Hamilton is British Sports Personality of the Year, Ronaldo takes overseas gong

Double Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, who won 11 grands prix for Mercedes in 2014, was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year against the odds on Sunday. [caption id=“attachment_1818365” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his team after winning the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix and World Championship. Reuters[/caption] The award is widely regarded as Britain’s most prestigious cross-sports accolade. “I am so speechless,” said the 29-year-old after a British public vote that overturned the betting form, with bookmakers having golfer Rory McIlroy as their clear favourite. “I really was not expecting it. Dude, you had such an amazing year,” he told McIlroy at the ceremony in Glasgow. “Never in a million years did I think I would be up here standing with the greats,” added Hamilton, who had walked the pre-event red carpet with his bulldog Roscoe. McIlroy, who won two majors in 2014 and helped Europe retain the Ryder Cup, was a forlorn-looking runner-up with European 10,000 metres champion Jo Pavey third. Bookmakers William Hill had listed the Northern Irishman at 2/5 earlier on Sunday with Hamilton, who was runner-up for the award in 2007 and again when he won his first title with McLaren in 2008, the 7/4 second favourite. Hamilton is the fifth racing driver to win the award in 61 years, with champions Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell winning it twice after Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart before them. The Team of the Year award went to England’s World Cup- winning women’s rugby players while Europe’s triumphant Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley was coach of the year. Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo took the overseas personality of the year prize. “Thank you BBC for choosing me and to my old fans in England. Thank you very much,” Ronaldo, formerly of England’s Manchester United, was quoted as saying by the BBC Sunday. He won the award ahead of tennis player Serena Williams, boxer Floyd Mayweather and MotoGP rider Marc Marquez. Ronaldo, who has scored 27 hat-tricks for Real, netted 17 goals in last season’s Champions League, breaking the previous record of 14 held by Jose Altafini and Lionel Messi. The 29-year-old footballer has scored 281 goals in 267 matches for Real Madrid and is the reigning world player of the year. Reuters