BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014 shortlist announced

The BBC have announced their 10 terrifically talented contenders for their Sports Personality of the Year Award 2014. British sports’ very best will be on show at this year’s ceremony in Glasgow, to cap off a tremendous 12 months in the industry.

To celebrate, Coral writers run the rule over the nominees and give you our favourites to claim this most prestigious of individual titles.

Gareth Bale (Football)
Real Madrid football superstar Bale enjoyed an incredible first season at the Bernabeu, following a blockbuster summer move.

The thrilling winger became the only Welshman to ever score in a Champions League final as he helped Los Blancos claim La Decima, and also grabbed the winner in the Copa del Rey final.

Bale, 25, with the wicked left foot is a 40/1 chance to claim this award and add an individual trophy to his already stuffed cabinet.

Charlotte Dujardin (Dressage)
The 29-year-old made the UK proud by becoming Britain’s first equestrian rider to hold the Olympic, European and world champion title all at the same time.

Record-breaker Dujardin could be in royal company, with Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Phillips the only previous two riders to be crowned by the BBC. Already named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year, Dujardin is an outsider at 80/1 to join that exclusive list.

Carl Froch (Boxing)
Nicknamed ‘The Cobra’, fearsome Froch is also an outsider at 100/1 to snake his way to a win, and become only the fifth boxer to ever lift the award. The 37-year-old fighter earns his nomination for retaining the IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles by knocking out George Groves.

Kelly Gallagher and Charlotte Evans (Skiing)
This dynamic duo of visually impaired Gallagher and guide Evans, won the UK’s first Paralympic Gold medal. Their fantastic feat on the slopes earned the talented pair MBEs and they are now 125/1 to finish a memorable year by winning the BBC’s plumb award.

Lewis Hamilton (Formula)
Hamilton may have made a sensational late surge to steal this top gong, following his dramatic recent victory in Abu Dhabi, and is expected to be Rory McIlroy’s main competition.

The 29-year-old has raced ahead to become second favourite at 11/4 after his second Formula 1 title triumph, this time with Mercedes.

Rory McIlroy (Golf)
Odds-on favourite at 1/4, McIlroy is the frontrunner thanks to a fantastic year in which he became the first Briton to win consecutive US PGA titles and helped Team Europe claim the Ryder Cup.

It is not often that the Home Nations can boast a world number one, but the Northern Irishman is just that, and it is difficult to see anyone else beating the 25-year-old to the prize.

Jo Pavey (Athletics)
Pavey is the female favourite at 50/1 with her sensational story. At 41, the track star became the oldest-ever female European champion after snatching Gold in the 10,000m.

The distance runner has enjoyed a thrilling 12 months, in which she also scooped a Bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games.

Adam Peaty (Swimming)
Move over Tom Daley, a new aquatic star has arrived on the block. Peaty, still just 19, took two Golds and a Silver in the Commonwealths, before claiming four medals at the European Championships, where he broke the 50m breaststroke world record. Despite this haul, he is still just 150/1 to win.

Matt Whitlock (Gymnastics)
Whitlock, 21, is also a rank outsider at 150/1 to scoop this award, after securing a slew of medals, including three Golds at the Commonwealths.

Lizzy Yarnold (Skeleton)
Yarnold is responsible for delivering Team GB’s only Gold at the Winter Olympics. The 26-year-old took to the snow in Sochi and won her four-race event by the biggest ever margin, making her 125/1 to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year.