Redding makes BBC shortlist
Added on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Redding became the youngest ever GP winner at Donington this year.
Scott Redding has been named on the shortlist for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
The 15-year-old 125cc rider has been named on the 10-strong shortlist for the prestigious gong at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, which takes place at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on December 14.
Redding became the youngest ever rider to win a MotoGP event earlier this year as he took the chequered flag in his home Grand Prix at Donington earlier this year and completed a memorable season by storming to the 125 Rookie of the Year award, finishing 42 points ahead of his nearest rival.
Alongside Redding, the shortlist has a heavy Olympic presence with diver Tom Daley (current holder of the award), swimmer Elizabeth Simmonds, Taekwondo entrant Aaron Cook and paralympic swimming gold medallist Eleanor Simmonds.
Other young athletes include sprinter Shaunna Thompson, 14-year-old Tennis hopeful Laura Robson, canoeist Tom Brady, sailor James Peters and cyclist Sam Harrison.
A panel chaired by BBC Sport presenter John Inverdale met on Monday 10 November to decide on the shortlist of 10.
“I’ve been involved since the award’s inaugural year in 2001,” said Inverdale.
“This year we’ve got the highest quality of contenders across the board I’ve ever known, in my opinion.
“You are looking at people at the top of their trees, and we have left a lot of strong nominations out of the top 10 and we will now have to leave seven out.”
Previous winners of the award include Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and Andrew Murray.
