Athlete Jessica Ennis leads the glamorous ladies dressing to impress at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year

Short and chic: Athlete Jessica Ennis leads the glamorous ladies dressing to impress at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 11:58 PM on 22nd December 2011

The females may have been missing off of the shortlist for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year Awards, but they certainly made an impact on the red carpet earlier tonight.

The ladies of the sporting world couldn't wait to flash their legs and show off their glitzy style at the bash.

Track and field athlete Jessica Ennis looked stunning as she ditched her sportswear for a feminine frock for the night.

No trainers! Athlete Jessica Ennis made sure she looked immaculate at the sporting awards and led the pack in the style stakes

The 25-year-old looked immaculate as she stepped out in an intricate LBD with cut away detailing.

She matched the ensemble with a ruby red clutch bag and heels, while he hair was styled to perfection as she wore it down.

And she wasn't the only one keen to get her pins out, as 38-year-old marathon champion Paula Radcliffe also dressed to impress for the occasion.

She may have still been on a high from her birthday last week and the runner looked radiant in her shimmering longsleeved mini dress.

Standing out from the crowd: Jockey AP McCoy's wife Chanelle was one of the only few to opt for colour. Good work!

And she swapped her trainers for skyhigh black heels as she turned up with her blonde hair in a side parting.

While the ladies of the sporting world revelled in the glamour, the partners of the male sporting heroes also used the opportunity to dress up to the max.

Footballer Michael Owen's wife Louise also opted for a black frock and was right on trend with the lace detailing.

Lady in Red: Hurdler Dai Greene's girlfriend Sian Davies wowed in her floorlength frock

Looking healthy and happy, Louise matched the dress with sheer tights and obligatory heels.

Jockey AP McCoy won the Sports Personality title last year, and although he walked away without the trophy at this year's ceremony, he seemed happy enough with his gorgeous wife on his arm.

Chanelle McCoy gave the event a splash of colour and wow factor in her dark turquoise floorlength gown.

Dressing up: Swimmer Keri-Anne Payne went for glamorous black while Jane Torvill opted for all out colour with a splash of pink

The plunging neckline and jewelled waist meant all eyes were on her on the red carpet - luckily for AP, who was sporting nasty cuts to his face.

Another beauty who made an impact at the event was Welsh hurdler Dai Greene.

He may have missed out on the title to cyclist Mark Cavendish, but he was helped through the event by his girlfriend Sian Davies.

The brunette stunner wore a red floorlength dress with halterneck detailing.

All eyes were on Mark Cavendish as he picked up the winner's trophy, but he only had eyes for his pregnant girlfriend, model Peta Todd.

'Nervous': He may have turned up knowing he was the favourite to walk away with the Sports Personality of the Year Award, but cyclist Mark Cavendish still felt nervous about the announcement of the winner

Despite her tall physique and growing baby bump, Peta opted for large heels as she supported her man at the event.

The 25-year-old glamour model looked stunning as she posed in a black dress with a slick of red lipstick brightening up the ensemble.

Still going strong: Former Personality of the Year, boxer Joe Calzaghe, and his dancer girlfriend Kristina Rihanoff turned up the glamour at the event

And despite being the man of the night, even Mark noticed how 'glowing' she was.

Posting on Twitter on his way to the show, Mark wrote: 'Off to #SPOTY with a glowing @petatodd. It's the first time I've been really nervous. Whatever the result, thanks everyone for the support."

And the feeling was obviously mutual as Peta wracked up some last minute support to ensure her man walked away with the trophy.

She wrote: 'En route to #spoty now... Urging you kids to pick up the phone and vote #cav4spoty ... He may be favourite but let's show the love.'

While the pair beamed in front of the cameras, the night proved to be a star-studded affair as others flocked to the glitzy bash.

Golden delicious: James Cracknell's wife Beverly Turner looked stunning in her gold mini dress

While most of the women used the opportunity to show off their fashion credentials away from lycra, gymnast Beth Tweddle failed to impress.

She wore a fetching sleeveless black mini dress with gold frill detailing and matched the frock with some gold heels when she walked the red carpet.

Other sports personalities turning up to watch the event unfold included rugby star and TV man Matt Dawson, cricketer Andrew Strauss and footballer Michael Owen.

Royal affair: Zara Phillips came to support husband, rugby ace Mike Tindall, at the event

Black vs Colour: Cricketer Alistair Cook and athlete Steve Cram showed off their partners who opted for a variety of different looks

Olympic rowing legend Steve Redgrave posed with his former team mate Matthew Pinsent before picking up the Lifetime Achievement award inside the ceremony.

Steve grinned widely as he was reunited with Matthew as the dressed in matching black suits.

Their other former team mate, James Cracknell also showed up to support Steve as he received the honour.

Down to the last 10: Golfer Darren Clarke and cricketer Andrew Strauss were shortlisted and turned up with their partners to watch the night unfold

And his wife Beverly Turner provided a glamorous touch to the evening with her stunning gold dress.

She matched her tan peep toe heels with her clutch bag to finish the look off nicely.

Other stars adding some glitz to the male-heavy event included ice skater Jane Torvill, who tried a bit too hard in a pink satin number with a black shawl.

