Dina Asher-Smith named Young Sportswoman of the Year
Wednesday 11 November 2015 17:21, UK
Sprinter Dina Asher-Smith has capped a record-breaking season by being named Young Sportswoman of the Year at the Sunday Times & Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards in association with Vitality.
The Londoner ran the fastest time over 100 metres in history by a teenager when she clocked 10.99 seconds at the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games at the Olympic Park, becoming the first Briton to break the 11-second barrier.
She was unable to run into the medals over 200 metres at the World Championships in Beijing but still broke Kathy Smallwood-Cook's record which had stood for more than 30 years.
"I've just watched all the other nominees and I am shocked," she said. "Running sub-11 seconds in the Olympic Stadium was very special. People said I could maybe do it, but when there is a maybe there is always a thought you might not do it.
"This year was a bit overwhelming, I didn't really expect to achieve this much, so hopefully I can be in Rio next year, that's the ultimate aim, and hopefully I can make the final."
The Vitality Women's Team of the Year award went to England's hockey team.
They beat the Olympic and world Holland 3-1 on penalties, after a 2-2 draw in normal time, to win the EuroHockey Championships in August - their first victory in the competition since 1991.
Sam Quek said: "This is an absolute honour. On behalf of our squad, simply to be shortlisted for this award is wonderful. But to win it is awesome."
Alex Danson added: "The support we have had has been absolute fantastic. As a team, we were inspired by the England women's football team, who were third at the World Cup. Hopefully this type of award can be a platform for us to showcase our sport."
And Ashleigh Ball said: "We came from 2-0 down in the final with very little time left. We showed true English dogged determination - and we hope that will take us a long way next year in Rio."
Disability Sportswoman of the Year honours went to tennis star Jordanne Whiley, who won her maiden major singles title in 2015.
Whiley beat regular doubles partner Yui Kamiji in the US Open women's wheelchair final in September.
In wheelchair doubles, Whiley and Kamiji won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles. Jordanne, from Birmingham, suffers from brittle bone disease.
She said: "There are so many great Paralympians out there, achieving wonderful things, and for me to get this recognition I am so very honoured."
The Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration was won by Midlands football coach Annie Zaidi, who is the first South Asian and Muslim woman to acquire a Level 2 coaching badge from the Football Association.
When she was the only female manager of a Sunday League team in her area, Zaidi endured overwhelming levels of discrimination from opposition team managers and parents. However, despite the abuse and lack of inclusion, she maintained her passion to coach football.
She is currently head coach of the U11 team at Leicester City Girls' Centre of Excellence.
Cricketer Enid Bakewell was the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, marking her career as one of the country's finest female players.
Bakewell is one of only five cricketers, male or female, to have hit a century and taken 10 wickets in the same Test - a feat she achieved on her final appearance (against the West Indies at Edgbaston).
She continued to play domestically for East Midlands well into her 50s. Only a few years ago the now 74-year-old used to turn-out occasionally for the Redoubtables club side in Surrey.
And the Community Award was given to Liverpool Homeless Football Club, originally set up to support homeless men before a women's group was opened in 2012.
Fara Williams, England's most capped footballer, who has been homeless herself, has been a key supporter of the club's community work.
The first event held was the 'Women Against Domestic Abuse Cup'. The club helped to highlight that during the football season domestic abuse increases by 19 per cent. It has more than 1,000 member and is run entirely by volunteers.
You can watch The Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards right now On Demand
