Our sporting pride

2012 was an amazing year for British sport.

When the BBC announced its 12 contenders for Sports Personality of the Year, amazingly, Dewsbury-born Alistair Brownlee, world triathlon Champion 2009, 2011 and Olympic Gold 2012, was not shortlisted.

However Jessica Ennis, the heptathlete from Sheffield certainly got my vote.

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Jessica thought her career was over when she was injured on the eve of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

She made her comeback in 2009 and, according to her autobiography, Unbelievable, attended a few small meetings such as Cleckheaton where she threw the javelin.

The rest is history, as she became the world and European champion in successive years and finally won Olympic gold this summer.

Brownlee should have been a contender for BBC Sports Personality of the year, but we should be proud of the 12 that were nominated. It was a cracking show.

JOHN APPLEYARD

Firthcliffe Parade

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