News

Davis Cup’s team title as athletes are on track

By Andy Elliott

Athletes Greg Rutherford, holder of every elite title at long jump, and Jessica Ennis-Hill, world and Olympic heptathlon champion, took the major accolades at today’s SJA British Sports Awards in London.

Minted Murrays: Andy and Jamie Murray proved a winning combination that won Britain the Davis Cup and them the SJA Team of the Year award
Minted Murrays: Andy and Jamie Murray proved a winning combination that won Britain the Davis Cup and them the SJA Team of the Year award

The golden duo were presented with their awards by Patrick Collins, President of the Sports Journalists’ Association, having been voted top of the poll in the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year categories.

Rutherford, who this year added the world championship to his Commonwealth, Olympic and European titles, held off a strong challenge from a stellar line-up in the men’s category, just edging out double Tour de France winner Chris Froome, and triple Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Rutherford is the first track and field athlete to win the SJA’s Sportsman of the Year title since 1998.

Ennis-Hill took the women’s prize for a record-equalling fourth time ahead of the sport’s best female road cyclist, Lizzie Armitstead, and Lizzy Yarnold, skeleton world champion. Ennis-Hill also won the title in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and equals Paul Radcliffe’s four SJA honours.

The victorious Davis Cup tennis team, led by Andy Murray, was voted the SJA’s Team of the Year after becoming the first Great Britain side to take the title in more than 70 years. The Davis Cup team came out on top in a close ballot of SJA members ahead of the England’s men’s cricket team and the England women’s hockey team.

It is the first time that tennis has won the SJA’s award since Virginia Wade’s Wightman Cup team in 1975. Andy Murray won the SJA’s Sportsman title in 2013.

The 2015 awards were announced at a gala ceremony in central London, sponsored by The National Lottery, and attended by nearly 400 celebrity guests from sport, politics and the media.

Jessica Ennis: SJA Sportswoman of the Year in 2012. Could she win again in 2015?
Jessica Ennis, named today as the SJA Sportswoman of the Year for the fourth time

The National Lottery is celebrating more than 20 years of providing medal-winning funding – in total, 637 Olympic and Paralympic medals have been won by Lottery-backed British competitors since 1994.

The Lottery made its own Spirit of Sport Award to Olympic rower Katherine Grainger, who broke off from training to receive the award.

The BT Sport JL Manning Award for services to sport went to Andy Williamson, OBE, Chief Operating Officer of the Football League who is stepping down from the organisation after 45 years.

The SJA Peter Wilson Trophy for international newcomer to England fast bowler Mark Wood.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Sportsman of the Year

1, Greg Rutherford (Athletics)
2, Chris Froome (Cycling)
3, Lewis Hamilton (Motor racing)
4, AP McCoy (Horse racing)
5, Mo Farah (Athletics)
6, Adam Peaty (Swimming)
7, Andy Murray (Tennis)
8, Jimmy Anderson (Cricket)
9, Wayne Rooney (Football)
10, Tyson Fury (Boxing)

Sportswoman of the Year

1, Jessica Ennis-Hill (Athletics)
2, Lizzie Armitstead (Cycling)
3, Lizzy Yarnold (Skeleton bob)
4, Alex Danson (Hockey)
5, Charlotte Dujardin (Equestrianism)
6, Steph Houghton (Football)
7, Nicola Adams (Boxing)
8, Sarah Storey (Cycling)
9, Hannah Cockcroft (Athletics)
10, Dina Asher-Smith (Athletics)

Team of the Year

1, Great Britain Davis Cup (Tennis)
2, England men cricket
3, England women hockey
4, England women football 
5, Glover and Stanning (Rowing)
6, Leeds Rhinos (Rugby League)

 

The National Lottery Spirit of Sport Award: Katherine Grainger

SJA President’s Award: New Zealand Men’s Rugby

BT Sport JL Manning Award for services off the field of play: Andy Williamson (Football League)

SJA Committee Award: Alex Danson (Hockey)

SJA World Sport Achievement Award: Max Whitlock (Gymnastics)

SJA Bill McGowran Trophy for achievement in Paralympic sport: Ollie Hynd (Swimming); Jordanne Whiley (Tennis)

SJA Peter Wilson Trophy for international newcomer: Mark Wood (Cricket)

SJA Chairman’s Award: Alec Stewart

SJA Pat Besford Award for outstanding performance of the year: Dina Asher Smith (Athletics)

 

  • The SJA is the largest member organisation of sports media professionals in the world. Join us: Click here for more details
  • This year, the SJA’s nominated good cause is The Journalists’ Charity. To find out more and how you can donate on a one-off or regular basis, go to www.journalistscharity.org.uk

UPCOMING SJA EVENTS

2016