Wednesday, 27 November 2013

Horse Racing. Geraghty dedicates win to JT McNamara

Barry GeraghtyJockey Barry Geraghty dedicated his Cheltenham Gold Cup win on Bobs Worth to seriously injured rider JT McNamara and said victory was "bittersweet".
Geraghty claimed his second win in the big race on the 11-4 favourite, trained by Nicky Henderson, but said he had mixed emotions as he passed the winning line.
"It's very upsetting. We are hoping and praying that JT will be all right," said the 33-year-old Irish rider, who also won aboard Kicking King in 2005.
I just wish it were a happier day, because we are all upset about John Thomas
Barry Geraghty on injured jockey JT McNamara
Amateur jockey McNamara had surgery less than four hours before jump racing's showpiece event after a fall at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.
The 37-year-old suffered serious neck injuries, fracturing his C3 and C4 vertebrae, and is being treated at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.
Geraghty said: "I just wish it were a happier day, because we are all upset about John Thomas.
"You have to put it out of your mind when you're racing but, even though this is one of the biggest days of my career, all I could think about was John Thomas. He's a friend of ours and I hope and pray he will be OK.
"When you are out there, you are doing a job. When you finish, it comes straight to you in a moment like that. It was bittersweet."
JT McNamara
JT, or John Thomas, McNamara is a leading Irish amateur rider who has been a winner four times at the Cheltenham Festival, including guiding Teaforthree to victory in the National Hunt Chase last year.
He won the same race in 2002 on Rith Dubh, was successful in the Cross-Country Chase with Spot Thedifference three years later and won the 2007 Fox Hunter Chase on Drombeag.
Geraghty and his brother Ross bought Bobs Worth as a yearling for 16,500 euros (£14,275) and sold him to Henderson as a four-year-old for £20,000.
The eight-year-old, in only his sixth race over fences, won at Cheltenham for the fifth time in his career and secured a third successive Festival triumph after victories in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and RSA Chase.
Bobs Worth, who had last run when winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury 104 days earlier, showed the break did no harm as he came from behind to power past Sir Des Champs and Long Run.
Sir Des Champs, the mount of late substitute AP McCoy after usual partner Davy Russell punctured a lung, challenged leader Long Run going round the home turn.
As a 67,000 crowd roared on, the 17-time champion went head-to-head with amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, on 2011 winner Long Run, who was third behind McCoy and victor Synchronised last year.
But Geraghty had stamina to burn on his mount and he devoured the demanding Cheltenham hill for a resounding success.
In a vintage renewal featuring some potentially improving young steeplechasers, the Paul Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti also looked a leading player before falling at the third fence from home.
"There is not a bother on him and he would be all right to go to Aintree or Punchestown," said jockey Ruby Walsh. "This is not bad luck. I am still standing and the horse got up - that's good luck."
Last year's runner-up The Giant Bolster, trained by David Bridgwater, finished fourth and may have been slightly inconvenienced by the rain-softened going.
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Geraghty feared Gold Cup had gone

Horse Racing. Bobs Worth wins thrilling Gold Cup

Bobs Worth

Favourite Bobs Worth gave trainer Nicky Henderson a landmark triumph with victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on a day of highly charged emotions.
Barry Geraghty guided the 11-4 chance through in the latter stages for a stirring seven-length victory from runner-up Sir Des Champs and third Long Run.
Continue reading the main story
He is such an honest horse, he always gallops up the hill
Nicky HendersonBobs Worth's trainer
"It was brilliant," Geraghty told BBC Radio 5 live. "He is such a great little horse who just loves the job.
"We had faith in the horse. Nicky Henderson knew he would have him fit enough - he knows how to get them ready for Cheltenham."
It was the 50th Festival win for Lambourn trainer Henderson, who passed the all-time record for victories at the meeting last year.
Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen made the running on the 2011 winner Long Run and did battle with champion AP McCoy on Irish challenger Sir Des Champs, before Geraghty pounced.
Silviniaco Conti, ridden by Ruby Walsh for trainer Paul Nicholls, looked another likely to challenge before falling at the third-last fence.
Racing took place with jockeys hoping for positive news about theirseriously injured amateur colleague JT McNamara.
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Geraghty feared Gold Cup had gone
Four hours before jump racing's showpiece, it was announced the Irish rider - injured in a fall at the Festival on Thursday - was having surgery in hospital for a fractured spine.
"It's hard to be happy on a day like today," said McCoy after claiming his first winner of the week on At Fishers Cross in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, immediately preceding the Gold Cup.
Scottish jockey Campbell Gillies, 21, had won the race a year earlier on Brindisi Breeze but both horse and jockey died in separate freak accidents later in the year.
McCoy was a late call-up for the ride on Sir Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins, and the 17-time champion took on the part-time rider as the two leaders rounded the home turn.
At one stage it looked like being a straight duel between the pro and amateur, but Geraghty stalked from afar and brought Bobs Worth charging up the rain-softened hill for a memorable triumph.
Henderson had previously won the Gold Cup with Long Run, while Geraghty was victorious in 2005 on Kicking King.
Mullins must wait for his first Gold Cup win, while two-time King George VI Chase victor Long Run was making the frame for the third year running, and still has not been out of the first three in his career.
"It has been a long old week," said Henderson. "Both boys gave them great rides and both horses were brave to the line.
"It is dreams, isn't it? Barry Geraghty gave that a lovely pace. It has been a long wait as neither horse has run for a long old time. He is such an honest horse, he always gallops Earlier, jockey Barry Cooper - who had been beaten to the Sir Des Champs substitute role by McCoy after the Northern Irishman's original mount Sunnyhillboy was withdrawn - was successful in the opening two races.Geraghty added: "I'd love to be happier. All we can think about is John Thomas McNamara. We just hope and pray to God he's OK."
Cooper breezed to a breathtaking 15-length romp in the Triumph Hurdle on Our Conor, trained by Dessie Hughes, before scoring in the County Hurdle with Ted Veale for AJ Martin.
McCoy, who had drawn a blank going into the fourth and final day, completed a double when riding favourite Alderwood to victory, for trainer Thomas Mullins, in the Grand Annual Chase, in a 1-2 for owner JP McManus with Kid Cassidy second.
It was a record 14th Irish-trained winner, and the first time in Festival history horses from the Emerald Isle had outpointed their British rivals.
Salsify was one of them, the favourite winning the Foxhunter Chase for the second year running in the most dramatic of circumstances, afterleader Oscar Delta unshipped 18-year-old rider Oscar Delta on the run-in.
Champion trainer Nicholls finally gained a victory at the 2013 meeting when his nephew Harry Derham scored in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

