Hull is best Newcomer

The LET’s 2013 Rolex Rookie of the Year Charley Hull received The Peter Wilson Trophy as the Best International Newcomer at the SJA British Sports Awards, at a glittering ceremony sponsored by the National Lottery held at the Tower of London yesterday afternoon.

Previous winners of this award include Laura Davies (1985), Sir Ben Ainslie (1996), Michael Owen (1998), Wayne Roonie (2003), Any Murray (2005) and Lewis Hamilton (2007).

In addition to Laura Davies and Charley, other golf winners of this award include Paul Way (1983) and Tom Lewis (2011).

The Sports Journalists’ Association has been staging the British Sports Awards since 1949, making them the longest established sports awards in the country.

Andy Murray was rewarded for his monumental victory at Wimbledon with the Sportsman of the Year while sprinter Christine Ohuruogu was named the Sportswoman of the Year after her 400 metres victory at the world championships in Moscow.

Aled Davies was the SJA’s Paralympic Sportsman of the Year and Hannah Cockroft the SJA’s Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year.

In the Team of the Year Award, The victorious European Solheim Cup Team of 2013 came third, behind second placed England Cricket Team that won The Ashes and first placed British and Irish Lions.

Later in the day, it was announced on Blue Peter that Charley Hull made the final shortlist of three nominees from 10 contenders for the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year Award along with Amber Hill (shooting) and Dina Asher-Smith (athletics).

Speaking on Blue Peter, Charley said: “It should be really good fun and I can’t wait for the night! Have I got a speech ready? No!”

The 17-year-old Solheim Cup star added that she is looking forward to Christmas and hopes to take some driving lessons next year.

Picture: Getty Images - Charley Hull (right) receives the Peter Wilson trophy from Virginie Bernan of Laureus