EQUESTRIAN star Zara Phillips was delighted to create a slice of sporting history by following in the footsteps of her mother, the Princess Royal, in winning the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year.

Phillips polled 32.5% of the 680,000 votes cast to finish ahead of runner-up, Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke, and third-placed gymnast Beth Tweddle.

It meant the 25-year-old world champion and the Princess Royal, who triumphed in 1971, became the first members of the same family to win the top prize.

Phillips said: "My mum said when she won it no-one else was in the running! In the build-up to it, I didn't think it would be a big thing for me.

"I was thinking 'I'd rather have my world gold medal than the Sports Personality of The Year award'.

"But when it actually came around to the night, and I was up there on the stage, it was unbelievable when you look at all the top sporting people in the room.

"For two members of the same family to win the award for the first time is very special.

"Mum won it a long time ago. I've never watched the videos of my mum winning the award but I saw a clip of it on Sunday night. That's all I've ever seen."

Phillips won the individual gold on Toytown in the three-day eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games in Germany.

Tears

The Queen's granddaughter also helped Great Britain claim the team silver and she has become only the third rider to hold the European and World titles at the same time.

Clarke was a Ryder Cup hero for Europe against America only a few weeks after the death of his wife Heather through cancer.

He won all three of his matches before breaking down in tears after holing his final putt on the 16th green to seal his singles victory over Zach Johnson.

Tweddle bounced back from missing the Commonwealth games because of an ankle injury in superb style.

The 21-year-old became the first British gymnast to win a gold at the European Championships on the uneven bars and then surpassed that achievement by claiming Britain's first ever gold medal at the World Championships in the same discipline.

The Overseas Personality Of The Year award was decided by the votes of the studio audience and they chose tennis star Roger Federer who has won four successive Wimbledon singles titles.

St Helens Rugby League side had double reason to celebrate with winning the Team Of The Year award while Saints supremo, Daniel Anderson, was chosen as Coach Of The Year as a result of their treble trophy triumph.

Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg won the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the sport - 25 years after winning the fifth of his Wimbledon singles titles.

The Helen Rollason award for courage and achievement went to snooker player Paul Hunter who died in October at the age of 27 after losing his battle against cancer.

Footballer Theo Walcott, who moved from Southampton to Arsenal 11 months ago for é12 million, was named the Young Personality Of The Year.

What is your verdict on the results? Have your say.

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