This collection of sporting moments tries to supercede some of the obvious and go for what made compulsive viewing/listening/reading (it happened) in 2009 from my own perspective. Some, like Bolt's unstoppable wins in Berlin, were too big to ignore; others are unlikely to grace many 'Best of...' lists, unless you have some extremely specific parameters for them. All of these encompass the 'you remember where you were...' factor that great moments exude; all were twined with the uncertainty, the tension and that little bit of magic that makes sport so compelling. Generally speaking, the events are Brit/English/club-centric, as they capture those times when rooting for your home team makes the moment all the more important, others transcend the need to take national or local sides.
-Burnley win promotion to the Premier League (1)
For personal attachment, nothing can come close to the moment that Burnley secured their return to the top flight of English football by winning the Championship play-off final against Sheffield Utd. This I watched on the TV in a pub in Oxford, about a week before my final exams, so a much-needed relief was in order. Wade Elliot provided it with a stunning strike in the first half - worthy of winning any football match - followed by an hour of tension as the 1-0 scoreline was maintained. That made it extra-special in a way, having to go through that knowing the win was so close but so easily snatched away. Eventually we held out and the celebrations could start. But not for me as I had revising to do. I got a 2:1, thanks for asking :)
-Bradley Wiggins ascends Mont Ventoux to secure Tour de France fourth (2)
For the definitive 'moment', I constrained myself to pick one stage of Wiggo's epic 2009 Tour de France. It could have been the stage to Andorra-Arcalis, where he announced himself as a contender by finishing in the Armstrong/Schleck group, or the climb to Verbier where he actually attacked and beat Armstrong to the summit. Instead I went for the iconic penultimate stage to Mont Ventoux, where Wiggins was understandably hanging on with every ounce of determination and then some, to drag himself over the line with seconds to spare to hang on to his fourth place overall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWAjG5ndebo
While searching for videos for this I found one where he pushes a spectator out of his way - nice work, Brad!
-Jessica Ennis wins World Athletics heptathlon (3)
Again, I hasten to define a moment as being two days of competition. Perhaps if I had to pin it down it would be seeing Jess split 28 seconds at 200m for her 800m (and 60s at 400m), quicker than the heats of the actual women's 800m (see the vid). But that first day performance was immense; a dominant marker laid down in her strongest events, a PB in a weaker one (the shot put) set up a magic two days for the Sheffield star. Those who followed the sport knew it was coming for a while, those who didn't probably do now, thanks to her.
-Jenson Button wins for Brawn GP in Australia (4)
Again, this was a toss up between the drive that ended it all - the stunning champion's performance in Brazil - or the one which kicked off his world title season. In the end, I decided that the pole and victory in Australia was the stand out moment for me, just because of the relatively unexpected nature of the win- I say relatively because Brawn and his team were convinced all along they had a race-winning car, times in tests backed this up, and pole in Oz proved it. And of course the sheer romance of the occasion, which wore off a bit after 6 wins in 7 races.
-Usain Bolt runs 19.19 200m WR in Berlin (5)
Stunning. That's all anyone can truly say about Usain Bolt's 200m world record. Of course, all anyone actually talks about is the 100m record. But when Bolt set his 100m record in Beijing he was slowing down; showboating. We all knew he could run faster. His 200m run in the Bird's Nest was supposedly Bolt at his limit, straining to beat a supposedly unbeatable record, which he managed by 0.02 seconds. To see him, therefore, take over a tenth off that time in Berlin defied belief - he even said he was tired beforehand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EiPCfPROtE
-Phillips Idowu wins triple jump World Championships (6)
We've waited, like Jonathan Edwards has in BBC commentary, to say this; Philips Idowu is a World Champion. Well, he was already one, after all he won the indoor title with what still is his longest legal jump, indoors or out. But the outdoor title was the big one. In the context of his self-perceived Olympic 'failure' (where he won silver) this was massive. The outdoor lifetime best he produced to win the gold was one of those leap-from-your-seat moments (anyone who watches sport at home will attest to the existence of those) - from the split second he landed from the step phase and launched himself towards the pit it looked good. His great rival Evora couldn't respond even in the final round, the vaguely anti-climatic moment where victory is assured by another man's failure, not by the final word of the victor. But no matter. A popular champion was made.
