MARK Cavendish’s profile continues to soar leading up to the BBC Sports Personality awards night. He has now been named as the ‘Most Inspirational Sportsman of the Year’ at the prestigious 2011 Jaguar Academy of Sport Annual Awards.
Cavendish was amongst six nominees for the title, including four of the stars who have been short-listed for the BBC award - Luke Donald, Alistair Cook, Darren Clarke and Mo Farah.
The evening, hosted by James Corden and Kirsty Gallacher, celebrated some of the most inspirational British sporting performances over the past year.
Cavendish said afterwards, “A complete surprise. When you see some of the names that were up for nomination, it's pretty special. Cycling's still a growing sport, and to be a cyclist and be inspirational, that's a pretty big thing.
“For someone to watch what we do and actually appreciate it, which hasn't always been the case in the past, that's a big thing."
400m hurdles world champion Dai Greene and Group One winning jockey Hayley Turner were also big winners this evening, picking up the ‘Jump off the Sofa Moment’ and ‘Most Inspirational Sportswoman of the Year’ awards in front of a star-studded audience in London.
England's cricketers capped an Ashes-winning year by being awarded the ‘British Sporting Performance of the Year’ for their first test series win in Australia for 24 years, and four-time World Rowing Champion Tom Aggar picked up the ‘Best British Sporting Performance for an athlete with a Disability’ award.
One of the highlights of the evening was presenting the esteemed Jaguar Academy of Sport Patrons Award for Sporting Legacy to one of Great Britain's most successful Paralympians, eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist Dave Roberts.
A selection of the Patrons, Ambassadors and Members of the Jaguar Academy of Sport presented the Award winners with hand-crafted Garrard awards in front of the best of British sporting talent at The Savoy.
Geoff Cousins Jaguar’s Global Director of Sponsorship commented:
"Jaguar Academy of Sport stands for The Best of British Sport and the winners of these categories highlight that. It’s a privilege to be involved."