Horse Racing. Betfair Chase: Cue Card claims impressive win

Cue CardCue Card won the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in impressive style.
Ridden by Joe Tizzard, and trained by the winning jockey's father Colin, Cue Card pulled away after the final fence having been at the head of the field for most of the race.
The 9-1 shot finished ahead of Dynaste, with 2012 Betfair Chase winner Silviniaco Conti third.
Favourite and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth finished out of the places after a disappointing showing.
It was only the second time in his career that Cue Card had run over three miles, and after shaking off Roi Du Mee, Tizzard kept Silviniaco Conti at bay to win by four and a half lengths.
Bobs Worth, the 15-8 favourite, never made a realistic challenge over the three mile, one furlong chase, leaving trainer Nicky Henderson still searching for his first win in this race.
"I found it so easy, he just loves lolloping along, the pace he's got for a race like this is lovely," said jockey Tizzard. "He's got that gear which all the best horses have, they have got to be able to cruise.
"It's so nice that he's proved he can get in there, and it makes him a real Gold Cup horse."

football. French footballer finally able to leave Qatar

Members of Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) and Swiss Unia unions protest to Fifa over workers' rights in QatarA French-Algerian footballer "trapped" in Qatar for two years because his club would not permit his departure is now able to go home, his brother says.
Zahir Belounis, who is in dispute with his club El-Jaish over unpaid wages, says he has been held against his will because of Qatari labour laws.
A delegation from global players' union Fifpro was due to meet Qatari authorities and the player on Thursday.
But his brother Mahdi Belounis said on Wednesday: "Zahir has his exit visa."
Mahdi Belounis, who has been highlighting his brother's case and calling for him to be allowed to leave the Middle East state, added on Twitter: "Zahir will finally be in Paris tomorrow."
Under the Qatari "kafala" system, migrant workers are effectively tied to their employers, who must agree to their departure from the country.
Zahir Belounis said his club would not grant his 'exit visa' because of the dispute, even when he offered to drop his claim for unpaid wages.
Earlier in November he wrote an open letter  to 2022 World Cup ambassadors Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola to publicise his plight.
The treatment of migrant workers helping to get the nation ready to host the 2022 tournament has been widely criticised in recent months although the football authorities have pledged to act.

Swimming. Keri-Anne Payne and Elizabeth Simmonds lose

Keri-Anne Payne
Former world champion Keri-Anne Payne and European gold medallist Elizabeth Simmonds have both lost their personal funding for 2014.
Simmonds failed to qualify for this year's World Championships, while Payne was 14th in the 10km open water event.
Only 62 swimmers will get funding, compared to 97 who were supported in the build-up to London 2012.
Swimming received a £4m cut to its Olympic funding by UK Sport after failing to meet its medal target.
Payne, 25, won Olympic silver in Beijing 2008 but considered retirement after finishing fourth in London last year. She won the 2009 and 2011 World Championships.
Simmonds, 22, won gold medals at the 2008 and 2010 European Championships.
She picked up two silver medals and a bronze in the penultimate stage of the World Cup series in Tokyo over the weekend.

Funding cut

Britain's swimmers failed to meet their medal target of five medals at last summer's London Olympics, winning three. UK Sport cut their funding by £4m to £21.4m
In a change to its strategy, British Swimming is now funding athletes based outside the UK and therefore Adam Brown is included for the first time.
The athlete personal awards (APA) are split into podium funding and podium potential funding categories.
Podium funding supports athletes who have the potential to win a medal in 2016, while podium potential support is an investment in athletes who can win medals in 2020.
British Swimming national performance director Chris Spice said: "This programme of APA funding is designed to invest in future performance.
"It will provide valuable support to athletes for their continued preparation and development for success in 2016 and beyond."

Swimming. Hannah Miley wins World Cup

Hannah Miley
Britain's Hannah Miley won silver in the 400m individual medley as the Beijing World Cup event came to a close.
The Garioch swimmer clocked a time of four minutes 27.21 seconds - just under two seconds behind Spain's Mireia Belmonte Garcia.
Miley was the only Briton to make the podium on the second day of action.
However Fran Halsall missed out on bronze in both the 100m freestyle and the 50m butterfly.
There were also fourth-place finishes for Siobhan-Marie O'Connor (100m individual medley), Roberto Pavoni (200m individual medley) and Sophie Allen (200m breaststroke).

Swimming. Great Britain's Lizzie Simmonds

Lizzie Simmonds
Lizzie Simmonds won 50m backstroke gold and 200m bronze at the Beijing World Cup on the day it was announced she had lost her funding from British Swimming.
Compatriot Sophie Allen also impressed, setting a new British record en route to a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke. She also won bronze in the 200m individual medley.
London 2012 silver medallist Michael Jamieson was second in the 200m breaststroke, while Francesca Halsall, who won World Championship bronze, took 50m freestyle silver.
Bath ITC swimmer Simmonds, 22, is a two-time European gold medallist but lost her funding after failing to qualify for this year's World Championships.
Only 62 swimmers are to receive funding, compared to 97 who were supported in the build-up to London 2012.
Swimming received a £4m cut to its Olympic funding by UK Sport after failing to meet its medal target.
Roberto Pavoni narrowly missed out on adding to Great Britain's medal haul on day one when a personal best of 4:08.35 was only good enough for fourth in the 400m individual medley.
Siobhan-Marie O'Connor, 17, had a similar result, posting a personal best of 1:55.26 for fourth place in the 200m freestyle.
The Beijing meeting is the eighth and final event of the 2013 World Cup series,  which ranks swimmers by awarding points for medals and times.
Going into the event, Jamieson was Britain's top-ranked male swimmer at 12th in the world, with Allen 14th in the women's rankings. Hungary's Katinka Hosszu and Chad le Clos of South Africa lead the rankings.
Jamieson, Allen, Halsall and O'Connor will all compete at next month's European Short Course Championships in Denmark.