-Mark Cavendish wins Milan-Sanremo (7)
Never mind the 6 wins in the Tour de France - they, to some extent, were expected. Everyone knew the competition was not up to scratch over a flat stage with the Columbia lead-out train and Cav to finish it off, like a striker tapping an exquisite cross into an open net (not to denigrate his success, he's put in that position because he is the best). But Milan-Sanremo was a different beast; the longest one-day race on the calendar, short, tough climbs to contend with near the end, plus the lack of prior experience led many to dismiss Cavendish's chances outright. And when Heinrich Haussler took off from the bunch that remained into the finish in Sanremo, it looked as though Cav would have to wait another year. But not so.
I 'followed' the race on cyclingnews.com's live online text coverage, so sitting there pressing F5 is perhaps not the most dramatic way to learn the outcome of a sporting, but the satisfaction I gleaned from reading the words of a Cavendish win was surprisingly immense.
-Hayley Yelling wins 2009 European Cross Country Championships (8)
It was the year of the comeback. Except this one wasn't really supposed to happen. While Armstrong, Watson and (nearly) Schumacher held down the fort for the old guard and dominated the sports headlines, the gutsy but quite clearly retired runner Yelling was merely 'keeping fit'. Tempted out of retirement to run the Liverpool Cross Challenge, she won, thereby qualifying for the upcoming Europeanns in Dublin. Yelling set off at the front, out alone by five seconds, as she headed a pack of talented runners all looking round at each other. Unfazed and unperturbed, Yelling ploughed her lone furrow out in the lead, that strong and all-encompassing running action never wavering. Commentators Cram and Foster actually started to believe she could win - that it came about a kilometre from the finish was no matter to those sat at home who always held it. Truly inspirational performance.
(Sorry, no vid)
-Russell Downing wins Tour of Ireland (9)
In which David slays Goliath, albeit in Ireland. Having been denied victory in 2008 by ruthless Team Columbia teamwork, Russell Downing was out to make amends. The Yorkshireman, who races mainly in Britain for a small domestic team, took on the might of some top European squads with headline-grabbing riders. While opponents in Ireland, Lance Armstrong and Mark Cavendish, were traversing France in the highest profile race in the world in July, Downing was mopping up wins in decidedly unglamarous places like Colne in Lancashire. It started with a win from a breakaway group on stage 1, and he held the yellow jersey going into the third and final day. The race finished in atrocious weather in Cork, with two ascents of St. Patrick's Hill in the town to contend with. This was too much for many, including Armstrong, who decided that there were many places he'd rather be than on a bike up a 25% gradient, in the pouring rain. Downing was isolated in a group of favourites at the front, and having been subjected to every attack the others could throw at him, launched a tour-winning counter attack. A much-deserved crack at the big time with the new Team Sky followed.
-Scotland beat Australia at Murrayfield (10)
The highlight of a rather drab Autumn International series, the Scots defended like hell for nearly the entire eighty minutes. There were about only three times Scotland made it over the Aussie's 10m line, and they resulted in three three-pointers; two penalties and a late drop goal. Australia's lone penalty score meant that only a converted try would do in the last few minutes, (one they should have had much earlier but for a mixture of mistakes and last-ditch tackling). Gold-and-green forward were camped on the Scottish try line in overtime, but they could not find a way through. Eventually, numbers told out wide and Cross, well, crossed over near the corner for five points. However, that gave the underperforming Matt Giteau a tough kick to win the game, and when it sailed wide, the Scots were rewarded with a heroic victory that demanded applause from everyone, no matter who you support.
missing the cut...(in no order)
England win the Ashes.
Roger Federer wins French Open and career Grand Slam.
Andy Murray defeats Stanislas Wawrinka under the lights at Wimbledon.
Dai Greene runs 48.24 for 400mH in Berlin semifinal.
Jenny Meadows 800m bronze.
GB men ride 2nd fastest team pursuit/women team pursuit WR.
Tom Watson *almost* winning the 2009 Open Championship.
Showing posts with label sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sport. Show all posts
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Friday, 16 October 2009
Tour de France 2010
So the parcours for the 2010 TdF was unveiled today. Hopefully the route will make up for what was a relatively stale edition this year. Certainly the organisers have pulled out a few extra stops along the way this time around. This news gives its fans a taste of what to expect and a vague excuse to start the first round of predictions, gossip and lick-your-finger-and-stick-it-in-the-air guesswork, which I will shamelessly try to do here.
This Tour of France will start in Holland (obviously), Rotterdam to be precise. Interestingly, with the 2009 Vuelta a Espana having started on the Assen TT circuit and the 2010 Giro d'Italia due to kick off in Amsterdam, that makes three Grand Tours in succession starting in the Low Country. Weird.
An almost certainly flat, 8km prologue will favour the usual suspects; so expect Cancellara and Wiggins to be fighting it out, along with Contador (whose TT abilities have improved massively) and Armstrong if he gets back to his former ways (and providing his team get an invite). Also this may be one for the powerful sprinters to get involved in; this year's green jersey Thor Hushovd has already set his sights on the short dash for yellow. With the race crossing into Belgium in the following days, this may give Tom Boonen the incentive to try and win the famous garment to wear into his homeland. In a recent interview he claimed he wished to improve his TT abilites for a tilt at the 2010 Worlds; this opportunity may be an extra motivation.
As mentioned, from Rotterdam the race moves on to Belgium for three stages. If Cancellara, Hushovd or Boonen get themselves high up in the GC early on, expect them to make a bid for the yellow jersey, or to extend their lead on stage three, a 207km dash across Belgium featuring the return of cobblestone sectors to the route. This will suit the strong men who feature in races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, who may try and make a break for the line and avoid the mass sprint finish that usually punctuates the early days of the Tour. This may give the new British squad Team Sky and its troupe of Classics specialists (for instance Flecha) to grab some glory. It will also be fraught with danger for the GC guys, with not much to gain, but plenty to lose in crashes and punctures that come with the cobbles.
Otherwise, the opening week of flat stages will give plenty for Britain's sprint superstar, Mark Cavendish, to lay down his challenge for the green jersey, which he lost in 2009 to Thor Hushovd, despite winning 6 stages along the way. The number of stages designated 'plain' is down one this coming edition from 10 to 9, but that is still plenty for Cav to get his teeth into. He flags up 8 stages for possible wins, anyone want to bet for less than 5 or 6? However, it remains to be seen how effective his Columbia team's lead out train will be this year, and especially with the emergence of rivals Garmin in recent months with the likes of Tyler Farrar and Chris Sutton (although he might be off to Sky), Hushovd again likely to be challenging, perhaps Boonen, McEwen and Ciolek too. Another shout might be the young Norweigan Edvald Boasson Hagen, winner of four stages in the Tour of Britain, the Eneco Tour and Gent-Wevelgem this year, this talented rider also moves to Sky for next year and could be one to watch when the peloton roars under the red kite. I'll also choose this time to mention Gert Steegmans, the Belgian who pinched a win from his leader Boonen in their home country and won on the Champs Elysses in 2008, before going AWOL in 2009 after a disagreement with his team. Now he has found a happy home at RadioShack he might well be back in form next year.
Of course, the race is won and lost in the mountains, and for the 2010 edition the giant Col du Tourmalet will make a return for its centenary, not once but twice (making up for the fact that it was undoubtedly wasted in its 2009 appearance) - once either side of the second rest day. For the second encounter the summit will act as the stage finish and its prominence in the middle of the third week, especially since the riders will have a free day beforehand, may decide the Tour in a similar way to Alpe d'Huez did in 2008 when Carlos Sastre attacked at the base of the climb and won the stage and ultimately the Tour.
The mountain goats that may contest this epic dash up the Col will have to include defending champion Contador, Andy Schleck, world champion Cadel Evans (if he rides - rumours suggest he may be farmed out to contest one of the other three-week tours instead). From a British perspective we must also consider Bradley Wiggins in this elite group of GC contenders, following his sensational fourth place in 2009. What may hinder his progress up the rankings this time around is the fact that the route in this year past could not have been better suited to him - even he accepts this as fact. There is only the single individual TT (outside of the prologue) - and no TTT. If he remains at Garmin, this will be sorely missed - look at how much time he gained with it in 2009. However, should he make the much-speculated transfer to Sky, a team without TT pedigree, this may be a blessing. This is not to take away from his new-found climbing abilities - he was up there mixing it with the best of the best in that respect, but the TT has always been Bradley's speciality on the road and losing vital kilometres in the discipline will hinder his podium credentials.
Where Wiggins loses, so Andy Schleck (the 2009 runner-up) gains. He was the one rider who looked to match Contador on the mountains and may have ridden away from him on the Ventoux were he not looking after big brother Frank so much. As Contador's future looks uncertain at the moment after his Astana team seems to have been pulled from underneath him by Armstrong and the RadioShack boys, perhaps the super-strong Saxo Bank squad could put Schleck in the favourite's position for 2010? Certainly he will have a fighting chance against Contador, who is not invincible (look back to the Dauphine Libere for proof of that). Armstrong himself is a complete mystery - an incredible return to the sport saw him land a podium; will his team of loyal lieutenants like Leipheimer, Zubeldia and Popovych be enough to offset his advancing years and bag him another top three finish? I would hesitate to say yes, but if there's one man you don't want to write off...
