Phillips hails 'amazing' achievement for equestrianism
Phillips won the 2005 European title and 2006 three-day eventing crown
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Monday, 11, Dec 2006 08:51
Sunday evening's winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, equestrian eventer Zara Phillips, has said her claiming the prize could be a major boost for the sport.
Phillips picked up the trophy 35 years after her mother, the Princess Royal, was also given the same trophy for her efforts in the same sport.
And claiming the trophy ahead of golfer Darren Clarke and gymnast Beth Tweddle, Phillips claimed the high-profile award could mean that her sport is given a much-needed public awareness boost.
"I'm so surprised to have won as ours is such a small sport," she said.
"I hope we get more lottery funding as a result of getting this award. It would be great for the sport and make people more aware of it."
Phillips also drew attention to the fact that the European championships, where she will be defending her 2005 crown, were coming up in 2007 and that the Beijing Olympics were following soon after.
It is widely thought that the BBC honour will ensure more people than ever will take an interest in the equestrian events at the Chinese Games - a discipline in which Britain traditionally has success but is overshadowed by more mainstream events.
The voting for the award was not as close as many had predicted, although the result did not go in favour of Irishman Clarke, who was a key member of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team earlier this year and the favourite to take the title before the show began.
Clarke and his team-mates also missed out on Team of the Year, which went to the St Helens rugby league side. Young footballing protégé Theo Walcott claimed the Young Sports Personality award.