Swimming. Get Inspired: SWIMMING

Sharron Davies
Swimming has appeared at every Olympic Games and produced some of the most celebrated champions through the years.
Spitz, Thorpe, Phelps - Olympic champion swimmers fast become household names across the globe, and Rebecca Adlington's double gold at Beijing 2008 installed her as an A-list celebrity in Britain.
But swimming is as much a recreational activity as it is an elite sport. Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK use swimming as a way to keep fit, relax and have fun.

Why is it good for you?

When combined with a balanced, healthy diet, swimming is an efficient way to maximise weight loss, with a 30-minute swim likely to burn approximately 440 calories.
The energy consumed boosts your metabolism so effectively that 30 minutes in the pool equates to 45-60 minutes of land-based exercise.
Swimming is a great way to improve the health of your heart as it can reduce the dangerous, very low density lipoproteins that cause high cholesterol while also raising your 'good' cholesterol levels at the same time.
Furthermore, swimming for 30 minutes at least three times per week can significantly lower blood pressure.
Swimming has been found to be an excellent way to prevent the risk of serious diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis as it improves circulation, controls blood sugar levels and strengthens bones.

Get involved

From beginners to experts, children to adults, courses are run at swimming pools throughout the United Kingdom for those looking to take part.
For beginners, it is essential to receive tuition from qualified coaches to ensure that you learn the different strokes to help you swim in a safe way. Other than that, all that is needed are some swimming trunks or a swimming costume.

Team GB's Keri-Anne Payne
Swimming at the Olympics explained (Part one)
There are more than 1,500 swimming clubs in the UK, and they provide the best foundation for those looking to develop as swimmers.
Visit the British Swimming,  Swim Ulster,  Scottish Swimming  and Swim Wales  websites for information about the different membership schemes.
A wide range of activities,  including competitive races, swimming lessons and aqua aerobics, are being put on in swimming pools throughout the country.
SwimBritain  is one example of an activity you can try - a swimming relay challenge for teams of four, open to swimmers of all abilities. It takes place in the pool or open water, with each team member swimming a total distance of 1000m.
Sign up to British Swimming's mailing list  to be sent details of the latest events and use the pool finder  to find out where you can get started.
British Swimming's Swimfit  scheme offers free online coaching tools that provide a gym style work-out

History

Swimming was not widely practised as a sport until the early 19th Century but has been an Olympic sport since the first modern Games in 1896, when all the disciplines were held in open water. London 1908 was the first to use an indoor pool.

Swimming at the Olympics

Men & Women: 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay, 10km marathon
Men only: 1500m freestyle
Women only: 800m freestyle
The first Olympic swimming competition in 1896 featured just three races and was staged in the Mediterranean Sea in the Bay of Zea.
Alfred Hajos of Hungary survived icy water and 12-foot waves when winning the 1500m gold and said afterwards: "My will to live completely overcame my desire to win."
Backstroke was added in 1904 and the butterfly in 1956. Women's swimming became Olympic in 1912 at the Stockholm Games.
Johnny Weissmuller won five gold medals in 1924 and 1928 before gaining international fame as Tarzan. On one day in 1924 he won two swimming golds and a bronze in water polo.

Swimming. Michael Phelps fuels comeback rumours

Michael Phelps ends career with 18th Gold medal
Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian in history, has given further indication of a comeback by re-registering with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
The 28-year-old American retired from competition after winning his 18th Olympic gold medal during London 2012.
But Phelps has returned to training under Bob Bowman at North Baltimore.
Having completed doping tests, he will be eligible to compete in trials for the 2015 World Championships.

Michael Phelps

58 Gold: 18 Olympic, 27 World Championship, 13 Pan Pacific
11 Silver: 2 Olympic, 6 World Championship, 3 Pan Pacific
3 Bronze: 2 Olympic, 1 World Championship
Rumours have circulated for some time that Phelps is keen to compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
It would be his fifth Games where, in addition to his 18 golds, he has also won two silver and two bronze medals.
Responding to the speculation about a return he said: "Nothing is set in stone. If I decide to keep going and swim again, then I'll compete.
"If I don't, I guess I'll re-retire. Just don't compare me to [American football quarterback] Brett Favre [who made several comebacks]."
Coach Bowman was also non-committal on the subject of Rio 2016. "I just think he's in a place where he's feeling good about swimming,'' he said.
"If he chooses to compete, he's got some time. To be perfectly honest, he's not anywhere near being able to compete in a meet or anything like that. We're just getting started on improving his fitness. We'll see where that goes."

Boxing. Cleverly to box on and wants to regain world title

Nathan Cleverly
Nathan Cleverly says he will carry on boxing and has already set his sights on regaining his world title.
The Welshman, 26, had hinted he was ready to walk away from the ring after losing his WBO light-heavyweight title to unbeaten Russian Sergey Kovalev.

Cleverly was knocked down for the first time in his career as he suffered his first defeat in 27 professional fights in Cardiff in August.
"As time has gone on, I want to be back [boxing] now," said Cleverly.
The Cefn Fforest fighter, in his sixth title defence, was knocked down in the third round by Kovalev and lost the fight 29 seconds into the fourth.
He added: "I have had a couple of weeks now, living a normal life, enjoying life and bit by bit, I have reflected on the fight and my boxing career.
"I will have a few more weeks relaxing and then I will get that burning desire to get back in the gym and get that world title again.
"I have the ability, I am young enough at 26 and it would be a waste to throw that away. I just have to focus and get it [world title] back."
Cleverly made no secret of his ambitions of unifying the world titles and having a career-defining fight in America against the great Bernard Hopkins, but his defeat by Kovalev ended those hopes.
At the time, Cleverly, who has a degree in mathematics, said: "Your instincts tell you if you are missing boxing, or are you going to find another career path.
"Who knows where my heart is going to lie? If I continue, I will come back and give it a go.
"But the background I have got and the brain I have got, do I really need to continue? It could go either way, my career."

Boxing. Nathan Cleverly to make return at cruiserweight

Nathan Cleverly during his loss to Sergey Kovalev
Former WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly will step up to cruiserweight when he makes his return to the ring on 30 November.
The 26-year-old Welshman had hinted at retirement after being stopped in four rounds by Sergey Kovalev in August's world light-heavyweight title fight.
But Cleverly will face Daniel Ammann for the vacant Commonwealth title at London's Copper Box Arena.
"I'm ready to return and I can't wait for November 30th," Cleverly said.
"I've got the hunger and desire back and I want to be a world champion again. I miss having the belt around my waist, but it's not just about the belt.

