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LONDON - World equestrian champion Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, was named the BBC's sports personality of the year today, beating widely-tipped golfer Darren Clarke.
Phillips, whose mother Princess Anne won the award in 1971, won the individual gold on her horse Toytown at the World Equestrian Games in Germany and helped Britain win a team silver. Clarke, whose emotional performance following his wife's death helped Europe beat the United States to win golf's Ryder Cup in September, came second, while gymnast Beth Tweddle came third.
"To win this is absolutely amazing," Phillips said.
The paucity of British success in major sports was highlighted by the absence of football, rugby and athletics from the 10-person short list.
Among those put to the public vote were Jenson Button, who won a Formula One race for the first time at his 113th attempt, Monty Panesar, a spin bowler who has yet to play for England's current Ashes team, and darts world champion Phil Taylor.
Teenage Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, an unused member of England's World Cup squad and who has started just two league games this season, was named young sports personality of the year.
Europe's victorious golfers, who thumped the US 18-1/2 to 9-1/2, missed out on team of the year which went instead to treble-winning rugby league side St Helens.
The northern English side's Australian coach Daniel Anderson also picked up coach of the year.
World number one tennis player Roger Federer won the overseas personality award, while 11-times grand slam champion Bjorn Borg was given a lifetime achievement award.
- REUTERS