Just to be different, I'm going to back Schleck the younger for the big W in 2010, but going back over the potential list of names contending in the sprints and in the mountains, combined with the adventurous and varied route, leaves me to conclude that this Tour de France could well be the most exciting in years. Doesn't it feel like the past few years of gradually weeding out the cheats, the new talent emerging alongside old contenders and surprise names is building to a head for next year? Furthermore, with cycling as a sport on the verge of really taking off in Britain, the emergence of Cavendish, Wiggins and Team Sky (even though they will be competing for column inches with the football World Cup) might send it into overdrive. And wouldn't that be something?
This Tour of France will start in Holland (obviously), Rotterdam to be precise. Interestingly, with the 2009 Vuelta a Espana having started on the Assen TT circuit and the 2010 Giro d'Italia due to kick off in Amsterdam, that makes three Grand Tours in succession starting in the Low Country. Weird.
An almost certainly flat, 8km prologue will favour the usual suspects; so expect Cancellara and Wiggins to be fighting it out, along with Contador (whose TT abilities have improved massively) and Armstrong if he gets back to his former ways (and providing his team get an invite). Also this may be one for the powerful sprinters to get involved in; this year's green jersey Thor Hushovd has already set his sights on the short dash for yellow. With the race crossing into Belgium in the following days, this may give Tom Boonen the incentive to try and win the famous garment to wear into his homeland. In a recent interview he claimed he wished to improve his TT abilites for a tilt at the 2010 Worlds; this opportunity may be an extra motivation.
As mentioned, from Rotterdam the race moves on to Belgium for three stages. If Cancellara, Hushovd or Boonen get themselves high up in the GC early on, expect them to make a bid for the yellow jersey, or to extend their lead on stage three, a 207km dash across Belgium featuring the return of cobblestone sectors to the route. This will suit the strong men who feature in races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, who may try and make a break for the line and avoid the mass sprint finish that usually punctuates the early days of the Tour. This may give the new British squad Team Sky and its troupe of Classics specialists (for instance Flecha) to grab some glory. It will also be fraught with danger for the GC guys, with not much to gain, but plenty to lose in crashes and punctures that come with the cobbles.
Otherwise, the opening week of flat stages will give plenty for Britain's sprint superstar, Mark Cavendish, to lay down his challenge for the green jersey, which he lost in 2009 to Thor Hushovd, despite winning 6 stages along the way. The number of stages designated 'plain' is down one this coming edition from 10 to 9, but that is still plenty for Cav to get his teeth into. He flags up 8 stages for possible wins, anyone want to bet for less than 5 or 6? However, it remains to be seen how effective his Columbia team's lead out train will be this year, and especially with the emergence of rivals Garmin in recent months with the likes of Tyler Farrar and Chris Sutton (although he might be off to Sky), Hushovd again likely to be challenging, perhaps Boonen, McEwen and Ciolek too. Another shout might be the young Norweigan Edvald Boasson Hagen, winner of four stages in the Tour of Britain, the Eneco Tour and Gent-Wevelgem this year, this talented rider also moves to Sky for next year and could be one to watch when the peloton roars under the red kite. I'll also choose this time to mention Gert Steegmans, the Belgian who pinched a win from his leader Boonen in their home country and won on the Champs Elysses in 2008, before going AWOL in 2009 after a disagreement with his team. Now he has found a happy home at RadioShack he might well be back in form next year.
Of course, the race is won and lost in the mountains, and for the 2010 edition the giant Col du Tourmalet will make a return for its centenary, not once but twice (making up for the fact that it was undoubtedly wasted in its 2009 appearance) - once either side of the second rest day. For the second encounter the summit will act as the stage finish and its prominence in the middle of the third week, especially since the riders will have a free day beforehand, may decide the Tour in a similar way to Alpe d'Huez did in 2008 when Carlos Sastre attacked at the base of the climb and won the stage and ultimately the Tour.
