Public voting open for prestigious Team of the Year award

THE SHORTLIST of finalists for The Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards 2014 has been confirmed – and the British public has the opportunity to vote for the leading female sports team of this year.

Now in their 27th year, the awards celebrate the outstanding contribution to sport made by elite performers, coaches, administrators, community volunteers and inspirational female figures.

On the evening of Wednesday 19 November the awards will be broadcast live on Sky Sports for the second successive year.

The general public can get involved in the awards from today by voting online for their Team of the Year. A four-team shortlist has been drawn up to celebrate the achievements of Britain’s successful collective efforts including England cricket team, England rugby union team, Great Britain’s 4 x 100m athletics relay squad and rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.

Voting will close at midday on Tuesday 11 November 2014.

#SWOTY

To cast your vote, please visit:

www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/swoty2014

www.skysports.com/sportswomenteamvote

Team of the Year 2014 shortlist

England cricket team
Led superbly by captain Charlotte Edwards, the England cricket team retained the women’s Ashes following a 10-8 points victory over Australia. This was only the third time in 80 years that England had won the Ashes Down Under

England rugby union team
Having lost in the previous three finals, England made amends this year by lifting the rugby World Cup for the first time in 20 years. They beat Canada 21-9 in Paris with top scorer Emily Scarratt playing a starring role in the final

Great Britain 4x100m athletics relay squad
Britain’s leading female sprinters were one of the sporting success stories this summer. They became European champions in Zurich, won bronze at the Glasgow Commonwealths behind Jamaica and Nigeria – and twice broke the 34-year national 4x100m record

Rowers Helen Glover & Heather Stanning
The London Olympic champions Helen Glover and Heather Stanning resumed their partnership this year – and once again it proved to be a winning combination with record-breaking consequences. The long-term rowing partners blitzed the coxless pairs field at the world championship in Amsterdam in August

After four weeks of public nominations, an independent panel of judges met on the morning of Tuesday October 21 to select the respective shortlists. Winners of the seven awards will be announced at the ceremony.

The shortlist of finalists for 2014:

THE SUNDAY TIMES & SKY SPORTS SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Dujardin (dressage)
Fran Halsall (swimming)
Laura Massaro (squash)
Jo Pavey (athletics)
Joanna Rowsell (track cycling)
Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton)

YOUNG SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
(21 years or younger)
Dina Asher-Smith (athletics)
Claudia Fragapane (artistic gymnastics)
Morgan Lake (athletics)
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (swimming)

DISABILITY SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Libby Clegg (athletics)
Kelly Gallagher & guide Charlotte Evans (alpine skiing)
Stephanie Slater (swimming)
Jordanne Whiley (wheelchair tennis)

COMMUNITY AWARD
Emma Brown (member of Hat-Trick Project, Newcastle)
Sue Frett (founder of Surrey branch of the Special Olympics GB)
Esther Matthews (coach at Green Star Canoe Club, Doncaster)
Nicole Napier (sports activities team leader, activeNewham, East London)

Winners of the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD and the HELEN ROLLASON AWARD FOR INSPIRATION will be announced on the evening.

Barney Francis, Sky Sports Managing Director, commented:

There have been some incredible individual and team performances in women’s sport this year, which made our job as judges tougher than ever. As well as rewarding success at the elite level, the awards recognise those individuals that put in hard work and hours every week up and down the country to support women’s sport and we were inspired by the nominations. Congratulations to all of those shortlisted and we’re looking forward to celebrating a fantastic year in a few weeks’ time at Sky Sports.

The Sportswomen of the Year Awards are also supported by the Sunday Times Wine Club, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport, Sport England and the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation.