Pendleton's success recognised by sport writers

Victoria Pendleton has been named Sportswoman of the Year by the UK’s Sports Journalists' Association. 

The 27 year-old, who won three gold medals at cycling’s world track championships in Spain earlier this year, is considered among Britain’s best hopes for Olympic gold in Beijing next summer.

At the awards ceremony in London yesterday the triple world champion from Stotfold in Hertfordshire said: "It's really flattering. I know where track cycling lies in terms of popularity in the UK so it is really nice that the journalists have given me support and recognition.”

Pendleton can count herself in good company as a UK Sports Journalists' Association award winner: they have been presented to male sportsmen since 1949 with Reg Harris and Tom Simpson among the previous winners while the women’s trophy, now in its 49^th year, was won in 1967 by cycling's world road race champion Beryl Burton.