The mountain goats that may contest this epic dash up the Col will have to include defending champion Contador, Andy Schleck, world champion Cadel Evans (if he rides - rumours suggest he may be farmed out to contest one of the other three-week tours instead). From a British perspective we must also consider Bradley Wiggins in this elite group of GC contenders, following his sensational fourth place in 2009. What may hinder his progress up the rankings this time around is the fact that the route in this year past could not have been better suited to him - even he accepts this as fact. There is only the single individual TT (outside of the prologue) - and no TTT. If he remains at Garmin, this will be sorely missed - look at how much time he gained with it in 2009. However, should he make the much-speculated transfer to Sky, a team without TT pedigree, this may be a blessing. This is not to take away from his new-found climbing abilities - he was up there mixing it with the best of the best in that respect, but the TT has always been Bradley's speciality on the road and losing vital kilometres in the discipline will hinder his podium credentials.
Where Wiggins loses, so Andy Schleck (the 2009 runner-up) gains. He was the one rider who looked to match Contador on the mountains and may have ridden away from him on the Ventoux were he not looking after big brother Frank so much. As Contador's future looks uncertain at the moment after his Astana team seems to have been pulled from underneath him by Armstrong and the RadioShack boys, perhaps the super-strong Saxo Bank squad could put Schleck in the favourite's position for 2010? Certainly he will have a fighting chance against Contador, who is not invincible (look back to the Dauphine Libere for proof of that). Armstrong himself is a complete mystery - an incredible return to the sport saw him land a podium; will his team of loyal lieutenants like Leipheimer, Zubeldia and Popovych be enough to offset his advancing years and bag him another top three finish? I would hesitate to say yes, but if there's one man you don't want to write off...
Just to be different, I'm going to back Schleck the younger for the big W in 2010, but going back over the potential list of names contending in the sprints and in the mountains, combined with the adventurous and varied route, leaves me to conclude that this Tour de France could well be the most exciting in years. Doesn't it feel like the past few years of gradually weeding out the cheats, the new talent emerging alongside old contenders and surprise names is building to a head for next year? Furthermore, with cycling as a sport on the verge of really taking off in Britain, the emergence of Cavendish, Wiggins and Team Sky (even though they will be competing for column inches with the football World Cup) might send it into overdrive. And wouldn't that be something?
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Jumping the gun on 2009 BBC SPOTY.
...In which I attempt to become the Derren Brown of sport. By that I don't mean completely waste a good hour of prime-time television, I mean I will try to guess the nominees for the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. With most of the major sports events of the year out of the way, a number of potential candidates have come to the fore. To be honest, at least half of them pretty much pick themselves, but I'll take a stab at filling the rest of the places.
Jessica Ennis - Athletics
Sheffield's Jessica Ennis has everything. A 23 year-old World Champion in the heptathlon, allied to undeniable good looks, means she will be the poster girl for the forthcoming 2012 London Olympics. Her performance in the World Championships in Berlin was one of domination, using her two strongest events – the hurdles and high jump, in which she is also British number one – to set a frightening pace which no-one could even get close to. By no means the finished article, expect her to have the British heptathlon record by 2012, especially if she can sort out her day 2 events. The absent Hyleas Fountain may provide stiff competition in the years to come, as well as Kluft (if she ever returns, which is looking increasingly unlikely) and – let us not forget – Kelly Sotherton. Just in case she didn't already have everything going for her, this year's SPOTY is being broadcast from – you guessed it – Sheffield, meaning she will undoubtedly have centre stage on the night as well.
My Prediction: 1st
Phillips Idowu - Athletics
Finally, Phillips Idowu is a World Champion. Thank the Lord. Years of unfulfilled potential have finally been realised in a few seconds and 17.73 metres. That the winning mark he set put 5cm on his outdoor best dating back to the 2002 Commonwealth Games demonstrates that potential he always had. Of course, we musn't forget that prior to the Worlds, Phillips picked up the 2008 World Indoor title, Olympic silver, the 2007 European Indoors and 2006 Commonwealths, making him one of the most consistent performers on the big stage in recent years. Now a recognisable figure due to these performances over the years, one would have expected him to do well on the night, although fellow athlete Ennis will take many of his potential votes.
My prediction: 7th
Andy Murray - Tennis
Every year, Andy Murray takes another step forward in his development as a tennis player and as a figure in the web of British sport. And accordingly it seems, every year he picks up a SPOTY nomination. Having become the first player in four years to break the Federer-Nadal domination of world tennis by becoming the world number 2 (albeit temporarily) this year should be no exception. Winning five titles this year – including two Masters Series events - has established the Scot at the top of the men's game. He will look to add to that tally in the season ending indoor hard court events, at which he is probably the best player in the world. However he continues to polarise opinion on these shores, meaning unless he goes and wins a Slam, a top-three finish is unlikely.
