mentioned during the program too – such a young talented kid, lost in such a terrible way.
Racing always comes first with Sir Frank, none of Montezemolo’s Machiavellian nonsense.
Well deserved award for one of F1′s last true racers.
Karen Terry,
Hear! Hear!
As a long time fan of Williams F1 team, I feel a part of this family and I believe Frank deserves every bit of respect he has gained through his outstanding career.
The way he approaches the sport and run the team despite all difficulties and the passion he has for the sport is not rivaled by anyone on the grid imo.
Congrats to him =]
Shows how dismal a year for sport it’s been — I hadn’t even realised the BBC SPoTY was on. Flicked the television on, saw a short Irish chap holding the trophy. On the basis he wasn’t Eddie Jordan, I surmised that he must be a jockey.
Good to see Sir Frank recognised though.
Great for Frank and well deserved. I confess to having a tear in my eye.
I can’t really disagree with the winners except that Colin Montgomerie isn’t a coach is he? He was Captain of the Ryder cup team. Considering he beat he coach of Chelsea (who won the double) and the England Cricket team (who have had a remarkable year) I thought this was a bit odd!
Shame Phil (the Power) Talyor couldn’t be the winner. What a nice guy! He seemed more delighted at coming second tnah anyone I have ever seen (Lewis and Jenson take note).
My nephew Steve worked on the show as a VT editor and cut the films for many of the top 10 and the one for the winter olympics (using Hocus Pocus by Focus, my favourite band, as a prezzie for me).
I am a little cynical about these award shows “as voted by the public”. I think there are always arguments about certain phone lines being blocked and others open. Oh well.
It could be argued that Lewis should have won it two years ago when Joe Calzaghe got it. Arguably Joe should have got it the year before that but lost out to Zara Phillips who got it for “being a member of the royal family” or some other such sporting greatness.
When I saw Christian Horner there, I thought Red Bull might get a mention but never mind. The award to Sir Frank was indeed deserved and correct. The side-stage action was amusing – Damon Hill more or less thrust the award into Patrick Head’s arms. I suspect there is still not much love lost between those two.
It would’ve been nice to see red bull get the team of the year, but the fact they’re registered as austrian may have played against them. That said, I’ve no complaints with the ryder cup team getting it. Also, Seb V for overseas sportsman. But they maybe because of my dislike for tennis!
Thought Frank should’ve got a lifetime achievement award rather than the helen rollason one, he deserves the recognition regardless of if he’s done it from a wheelchair or not. Yes that’s obviously made things harder for him, but his achievements are outstanding on there own and I feel the helen rollason award doesn’t do that justice. Still, congrats all round. Also, why have the likes of partick head, jackie stewart, damon hill et al on stage and not actually talk to them? What a waste of a good opportunity that was!
Williams are the reason I started watching F1 and i hope they return to winning ways asap
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/frank-wins-an-award/ [...]
Karen Terry how very well put,i really could not agree more.
Dealing with long term illnesses and dissabilities each day i admire Sir Frank Williams,his passion for motorsport has never diminished, even though he faces each day a mountain to climb just to function.
May he continue to for years to come and see again,Williams with a WCC,or WDC.
I hope so.
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/frank-wins-an-award/ [...]
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/frank-wins-an-award/ [...]
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/frank-wins-an-award/ [...]
great for Frank congratulations