"I didn't want to let my fans down, who have supported me in my career, my family down and more importantly I didn't want to let myself down by going out on a loss.
"I knew deep down that I wanted to fight again and I just needed time to focus on what I wanted to do."
Cleverly will be on the same card as Dereck Chisora, who makes the first defence of his European heavyweight title against Matteo Modugno.
Ammann, from Stockton in New South Wales, has a record of 29 wins from 35 fights and is the Australian champion. The 30-year-old southpaw is nicknamed 'Doberman' and is on an unbeaten eight-fight run.
"It's a good test for me on my return and the opportunity to win the Commonwealth title is a big motivator and will open doors for me," said Cleverly.
"Ammann is a proper cruiserweight and has even fought at heavyweight, he's been around a long time and will have plenty of experience. He looks like a big, rough, tough Aussie and I'm not expecting an easy fight.
"The main thing for me is to show that I'm back in business and ready for my new campaign in the cruiserweight division and I want to put on a good show for the fans and press."

Boxing. Nathan Cleverly calls off cruiserweight

Nathan Cleverly
Nathan Cleverly's cruiserweight debut has been delayed until the new year after he sustained a back injury.
The ex-WBO light-heavyweight champion was due to fight Daniel Ammann for the vacant Commonwealth cruiserweight title at London's Copper Box on Saturday.
"It's a bitter blow as training had been going so well. I want to enter 2014 with a clean slate and get my career back on track," he said.
The 26-year-old lost his world title to Russia's Sergey Kovalev in August.
Cleverly, who has won 26 of his 27 fights as a professional, had hinted at retirement after the defeat before announcing a step up in weight to fight Australian Ammann.

Boxing. George Groves taunts Carl Froch

George Groves (left) looks on dejectedly as Carl Froch celebrates
George Groves says Carl Froch will lose his "credibility" if he does not agree to a rematch between the two.
Froch retained his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles with a ninth-round stoppage of Groves last Saturday.
However, the fight was ended controversially when referee Howard Foster stepped in to end the bout.
Howard Foster did a fantastic job in stopping it and saving George Groves's career
"His [Froch's] credibility will be shot to pieces if he decides to go a different route apart from fighting me," Groves told BBC Radio 5 live.
"Eddie Hearn, the promoter, is beside himself. He desperately wants this rematch to take place.
"I feel for boxing's sake this rematch needs to take place or Carl Froch will retire. I understand if he wants to retire. He took a hell of a lot of punches in that fight, maybe lasting punches.
"For his health, he needs to get a full check to make sure he is fit to box if that is what he decides to do."
Groves, 25, knocked down his 36-year-old rival in the opening round and dominated the fight before Froch's flurry in the ninth resulted in Foster stopping the fight.
Froch backed the referee's decision as he said that Groves was not 'defending himself' having taken some heavy blows, while the British Boxing Board of Control also supported Foster's decision.
But Groves has a different view having watched the fight again.
"I'm angry because it was a terrible decision. The fight should never have been stopped in a million years," he said.
Carl Froch, Howard Foster and George Groves
Groves got into trouble in the ninth round against Froch
"I took a couple of punches but I was defending myself, I was evading punches and I was also punching back and landing.
"It was the first bit of success Carl Froch had in an otherwise one-sided fight.
"I controlled it from the start, I dropped him heavily in the first round and then buzzed him repeatedly throughout the rounds.
"The first time he actually landed anything of significance the referee jumped in and stopped the bout."
Meanwhile, fellow British boxer Amir Khan believes Froch should retire while he still has his two titles.
"I think a rematch will be one-sided, Groves will beat Froch," Khan told BBC Asian Network.
"I would say to Carl Froch to retire really. He is on top at the moment. There is no point risking it and probably losing on your way out.
"It is always harder to keep hold of world titles as there are hungrier fighters out there like Andre Ward and Groves, who I believe will beat him next whoever he fights."

Boxing. Carl Froch: Andre Ward 'open' to rematch

Carl Froch (r) strikes out at Andre Ward in their super middleweight title fight in 2011
WBA super-middleweight champion Andre Ward is "open" to a rematch with Carl Froch, but does not believe the Briton wants to fight him again.
The 29-year-old American beat Froch, who holds the IBF belt, on points in Atlantic City in 2011.
In his latest fight Froch, 36, secured a controversial ninth-round stoppage of George Groves on Saturday.
"From a legacy standpoint, Froch needs me more than I need him," Ward told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I can go off and fight other guys and never mention Carl Froch's name again."
Ward, who has won all 27 of his professional fights, fears he could be the victim of a poor decision if the bout took place in Britain.

Stoppage was unjust - Groves
Froch's defeat of Groves in Manchester, the 32nd victory in his 34 fights, came when his opponent was leading on all three judges' cards.
Groves believes his countryman will lose his "credibility" if he does not agree to a rematch with him after the "unjust" stoppage.
Ward said: "I'm not concerned about fighting in front of his fans, but it is about not getting a fair shake. I've realistic concerns.
"Like I said, it's my legacy at stake if he didn't beat me, but if something happens like in the Groves fight then that is tough to live down. It's a lot of moving pieces."
Ward admitted there has been exploratory discussions over a rematch with Froch since he beat Edwin Rodriguez on points in a non-title super-middleweight fight earlier this month.
"I know that my promoter [Dan Goossen] has contacted his promoter to see what interest there is," added Ward.
"The initial conversation took place after Froch's rematch with Mikkel Kessler [in May], but I was still injured and we couldn't move forward then the way we wanted to.
"I don't know all the detail, but I've been in the game long enough to know if both sides want a fight to be made, the fight will be made."

Spersonality. Bradley Wiggins claims BBC award is his 'greatest achievement'


Bradley Wiggins says being voted 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year is possibly his greatest triumph.
The 32-year-old cyclist claimed Olympic time trial gold in the summer after becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France.
He secured the BBC award from runner-up Jessica Ennis and Andy Murray in third after a public vote.
"To be ahead of Jess and Andy, it's probably my greatest sporting achievement," he said.
"The other stuff you can control, you can't control people voting for you."