My prediction: 5th
Jenson Button – Motorsport
SPOTY's love affair with Formula One drivers is set to continue this year, after Jenson Button's simply stunning season being set to land him the world title. It is frankly staggering to consider that he might not even have made the grid this season, with his Honda team pulling out in the winter and only an 11th hour buyout by the team's technical director Ross Brawn made this story possible. In fact this may even have had its own blessing, with the team shod of its works Honda engines and being able to secure a deal to run the leading Mercedes powerplants instead. It is worth noting that the apparent small-team success would not have been possible without Honda's millions and the team writing off 2008 completely to design the 2009 car to the radical new regulations. However, this should not in any way belittle the achievement of the team and its probable 2009 World Champion. The bookies' favourite, although Lewis Hamilton has had that honour and failed to take the top prize.
My Prediction: 2nd
Mark Cavendish - Cycling
Cavendish should be one of Britain's biggest sports stars. He has a palmares so big it even commands its own page on Wikipedia, distinct from his actual profile page. What it will show is over 20 professional victories in 2009, including the prestigious Milan-Sanremo classic and six Tour de France stages. In MSR and the final stage of the TdF in Paris, Cavendish has picked up two of the biggest wins a road sprinter could want. It is hard to gauge how much these have caught the attention of the public, and whether these will translate into votes. Also he will likely be up against Bradley Wiggins, with cycling fans voting en masse for one or the other. However, if the BBC give him the billing he deserves, expect him to poll well.
My Prediction: 3rd
Bradley Wiggins - Cycling
How is it possible that the six-time Olympic medallist (including three golds) is the nearly man of British sport? Overshadowed by Kelly Holmes in 2004 and fellow cyclist Chris Hoy in 2008, Wiggo battles for supremacy with Mark Cavendish for top British rider. His fourth place in the Tour de France is a massive achievement, especially considering his previous Grand Tour record, and the best performance by a Briton in the history of the race. The significance of this should not be understimated, although it will be hard to assess whether this ranks higher in the minds of the voters than Cavendish's stage wins. However, at the time of writing the World Time Trial Championships have not yet taken place. Should he win the rainbow stripes, the title of 'world champion' might be enough to push him above Cav in the voting.
My Prediction: 6th
Tom Daley - Diving
Daley's win in the World Aquatics Championships in the 10m platform diving was nothing short of remarkable for this teenager. Not only that, but as far as SPOTY voting is concerned the public like a good story. Daley, at just 14, provides just that. A potential dark horse, but I expect he will still struggle to garner votes in a strong year.
My Prediction: 8th
Stuart Broad - Cricket
As England have won back the Ashes, there has to be a cricketer in the shortlist, and apparent figurehead for the England squad Broad will probably be the main man for the vote. Perhaps captain Strauss would feel aggrieved if he was overlooked for nomination by Broad, but it is the latter player who dominated the headlines and the aftermath of victory. However, Broad - and indeed Strauss - suffer from not being the larger-than-life figure that 2005 SPOTY winner Andrew Flintoff was. Furthermore, having won the Ashes the last time the Aussies visited these shores, the achievement feels less special; certainly the lack of terrestrial coverage or even a victory parade on the scale of 2005 has pushed cricket from the consciousness of the public.
My Prediction: 4th
Wayne Rooney - Football
In a year of record-timing qualification for a World Cup, it only seems fitting that one England football player should make the shortlist. In truth, the team/coach awards seem the way forward for this England team, but group top scorer Wayne Rooney is a potential nominee.
My Prediction: 9th
Alistair Brownlee - Triathlon
Brownlee is one from the leftfield; he earns his place courtesy of his recent World Triathlon Championships series win. Getting in amongst the headlines late in the year is never a bad thing when it comes to SPOTY nominations, as his achievement should be fresh in the memory when the shortlists are being drawn up. However he would be unlikely to poll many votes on the night.
My Prediction: 10th
Other awards:
Team of the year: England cricket team
Coach of the year: Fabio Capello
Overseas sports personality: Usain Bolt
Young sports personality: Heather Watson
But enough of that, what do the professionals think?
