The prestigious Sportswomen of the Year Awards will be broadcast live for the first time ever by Sky Sports on December 5.
The star-studded 2013 ceremony will be held at Sky’s Isleworth Studios in London and will celebrate the outstanding contribution to sport made by elite performers, coaches, administrators, community volunteers and inspirational female figures.
This year’s awards, hosted by Hayley McQueen, promises to be the most spectacular in the event’s 26-year history and Sky Sports will be screening a special live two-hour programme from 8.00pm on Thursday, December 5.
Previous winners of the main award, the coveted Sportswoman of the Year accolade, include Paula Radcliffe, Sally Gunnell, Denise Lewis, Dame Kelly Holmes, Zara Phillips and Victoria Pendleton.
Jessica Ennis-Hill, the 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion, was crowned the overall winner in last year’s awards after a sensational performance inside London’s Olympic stadium last summer.
Eight star names from women’s sport lead the contenders for the main 2013 award, including world champions, Ashes winners and European champions.
World 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu, England’s Ashes-winning cricket team, leading wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft and Solheim Cup star Charley Hull are among those shortlisted for the prestigious award.
Ohuruogu, who clinched a dramatic gold medal in Moscow and broke a 29-year British record in the process, is one of six women hoping to win the accolade at a star-studded ceremony.
Shelley Rudman, who created winter sports history when she became the first British woman to win a skeleton world title, leads the other contenders for the top prize.
Also nominated are Becky James, who won four medals in five days at cycling’s track world championships, and world triathlon champion Non Stanford.
Completing the line-up is dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin, who followed double Olympic gold with three European medals, and cricketer Heather Knight, England’s leading run scorer and player of the women’s Ashes series.
The awards will also pay tribute to a Team of the Year, a Young Sportswoman of the Year and a Disability Sportswoman of the Year.
A nine-strong judging panel that includes Sky Sports presenter Hayley McQueen, Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis and Sport England director Tanya Joseph compiled the shortlists after a public call for nominations.
England’s female cricketers, who recovered from World Cup disappointment to wrap up a 12-4 points win over Australia, are out to claim the Team of the Year prize for a third time but face competition from their netball counterparts yet to taste defeat in 2013.
Britain’s team pursuit cyclists – Laura Trott, Dani King and Elinor Barker – also make the cut after defending their 3km title in Belarus, as do Europe’s Solheim Cup golfers after a maiden win on American soil.
Teenager Hull’s role in that triumph – including victory over US star Paula Creamer – ensures she joins European U23 heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson in the running for this year’s Young Sportswoman of the Year award.
James, leading the next generation of British cycling talent, makes a second shortlist, while 17-year-old sprinter Dina Asher-Smith is recognised for a double European under-23 triumph.
Cockcroft heads the nominations for Disability Sportswoman of the Year after a third year unbeaten during which she retained both her world titles.
Sprinter Sophie Hahn, who took up disability sport after being inspired by Jonnie Peacock’s gold medal at the London Paralympics, is also in the frame, along with swimming duo Ellie Simmonds and Amy Marren.
The Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration will honour one individual’s inspirational endeavour, while a special Lifetime Achievement Award – previously won by Sally Gunnell and Billie Jean King – will recognise enduring sporting success.
A Community Award saluting a sporting project at grassroots completes the list of seven categories.
Once again the awards are supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport, Sport England and the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation.
Sky Sports strengthened its coverage of women’s sport in September when it signed a new three-year deal with England Netball to continue coverage of the Netball Superleague and all home England international fixtures.
This was coupled by the launch of a new regularly weekly series dedicated to women’s sport – Sportswomen – which launched on Sky Sports News back in September.
Sportswomen covers all of the latest news, views and analysis and feature interviews with athletes and respected figures from the world of sport.
The broadcaster’s increased commitment to women’s sport will been enshrined when it screens live coverage of the Sunday Times & Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards for the very first time.
Alex Butler, Sports Editor for The Sunday Times, commented: “The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards have grown in stature since the launch in 1988 and are unique in recognising the phenomenal achievements of women in sport.
“With Sky Sports now involved as co-sponsor and broadcaster, the event has moved to a new level.”
As well as the live two-hour show on awards night, Sky Sports will preview the event in a Sportswomen special hosted by Vicky Gomersall, alongside special guest Sally Gunnell, on Tuesday at 10.30am on Sky Sports, with further repeats later in the day.
Then on Wednesday, Sky’s new sports discussion show What’s the Story? will be a women in sport special featuring a distinguished all-female panel.
Chrissie Wellington, Casey Stoney, Sarah Hunter and Ruth Holdaway join host Sarah-Jane Mee to analyse the issues affecting women’s sporting participation including, parenting, body image, media coverage, role-models, the inequality of financial funding across sport and the nominees for the award.
In addition, the Sky Sports Sportswomen website will also have extra features, interviews and video.
Tuesday 3rd December
Sportswomen: 2013 Awards Preview
10.30am-11.00am Sky Sports News
Wednesday 4th December
What’s The Story?
10.00pm-11.00pm Sky Sports 2
Thursday 5th December
Sportswomen of the Year Award 2013
LIVE: 8.00pm-10.00pm Sky Sports 1
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Glad to see women on Sky Sports being recognised for their sporting prowess, rather than what they look like. These awards being shown is proff that finally women’s sport in heading in the right direction in this country.