Sports Personality 2012 winners

Sports Personality of the Year: Bradley Wiggins
Young Sports Personality: Josef Craig
Helen Rollason Award: Martine Wright
Overseas Personality: Usain Bolt
Team of the Year: GB Olympic and Paralympic squads
Coach of the Year: Dave Brailsford
Unsung Hero: Sue and Jim Houghton
Lifetime Achievement: Lord Coe
Wiggins admitted he thought runner Mo Farah, a double Olympic gold medallist who finished fourth in the poll, might win when his own name was not among the first two read out.
More than 1.6 million phone votes were cast for the 12 shortlisted contenders.
The show, watched by a crowd of 16,000 at London's ExCeL Arena, marked a memorable sporting year where London hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Wiggins secured 30% of the vote, with Olympic heptathlon champion Ennis earning 22% and US Open tennis victor Murray, a fellow Games gold medallist, on 14%.
The BBC award winner, dressed in a navy velvet suit, said he had been a fan of the Sports Personality show since he was a child.
"Sports Personality is a bit of an institution in our house and always has been. To win this it's very difficult to put into words," he said after receiving the award from the Duchess of Cambridge.
"It's incredible, and I'm very proud. It's something I certainly wanted to win."
Team Sky rider Wiggins said he would have voted for Paralympic wheelchair racer David Weir and was "starstruck" when he met him.

Wiggins teases 'Susan' Barker
"The 12 nominees all achieved things in their own right. It was probably the most nerve-wracking thing of the year for me," said the first English winner since Zara Phillips in 2006.
"I was inspired as a 12-year-old watching [Olympic gold medallist and Tour stage winner] Chris Boardman and hopefully this year will have done the same for others."
Wiggins, who was born in Belgium, grew up in London and is now based in Lancashire, said he would let his grandmother have the trophy before putting it behind the bar at his local pub - the Farmers Arms in Eccleston.  
He won his fourth career title, and a British record seventh medal, at the Olympics and London 2012 chief Lord Coe - himself the recipient of a lifetime achievement award - hailed sport's "rock star".
"He's more than just a fantastic ambassador. He's edgy and got that slightly risky feel to him," said Coe.
At the after-show party, Wiggins joined the house band on stage as he played guitar to songs by The Jam and Oasis.
He won the coveted award in a year where seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was stripped of his titles for doping.
Dave Brailsford, named top coach for his work with Team Sky and Great Britain, said: "It's important that we can demonstrate you can win the biggest races clean and that is what Bradley is doing.
"He's a fantastic athlete who works extremely hard.
"What he did was quite remarkable. The series of wins he had this year was better than any other cyclist. If you add in the element of personality, then he certainly has that."
Aside from the Tour, where he wore the leader's yellow jersey for more than half the gruelling 3,500 kilometre route, Wiggins also triumphed at Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine.
Olympic heptathlon champion Ennis, who was third in the 2009 and 2010 awards, praised the winner.
"Bradley was the favourite and it's incredible what he's achieved winning the Tour de France. You would never have thought a British man would do that," she said.
"To then go on and win Olympic gold medal in London, it's very well deserved.
"I'm biased and would love to have seen Mo in the top three but everyone deserved to be up there. It was a really tough decision."
When Wiggins arrived for the 59th year of the awards, he joked when a security guard blocked his path: "But I'm a nominee."
Not just a nominee, but a winner, albeit one who is not completely at home in the limelight.

Wiggins's after-show set list

Bradley Wiggins
  • Wiggins joined the band on stage for two numbers
  • He played along to That's Entertainment by The Jam
  • Guests joined in as he strummed along to Wonderwall by Oasis
While other contenders stopped, posed and chatted, he breezed past photographers and reporters on the red carpet.
"I find all the attention a bit hard. I'm nervous. It's an honour to be here, and I don't think I'll be up for the award again," he said.
Wiggins was the fourth cyclist, and the third in the last five years, to win the award after Tommy Simpson (1965), Sir Chris Hoy (2008) and Mark Cavendish (2011).
Cavendish worked selflessly to help Wiggins win the Tour and said he hopes his friend and team-mate, who was ninth in the 2008 awards, will cherish the BBC prize.
"It's not something you can work towards. It's bestowed on you," said Cavendish.
"The public have given it to you and that has to be respected."
The main award was one of eight given on the night, with the honours dominated by the stars of London 2012.
Great Britain's Olympic and Paralympic squads were named joint team of the year, sprinter Usain Bolt claimed the Overseas Personality honour, while Paralympic swimmer Josef Craig took the Young Personality prize.
Martine Wright, who played sitting volleyball at the 2012 Paralympics seven years after surviving the London bombings, won the Helen Rollason Award in memory of the former BBC presenter.
Sue and Jim Houghton were given the Unsung Hero Award after setting up a community sports centre in Leicestershire.
Below are the results of the phone voting for the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year main award:
Total votes: 1,626,718
1. Bradley Wiggins 492,064 (30.25%)
2. Jessica Ennis 372,765 (22.92%)
3. Andy Murray 230,444 (14.17%)
4. Mo Farah 131,327 (8.07%)
5. David Weir 114,633 (7.05%)
6. Ellie Simmonds 102,894 (6.33%)
7. Sir Chris Hoy 42,961 (2.64%)
8. Nicola Adams 35,560 (2.19%)
9. Ben Ainslie 35,373 (2.17%)
10. Rory McIlroy 29,729 (1.83%)
11. Katherine Grainger 28,626 (1.76%)
12. Sarah Storey 10,342 (0.64%)

Sport personality. Sports Personality of the Year: 2013 shortlist


A shortlist of 10 contenders will be named on Tuesday for next month's 60th BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
The names will be announced during the One Show on BBC One between 19:00 and 19:30 GMT.
A capacity crowd of about 12,000 will attend the show at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Sunday, 15 December.
The programme will follow on from last year's awards where Sir Bradley Wiggins was crowned 2012 Sports Personality.

