09
December
2014
|
19:50
Europe/London

Charlotte Dujardin scoops 2014 BT Sport Action Woman award

World, Olympic, European and World Cup Dressage Champion Charlotte Dujardin has been crowned the winner of this year’s BT Sport Action Woman Award, receiving thirty four per cent of the vote. The award, which is in its second year, celebrates the ten most spectacular sporting performances by British female athletes in the past year.

Dujardin was presented with the prestigious BT Sport Action Woman Award tonight (9December) by Clare Balding and last year’s winner, Rachel Atherton, following a public vote on btsport.com. The awards ceremony will be broadcast on Wednesday 10th December at 7:30pm on BT Sport 1.

The 29 year old Olympian from Enfield secured the award after a hugely successful year when she and her wonder horse Valegro became the first dressage partnership in equestrian history to hold all the major titles simultaneously. Since the 2012 Olympics when she became known as the ‘girl on the dancing horse’ she has amassed world records and a string of global titles.

Runners up for the BT Sport Action Woman Award were Double World Cup Bouldering Champion Shauna Coxsey in second place and European 10,000m gold medallist Jo Pavey who took third. Other nominees included Charlotte Edwards, Claudia Fragapane, Helen Glover & Heather Stanning, Jordanne Whiley, Emily Scarratt, Lizzy Yarnold and Fara Williams.

Charlotte Dujardin said: “It’s an absolute honour and a privilege to be crowned the winner of the BT Sport Action Woman Award.This year has seen some fantastic achievements in women’s sport and I was up against a number of talented sports women, each who deserved to bring home this award. I am very lucky to have such a fantastic team behind me and am thankful to Carl Hester and Roly Luard in giving me the opportunity to ride Valegro. Thank you also to the fans and sponsors who support me in my career and of course to the wonder horse himself for being the horse of a lifetime!”

Clare Balding said. “I'm so pleased that BT Sport has given us the opportunity to celebrate the huge diversity of women's sport and to shine the spotlight on our highest achieving female athletes. I'm thrilled for Charlotte and as is typical of her, she gave much of the credit to her horse Valegro. I'm also pleased that the top three and indeed all ten nominees come from such a broad range of sporting activities. I hope they will show young girls that every and any option is open to them.”

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “BT Sport created this award to recognise the fantastic performances and achievements by female athletes in this country. It has been another outstanding year in women’s sport which is growing year on year and we are proud to award Charlotte Dujardin with the 2014 BT Sport Action Woman Award, recognising her outstanding achievements and contribution she has made to sport.”

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