Here are the current odds (20th September) on williamhill.com:
Jenson Button 5/4 Jessica Ennis 7/4 Andrew Flintoff 8/1 Andrew Strauss 8/1 Stuart Broad 20/1 Andy Murray 25/1 Phillips Idowu 25/1 David Haye 33/1 Tom Daley 33/1 Amir Khan 40/1 Mark Cavendish 40/1 Graeme Swann 50/1 Lewis Hamilton 66/1 Bradley Wiggins 66/1 Keri-Anne Payne 66/1
...and on ladbrokes.com:
J Button 5/4 J Ennis 7/4 A Flintoff 8/1 A Strauss 8/1 S Broad 16/1 A Murray 25/1 P Idowu 25/1 T Daley 33/1 A Khan 50/1 D Haye 50/1 L Hamilton 50/1 M Cavendish 50/1 R Giggs 66/1
Well I know sod-all about boxing, so I wouldn't be able to assess the likelihood of Haye and Khan in the reckoning. All the bookies have Button as a favourite; that is likely to be cemented if he goes on to win the world title, but his 2008 heartache to 2009 world success is matched by on the night home favourite Ennis. Unbelievably, the virtually anonymous and occasionally injured Flintoff is 8/1 third favourite; it would be astonishing if he even gets a nomination. Mark Cavendish is 7/1 on betfair for a top 3 finish, perhaps I should literally put my money where my mouth is (or at least, laptop keyboard is). How on earth Hamilton, Swann or Giggs are even on the list I shall never know.
Jessica Ennis - Athletics
Sheffield's Jessica Ennis has everything. A 23 year-old World Champion in the heptathlon, allied to undeniable good looks, means she will be the poster girl for the forthcoming 2012 London Olympics. Her performance in the World Championships in Berlin was one of domination, using her two strongest events – the hurdles and high jump, in which she is also British number one – to set a frightening pace which no-one could even get close to. By no means the finished article, expect her to have the British heptathlon record by 2012, especially if she can sort out her day 2 events. The absent Hyleas Fountain may provide stiff competition in the years to come, as well as Kluft (if she ever returns, which is looking increasingly unlikely) and – let us not forget – Kelly Sotherton. Just in case she didn't already have everything going for her, this year's SPOTY is being broadcast from – you guessed it – Sheffield, meaning she will undoubtedly have centre stage on the night as well.
My Prediction: 1st
Phillips Idowu - Athletics
Finally, Phillips Idowu is a World Champion. Thank the Lord. Years of unfulfilled potential have finally been realised in a few seconds and 17.73 metres. That the winning mark he set put 5cm on his outdoor best dating back to the 2002 Commonwealth Games demonstrates that potential he always had. Of course, we musn't forget that prior to the Worlds, Phillips picked up the 2008 World Indoor title, Olympic silver, the 2007 European Indoors and 2006 Commonwealths, making him one of the most consistent performers on the big stage in recent years. Now a recognisable figure due to these performances over the years, one would have expected him to do well on the night, although fellow athlete Ennis will take many of his potential votes.
My prediction: 7th
Andy Murray - Tennis
Every year, Andy Murray takes another step forward in his development as a tennis player and as a figure in the web of British sport. And accordingly it seems, every year he picks up a SPOTY nomination. Having become the first player in four years to break the Federer-Nadal domination of world tennis by becoming the world number 2 (albeit temporarily) this year should be no exception. Winning five titles this year – including two Masters Series events - has established the Scot at the top of the men's game. He will look to add to that tally in the season ending indoor hard court events, at which he is probably the best player in the world. However he continues to polarise opinion on these shores, meaning unless he goes and wins a Slam, a top-three finish is unlikely.
My prediction: 5th
Jenson Button – Motorsport
SPOTY's love affair with Formula One drivers is set to continue this year, after Jenson Button's simply stunning season being set to land him the world title. It is frankly staggering to consider that he might not even have made the grid this season, with his Honda team pulling out in the winter and only an 11th hour buyout by the team's technical director Ross Brawn made this story possible. In fact this may even have had its own blessing, with the team shod of its works Honda engines and being able to secure a deal to run the leading Mercedes powerplants instead. It is worth noting that the apparent small-team success would not have been possible without Honda's millions and the team writing off 2008 completely to design the 2009 car to the radical new regulations. However, this should not in any way belittle the achievement of the team and its probable 2009 World Champion. The bookies' favourite, although Lewis Hamilton has had that honour and failed to take the top prize.