Recent Sports Personality winners

  • 2012: Bradley Wiggins (cycling)
  • 2011: Mark Cavendish (cycling)
  • 2010: AP McCoy (horse racing)
  • 2009: Ryan Giggs (football)
  • 2008: Sir Chris Hoy (cycling)
  • 2007: Joe Calzaghe (boxing)
  • 2006: Zara Phillips (equestrian)
  • 2005: Andrew Flintoff (cricket)
  • 2004: Dame Kelly Holmes (athletics)
  • 2003: Jonny Wilkinson (rugby union)
  • 2002: Paula Radcliffe (athletics)
After Tuesday's announcement, there will be details of all the contenders and arrangements for public voting on the night at www.bbc.co.uk/sportspersonality .
Tour de France winner and Olympic road cycling champion Wiggins was the latest to join an illustrious roll of honour last year when he received the coveted trophy from the Duchess of Cambridge and former England football captain David Beckham, watched on television by more than 15m people.
Presenter Gary Lineker said: "It's going to be tough to follow last year, the most unbelievable sporting year in living memory, but the fact that it is the 60th anniversary, the fact that it is coming to Leeds, means it's still going to be a huge show."
Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater added: "We're thrilled Leeds is to host BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013. The sporting heritage of the city is outstanding and the new arena will be a great venue from which to celebrate the very best of sport."
Devised by Sir Paul Fox in 1954, the first Sports Personality of the Year was held at the Savoy Hotel in London, where it was presented by Peter Dimmock. World record-breaking 5,000m runner Sir Christopher Chataway beat four minute-mile hero Sir Roger Bannister to the award that year as the public voted for the first winner.
The trophy has since been won by many of the greats of British sport, including Bobby Moore, Princess Anne, Lord Coe, Daley Thompson, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Sir Steve Redgrave, David Beckham, Dame Kelly Homes, Andrew Flintoff, Sir Chris Hoy and many more.

Gabby Logan
Logan looking forward to show
The show went on the road in 2006, taking in Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester and London. To date, more than 55,000 people have enjoyed spending a spectacular evening with the stars of the sporting year.
Lineker added: "Taking the show out on the road has worked really well. It has proven to be hugely popular. You get thousands of people who can come along and enjoy the live show and it just becomes more of an event.
"When you get the people there who really want to be there - the supporters, the sports fans - it just adds to the atmosphere and I'm sure it will be the same in Leeds."
Most tickets for the event have been sold, although a limited number will be made available later in November.

TENNIS. Voting & judging: Terms & conditions

BBC 2013 Sports Personality of The Year
SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2013 at First Direct Arena in Leeds
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be named during a live awards show on Sunday, 15 December 2013 (BBC One & BBC One HD).
Voting details and criteria are below.

MAIN AWARD - NOMINATION PROCESS FOR TOP 10 CONTENDERS

An expert panel (hereafter 'the Panel') will be convened in November 2013 in London to decide the shortlist for the Sports Personality of the Year award. The Sports Personality of the Year production team will provide the Panel with a list of the top 50 or more sportspeople from 2013, including information on their achievements. The Panel will be free to consider other potential candidates.
The Panel will comprise 12 members this year:
• Four representatives of the BBC: Barbara Slater (director of BBC Sport); Philip Bernie (head of TV sport); Carl Doran (executive editor of Sports Personality of the Year) ; Mark Pougatch (representing BBC Radio 5 live )
• Three representatives of the UK written press: sports editors from The Mail on Sunday, The Mirror and The Telegraph.
• Three former nominees: Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson, Dame Kelly Holmes & Marcus Trescothick.
• Liz Nicholl OBE, chief executive of UK Sport.
• One individual, multi-sport, broadcaster/former Spoty presenter: Sue Barker MBE.
The Panel will select a short list of 10 sportspeople on the basis of the following criteria:
• Reflects UK sporting achievements on the national and/or international stage;
• Represents the breadth and depth of UK sports; and
• Takes into account 'impact' over and beyond the sport or sporting achievement in question.
The Panel will endeavour to produce a shortlist based on reaching a consensus view. If a consensus view cannot be reached on all or some of the candidates, then the Panel will be asked to vote for the remaining candidates. In the event of a tied vote, the chairperson's decision (director, BBC Sport) will be binding.
The shortlist of 10 contenders will be announced during 'The One Show' on Tuesday, 26 November (BBC One, 19:00 GMT) and will also appear on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year website.
Vote on the night
The public only will decide the winner from the shortlist of 10 contenders during the live show with a vote. This will be overseen by an independent adjudicator.
In the unlikely event of:
• A tie in the public vote amongst the two contenders obtaining the highest number of votes, the award will be shared amongst those two. There will be no award in second place category and the third place category award will go to the contender scoring highest after the two in the tie.
• A tie in the public vote amongst the three contenders obtaining the highest number of votes, the award will be shared amongst the three and there will be no awards in second and third place categories.
• A tie in the public vote amongst two contenders obtaining the second highest number of votes, the second place award will be shared amongst those two and there will be no award in third place category.
• A tie in the public vote amongst two contenders obtaining the third highest number of votes, the third place award will be shared amongst those two.
• A full list of the number of votes polled by each contender will be available on the BBC Sports Personality website after the show.
Voting Terms and Conditions
1. Voting for the main award will be from a shortlist of 10 contenders presented during the live show on BBC One & BBC One HD on Sunday, 15 December 2013. Voting will be available by phone or via the BBC website. The number to call for each contender will be revealed during the programme. There is no voting via email, Red Button or by text. The telephone numbers will be available through Red Button and via the BBC website.
2. Telephone Vote: Voters in the UK can choose either to call from their landline using the long (11-digit) number for the contender(s) of their choice or from their mobile phones using the shortcode (7-digit) number for the contender(s) of their choice. Please note that callers from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man should call from their landlines using the long (11-digit) number to avoid higher mobile charges.
Calls to the long (11-digit) number cost 15p from BT landlines, other networks may vary. Calls to the long (11-digit) number will cost considerably more if made from a mobile device. Therefore, only call the long (11-digit) number, when dialling from a landline. To vote from your mobile in the UK, call the short (7-digit) number announced for your chosen contender(s). You cannot text and you cannot dial the short (7-digit) number from a landline.
Online Vote: You can also vote online. In order to vote you will need to be registered with the BBC sign in system, BBC iD. You can register at any time. If you are already registered with a BBC iD, you do not need to do anything but will have to sign in in order to vote on the night.
(Online votes will be limited to one vote per BBC iD account). More information on how to vote online will be published on 28th November.
The online vote will be open during the same period as the telephone lines. The results of the telephone vote and the online vote will be aggregated prior to any announcements.
3. If you are watching Sports Personality of the Year 2013 on iPlayer, following through a website or any other time shift or catch up service you should not vote since the lines will have closed.
4. Voting is only open to individuals as consumers from the UK, and not to any agencies, businesses and/or companies. .Please note that BBC employees who are in any way connected to the vote, their close relatives or anyone directly connected in any way with the production of the programme or the provision of telephony services to the programme is not eligible to vote.
5. You must obtain the bill payer's permission before voting.
6. Opening and closing times will be specified on the programme.
7. Please be sure you carefully dial only the number of the contender you wish to vote for.
8. Please do NOT call before the lines open, or after the lines have closed, as your vote will not be counted, but you may still be charged. The winner will be announced live on the programme.
9. The BBC reserves the right to disqualify votes if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraudulent, excessive or suspicious patterns of voting have occurred or if it considers there has been any attempt to rig the voting.
10. All voting will be overseen by an independent verification service.
11. The BBC reserves the right to cancel or suspend voting at any time. In the event of any such cancellation or suspension, a technical failure or any other malfunction with the vote, the BBC reserves the right to arrange for the winner to be decided by a contingency arrangement from the votes cast by a pre-agreed contingency panel. This panel will be the same as one which devised the shortlist - see above for details.
12. For purpose of verifying any claim for refunds (where offered) or investigating possible voting irregularities, the BBC may need to request the network operator to disclose the telephone number that you are voting from. Please note that this will still be required where you have originally opted not to disclose your telephone number (caller's line identification barring). If you do not agree to this, you should not vote. For the purpose of investigating possible voting irregularities when voting on bbc.co.uk, the BBC may use cookies (to log IP addresses, or analyse the information from your BBC iD account).
Where such investigations are required, the BBC will only ever use your personal information for the purposes of running the vote (including processing refunds or investigating possible voting irregularities) and in accordance with the BBC's Privacy and Cookies Policy. The BBC will not publish or provide your personal information to anyone without permission, except where required for enforcement of these terms. You can read more about the BBC Privacy and Cookies Policy here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy.
13. The BBC, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any telephone network or line, system, server, provider or otherwise which may result in any vote being lost or not properly registered or recorded.
14. The voting in this programme accords with the BBC's Code of Conduct for Competitions and Voting.
Definition of who is eligible
Voted for by the public live during the TV show, this prestigious award will be given to the sportsman or woman whose actions have most captured the public's imagination in 2013. Non-playing coaches or management are not eligible.
People are eligible to win Sports Personality of the Year if they are citizens of Great Britain or Northern Ireland or all of the following criteria apply:
- They play a significant amount of their sport in the UK
- Their core achievements that year were achieved in the UK, and not with a non-UK based team (in which case they would more likely qualify for the Overseas award)
- They are residents in the UK

OVERSEAS SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

To the foreign sportsman or woman who has made the greatest impression in the world of sport this year.
(Includes all non-UK sportsmen and women who do not qualify for the Sports Personality of the Year award under its criteria.)
The expert panel responsible for choosing the shortlist for the main Sports Personality of the Year award will decide the top three candidates and an overall winner for the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award based on reaching a consensus view. If a consensus view cannot be reached on the top three, then the Panel will be asked to vote. In the event of a tied vote, the chairperson's decision will be binding.
The winner will be announced during the Sports Personality show, with full details on the BBC website.

COACH OF THE YEAR

To the coach who has made the biggest impact in UK sport.
The expert panel responsible for choosing the shortlist for the main Sports Personality of the Year award will decide the top three candidates and the overall winner for the Coach of the Year award based on reaching a consensus view. If a consensus view cannot be reached on the top three, then the Panel will be asked to vote. In the event of a tied vote, the chairperson's decision will be binding.
The winner will be announced during the Sports Personality show, with full details on the BBC website.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

For the team in an individual sport or sporting discipline that has achieved the most notable performance in the calendar year to date. The team should have significant UK interest or involvement.
The expert panel responsible for choosing the shortlist for the main Sports Personality of the Year award will decide the top three candidates and an overall winner for the Team of the Year award based on reaching a consensus view. If a consensus view cannot be reached on the top three, then the Panel will be asked to vote. In the event of a tied vote, the chairperson's decision will be binding.
The winner will be announced during the Sports Personality show, with details on the BBC website.

YOUNG SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

This will be awarded to the outstanding young sportsperson aged 17 or under on 1 January 2013, selected from nominations made to the BBC and by sports governing bodies via the Youth Sport Trust. Nominations close early November.
People are eligible to win the award if they are the right age and they are citizens of Britain or Northern Ireland or all three of the following criteria:
- They play a significant amount of their sport in the UK
- Their core achievements that year were achieved in the UK, and not with a national team (in which case they would more likely qualify for the Overseas award)
- They are residents in the UK
Judging Panel
BBC Sport's John Inverdale chairs a panel which includes three representatives of Youth Sport Trust, a number of former winners of the award, Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya and Blue Peter Sports Champion Daniel Allen, Radio 1's Tina Daheley, and the executive editor and editor of Sports Personality of the Year.
The panel meet to decide the top 10 contenders from the list of nominations collected by the Youth Sport Trust and the BBC. They will select the winner by secret ballot and the final vote will be independently verified. The date for the panel to meet is Wednesday, 27 November.
The top three will be announced on Blue Peter on Thursday, 12 December and invited to the live event at the Leeds Arena. The other top seven contenders will be notified out of courtesy that they have not made the final shortlist.
The winner will be announced live on the Sports Personality of the Year show and the website on Sunday, 15 December 2013.

HELEN ROLLASON AWARD

A special BBC award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
There is no vote. It is in the gift of the BBC gift to choose the winner, who is decided by the board of BBC Sport.
The award will be presented live on the Sports Personality of the Year show on Sunday, 15 December 2013.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Lifetime Achievement award honours someone who has made a major impact on the world of sport during their lifetime.
There is no vote. It is in the gift of the BBC gift to choose the winner, who is decided by the board of BBC Sport.
The award will be presented live on the Sports Personality of the Year show on Sunday, 15 December 2013.

UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Terms and conditions
1. Any UK resident (incl. Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) aged 16 or over on 1 January 2013 is eligible to be nominated, except previous winners of the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Awards, BBC employees OR any person connected to the awards and their close relatives. Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested.
2. The nominee must:
(i) be either an individual or no more than two people who are both involved in the same sporting activity
(ii) help amateurs participate in a sports activity
(iii) offer help that does not form part of their job or take place at their place of work
(iv) help voluntarily with no financial reward
(v) in the opinion of the nominator be deserving of a BBC award
(vi) not bring the BBC into disrepute (in the BBC's sole discretion)
(vii) have consented to be nominated.
3. Nominations can be made by accessing www.bbc.co.uk/unsunghero from Thursday, 29 August 2013 and must be received no later than 23.59 BST on Monday, 14 October 2013.
4. Only one nomination is permitted per person and should be on the official BBC form. Nominators should declare any professional or personal relationship with the person or people nominated.
5. The BBC will appoint a representative in each of the 12 English Regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who will shortlist no more than 10 nominees for their regional voting panel. The short listing criteria will be (i) The extent of the nominees' contribution at the grassroots level of their sport, (ii) the range and number of people helped, (iii) the impact on their local community, and (iv) the personal sacrifices or commitment made.
6. Regional judging panels consisting of BBC and non-BBC members will then select a BBC Unsung Hero winner for their respective region from those shortlisted and based on the criteria above. The 15 regional winners become eligible for the overall BBC Unsung Hero 2013 Award.
7. A national judging panel will select the overall winner from the 15 regional winners based on the aforementioned criteria, any supporting documentation and a short BBC film about each of the regional winners. It is intended that the panel will consist of representatives from the BBC, leading sports figures and a previous BBC Unsung Hero winner dependent on availability.
8. Nominees may be asked to disclose details of any and all criminal and civil actions pending against them, or served against them plus any unspent convictions. Entrants asked for this information must keep the BBC informed of any changes to that disclosed up to the point the winner is announced. This information will be handled in the strictest confidence and will all personal information, accordance with the BBC Privacy Policy.
9. Following standard industry practice, the BBC may undertake background checks of the shortlisted finalists. Information discovered or that may have been disclosed by the entrants themselves will inform the decision as to the selection of the regional winners and overall winner.
10. The overall winner will be announced live on BBC One's Sports Personality of the Year 2013 programme in Leeds on Sunday, 15 December, to which all regional winners are invited to attend.
11. The judges' decision as to the winner is final. No correspondence relating to the awards will be entered into.
12. The regional winners will each receive a regional BBC Unsung Hero Award 2013 trophy and the national winner will receive the national BBC Sport Unsung Hero Award 2013 trophy. There are no cash alternatives and the award cannot be sold or transferred in any circumstances.
13. Nominees must agree to take part in any post-award publicity if required.
14. The BBC reserves the right to:
(i) vary the opening and closing times for making nominations and to vary the date of the announcement of the awards;
(ii) disqualify any nominee who breaches the rules or has acted fraudulently in any way
(iii) cancel or vary the awards or any of the selection processes or criteria, at any stage, if in its opinion it is deemed necessary or if circumstances arise outside its control.
15. The BBC, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem which may result in any nomination not being properly registered.
16. The BBC will only use personal details for the purposes of administering this award and will not publish or provide them to anyone without permission. You can read more about the BBC Privacy Policy at bbc.co.uk/privacy
17. Nominators and nominees will be deemed to have accepted these rules and agree to be bound by them.

Tennis. Sports Personality 2013: BBC award

The shortlist of 10 contenders for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award are revealed on the One Show
Ten contenders have been shortlisted for next month's 60th BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Athletes Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu and Hannah Cockroft are included along with tennis star Andy Murray and cyclist Chris Froome.

Sports Personality of the Year 2013 shortlist expert panel

Sports Personality of the Year trophy
  • Director of BBC Sport - Barbara Slater (Chair)
  • BBC head of TV Sport - Philip Bernie
  • Executive editor of BBC Sports Personality of the Year - Carl Doran
  • From BBC Radio 5 live - Mark Pougatch (presenter, 5 live Sport)
  • Three newspaper sports editors (to be rotated annually) - in 2013, Alison Kervin (Mail on Sunday), Adam Sills (Daily Telegraph), Dominic Hart (Mirror)
  • A multi-sport broadcaster/journalist - Sue Barker
  • Three former Sports Personality nominees (to be appointed annually) - in 2013, Baroness Grey-Thompson , Dame Kelly Holmes and Marcus Trescothick
  • Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport
Golfer Justin Rose, sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, jockey AP McCoy, cricketer Ian Bell and rugby union player Leigh Halfpenny also make the list.
The public will vote for their favourite on Sunday, 15 December.
Voting for the main award will be by phone and, for the first time, online during the programme, which will be presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan.
In front of an expected 12,000 crowd at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, the latest name to join an illustrious roll of honour will be announced.
With an array of candidates to choose from, an expert panel faced some difficult choices finalising the shortlist.
Ainslie helped mastermind an America's Cup sailing victory, Bell won cricket's Ashes with England, and there were World Championship doubles for athletes Cockroft (wheelchair racing) and Farah (5,000m and 10,000m).
Froome ruled in cycling's Tour de France, Halfpenny starred in the British and Irish Lions' triumphant tour of Australia and McCoy rode an unprecedented 4,000th winner.
Murray ended Britain's 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men's singles winner, Ohuruogu regained her world 400m title and Rose secured his maiden golf major at the US Open.
In addition to the main prize, there will also be seven other awards:
  • Team of the Year
  • Coach of the Year
  • Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
  • Young Sports Personality of the Year
  • Sports Personality of the Year Diamond Award
  • Helen Rollason Award
  • Sports Unsung Hero
Three former Sports Personality nominees were on an expert panel which decided the shortlist - and the winner will be decided by the public vote on the night.
Baroness Grey-Thompson, Dame Kelly Holmes and Marcus Trescothick were joined by Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport,  and representatives from the BBC and the newspaper industry.
The panel was put together following criticism of an all-male list decided via a different method in 2011.
To see a Vine announcing the 10 nominees for BBC Sports Personality of the Year click here.