Charlotte Dujardin is pride of equestrian world
Securing 75,814 votes, Charlotte Dujardin was so nearly in the top three at last night’s (Sunday 14 December) BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
The equestrian world is feeling proud of Charlotte Dujardin after becoming the first dressage rider to be nominated for the award — and receiving 12.2% of the public vote.
Huge support came from riders and fans — with the 75,814 votes enough to put her in fourth, around 24,000 less votes than Jo Pavey in third.
Winner Lewis Hamilton received 209,920 votes, while runner up, golfer Rory McIlory, took 123,745.
In past years, Charlotte’s amount of votes would have seen her take third.
The 29-year-old dressage star was among 10 elite sporting stars to be short listed for the prestigious sporting title.
She was part of a packed house for the annual ceremony in Glasgow, which was attended by a host of sporting stars including eventer Harry Meade and para dressage star Natasha Baker.
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“We are all so proud of Charlotte,” said Jason Brautigam, chief executive of British Dressage.
“To finish fourth is an incredible achievement, but even more so when you consider that 75,000 votes would have been enough to secure the runner up spot in three out of the past four years.
“It is fantastic to see Charlotte receiving the recognition she deserves, so thank you to everyone in the equestrian community who supported her and voted on Sunday.
“Thanks to her record-breaking exploits with Valegro, dressage is most definitely on the map now — and the sport has earned its rightful place alongside the likes of formula one, golf and athletics.
“After winning the Sunday Times and BT Sports Woman of the Year awards this has capped off a tremendous year for Charlotte, so a huge congratulations from all of us.”
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.