Jessica Ennis and Jenson Button scoop honours from writers

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 23:11

WORLD champions Jessica Ennis and Jenson Button have been named sportswoman and sportsman of the year.

They won the top honours at the Sports Journalists' Association awards, where England's all-conquering women's cricket squad won the team of the year award. The team completed a World Cup and World Twenty20 double, a 4-0 one-day series win over Australia and retained the Women's Ashes.

Injury forced Ennis, 23, to miss last year's Olympics and change her approach to the seven-event heptathlon, before claiming gold at the World Championships.

"Everyone knows that I missed the Olympics and it was a massive disappointment to me," Ennis said on collecting her award at the central London ceremony.

"This year I have to pinch myself to make sure I am world champion and to win these awards is a massive bonus.

"It is a nice position to be in and I hope I can keep achieving things so that in 2012 I can win another gold medal."

Only weeks before the season started in March, Button did not have a car to drive – but by October he was Formula 1 world champion with Brawn GP having won six of the first seven grands prix of the 2009 season.

2009 SJA WINNERS

Sportswoman of the year: Jessica Ennis

Sportsman of the year: Jenson Button

Sports team of the year: England women's cricket team

UK Sport award: World triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee

Outstanding performance: World triple jump champion Phillips Idowu

Achievements of an athlete with a disability: Swimmer Eleanor Simmonds and sailor Hilary Lester

Outstanding contribution to sport: Phil Kimberley and David Faulkner of England hockey

SJA committee award: British Gymnastics

SJA president's award: Equestrian rider Ellen Whitaker