CUK Annual Sports Personality of the Year Sweepstake

[Hill Station Murthy]

The year 9s 1974 and the scene is the US Masters at Augusta. A hush descends over the crowd at Amen Corner and all eyes are on a figure hunched over his ball lying in a seemingly impossible position in a bunker.

The next thing we know, the ball is in the hole. That shot by Lee Trevino was known as the "Shot that was heard round the world" and was the greates golf shot ever played.

Fast forward 37 years to a year in which 3 young Irishmen win Major titles. This I think will be a year where Northern Ireland should be honoured in this competition. This will be achieved by awarding this title to one of Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy or Graeme McDowell.

My vote is for Clarke. It is nice to see the nicest man in golf has won.

[TheFaQQer]

Strauss / Cook won't get it because the cricket team should win team of the year.

Cavendish won't win it because no-one follows cycling (or not enough of the proles anyway).

Too many golfers, so people won't make a decision between any of those.

Andy Murray needs to win a grand slam (and have a personality) to win.


Mo Farrah to win.

[Arturo Bassick]

Gary Speed on a late wave of public support?

[Doggy Styles]

Gary Speed on a late wave of public support?

It seems that he isn't in the list.

He'll just get a mention though because they always list the famous sports people who died during the year. Dilley and Roebuck were two more who died young-ish.

[Mich the Tester]

I'd choose Mo Farah. Exemplary athlete with the right approach; could teach the England rugby team a few things about how to be a professional sportsman.

[Doggy Styles]

Fast forward 37 years to a year in which 3 young Irishmen win Major titles. This I think will be a year where Northern Ireland should be honoured in this competition. This will be achieved by awarding this title to one of Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy or Graeme McDowell.

My vote is for Clarke. It is nice to see the nicest man in golf has won.

McDowell can't win it, he's not in the shortlist.

He had his chance last year but got done over by an internet campaign for the Irishman Tony McCoy. Just as world champions Button and Ennis got done by an internet campaign for Ryan Giggs the year before.

Darren Clarke will probably get the sympathy vote and win it, but he isn't a young Irishman. He's 43 and the oldest person in the list.

[Doggy Styles]

My choice would be Cavendish, what he's achieved is incredible. He's got personality as well, which is supposed to be what this is partly about.

[d000hg]

Im going for Rory McIlroy

Isn't he the obvious favourite?

[Doggy Styles]

Isn't he the obvious favourite?

No I think Clarke is. Ryder cup stalwart, wife dies, he takes time off then comes back and wins the Ryder Cup again, now this year winning his first major (and probably his last).

And he's fat, drinks loads of Guiness and smokes big cigars so he'll get the non-PC vote.

[Alf W]

Eh? That's an outstanding field, one of the best ever. Just because it hasn't got any footballers.

World champion cyclist
Major-winning golfer (British Open)
Another major-winning golfer (US Open)
World golf matchplay champion and world number one golfer
World champion athlete
Another world champion athlete
World champion boxer
Highest test run scorer in world in the year
Cricket captain who led England to be number one test team
and Andy Murray

Do you follow sport at all?

A sport should involve both physical prowess and skill. That takes out golf, cycling and athletics. Murray's never won anything of significance so that takes you down to three very quickly.