My Prediction: 2nd
Mark Cavendish - Cycling
Cavendish should be one of Britain's biggest sports stars. He has a palmares so big it even commands its own page on Wikipedia, distinct from his actual profile page. What it will show is over 20 professional victories in 2009, including the prestigious Milan-Sanremo classic and six Tour de France stages. In MSR and the final stage of the TdF in Paris, Cavendish has picked up two of the biggest wins a road sprinter could want. It is hard to gauge how much these have caught the attention of the public, and whether these will translate into votes. Also he will likely be up against Bradley Wiggins, with cycling fans voting en masse for one or the other. However, if the BBC give him the billing he deserves, expect him to poll well.
My Prediction: 3rd
Bradley Wiggins - Cycling
How is it possible that the six-time Olympic medallist (including three golds) is the nearly man of British sport? Overshadowed by Kelly Holmes in 2004 and fellow cyclist Chris Hoy in 2008, Wiggo battles for supremacy with Mark Cavendish for top British rider. His fourth place in the Tour de France is a massive achievement, especially considering his previous Grand Tour record, and the best performance by a Briton in the history of the race. The significance of this should not be understimated, although it will be hard to assess whether this ranks higher in the minds of the voters than Cavendish's stage wins. However, at the time of writing the World Time Trial Championships have not yet taken place. Should he win the rainbow stripes, the title of 'world champion' might be enough to push him above Cav in the voting.
My Prediction: 6th
Tom Daley - Diving
Daley's win in the World Aquatics Championships in the 10m platform diving was nothing short of remarkable for this teenager. Not only that, but as far as SPOTY voting is concerned the public like a good story. Daley, at just 14, provides just that. A potential dark horse, but I expect he will still struggle to garner votes in a strong year.
My Prediction: 8th
Stuart Broad - Cricket
As England have won back the Ashes, there has to be a cricketer in the shortlist, and apparent figurehead for the England squad Broad will probably be the main man for the vote. Perhaps captain Strauss would feel aggrieved if he was overlooked for nomination by Broad, but it is the latter player who dominated the headlines and the aftermath of victory. However, Broad - and indeed Strauss - suffer from not being the larger-than-life figure that 2005 SPOTY winner Andrew Flintoff was. Furthermore, having won the Ashes the last time the Aussies visited these shores, the achievement feels less special; certainly the lack of terrestrial coverage or even a victory parade on the scale of 2005 has pushed cricket from the consciousness of the public.
My Prediction: 4th
Wayne Rooney - Football
In a year of record-timing qualification for a World Cup, it only seems fitting that one England football player should make the shortlist. In truth, the team/coach awards seem the way forward for this England team, but group top scorer Wayne Rooney is a potential nominee.
My Prediction: 9th
Alistair Brownlee - Triathlon
Brownlee is one from the leftfield; he earns his place courtesy of his recent World Triathlon Championships series win. Getting in amongst the headlines late in the year is never a bad thing when it comes to SPOTY nominations, as his achievement should be fresh in the memory when the shortlists are being drawn up. However he would be unlikely to poll many votes on the night.
My Prediction: 10th
Other awards:
Team of the year: England cricket team
Coach of the year: Fabio Capello
Overseas sports personality: Usain Bolt
Young sports personality: Heather Watson
But enough of that, what do the professionals think?
Here are the current odds (20th September) on williamhill.com:
Jenson Button 5/4 Jessica Ennis 7/4 Andrew Flintoff 8/1 Andrew Strauss 8/1 Stuart Broad 20/1 Andy Murray 25/1 Phillips Idowu 25/1 David Haye 33/1 Tom Daley 33/1 Amir Khan 40/1 Mark Cavendish 40/1 Graeme Swann 50/1 Lewis Hamilton 66/1 Bradley Wiggins 66/1 Keri-Anne Payne 66/1
...and on ladbrokes.com:
J Button 5/4 J Ennis 7/4 A Flintoff 8/1 A Strauss 8/1 S Broad 16/1 A Murray 25/1 P Idowu 25/1 T Daley 33/1 A Khan 50/1 D Haye 50/1 L Hamilton 50/1 M Cavendish 50/1 R Giggs 66/1
Well I know sod-all about boxing, so I wouldn't be able to assess the likelihood of Haye and Khan in the reckoning. All the bookies have Button as a favourite; that is likely to be cemented if he goes on to win the world title, but his 2008 heartache to 2009 world success is matched by on the night home favourite Ennis. Unbelievably, the virtually anonymous and occasionally injured Flintoff is 8/1 third favourite; it would be astonishing if he even gets a nomination. Mark Cavendish is 7/1 on betfair for a top 3 finish, perhaps I should literally put my money where my mouth is (or at least, laptop keyboard is). How on earth Hamilton, Swann or Giggs are even on the list I shall never know.
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