Former boxer Joe Calzaghe, who won the Sports Personality title in 2007, also showed his relationship with Strictly Come dancing professional Kirstina Rihanoff is still going strong.

The pair looked closer than ever at the bash, which saw Russian Kristina turn up in a faux fur coat and long gold earrings over a black body hugging number.

Other contenders who battled with Mark Cavendish to gain the title also took their time as they entered the event to take it all in and pose for photos.

Boxer Amir Khan looked dapper in a black suit and tie, while golfer Rory McIlroy also dressed to impress as he hoped to walk away with the prize.

And it was even a royal affair with Zara Philips appearing with her rugby player husband Mike Tindall to find out the winners.

She looked stunning in a purple gown with black tights and her hair pulled back into an up-do.


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Gaby Logan and Clare Balding's anger against all male Sports Personality shortlist

What about the women? Gaby Logan and Clare Balding's anger against all male Sports Personality shortlist

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 6:25 PM on 29th November 2011


The BBC is facing a backlash after women were ignored for the Sports Personality of the Year award.

Even presenters who work for the broadcaster were critical.

Gabby Logan tweeted: 'I can't think of anything to say about there being NO women on #SPOTY top 10 list that is positive so I won't say anything.' She then added the damning hashtag: '#backward.'

Expressing their anger: BBC presenters Gaby Logan and Clare Balding took to twitter to protest against the list of nominees

Fellow presenter Clare Balding was also angry, but pointed out that the way the voting procedure works means that the BBC is not responsible for the list of nominees.

The BBC compiles the shortlist after UK newspapers and magazines submit their top 10 selections.

Balding tweeted: 'If you feel strongly about the all-male SPOTY list, it might be worth making the point to the sports editor of the paper you read.'


The deluge protesting tweets has forced the BBC to reveal that one woman, Rebecca Adlington, was just a single vote short of making the list of nominees.

However, that did not stop Adlington and her fellow sportswomen from also lining up to criticise the decision to snub females.

On Twitter, Adlington wrote: 'There's been some great sportswomen like Keri-Anne Payne, it's sad they are not recognised.

Missing out: Keri-Anne Payne was the first British athlete to qualify for the Olympics - but that did not earn her a Sports Personality of the Year nomination

'Hopefully next year can be all women nominations after London 2012!!!!'

Both women won gold at the swimming world championships in Shanghai this year.

Payne added to the BBC's woes tweeting: 'It is a shame there are no women on the #SPOTY list but good luck to the boys tho!'

Out of the running: Zara Phillips was the last woman to win the SPOTY in 2006, but Rebecca Adlington missed out on a nomination this year by just one point

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

• Mark Cavendish - Cycling (Odds 6-5)
  
• Darren Clarke - Golf (Odds 7-4)
  
• Rory McIlroy - Golf (Odds 7-1)
  
• Mo Farrah - Athlete (Odds 8-1)
  
• Luke Donald - Golf (Odds 20-1)
  
• Alistair Cook - Cricket (Odds 50-1)
  
• Dai Greene - Athlete (Odds 50-1)
  
• Andy Murray - Tennis (Odds 100-1)
  
• Amir Khan - Boxing (Odds 100-1)
  
• Andrew Strauss - Cricket (Odds 100-1)

Chrissie Wellington, who landed her fourth Ironman world championship title last month, was another who criticised the list.

She wrote on Twitter: 'No women in @bbcspoty top ten. It's not about me, it's about the need to celebrate achievements of so many female GBR athletes. Disgraceful.'

Eleven-time Paralympic gold medal winner Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson came third in the race for the prize in 2000.

She was also disappointed by the list of nominees.

Tanni told BBC Wales: 'I think you just look at where the nominations have come from and that highlights another problem really - only 2 per cent of media coverage in sport goes to women.

'Women just aren't on the minds, whether it's editors or in some case producers, it's just not there ... you're fighting against the system all the time where it's the big sports all the time that get the recognition.'

The last female winner of the big prize was Zara Phillips in 2006 after claiming gold at the World Equestrian Games.

Jessica Ennis came third in the competition in both 2009 and 2010.

Disgusted: Chrissie Wellington, who landed her fourth Ironman world championship title last month, also criticised the list

London 2012 chief Lord Coe - who knows a lot of the young women athletes very well - expressed his disappointment over the nominations, saying: 'I find it slightly surprising that there is not a woman on that shortlist.

'We have had Rebecca Adlington winning a world title in the world swimming championships, we have had other women world champions this year too.

'This has also been a year where two women have won silver medals at the athletics world championships, Hannah England and Jessica Ennis, and it is one of the toughest championships in which to win a medal so I am surprised.'

Those who did make it: Rory McIlroy with his US open trophy and Andy Murray in action both are nominees for the 2011 prize

Cyclist Mark Cavendish and golf major winners Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy lead the nominations for the 2011 gong.

Andy Murray also made it onto the list.

Cavendish became the first British winner of the green jersey in the Tour de France after five stage victories, and was also crowned road race world champion in Denmark.

Clarke, now 43, won his first major title at the age of 42. While his compatriot, Rory McIlroy, secured a record-breaking eight-shot triumph in the US Open.

The winner will be announced in a live event at MediaCityUK, Salford on December 22.


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