BBC Sports Personality of the Year : Button favourite to follow in Hoy's tracks

Published on Monday 30 November 2009 23:13

CHRIS Hoy capped the most glorious year of his career by lifting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, and his crown will be passed on next month to one of ten British sportsmen and women short-listed for the coveted prize.

Formula 1's world champion Jenson Button is the hot favourite with the bookmakers to be the public's choice, but past years have shown there is no such thing as a certainty when mass voting is involved, and there are some worthy rivals across eight other sports to challenge the driver.

Heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis, newly-crowned heavyweight boxing champion David Haye, and the admirable Manchester United record-breaker Ryan Giggs – who notched his 100th Premier League goal on Saturday, hours before his 36th birthday – are all seen as genuine contenders for the award.

The winner will be named shortly before 9pm on Sunday, 13 December, with this year's live event being held at the Sheffield Arena for the first time. It is already an 11,000 sell-out, making it the biggest Sports Personality ceremony ever.

The short-list was announced last night, and the contenders, in alphabetical order are:

&#149 JENSON BUTTON

He didn't win his first Grand Prix until the 114th attempt in 2006, but 2009 proved to be Button's year. Starting the season as a massive outsider for the title, it soon transpired that Ross Brawn's new team had superior cars to their rivals, Button winning six of the first seven races. Those points proved enough to hold off the chasing pack and the 29-year-old confirmed himself as world champion at the Brazilian GP.

&#149 MARK CAVENDISH

The Isle of Man cyclist, 24, showed his brilliance as a sprinter at the Tour de France, winning six stages, and his highly-decorated season included victory in the Spring Classic, Milan to San Remo.

&#149 TOM DALEY

An eventful year for the 15-year-old diver, who put his Olympic disappointment behind him, winning the individual 10m platform title at the world championships in Rome.

&#149 JESSICA ENNIS

British athletics' 23-year-old golden girl, who missed the Olympics through injury, bounced back from that bitter disappointment in style to win heptathlon gold at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. The 2012 Olympics are now firmly on her radar.

&#149 RYAN GIGGS

Made his 800th appearance for Manchester United this year and helped Sir Alex Ferguson's side to yet another title. Named PFA Player of the Year at the age of 35.

&#149 DAVID HAYE

Became Britain's first world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, taking the WBA belt from Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg, despite the 7ft Russian being seven stone heavier.

&#149 PHILLIPS IDOWU

Triple jumper with the colourful hair went one step better than his Olympics last year, by jumping 17m 73cm to win the World Championship gold in Berlin.

&#149 ANDY MURRAY

Still no grand slam this year, but six titles to add to the 22-year-old Scot's collection. Briefly peaked as world No 2, finished year as No 4.

&#149 ANDREW STRAUSS

Captained England to regain the Ashes from Australia in another thrilling summer series.

&#149 BETH TWEDDLE

The 24-year-old showed her character at the World Gymnastics Championships in London by bouncing back from a fall in the bar routine to win gold on the floor.

&#149 These ten sporting celebrities, put together by a panel of 26 magazine and national sports editors, will now compete for the public vote on the night of the live show. The public will be able to vote for their BBC Sports Personality of the Year by telephone. Details of the sports editors' votes can be seen on the website at www.bbc.co.uk/sportspersonality.

PAST WINNERS

2008

Chris Hoy

2007

Joe Calzaghe

2006

Zara Phillips

2005

Andrew Flintoff

2004

Kelly Holmes

2003

Jonny Wilkinson

2002

Paula Radcliffe

2001

David Beckham

2000

Steve Redgrave

1999

Lennox Lewis