Mother's pride over cyclist Hoy's award and becoming a granny

THE mother of hero cyclist Chris Hoy today told of her mad dash to watch him pick up his latest accolade – just days after becoming a grandmother for the first time.

Carol Hoy was with Chris's sister Carrie when she gave birth at Northampton General Hospital last week.

It meant that Mrs Hoy and husband David were unable to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in Liverpool where 32-year-old Chris beat Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton to the top prize.

Instead, they headed back to Edinburgh on the train, just in time to catch the awards ceremony on TV at home in Murrayfield – and to stir up a little last-minute support for her son on the way.

Mrs Hoy said: "I was on the train coming up and this lady sitting across from me said to her friend, 'Do you watch that Sports Personality of the Year programme? I don't normally, but I've got to watch it this year because I've got to vote for Chris Hoy. My son's really into him – he's a cyclist, you know'.

"I waited until I was getting off and then I said, 'Actually, I'm Chris Hoy's mum'. The whole carriage went 'what?'! Chris will be totally mortified.

"I had threatened to go around with little cards telling people to vote for him, so at least I didn't do that."

Despite her efforts, she said the whole family – including the Beijing treble gold medal-winner – were amazed when he won the prize. Hoy picked up 283,630 votes in the public poll – way ahead of runner-up Hamilton, who got 163,864.

"I have to be honest and say I didn't expect him to win but it was fantastic. I don't think he expected it either – it was a fantastic line-up this year, with Lewis Hamilton and Rebecca Adlington."

She added: "He's a lucky boy because he really has so many loyal supporters and he's really lucky he's got such a great family.

"They go on about the parents but it's not just that – there's his sister, his cousins and aunts and uncles, who have all given him so much support."

Receiving his award, Hoy thanked the public who voted for him saying it was the culmination of "12 years' hard work", while he also referred to the latest addition in his family.

He told the audience: "She (Carrie] gave birth last week so I'm an uncle for the first time."

The former George Watson's pupil visited his new niece, Anna, the day after she returned home from hospital. She was born on December 9 – ten days late, weighing 7lb 15oz.

Carrie, who works for the IT firm run by her boyfriend, Garry Williams, 39, has attended all three of the Olympic Games where her brother competed, travelling to Sydney, Athens and Beijing – despite being six months' pregnant during this year's competition.

Mrs Hoy, who was at her daughter's side for the baby's birth, said: "She's absolutely gorgeous. I'm a nurse myself but it was quite a new experience to be there with your own daughter for the birth of your first grandchild.

"They're doing great. She's a lovely wee soul, really good."