or overprivileged Royal who didn't deserve it?

I know my thoughts (as a horsey person), what are yours?

Did Zara Phillips deserve to win Sports Personality of the Year? :)

Why not ?? :) Much as I admire Darren Clarke, I've never thought of golf as much of a challenge :D I'm pleased that Beth Tweddle got an award - she's been around for a while in a not very well publicised/funded sport (at least in Britain) :) I'd never give any darts player/boxer an award :(

Daisy

I'm pleased she won. Its disappointing to see so many people saying that she was bound to do well with the money etc she has behind her - but thats not really true. You have to have talent and guts to event - certainly at that level - and money can't buy you that!

Had I voted, I would've voted for her. Personally, I was disappointed at the shortlist on offer - not much to celebrate this year!

I don't see why not. She's got the talent and has worked hard, just like anyone else. All the money and privilege in the world can't make someone stay on a horse if they haven't got the ability! World Championships aren't won by background.

Yes I agree she deserves it but the money did help towards her being able to acheive it ;) TDE is an expensive sport, requires alot of dedication and also balls as it is not a sport for the feint hearted :)

Certainly wouldn't get me doing the cross-country even if I had her family's money :D :D :D Having money doesn't automatically buy you guts :) :) :)

Daisy

And there is plenty of money behind other sportsmen too - I don't think Tim Henman or Jensen Buttons parents are short of a bob or too :)

Yes I know but there would be a lot more involved with all types of sport if people had the money :)

Alot of people have to struggle and often fail getting sponsership hence why this country is not doing so well in alot of things :)

If Zara didn't have the money she would never have been able to take part in the sport :)

I think that probably goes for a lot of the top top sportspeople...

I'm pleased to see an equestrian sport do well. Would have been nice to have seen her thank her horse, but she looked a bit flabberghasted :D

If people have the talent they can usually get sponsorship. Wherever the financial backing comes from, it won't win championships if the ability isn't there.

The trouble is that, at an early stage, it takes a lot of money to get there. Either equipment wise - or just parents having the time and money to run children to competitions, training sessions - petrol, hotels, coaching etc etc etc:(

Daisy

I agree JG but alot of people have to go through so much to get it and so many give up :rolleyes:

There just isn't enough money around in most sports :( Having said that, a chap I work with is a former GB long-jumper. If you hear the tales that he tells, many young sports people abuse the sponsorship that they get  and just don't put the work in :( :(

Daisy

Her brother played rugby for Scotland at a medium-level, but didn't take it further, even with the same potential for financial backing, and a mother who's influential with the RFU!

I've no problems with Zara winning the award but I do think having money behind her has certainly helped her achieve success in the eventing world.  She's obviously got talent but she's in the fortunate position of having the time to devote to her chosen sport. She's not exactly had to fit it in around going to the office every day, has she ? :)

No, but I think she does work - she's a qualified Eqione Physio I believe. Although I wouldn't know how many hours she puts in :D

She has been to university and is a qualified equine pysiotherapist - so she hasn't been entirely lazy :D :D :D

Daisy

Tim Henmans grandmother was the last woman to serve under-arm at Wimbledon (or something like it) and his gt.grandmother played there as well. You definitely had to have money to do that then :)

Daisy

TBH I thought she was only one of the list that actually had achieved something worthwhile - along with the gymnast.  So I thought yes - she deserved it.

I really didn't like the new format of this show - used to love to sit down and watch it every year - it's too like a X-factor/Strictly type format - getting the audience voting etc.  And constantly reminding us who the nominations were!

Yes I agree about the gymnast :)

I also think the woman world champion cyclist (forgotten her name) deserved to be on the final list :)

Also not sure why Theo Walcock got the junior sports personality

Mmmm Lucy - don't even go there with Theo Walcock - couldn't believe it either - oh well.

Yes good point about the cyclist too!

I was delighted that she won ...she has worked hard to get to the top of her profession :)

me too! Shes great!

I agree well done Zara

I too was quite pleases for her ...considering the poor short list.
Jenson Button won a single race!!!!
Here in sunny Guernsey we have the world touring car champion...back to back wins over the last two years no less.
He was invited to the 'DO', but as he went last year and he never even got a mention, this year he said no thanks.
It is more political than we know. Regarding which tv channels get coverage of what.
Yes a biased opinion here.  But where was Andy Priaulx?
Karen

The BTCC seems to be more high profile than the WTCC ? I wonder if it has anything to do with again sponsorship and also what channel it seems to be on ? Sky Sports has a lot to answer for as well IMHO :rolleyes:

As soon as I heard the phone in voting numbers etc I switched it off

I've no interest in her particular sport but I was really pleased she won. It would be much easier for her to swan about like Uncle Andrew but she works incredibly hard at what she does and to achieve what she has..............with the extra pressure of who she is...............is great. Well done Zara.

I had a feeling that Uncle Andrew worked quite hard at being a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War and I don't think that he won anything in particular :D

Daisy

Yes will done Zara -at the end of the day she was the only one sitting on the horse!!!

Yes, Prince Andrew did once do something worthwhile......but his 'sporting' hobbies now cost us tax-payers thousands and thousands !.
If he was good enough to win the Ryder Cup I might have a bit of forgiveness !

How do Andrew's sporting hobbies cost us money? He doesn't get anything from the Civil List, does he?

Not sure where he gets all his money from, but I remember a while ago he cost the RAF £35k (I think) to fly him to and from St Andrews to watch the golf and a snippet from a report I read recently said that enjoys yachts and a few years ago a 'business trip' on some Brazilian business-mans speedboat cost tax-payers £130,000. I know, it's stuff in the papers - but he is getting a bit of a reputation !.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the Royal family and I think Zara deserves her reward - she worked hard for it.

I'm another horsey person (yep my house & car smells of dog AND horse!) and I thought she was a worthy winner. Only the 3rd rider ever to hold concurrent World and European titles. Mind you, in my opinion, the line up this year was a bit short on amazing sporting achievement.

Thought her speech was appaulling though, you'd have thought that she would be able to make a fairly decent speech given who she is, also thought that she should have thanked Toytown.

I agree that she is a worthy winner. All the money in the world can't make you a 'proper' rider and also cannot give you the guts to jump those fences. To do what she has you have to actually ride the horse and you have to have so many guts!!!Yes she maybe has money to be able to buy a decent horse that can do it but without her riding the horse that means nothing.

Didn't actually watch it so cannot comment on her speech!!!!:-)